Alec looked at her, stunned. “Fawnella?” During his clapping Callum on the back in being reunited, he must have missed Sir Sean’s words. “Fawnella MacHearin, is that you, my lady?”
“For certain,” Holger said dryly. “Pleased to see all the MacCade brothers are of superior wit.” Alec and Sir Sean snapped their glances toward the Northman’s direction. “Lord Holger Kolson. As much as I am savoring the reunion here, are we to speak of saving kingdoms or shall we start to sing songs in its stead?”
“He is a charmer,” Alec huffed under his breath.Alec, you have no idea.
Holger glared. “What was that, wee MacCade?”
“Nothing of consequence, Northman.” Alec grinned, and Holger’s eyes narrowed. “My lady, it has been many years and all of them as bonny as you are.”
“How do you know the lady?” Sir Sean asked curiously.
Holger barreled into the center, whipping his arms wide. “Enough! Time for past reminiscence shall keep till later.” The vein in the Northman’s temple bulged out. “Why are you here, Sir Sean? Why are you not a traitor with your whole guardoutside?”Therewas the real reason for his wroth. Callum was in the right, the arm whipper was in the wrong, and it was eating Holger alive.
Sir Sean stared a moment at Holger before he looked towards, “Captain, shortly after you took your leave to the north, I received a missive from my brother. He declared in an erratic manner he was gathering a force of mercenaries. Under his order I was to meet a traitor here this evening who would bequeath a bottle of poisoned wine. A wine I was to have your brother Alec partake at Perth castle before the treaty signing upon the morrow at the monastery. Then once the treaty signing was completed, this same traitor, after he had murdered the king, I was supposed to slay and offer the appearance it was you in his stead. Thus, I would be ‘captain’ of the guard, hailed a hero. There was just one slight issue.”
Callum stepped forth. “What was that, Sir Sean?”
“I would never betray our lord king oryou, Captain. At Largs I suffered a great scandal being under Sir James’s command. There were those who even held me responsible, declaring I had not seen the traitorous dealings beforehand that led to his betrayal of our lord king at Largs. I lived in fear thinking a certain moment could appear where the king would demand me banished from the guard or stripped of my title. A rank I have worked since being a squire to achieve. When we stood in the king’s solar at Stirling that fateful day you first became captain, you recall the moment?” Callum nodded solemnly. Sir Sean looked at the lot of them, and Nella leaned closer. “King Alexander inquired to the freshly made captain, who he sought to be in charge if either Sir Callum or Sir Brayden should fall in duty. Sir Callum, you named me. I still remember the gasps from the nobility present. The belief you showed in me, Captain, was more than any before from either my brother or sire.” He glanced at her. “You know what acruel presence my sire carried.” She inclined her brow, agreeing before Sir Sean met Callum’s eyes again. “This belief by one who was not even of my own blood remained with me. I have held on to that moment for a long time as I knew I would repay this kindness someday.” He straightened his shoulders. “Today is that day. I am loyal to our King of Scots, to you, Captain. This was the root which drove my will to find your brother once the missive appeared from an unknown source—”
“Unknown?” Holger cut in sharply. “What of the other missives your traitorous brother bestowed before this?”
Sir Sean stammered slightly. “I… I know not of any other missives than this.” He produced a parchment from under his surcoat, handing it to Callum. “This was the only one I received the day Sir Callum and Sir Brayden left. After speaking with your brother, we had planned to meet here and extract the information of what lord sought to steal the crown from King Alexander. If we failed, we were preparing to hunt down my brother for answers.”
Holger snorted. “’Twill be a far hunt for that one, Sir Sean; your brother is dead.”
Nella saw a shock light his features bright as the candle in the lantern behind him. “By whose hand?”
“A gallowglass mercenary and traitor to him called Sèidrich.” Callum raised the parchment. “He’s named here.”
“Well.” Sir Sean set his jaw. “My brother is a traitor and earned the king’s judgment not that of a gallowglass. Where is this Sèidrich?”
“Steep walk upon that want as well.” Holger half chuckled.
She accused, disgusted, “How do you find jest in any of this, Lord Kolson?”
“’Tis been a fortnight unlike any other I have ever known, my tender-hearted lady. So, pardon if I impart some wit overthe trail in corpses we have laid across the Highlands in utmost ‘discretion’,” he retorted. “Sir Sean, you may bestow your appreciation to Sir Callum for slaying your brother’s direct killer. Or perhaps the lady may offer a rag to wipe your captain’s other ass cheek so you may kiss it as well?”
The parchment crinkled as Callum reached his breaking point, lunging at the Northman. “Callum.” She jumped before him. “Leave him, he is not worth the effort! He is a vile, bitter lord, the likes I have never known.” At her touch upon his torso, Callum stilled.
“Once more, Northman,” Callum warned, pointing his finger over her shoulder, “you taunt or give an ill remark where Nella is concerned, I shall gut you in a challenge.” Holger shrugged his shoulders, taking a step rearward.
“Shite,” Alec swore softly, “it has been a difficult time had by all I see.”
“Aye,” Nella agreed, resting her palm on Callum’s clenched jaw while he quelched his fury once his eyes returned to hers. “Your fresh thoughts, my knight, which lord has been plannin’ the demise of the treaty?” She glanced at the parchment in his fist.
“You witnessed the list from Keithen,” Callum replied, calm. “There were many he held aspirations for.”
She glanced at Sir Sean. “If this was the only missive received after nearly half dozen had been sent previously by Keithen to you at Stirling, it must be one who is ever-present at court. A lord who held the power and presence to intercept each of those previous missives. Till he deemed only this one was to be delivered.”
Callum ran his hand through his hair. “It would have to be one of the king’s innermost circle.” He looked at Sir Sean and Alec. “These days past have any of the lords not been present or seemed unusual in their patterns about the castle and keep?”
Both shook their skulls. “We have been silently observing,” Sir Sean explained. “Alas, nothing has been amiss.”
Callum began to pace. “Whomever has been planning this siege upon the crown believes he is superior in mind. This” – he waved the missive – “speaks to that. So, I believe it is time we crash the court in a very grand way to unveil this lord’s plans.”
“To spark a reaction,” Nella stated.
“Aye,” Callum concurred.
