The young woman seemed to struggle for what she wanted to say next.
“I will do what I can to help, but not all of the visions have been clear. I have seen that what’s to come for you won’t be easy. Yer love for my brother will be tested and only in letting go will you hold on.”
Dani’s skepticism alarm tripped on full alert. This was the young woman whom Patrick had sworn saw glimpses of the future, and yet she spoke like some cheesy greeting card with herset it free and it will come back to youline of bull.
She didn’t have time for these games.
“I appreciate that you’re trying to help. I already know that I overplayed my hand back there with your brother. But he’s back from whatever creepy edge he fell over and we’re going to end this thing. I’ll give him whatever he wants to get Malcolm and we’ll get the hell out of this place.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Torquil has no intention of releasing you. He will place a block at every turn.”
Dani had to remind herself that this was also the young woman who was, for all intents and purposes, being held hostage by her older brother. And though the girl likely had her own issues with him, Dani wasn’t going to jeopardize Malcolm’s release by allowing Christiana to lead her down some path of rebellion.
“Look, Christiana, I understand that there’s a whole history to whatever is going on within your family and I’m sorry that things are what they are for you. But my priority is Malcolm. Torquil wants the treasure we brought and I’m going to give it to him. I do worry that, after so many days in captivity, Malcolm might not be at his best, but, like I said back there, with the help of the men who accompanied me here, we’ll take Malcolm and ride out of those gates and never darken Torquil’s path again. Your brother has already pretty much agreed on everything but the details.”
That was her new plan. She’d originally hoped to make it out with some of the MacGahan treasures in her possession, but she no longer cared anything about the silver.
“Torquil has agreed to nothing. He plays with you. He has no intention of allowing you or yer men to ride out of here. See for yerself.”
Christiana pushed open the big doors and led the way out onto a small balcony that overlooked what appeared to be a central courtyard two stories below. Almost immediately she dropped to her knees by the railing, pulling Dani down next to her.
“There,” she whispered, pointing directly below them to a swarming crowd of men.
Two massive timbers thrust up out of the ground supporting a third timber across their top like some giant child’s swing set. Only it wasn’t play equipment dangling from the topmost pole. It was bodies. Two of them. Hanging limp and lifeless, gently rocking back and forth as if kept in motion by an invisible hand.
It must be some war games practice with dummies. That had to be it. They were simply stuffed dummies, which would explain everything right down to the bags covering their heads.
But it didn’t explain their legs. Dummies would not have those bare, lifeless legs.
Words very nearly failed Dani.
“Who are they?” She couldn’t make herself do more whisper as she gripped Christiana’s hand.
“Can you no tell from here?”
“No, I—”
The crowd ebbed and parted as a third man was dragged to the gallows. His hands were bound behind him and a rag tied over his mouth to muffle his screams, but in the moments before the bag was dropped over his head, his face was unmistakable.
“Eymer?”
For a moment it was as if her brain and her body were completely disconnected, the parts of her at odds over what she saw.
If that was Eymer, the other two had to be Guy and Hamund!
“We have to go get Torquil. He can stop this.” Surely he didn’t know what his men did.
“He’ll no stop it, Danielle. He ordered it.”
Then she would have to stop it. When she attempted to stand, Christiana held her down, throwing her body over Dani’s and holding a hand over Dani’s mouth.
“Shhh. Listen and think! There’s naught that you can do. It’s too late for them, but no for you. You must no let on to Torquil that you’ve seen this. If he realizes that you ken what he’s done, you and yer friend Elesyria, and likely Malcolm as well, will be swinging alongside yer men. Do you hear what I’m saying to you?”
Dani nodded her head to acknowledge her understanding, waiting for the tears choking her throat to fall. As if some dam had formed deep inside, they would not come.
“They did nothing wrong,” she managed when Christiana moved her hand. “They were good men with families who loved them. Why would he—?”
“He named them traitors because they followed Malcolm, but in truth he did it because he can,” Christiana said flatly. “Because he wants to. Because he takes pleasure in the suffering of others. We must hasten to return to the dining hall. We’ve already been gone overly long. We will explain to Torquil that you’ve been ill, aye? That and nothing more. Dinna fail me on this point, my sister.”
