Nella joined the conversation. “’Tis true, Lord Kolson.”
“Stay out of this, Lady Fawnella,” Holger warned.
The Northman dared to order Nella about? Yeah, it was time to set him straight. Callum stepped forward. Nella’s palm captured his, halting him.
Holger turned back at Dagny. “What would our sire say regarding your behavior?”
“Our sire forced me into that traitor’s care.” Her stance widened. “You truly believe I give a fig what he considers?”
“You shall be giving more than a ‘fig’, sister, when he unleashes his wroth upon you,” Holger threatened, and the young lady blanched. “The scandal this evening will thwart any hope in a match! In a locked chamber with a traitor, nolady’s maid about. The king’s court will feast upon the gossip then bolt from any offers for your hand no matter the dowry’s sum. Who?” He threw his hands into the air. “Who would dare take you as a wife now? Dagny, you were locked in here with this peasant,” Holger declared, staring daggers at Kameron. “Nothing but one who is of low birth.”
That’s it!The talk regarding being a squire would not keep. Callum declared, “He is to be a squire,mysquire. Trained by the captain of the royal guard and once training is complete, a knight in the Kingdom of Scots.” Kameron’s eyes grew at the statement. “In the chaos surrounding these last few days I had hoped to seek an audience in private with the lad to speak with him. Alas, the time is now to bequeath the request.” He turned toward the lad. “What say you, Kameron MacKurryn? You have shown yourself more worthy in service than the one I am about to meet in a few hours.” He referred to the traitor who made his blood boil – Sir Sean.
“I… I would be honored, Sir Callum.” Kameron nodded eagerly.
Holger gritted his teeth. “Scotsman, everywhere I turn you grind my nerves.”
“Nae more than you do mine, Northman,” Callum countered before he inclined his brow at Sir Brayden, who darkened the threshold having seen to fetching the horses. “Lady Fawnella and I must take our leave for the stables.”
Nella moved only to close the door. Her expression was mixture of worry and determination. Something was terribly wrong.
“There is a grave matter we must all speak upon before we take our leave. Please forgive me, I could not relay this information earlier on the front entry. I fear the name of the ‘shadow lord’ who MacHarris met in the tavern with the late Sir James has been lost with Sèidrich. In the chronicle ofSèidrich’s arrival this eve he declared their ‘lord’ would not want Sir James kept alive. He knew who the noble was in King Alexander’s court, but I could not…”
Callum stole her hands at once. “Nae, you arenotgoing to blame yourself for this. ’Tis I who should have taken him alive. A branch broke and I could not risk him alerting the other guards of the impending ambush. We shall find this shadow lord, we will.” The last words were cast in iron.
Holger broke in the exchange. “If this lord is so highly placed at court, then it is best he is dealt with at once.”You think?It was one thing they could all agree on.
The Northman darted his eyes between the young pair again before setting his glare back on his sister. “Where is your lady’s maid?”
“Sir James I believe laced her goblet with a sleeping tonic,” Dagny replied.
Holger opened the door and barked at the nearest guard standing outside the doorway, who dashed away at the demand. “Fetch the old crone! She isnotto abandon my sister’s side forthwith, as I shall be forced to take my leave of Lady Dagny once again.” He swung his attention back at Callum, curling a menacing grin at him. “I must venture with Sir Callum and Lady Fawnella.” Callum clenched his jaw tighter. “Making certain all preparations are seen to, ensuring a flawless arrival for the Northern delegation by this traitorous lord being placed right in irons.”
Dagny stared at her brother a hard moment. “Abandonment is a natural trait for you, brother. Lady Thyra would not be surprised.” Holger blanched while the Northern lady looked at Nella. “I am certain you shall be immersed in the developments yet to come. However, I would be remiss in not mentioning my brother is well known regarding his many conquests. I also wager a guess you are one of those he seeks toadd onto this list. When a moment presents, you best ask him about Lady Thyra.”
***
Luss moved at a slow thumping trot in the heavy darkness. Would they make Perth before dawn? What had been Sir Sean’s instructions if “MacHarris” had not appeared?
Callum’s jaw clenched tighter. Was not having his Nella ride with him adding to his overall grave mood? Aye, his arms felt void of life without Nella in them.
She rode alongside him upon Sir Brayden’s trusted charger. The knight with Kameron had hung back at Callum’s request, ensuring the clergy arrived at the abbey for the treaty signing safely and as a show of good faith by the Kingdom of Scots after Sir James’s horrific display.
If only it didn’t seem odd, her request. A heavy conflict by emotions crossed her face as they determined the way forth toward Perth. At first, she had taken a step towards him and Luss then paused, her eyes fixated on the C upon his familiar chainmail tunic. Darting a look at the Northman, she said it would be best if she rode alone; they could cover more ground. It was true, yet the direction on how the decision had unfolded was strange. Including Holger’s reaction. There had been a shadow-like smirk on his mouth at the sudden change by her.
“Callum,” Nella whispered, breaking his thoughts, “what do you consider may take place by Sir Sean’s hand if we are unable to reach the stables by dawn?”
Holger leapt the line. “Ack, he may slay the youngest MacCade or perhaps the king in MacHarris’s place or burn the whole fuking abbey to the ground, throwing our two kingdoms into war once more.” He heard Nella’s breath catch.
“Nella, mind the boulder!” Callum warned when a rock tall as he was on Luss appeared from the darkness.
Her attention, which had been on Holger for his dark prophecy, turned forward as she pulled her steed up before crashing into the rock.Pat. Pat.She rubbed the loyal beast’s neck after the stallion came to a stop like his hooves had sunk into a bog instead of the pine needles.
“Sir Sean shall do none of those things, my lady,” Callum assured, halting beside her. He pointed at the vista which came clearer after a setting moon cast a glimmer in light their way, emerging from the clouds overhead. “These nine boulders in this distinct circle are known to me. Perth is but a wee bit southwestward for us.”
“Aye.” She breathed the word by relief. “Callum, please take lead.”
He tightened his calves on Luss, and the stallion moved into a steady canter as they arrived at a meadow whose heathers appeared the same as a lavender blanket in the moonlight.
