Authors: Connie C. Scharon
Angus stood and glared at Jared, pointing a finger at
his chest. “The son of a bitch got my Asilinn with child!” There was dead
silence for a moment. Ian burst out laughing.
“Well Father, he married her first,” Ian pointed out
as he tried to stifle his mirth.
The beginnings of a grin tore at the edges of Angus'
mouth. “So he did,” he admitted, giving way to his son's viewpoint. “I believe
Laird Jared speaks the truth.”
It felt like all the tension left the room in one
fleeting moment as the members of Laird Innes' council laughed about the cause
of Angus' anger. They finally came back to order and gave a formal
pronouncement.
“We unanimously approve the peace plan,” Erland
announced.
Jared grinned and grasped Ian's hand in a firm shake.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
“No, Jared, thank you. This situation has finally
made me do what Asilinn has been trying to get me to do for years, stand up to
my father.”
Jared grinned. “Not an easy task, he’s a stubborn
man.”
“Aye, so,” Ian agreed.
Wine was brought forth to celebrate the agreement and
all sat down to discuss the problems which lay ahead on the rocky road to
peace.
The next morning Jared watched in amusement as Skye
was confounded by the warm greetings she received from everyone she met.
“How is it I seem to have won them over?” she asked.
“Ian told your part in saving his life when the masked
assassin came after him at Dunbocan. To the Innes clansmen, you are a heroine.”
“Well, I've never been a heroine before,” she said
with a grin.
“I dinna know about that. After the way you've helped
Asilinn and me, I believe you have quite a knack for it.” Skye gave him a shy
smile.
The rest of the visit went very well and Jared
eagerly anticipated bringing the good news to Asilinn. To that end, he hurried
the negotiations to a close.
Ian rode with them to the edge of the Innes lands.
When he turned to go, he leaned across and planted a soft kiss on Skye's lips.
“Go with God,” he whispered, then spurred his horse to a gallop and disappeared
over the horizon.
Jared watched Skye stare after him with glazed eyes.
When she realized Jared was looking at her, she blushed crimson and smacked his
arm. “Let's go home.”
“Had enough kisses for one day?”
Shooting him a stormy look, she rode up to talk with
Ross.
As they neared Burnum Woods, Jared felt uneasy. He
tried to shake it off, attributing it to his last experience there, but when
they rode through one of his men spotted the dead body of the messenger. Jared
rode over and jumped down from Ailleagian. He traced the tracks of the man back
towards Dunbocan until he came upon the ambush site. Kneeling he examined the
hoof prints which still remained in the soft earth. His jaw tensed when he came
to his feet.
“What is it, Milord?” Morven asked.
Jared mounted and leaned across to his cousin.
“Whoever killed this man, rode Keith's horse. Say nothing until I investigate
further.”
“Mayhaps we should arrest him now?” Morven suggested.
“Not yet, I would assure myself of his guilt first.”
There was no night or day for Asilinn in the dungeon.
Glenna came to her infrequently with a hard crust of bread or a dish of cold
soup. Even the water they brought her tasted stale. But she ate every scrap of
food given fearful for her baby's health if she refused.
After the first few visits, Asilinn persuaded Glenna
to leave a small candle burning for her to eat by. Each time it was the same, a
short stub of wax which gave her little light before it spluttered out and left
Asilinn alone in the thick veil of blackness. She tried to be brave but every
time the candle died, she cried out. In her brief moments of being able to see,
she took out her papers and wrote the story of her capture and incarceration.
At least if she perished Jared would know who was responsible. Afraid they may
discover her notes; she loosened one of the stones in the back wall and kept
her writing tools there.
The manacles rubbed her wrists raw but they attached
to a ten-foot length of chain which allowed her to maneuver in the tiny airless
space. Not unlike the ones Jared used on her after her escape, she mused.
Somehow, his use seemed kinder. He never hurt her.
The lack of fresh air bothered her the most. The
musty earth stench of the dungeon permeated everything. Her clothes and hair
took on the odor and she could no longer escape it by breathing through the
loose cloth of her shirt.
After eating, she always tossed her tin plate out
through the narrow slit in the door. In the darkness, she could hear the
scurrying of rodents and occasionally even see their glowing eyes through the
thick, everlasting night. Apparently, this section of the prison had been out
of use for so long most rats had abandoned it for lack of food. She prayed her
presence would not kindle their renewed interest.
She wondered how Osred and Glenna were explaining her
absence. Having no accounting of time, she could not estimate when Jared would
return. She bit her lip as she thought of him. What lie would he be told when
he arrived home? Would he know she still lived imprisoned by the foul deeds of
his enemy? Was the plan to kill him? The thought disturbed her and she realized
for the first time she truly did care for him. Did he also care for her? She
may never know.
There was nothing she could do but desperately cling
to the vision of having her baby. Jared was there holding her hand when she
gave life to his son. It must be true! With that small hope to sustain her, she
prayed for the day she would feel Jared's arms wrap securely around her.
***
Osred rushed in the door of Glenna’s cottage. “There
is still no word from Edinburgh and Laird Jared returns early. We are dead if
we remain.”
“What are you saying?” Glenna shrieked.
“We must flee for our lives. The plan is ruined. I'm
riding for Edinburgh immediately.” Osred paced the floor.
Glenna didn’t know whether or not to trust Osred’s
assessment of the situation. “What of our benefactor? He will be livid we have
failed. He expects to ride through the gates to the news Asilinn has perished
or at the very least been arrested for witchcraft.”
“All the more reason to flee,” Osred replied. "I
had hoped the soldiers would have arrived to arrest her but now we are dead if
we remain. I go, with or without you. All who have been involved in this
deception shall be exposed as soon as Laird Jared sees Asilinn is not in her
room.”
“Couldn't we keep him out like we have the others? At
least we could hold him off until the soldiers come.”
Osred gave her an incredulous look. “You know our
laird very well. Do you think we could keep him from her side?”
Glenna felt the color drain from her face. “What of
Ivy?”
“She does not know where we have hidden the Innes
bitch. Let Ivy stay and face his wrath. Mayhaps his anger will be spent on her
and it will delay his search for us.”
Glenna glanced furtively around the room then grabbed
a bag and stuffed it with a few meager belongings. Looking at Osred with resolve,
she took a deep breath. “Let's go.”
***
A welcoming throng surrounded Jared when he rode into
the castle, but the face he desired to see was conspicuously absent. Liam
answered his unspoken question. “Lady Asilinn is ill,” he told Jared. “Osred says
she is in danger of losing the baby and keeps all visitors from her room.”
A flash of anger seared Jared's brow. He spurred
Ailleagian toward the castle. Throwing open the door, Jared screamed,
“Asilinn!”
Flanna came from the kitchen wringing her hands. “We
are all worried, Milord.”
Jared grimaced and took the stairs two at a time. He
tried to shove open the tower door. It wouldn't budge. “Asilinn, open the
door!” he shouted.
By this time, Liam caught up with Jared. “Milord, I
installed a heavy bolt on the door for Lady Asilinn. It will be practically
impossible to break through, but Ivy is supposed to be tending her.”
Jared stared at his cousin. “Why did Asilinn need a
bolt on the door?”
“She woke to find Osred and Glenna hovering over her
bed one morning and asked me to install it.”
Turning back to the door, Jared cried out to his
housekeeper. “Ivy, open the door at once.”
A quavering voice came from the other side. “Milord,
please stop yer bellowing,” she pleaded. “Lady Asilinn is desperately ill. She
doesna want you to see her this way.”
“Bloody hell,” Jared muttered. “Liam, you are to stay
at the door and arrest Ivy should she try to leave. There is another way into
the tower room.”
Liam eyebrows arched in surprise. “Aye, Milord, I
will not fail you.”
Jared searched Liam’s eyes for a minute then hurried
down the stairs. He strode through his workroom and shoved the lever which
opened one of the entrances to the maze of tunnels. Stepping inside, he closed
the door and dashed up the stairs to the secret entrance to the tower room.
He put his ear to the door and listened for any
sounds from within. He could hear soft moaning. Springing the door open, he
stepped into the room. Ivy leapt from the chair by the fire and ran for the
other door. She threw it open and rushed into Liam's waiting arms.
“Not so fast,” Liam ordered, dragging the frightened
woman back into the room.
Jared sprang across the room and threw back the
covers to reveal the sacks stuffed with straw. He turned on the cowering woman
with uncontained rage. “Where is she?” He clutched Ivy by the throat.
“I dinna know, Milord,” Ivy cried. “I only followed
Osred's orders.”
“You turn on me and obey traitors to my cause! Why?”
“Please, Milord, have mercy,” she begged. “All my
sons perished in the war with the Innes clan. I didna want the peace. I longed
for revenge.”
“Where is Lady Asilinn?” Jared repeated, tightening
his grip on the woman's slender neck.
“Milord,” Liam said. “If you kill her, we may never
know.”
Jared released Ivy and paced across the floor. The
woman dropped to her knees. “I swear to you, Laird, I dinna know. When Osred
came to me she was already gone and I had not the courage to ask what they had
done with her.”
“Milord,” Liam interrupted. “After Toby announced you
were coming Osred and Glenna fled the castle. I saw them leave by the east gate
and thought perhaps they rode out to meet you with news of Asilinn's illness.”
“She was not with them?”
“Lady Asilinn would never betray you,” Liam stated
flatly.
Jared scowled at him. “I meant as a prisoner. I know
Asilinn is no traitor.” He glared Liam. “How is it you are loyal to my wife?”
“Lady Asilinn has confided in me and I value her
friendship.”
At that moment, Morven walked into the room followed
closely by the rest of the councilmen. Jared turned to his inner circle. “Lady
Asilinn has been kidnapped. Get every available man. I want the castle
searched.”
“Milord, it could take a week to search every nook
and cranny. Dunbocan is riddled with secret passages even we dinna know about.
We could waste valuable time,” Liam objected. “Let's go after Osred and
Glenna.”
Throwing a dark look at Liam, Jared continued. “I
want one group of men to search Burnum Woods. Morven, you shall lead them. I'll
take Liam and go after Osred and Glenna. The rest of you shall search the
castle. If anyone finds anything, get word to me at once.” Grabbing Ivy's arm,
he led her over to Ross. “Lock her in the dungeon.”
Jared looked into Ivy's tear-streaked face. “If you
remember anything which would help me now is the time to speak.”
“Milord, I beg you, not the dungeon. I am a foolish
old woman and I have done a terrible thing. Please have mercy.”
“Who else was involved besides Osred and Glenna?”
“No one I know of, Milord, they approached me the day
after you left and asked me to take Lady Asilinn some warm milk before bed. The
next day they went to her room when she slept late as if they expected to find
something amiss. I realized they had probably tried to poison Lady Asilinn. But
she didna drink the milk and Liam put a bolt on her door to keep them from
entering without her leave.”
“Why didn't you tell someone?”
“I have no excuse, Milord. I was frightened. When
they came to me and asked me to pretend she was ill, I went along with them.
They talked as if she was not dead, but held captive somewhere. I dinna know
why they tried to kill her or why they changed their plan. Glenna once
mentioned everyone was too suspicious and they must act with care. Oh, Milord,
please forgive my stupidity,” Ivy begged. “I was afraid they would kill me too
if they revealed their plan to me and I said no.”
“You had only to come to Garrick or me,” Liam said.
“We would have protected you and Lady Asilinn.”
Garrick nodded his agreement. “I dinna see your
logic, Ivy. Therefore I must believe you joined them of your own free will.”
“We waste our time in argument,” Jared said. “Ivy, if
you have any clue to Asilinn's whereabouts you will tell me now. It is your
only hope for mercy.”
“I only know she must be somewhere close because
Glenna took her food and water every day. I was forced to be lookout while she
pilfered food from the larder. It was the only time I left the tower.”
“Take her away,” Jared ordered. “If you remember
anything else, tell your jailor.”
Ivy began to cry when Ross led her away but Jared had
a deaf ear to her suffering. For the first time it struck him how empty his
life would be without Asilinn. She had become a part of him—part of his
existence at Dunbocan. The castle seemed empty without her shinning face. If
his plan had caused her demise, he didn’t know how he could live with it.
Asilinn and his unborn son were in danger and he felt helpless to save them. It
was plain he cared for her more than he ever allowed himself to believe.