Page 89 of Highland Flame

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cam sat at the drink board in Keithen’s tavern, drinking with Nash and Gavin, questioning the patrons about Dun.

“Damn, this whisky tastes guid, but Davita willna like it if she finds out where I’ve been,” said Gavin.

“Then dinna tell her.” Nash took a deep draw of his drink. “Is this what happens when a man marries? If so, I never want to get married.”

“It is gettin’ late, and we havena gotten any information that can help us yet,” said Gavin. “I’m goin’ back to the castle.”

“Fine, then go.” Cam waved a hand through the air. “I am no’ leavin’ until I have proof that will clear both Keithen and Yvaine. I just ken I will find out somethin’ here if I wait long enough. If nothin’ else, the undertaker is out of town but supposed to return tonight. I want to talk to him, too.”

“Guid luck,” said Gavin, leaving Cam and Nash still sitting there.

“Another drink, please,” said Cam to the barkeep although he’d probably already had more than enough.

“I’m no’ sure this is a guid idea,” said the man. “Havena ye had enough?”

“I am no’ leavin’ yet.” Cam felt frustrated. “Who are ye anyway? I dinna ken ye. Where is Keithen?”

“Cam, Keithen’s in the dungeon, ye ken that,” said Nash. “I agree ye had too much to drink.”

“Och, I’m so tired, I canna think straight.” Cam ran a hand over his face.

“My name is Farlan. I’m the proprietor of a tavern in the next town,” said the man. “I came tonight because Red sent a missive saying Keithen was in the dungeon. I’ve been waitin’ on ye all evenin’ in case ye havena noticed.”

“How often are ye here?” asked Cam.

“I only fill in when Keithen needs me. I dinna ken him well, but we barkeeps help each other out if need be. But I swear, if I’m goin’ to have to keep servin’ drunks like ye and that dead man, I’m no’ comin’ here anymore.”

“Ye serve dead men whisky?” Cam laughed aloud. He was so overtired right now, after traveling all day and now drinking all night, that anything sounded funny to him.

“Nay, ye fool. I was talkin’ about that no guid wife beater, Dun.” He poured Cam another drink and was about to walk away when Cam stopped him.

“Wait. How did ye ken Dun was a wife beater? Who told ye that?”

“I didna ken until he told me, the night he died.”

“Ye were workin’ here then?” asked Nash.

“Aye. Keithen was up at the castle at some weddin’ and I was here tendin’ to his customers.”

“That’s right,” said Nash. “It was Gavin’s weddin’. We were all there.”

“What did Dun say? And how drunk was he?” asked Cam.

“I thought he was just spoutin’ nonsense at first, since he ordered two bottles of whisky and nearly drank them both while he was here. He even took the empty bottles with him.”

“The bottles behind the trunk,” whispered Cam to himself. “Did he say anythin’ about Yvaine?”

“Who?” asked the man, squinting.

“His wife,” said Cam, hating to have to say that aloud since Yvaine would soon be his wife.

“I’m no’ sure he ever mentioned his wife’s name. He just bragged how he often beat her. He kept playin’ with a knife, cleanin’ his nails,” said Farlan. “He seemed angry with her for some reason. He kept stabbin’ the knife into the drink board, sayin’ he wanted to kill her. Look, the marks are still there, right where ye’re sittin’.”

Cam looked down and ran his hand over the knife marks in the wood. A sick feeling coiled in his stomach, thinking how close Yvaine came to being killed that night. It could have been her lying in a puddle of blood instead of Dun.

“Would ye be willin’ to tell Laird MacKeefe what ye just told me? At Keithen’s trial tomorrow?” asked Cam.