Erik laughed. That was too true. Reassured that at least the piper had been where he said he was, Erik leaned back in his chair and waved the guard forward.
“That MacDonald pirate is here,” the guard said close to Erik’s ear.
Hugh Dubh must finally have news about his nephew’s plans.
“Send him in,” Erik said.
Chapter 35
With Erik’s gaze fixed on him, Duncan kept his own on his pipes and continued playing.
All the same, he was aware when someone entered the hall and approached the high table.
“Ragnall,” Erik called out. “Come meet your mother’s uncle.”
Duncan missed a note and struggled to pick up the tune again. From the back, the visitor standing before the high table could be one of Moira and Connor’s Clanranald uncles from their mother’s side. Duncan did not pray often, but he was praying hard that whichever uncle it was did not recognize him. He played softly, using his music as an invisible shield as he let it float behind the conversations in the hall.
“This is your uncle Hugh Dubh,” Erik said.
Hugh. They should have guessed that Hugh would be consorting with the MacLeods again to stir up trouble.
“Come, lad,” Erik said, waving to Ragnall.
Icy fingers stole up Duncan’s spine as he watched Ragnall go to stand beside Erik with only the width of the table between him and Hugh. His son looked so small and vulnerable, like a wee rabbit caught between two circling hawks.
Duncan’s every muscle tensed, ready to fight to protect his son. He envisioned himself stealing a claymore, running across the room to reach Ragnall, tossing him over his shoulder, and then escaping with him out of the hall, across the bailey yard, out the gate, and through the open fields to safety. He would never make it—but for a long moment, he considered it.
Duncan did not realize he had stopped playing until Erik shouted, “Another tune, piper, to welcome my guest!”
Time seemed to slow as Hugh turned and looked straight at Duncan. Hugh’s eyes went wide. Duncan was already on his feet when Hugh flung out his arm and pointed at him.
“I know that man,” Hugh shouted. “That’s Duncan MacDonald!”
Even without his claymore, Duncan took down half a dozen of the MacLeods who came at him. But there were too many of them, and eventually they held him long enough to tie his hands behind him. Through the melee of men grabbing and pushing and women screaming, Duncan caught a glimpse of Ragnall. His son’s expression was closed but his eyes seemed to take in everything, and his wee friend, Sarah, was holding his hand.
The next time Duncan looked, the two children were gone.
* * *
Moira and Ilysa discussed the week’s menu as they melted tallow for rush candles. Servants usually did this task—and the smell was dreadful—but staying busy helped keep their minds off their worry over the men who had gone to Trotternish. After the kitchen was cleaned up from the midday meal, Ilysa had shooed the servants out so it was just the two of them. Moira had grown fond of Duncan’s sister and was glad for the time alone with her.
“We’ll run out of fresh meat soon,” Ilysa said. “Tait had some lads drop lines out the sea gate, so perhaps we’ll have fish for supper.”
“Speak of the devil,” Moira said, giving Tait a friendly wink as he came into the kitchen.
“Good day to ye both,” Tait said. “Have ye seen young Fergus?”
“Not today,” Moira said and glanced at Ilysa, who shook her head. “Why?”
“He’s gone missing.” Tait leaned forward, resting his hands on the worktable, and spoke in a low voice, though no one else was in the kitchen. “No one has seen Fergus since he was on guard duty last night.”
“I won’t believe Fergus is our spy, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” Ilysa said, pulling her delicate brows together. “He’s a simple young man.”
“What else am I to think?” Tait asked. “Connor was very clear that no one was to leave the castle until he returned. He was taking no chance of the MacLeods being forewarned.”
“I saw Fergus with Rhona yesterday,” Ilysa said. “Perhaps she knows.”
“What business does Rhona have with a sixteen-year-old guard?” A cold dread settled in Moira’s belly. “Let’s split up and search the castle for the two of them.”
