Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (23 page)

Kate
awoke the next morning and realized she was alone. She pulled the pillow he’d
used against her chest, hugging it tightly. His warmth and scent lingered. Her
brows furrowed as she wondered why he always left in the morning before she
awoke. He definitely wasn’t a morning person. After thinking that, she realized
he wasn’t an afternoon person nor an evening person either. He was just
downright grumpy. She hurriedly dressed and wrapped the MacKinnon plaid around
her in the usual fashion. On her way to the hall, clan’s people waved to her.
With a self-assured smile, she returned their joyful greetings.

She’d
promised to meet Bonnie in the morning, and when she approached the castle, she
saw her waiting on the steps. Her little face lit with a smile.

“Good
morn, Bonnie.”

“I
didn’t think you would come.”

“I
promised, didn’t I? What do you want to do today?”

“I
want to show you and Honey the new pony Papa gaved me.”

“Your
papa gave you a new pony? Was this before or after you returned?”

Bonnie
nodded. “After.”

Kate
laughed. Poor Colin had given the child a guilt gift. Didn’t he realize it
wasn’t his fault she’d been abducted? His daughter was taken by a loathsome
snake and every time she thought about the little girl being held at the de
Morris’, she’d tremble. But she’d thank the Goddess for sending her there.

“Come
along then. Did you say Honey was coming?”

Kate
took her hand, but before they could move off toward the stables, the king
strolled through the doorway of the keep, with two guardsmen following. He was
dressed rather plainly, wearing a dark-blue tunic over dark leggins. His brown
hair appeared tousled, as though he’d just awakened.

“The
sun is barely arisen. I don’t believe I have ever woken so early. My lady,
Kate,” he said, bowing. “Bonnie tells me we’re to go riding, I hope you don’t
mind if I join you.”

“Certainly
not, sire. I look forward to it. I do apologize at our riding at such an early
hour. I hope it’s not too early for you.”

“When
the little mite told me we’d go riding, I had no idea she meant at sunrise.” He
grinned, to show his manner was lighthearted.

It
seemed to Kate that she wasn’t Bonnie’s favorite person any longer, instead of
holding her hand as she usually did, Bonnie held the king’s. She smiled at
them, knowing they had a special friendship.

The
stable master came forward when they entered the stable. He grumbled something
under his breath. For a moment, Kate though he’d make them tend their own
horses. Perhaps it had something to do with the king’s presence. She knew the highlanders
didn’t much care for the English, and here was the most English man of the lot.
She smiled at that.

“That’s
Marvin,” Bonnie cupped her hand, whispering. “He doesn’t like ladies in here.
He always tells me that I’m too little to be inside.”

Kate
laughed. “I see a beautiful horse over there. That’s the one I’ll ride. Where’s
your pony?”

Bonnie
shook her head. “Oh, nay, Kate, the ladies never choose her ‘cause she is not
easy to control. Mama told Papa that she needed more training before she would
ride her.”

“That
doesn’t bother me, she’ll do just fine. Besides, I rode her yesterday and she
did well.” Kate held her hand out, offering the beautiful mare a small carrot
end.

“Marvin,”
Kate called, “put a harness on her for me.”

“Milady?
I cannot, my laird would never forgive me for letting you ride ‘er. Pick
another. There be a gentler mare in the next stall.”

“Nay,
she’s the one I want. Get her ready, and Bonnie’s new pony. Sire, which horse
is yours?”

The
stable master grunted.

“My
men will ready my horse.” Henry motioned to his lackey.

“We’ll
wait outside.” Kate took Bonnie’s hand and strode into the sunshine.

Marvin
brought the two mounts outside, handing the reins to Kate. “I don’t know
anything about this. Brendan will have my arse on the ground if he hears of
it,” Marvin muttered and walked away. “For he bid me not to let you ride her.
Nay, I don’t know nothing about it.”

Kate
laughed at his obvious dislike for letting her ride the mare. She assisted
Bonnie onto her pony, and then pulled herself up on her own mare. The mare
whinnied and bucked a few times before settling down. She soothed her with a
gentle stroke. The king walked out of the stable holding his horse’s reins, and
he too mounted his horse.

“It’s
a beautiful day for riding. Shall we proceed, ladies?”

Bonnie
giggled at being called a lady. They rode around the keep’s walls.

“What
do you think of my pony, Kate?”

“She’s
beautiful, Bonnie, just perfect for you. I never saw a pony with fawn coloring
before. Why she even has white speckles on her coat. You should call her Deer.”

Bonnie
giggled. “Dame Hester calls me dearheart, sometimes.”

“Nay,
I meant like a deer, you know, animals that live in the forests.” Kate laughed.

Henry
grinned.

“Aye,
I like the name, I will call her Deer.”

Kate
smiled. She loved riding and at home, she often rode in the fields, like the
one before them. A feeling of homesickness engulfed her. “Sire, I’d like to
ask, if I may be escorted by you on your return to England.”

Henry
pulled his horse to a stop. “Bonnie, we’re going to sit on this hill, and you
can ride your pony in the field. Be careful sweeten, your papa would be angry
with me if you were to hurt yourself.”

Bonnie
gleefully rode ahead, and Kate dismounted. They sat on the hillside and watched
her.

“I
wanted to speak to you about this. I would be glad to escort you home, Lady
MacKinnon.”

“Sire,
please, call me Kate. I thank you for your favor.”

“Kate,
you have a lovely name. My favor hardly repays you for saving my cousin’s
daughter. Bonnie means much to me. Now that I think on it, I believe it was
your fate to travel to Richard’s keep. You were meant to find Bonnie and aid
her. I suppose you’re angry with me for betrothing you to a Scotsman, but then
you did marry another. Tell me, what does your husband say about your leaving?”

“I
know not. Every time I broach the topic with Brendan, he changes the subject or
ignores me. He is very fond of his homeland, sire, and I don’t believe he
intends to leave it. He said he wouldn’t leave, yet I must return to my people.
Mayhap marrying Brendan wasn’t such a good idea, but I’m not angry and am happy
to have known him.”

“Do
you love him?” Henry watched Bonnie ride around the bales of hay, and didn’t
take his eyes off her while she rode on the field. Her laughter sounded.

“I
suppose I do, but it matters not. I have an obligation to my people.”

“Kate,
I apologize for causing ye such distress by agreeing to your marriage to
Brendan, but you are aright, you do have an obligation to your people. He may
change his mind. Mayhap staying in Scotland is not worth losing you.”

She
blushed. “Oh, sire, that is very kind of you to say, but I sincerely doubt
losing me would matter to Brendan MacKinnon. Have you seen him this day?”

“He
has left. Colin and his men are on their way to Richard’s keep.”

“I
see.” Kate picked at the grass and tried not to show her dejection at him
leaving without even a goodbye to her. Why would he say goodbye? He answered to
no one but himself. She was just his wife and probably not as important to him
as his sword was. Her sorrowful attitude of late was unbecoming. Where was that
sweet-natured woman who made everyone around her joyous? She longed to return
to her jovial self.

“He’ll
return before you know it, and then you shall return home. I wanted to speak to
you about your father. Hawk was a good man and I grieve for his loss. If only
de Guylet hadn’t sent him to Egypt, those damned holy wars have taken many of
our men. If I were in full power, you can be certain I wouldn’t have allowed
more of our men to die for Rome’s sake.”

“Aye,
my lord, I know. Will you be all right with Bonnie? I want to return to my
cottage.”

“She’ll
have me out here for hours no doubt.” Henry stood when she did.

Kate
waved to Bonnie, and then went to stable her horse. When she reached her
cottage, she stood outside, holding onto the wood framing the door. She
wondered if there was a way to get Brendan to change his mind and go with her,
when she left. How would she accomplish that? Unless she used a very potent
spell, nothing would make him leave. It wasn’t as if he loved her, not the
stubborn highlander. Better yet, a love potion that would make him see reason.
Nay, she couldn’t give him a potion. If Brendan MacKinnon would love her, he
would do so on his own accord.

“Goddess,
send me the answer,” she said aloud, as she entered her cottage. She sat at the
table, frowning. Trixie jumped onto her lap, and she petted her. Kate felt
pressed for time, but didn’t know when they would leave. If they left as soon
as Brendan returned, she wouldn’t have any time to convince him that he loved
her.

She
realized then that she hadn’t seen the vision once since she met Brendan. Not
once during her morning ritual or when she meditated had she seen the vision.
It was gone, probably for good. Had the spirits been toying with her all that
time?

Thinking
of that made her envision Madam Serena. Her vision had been so accurate. She’d
gone on a solemn journey because of the child, and she’d met the fierce warrior
of her visions. She never counted on the heartache that came along with him.
Then she remembered what Madam had said, she’d told her that the warrior would
cause her grief, but that it was well-meaning. Did that mean Brendan MacKinnon
loved her? Kate hurried and erected her circle. Maybe if she prayed hard
enough, she would get the answer to that question.

Satisfaction
was close, Brendan could taste it. He looked ahead into the dense forest,
stopping his horse, because he heard the sound of footsteps that sounded on
wooden planking. The de Morris holding was just ahead, and he motioned to the
others, waiting for the riders to get near. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he
approached the manor. In a quick dismount, he assessed the guards and counted
the watchmen. Colin, Gil, and Walt stood next to him, each gauging the
inadequacies of the guard posted.

“They
almost make it too easy.” Brendan walked beside them.

They
scaled the walls in the dark of night. The guardsmen never heard their
approach. They subdued the ten men that protected the walls, and then they made
their assent on the keep itself. A bared doorway obstructed their view of the
inside bailey.

“There
must be another way in,” Colin said.

They
moved to the back of the holding, where several MacKinnon men strode along the
walls looking for another entrance. Every holding had an additional entrance,
and they suspected this one had as well.

Gil
motioned to Brendan. “I spotted a wooden doorway behind this large shrub.”

Gil
pushed the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Brendan stepped back and went at the
door with his body. The door gave way as his large body forced the old wooden
hinges to break. They found themselves inside a small darkened chamber. Only
three could fit inside at once. Gil pulled out a candle and bent down to place
it on the floor. Brendan used flint to light it, and when he stood up he
noticed they were inside a small garrison, where many weapons were stored on
shelves.

Colin
directed a few of the men to guard the room so Richard’s soldiers couldn’t get
to it. The room led to a long hallway, which in turn, led to the main hall. A
lady sat at the table, apparently unconcerned about their approach. Brendan
stepped beside his brother as the MacKinnons instantaneously surrounded her.

“Where
is Lord Richard?” Colin asked.

“Milords,
welcome, I am Lady de Morris.”

Brendan
wondered what Colin was about when he pulled the lady from her seat.

Colin
grasped the woman’s hair tightly, holding her close to his face. His brother’s
look was enough to send the woman to a swoon, but she dared to glare at him.

“You
are the woman who cared for my child?” His brother shouted the question and the
woman’s eyes widened.

“Did
you care for the lass your husband abducted?” Colin shook the woman. “Answer
me.”

The
woman screamed, shaking her head. Brendan knew his brother didn’t believe her.
Colin slapped the woman across her face, causing her to cry out.

Colin
rasped with anger. “How could you beat a defenseless child? I should kill you.”

The
woman’s fear finally caused her to faint dead-away, and his brother dropped the
woman to the floor. “Brendan, get me out of here before I kill the woman.”

Brendan
backed away from the table, forcing his brother to follow. “Do you think de
Morris is here?”

He
eyed the woman as he left, all but dismissing her as they searched the keep for
Richard. Disgusted by the care of the manor, Brendan searched room to room.

Colin
met him outside the room he’d just inspected. “I cannot believe my poor bairn
was held prisoner in this filthy pigsty. I’m even more incensed. God has my
gratitude for sending Kate to my lass.” He voiced his affront, and shared a
heated look with Brendan.

Brendan
continued the search in the upstairs chambers, and ran across a maid who volunteered
information on the whereabouts of de Morris. He joined his brother in the hall
after a thorough search, assuring himself the man had withdrawn.

“Colin,
a maid upstairs told me Lord Richard has fled to another keep located a few
miles to the south. He’s not here.”

Colin
gave the signal and they left the de Morris keep. Brendan rode next to him,
silently. Forty MacKinnon warriors went along on the mission. Mist made the air
dense, but the early morning sun tried to cut through it. Brendan didn’t mind the
dreariness, because he was used to being out in the cold and wet weather. The
closer they got to holding they searched for, the more agitated he became. All
were quiet, except for Colin.

Colin
spoke softly to him, “I was enraged at the condition of the keep my daughter
was held in. It makes me incensed every time I think about it. We should be
close. Do you deem he’ll be there?”

“If
he’s not there, we’ll keep looking.”

They
reached the location, a keep enclosed by a stone wall. Brendan jumped from his
horse and climbed a tree to get a better look. He surveyed the holding from the
branches of the tree he’d scaled, and watched the sentry posted for signs of
weaknesses.

“Let
us ride up to the wall. We have the proclamation from Henry. That should secure
us an invite inside.” Brendan smiled at that, knowing it wasn’t true. No man,
even an Englishman, would invite them inside, given that they looked ready for
battle.

Brendan
stopped his mount next to his brother’s, and the rest of Colin’s men filed in
behind them. A man approached the threshold of the rampart and looked somewhat
nervous. Mayhap they did appear as though they had just fought in a
hundred-year war. Their size intimated many men, yet the large red-haired man
courageously leaned forward.

“Who
goes there? What do ye here?” He cupped his hands and bellowed.

“I’m
looking for Richard de Morris. Is he within?” Colin shouted, as he looked up at
the stout man, shielding his eyes against the backdrop of the rising sun.

“Nay,
he is not here.”

“Who
are you?” Colin asked.

“Who
am I? Who the hell are you? You’ve come to my wall, so you’ll be telling me
first, who you are, and what you want of Richard.”

“I’m
Colin MacKinnon. I’m going to kill Richard de Morris.” Colin took his sword
from his scabbard, aiming at the man.

“Rather
blunt, are you not, Scot? Richard is a friend of mine. What did he do to make
you want to kill him?” The man leaned on the crenellation, waiting for his
answer.

“Send
the devil out so I can kill him. I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

The
man grunted. “If you want access to my keep, you’ll be telling me why.”

Colin
practically growled at the man. “He abducted my child and held her in the
filthy pigsty, he calls home. He took her right out of the king’s castle, from
under his protection. He threatened my sister-in-law’s life and that of her
tenants. He deserves to die.”

“Well,
damn, I don’t know where he is. He left a few days ago.”

Brendan
touched his sword’s handle, itching to draw it out. “He lies. The maid said
he’d left a few hours ago.”

“Where
did he go?” Colin shouted up at the man.

“I
know not, he only stopped by for a short visit.”

“Who
the hell are you?” Colin demanded.

“Harry
Fitzhugh. See here, the man’s not here, and I won’t have you storming my keep.
You’ll be on your way now.”

“You
haven’t heard the last of us, Fitzhugh,” Colin said and he turned his horse.

Brendan
nudged his horse next to his brother’s. “What are we going to do now? Should we
storm the holding and see for ourselves? Let’s go in and overtake the keep. I’m
ready to fight.”

“Aye,
I know you are, Brendan. We certainly will storm that keep, but not until I
have my men survey Fitzhugh’s holding.”

“Why
wait? We should rush in there like we did at de Morris’.”

Colin’s
face turned stern, a look Brendan understood.

“I’m
not an arse, Brendan, and won’t rush in there without knowing how many men
we’ll face or what the lay of the land is. I won’t risk my men’s necks without
knowing all the details. Who knows what this Fitzhugh’s soldiers number. Let us
make them believe we retreated. We’ll move to the woods and discuss our battle
plan. I’ll not leave England until I find that clootie.”

Brendan
grimaced. “Neither will I.” He didn’t particularly agree with his brother’s
plan, but Colin was sensible when it came to warring. Brendan was more a
fighter than a strategic thinker, which was one of the traits he admired in his
brother. Still, he was sure if they had just invaded the keep Fitzhugh wouldn’t
be able to thwart them. He wasn’t about to contradict his brother’s reasoning and
decided to keep that thought to himself.

They
rode into the woods and made camp. Colin, Walt, and Gil, crouched next to a
drawn layout of the keep, inscribed with a stick onto the ground. Colin marked
the posted guards. “How many men do you think Fitzhugh has inside?”

Brendan
began to pace in his customary manner. “Will it matter?”

“Nay.
I need you at your best, Brendan. Do you deem you can put aside your contention
for the man, and the king’s demand, from your mind for the coming battle?”

“It’s
all ready been put aside, been forgotten. Stop harping on it like an old woman.
It matters not that I am fighting with the English.” To assure his brother of
that, he unsheathed his sword.

“I
noticed flaws in the keep’s design. I think we shouldn’t scale the wall, och go
behind and see what’s there. Better to do the unexpected. We’ll wait until
nightfall.”

“Aye,
I agree, they’ll probably be expecting us to come at the gate again or lay
siege. Fitzhugh seems confidant that his holding is secure, which makes me think
he has many soldiers inside.”

“That
could well be a diversionary tactic, Colin. I guess we’ll see when we return.”

The
men rode hard back to Fitzhugh’s holding when the sky darkened, which didn’t
wind their horses or themselves. Both men and beasts were aptly tuned for
battle, and the anticipation of finding Richard de Morris lent a spark of
energy to them. Brendan had wiped the paint off his face, because he wanted
Richard de Morris to see his expression, to know his adversary, and to see the
look of pure hatred on his face when he killed him. When they reached the keep
all was quiet, too quiet.

Colin
whispered to Brendan, “Something is amiss. Can you hear anything?”

“There’s
no one inside the lower bailey nor atop the walls. I don’t hear anyone about,
yet only early evening. There should be people milling about or at least a
sentry posted. Do you deem it’s a trap?”

“Aye,
definitely an ambush. Let’s scale the walls and find out.” Brendan’s impatience
wore him down, he paced while they discussed nonsense.

Colin
shook his head. “I don’t know how many soldiers Fitzhugh has, I’m hesitant to
walk into an ambush. We know not if this Fitzhugh has mercenaries or more
knights inside.”

“Let
us storm the keep and find out.” Brendan began the climb to the rampart of the
stone crenellation, and no soldiers stood atop. He looked below into the
courtyard, and no people walked along, not even a servant, soldier, or
craftsman. “My senses tell me there is doom within, Colin. I can’t deny my
instincts.” Brendan kept his eyes trained on the entrance of the manor, but
didn’t see any movement.

Colin
motioned to his men and they made their advance on the manor. They slunk down
the walls, through the courtyard, and made their way to the door. They moved
like shadows, hidden in the recesses of nooks along the way. It didn’t matter,
no alert sounded.

Once
inside the keep, they found Fitzhugh. They stood staring at him, he didn’t
move.

“Ah,
Fitzhugh had a feast without us, lads.” Colin’s jest didn’t gain him a single
laugh from Fitzhugh, nor from his men. His voice wasn’t at all jesting.
Fitzhugh was dead, sitting at his table, as if he was enjoying a fine banquet.
Uneaten food remained on the table, and Fitzhugh had been sliced at the throat
and killed instantly.

“What
the hell happened here?” Walt asked, as he came from the hall that led from the
back.

“Looks
as though a friend might have turned on Fitzhugh whilst he was enjoying a fine
supper. Let’s find the servants, there must be some around,” Colin said.

“My
question is: where are his soldiers?” Brendan listened for sounds inside the
manor.

As
they walked throughout the keep, they found several servants hiding in chambers
above and below the main floor. They gathered them in a large chamber just off
the hall. Fitzhugh’s people appeared frightened of the warriors, and they
crowded together in a corner. Brendan walked to an older man, who looked as
though he might offer information.

“Sir,
I’m Brendan MacKinnon. His majesty, King Henry, sent us here to find Lord
Richard de Morris. Has he been here?”

The
man was indeed old. Brendan thought he might be hard of hearing, so he
questioned him again in a louder voice. He hoped the man would be forthcoming,
because the women looked as though they would swoon if approached.