14
Erik kept his emotions under control as he walked through the keep, ignoring the stares and whispers that went on around him. This was not how he had planned to spend the rest of his night or his time with the McPhersons, but he found himself in a situation that he wasn’t so certain he could talk himself out of.
He was led none too gently to Edna’s study and forced to stand before her table, watching as the laird and Leeth took their places in the room. Erik noted that Leeth moved closer to Edna as more people came into the room, his hand resting on the sword he wore at his waist.
“Where is he?”
Erik didn’t flinch as Robert McIves stormed into the room, Isabel hot on his heels. His face was mottled with anger, his clothing hastily thrown on, and when his eyes found Erik, he lunged at him, only to be held back by some of Edna’s warriors.
“Control yerself,” Edna said in a hard voice. “I wilnae have anything happen tae mah prisoner until I have heard his plight.”
“He killed mah man!” Robert McIves shouted, thrusting a hand through his hair as Isabel hovered near her husband.
But Erik wasn’t paying much attention to the show that was carrying on. He was acutely aware of Finley’s presence in the room, the way that she moved near her aunt and in his line of sight. Her face was pale, but he saw no expression, no indication that she had been the one to push her aunt aside to see who was lying in the dirt.
He knew she thought it was him, but he couldn’t let that affect him right now.
Right now, he was in a precarious situation, and no one could help him. His life hung in the balance.
“Calm yerself,” Edna said again, her eyes glittering at the visiting laird. “We dinnae know wot has happened.”
McIves thrust a finger in Erik’s direction. “I know that ye found his sword buried in mah warrior’s chest.”
“I didnae do it,” Erik growled, wishing he could snap the Scot’s finger in two. “Mah sword was in mah chambers.” He hadn’t worn it this evening due to the fact that there was dancing, and while he was one to shy away from such an activity, he had wanted to dance with Finley at least once before he departed.
Edna rubbed her forehead with her hand, her expression one of concern and worry. Erik wasn’t so certain that it was for him, but for the fragile alliance she had been building with the visiting clan. He didn’t blame her for worrying.
“Start from the beginning if ye will.”
Erik drew in a breath, knowing that every eye in the study was on him. “I walked around the corner of the keep, as I do every night, and found the warrior down. I didnae even know that it was mah sword until the crowd came.”
“And how did ye get blood on yer tunic?” she pressed, her eyes traveling down the length of him.
“Checking tae see if the warrior was alive,” he replied evenly. He had knelt next to him and tried to find the pulse in the Scot’s neck to ensure there was nothing he could do for him before alerting others. “I was found a few moments later.”
“Ye killed him!” the visiting laird growled, still being held back by Edna’s warriors. “Ye slaughtered him in cold blood!”
Erik ignored the laird, but his eyes did flicker to Isabel, who was watching the situation with a blank expression. He wondered if the warrior he had found slain was the one she had been referring to. She did, after all, warn him that there might be a murder.
Edna held up her hand, quieting McIves. “I still dinnae know how yer sword got into his chest.”
“I left it in mah room,” he replied, attempting to keep his anger in check. This was already a precarious situation, and if he let on that he was angered about the situation himself, then McIves would use it against him. “The keep is full of people tonight. Anyone could have snuck in and taken it.”
McIves snorted but Edna glared at him, and he wisely kept his thoughts to himself. “Since this happened on mah land,” she finally said, looking at the group, “I will handle the investigation and the punishment, as I deem it.”
“Nay!” McIves growled, wrenching his arms out of the guard’s grasp. “’Tismahman that nay longer walks amongst us! I will declare the punishment!” He then looked at Erik, his gaze murderous. “There is no need for any sort of investigation. The bastard did it. The proof is there for all tae see.”
Leeth stepped forward, his hand on his sword. “Ye are on the land ye stand on as a visitor,” he replied evenly, no trace of emotion on his face. “And I would hate tae have tae bury ye on it. The Lady has spoken, and ye will await her decision, just as we would on yer land.”
McIves stepped up to Leeth, but the older warrior didn’t flinch as the laird pushed his finger into his chest. “See that there is nary a stone unturned, or I will be forced tae take matters into mah own hands.”
“Get out,” Leeth growled, his jaw clenching. “Before I have ye thrown out for threatening our Lady.”
The other laird looked as if he wasn’t going to follow the order, but finally, Isabel stepped up and grasped her husband’s arm. “Come, Robert,” she said softly, shooting Erik a look in the process. “We will find out the truth soon enough.”
Erik watched as the laird shook off his wife’s touch and stalked out ahead of her, leaving her to hurry after him lest he start tearing the castle apart.
“Follow them discreetly,” Edna murmured to the warriors in the room. “I want tae know anything ye learn.”
