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KYLIE TRIED TO PRETEND he was just another man in a long line of hands she had held. In truth, it felt good to be touching him, to feel his warmth and the odd sense of finally belonging somewhere in the world, safe and cared for. She liked it so much, she guessed she was going daft. Her mind said to let go and never let him touch her again, but something was happening to her heart. She could not let go and instead, tucked every precious moment away so she could remember it later. She could never marry again and this was as close to love as she was ever going to get.
Callum was encouraged when she took his hand. That was the way a courtship should begin and even after marriage, at least their odd kind of marriage, it was not too late to begin. He tried to think of something to say, but the crowd was growing louder and besides, she did not seem to want to talk. Of course, she had just seen her father taken away and perhaps it was of him she was thinking.
He thought of her as a wounded soul that needed a lot of love to heal, and he was ready to give it to her as best he knew how. Perhaps he needed a little guidance and he thought to ask his mother how best to comfort her as soon as they got home. Now finally, he understood his father’s constant warning—the act of taking a wife was not to be entered into lightly. He had been impulsive, but he did not regret it. Having Kylie beside him made him feel more like a man than ever before. He was responsible for someone else now, it was time to put away his childish things, and he was not sorry to see them go.
Of course, they needed a cottage of their own and he knew exactly which one he wanted. The people living on that meandering path in the MacGreagor village would not think ill of her and if they did, they would never let her know. Kylie would be welcome and even loved there. Indeed, that would be the perfect place.
Now that he was married, he needed to do more than just tend to the needs of his mother and sisters. Normally, the clan took care of all the hunting, the tanning, the building and anything else Laird MacGreagor’s family needed. Now however, he wanted to provide for his wife and any children they might have himself. His thoughts then turned to which occupation he might enjoy most.
*
ROSS FELT A SHOE ON his backside as soon as the flaps of the tent were opened, and nearly fell on his face when he was shoved inside. It took a moment for him to sit up and then for his eyes to adjust to the scant light. He looked at the man opposite him, closed his eyes, and opened them again. The man looked exactly like his son-in-law.
Befuddled, Ross closed them again, shook his head as if to clear his mind, and then slowly opened just one eye. “How have you...you are here, but just now you were...” He pointed toward the village and then meekly withdrew his hand. “I suppose ‘tis possible you arrived first, we were detained for a time along the way. Why are you here?”
“I am accused of treason,” said Tavan.
“Oh my, you are in a great deal more trouble than I. Poor Kylie, to be without a father and a husband. They will execute you, to be sure.”
“Who is Kylie?”
Ross stared at the man seated on the ground in front of him. “Who is Kylie? First you are sound, then you are daft, then you seem to have your wits about you and now...daft again. I am too old for this madness.”
“Why are you here?” Tavan asked.
Ross shifted his eyes from side to side and then studied the serious expression on Tavan’s face. “Do you deny sending the guards to fetch me?”
“I do.” Tavan watched the man put his head in his hands and feared he was going to pass out. “Are you unwell?”
“I must be. Perhaps there was something in the wine. I have heard of such things. A soothsayer’s tonic can make a lad think a thing is true when it is not.”
Tavan had no idea what the stranger was babbling about but he knew the signs. This man had seen at least one of his brothers. “I am Tavan.”
“I am Ross, at least I thought I was.”
Tavan smiled. “You are not daft, I am a triplet.”
“A what? A triplet, you say? Then you did not marry my daughter?”
“Nay, I am Tavan and I have been here since yesterday.”
“I cannot say how glad I am to hear it, and fortune falls on you for not being the one to wed her.” Ross leaned forward a little. “She likes to place a wager now and again. ‘Tis a bitter disappointment for a father to be sure, for she nearly always loses.”
“Is that why she is married to my brother? She lost a wager?”
“Well no, not precisely.”
“What precisely happened?”
“‘Tis a long story.”
“We have time.”
Ross glanced around, remembered where he was, and shrugged. “Indeed we do.” He crossed his legs and attempted to get more comfortable. “You see, she is a burden, if I must say it, what with her wagering away all I can manage to gather for her keep. A lass must be fed and clothed, you know.”
“What did you do?”
“What else could I do? It broke my very heart to do it, but I bartered her off.”
Tavan took a moment to understand. “My brother bought a wife?”
“Aye, he did, although once they were married, he refused to pay the price.” Ross frowned and then brightened. “I do not wish him harm and therefore, I will try my best to forgive him someday. I only hope he can keep her in toe.” Again he leaned a little closer. “She is not to be trusted, you understand.”
“I am beginning to. Tell me, why is it you are here and not your daughter?”
“‘Tis all a misunderstanding. Another lad took a fancy to her and thought she would wed him. Such trifling nonsense I have never seen. Whoever heard of a lass being betrothed to two lads at once?”
Tavan didn’t have to ask which brother she married. It was Callum. “Then the other lad had you arrested.”
“Indeed he did. I only hope my daughter will soon come to my rescue. It was all for her, you understand, all for her.”
*
FINAGAL SOMEHOW FELT relieved having told Luke her secret. He did not laugh at her or scorn her, which she found very pleasing. He was not a big man, like most MacGreagors were, but he was handsome in his own right. She liked his smile, and the way he made her feel as though she could tell him anything. Rumor had it he was not the handy sort, but he could certainly learn. She smiled when she thought about him trying to put cheese on his hook. His fingers were round and thick, too thick to accomplish it easily.
Back to her cottage just in time to help her mother feed her siblings, Finagal prayed her father would not guess she had been crying and avoided his eyes. He was a hunter and with so many mouths to feed, it was a very good thing for him to be. Soon he would join the other hunters and she would take the children outside to play, if it was not raining. The sun was up now, there were only a few clouds and she was glad. A sunny day was just what she needed.
As soon as their morning meal was finished, she took the children outside. The little ones loved to play on the whalebone, climbing over the ends, falling over and laughing at their own lack of ability. She laughed with them, when she wasn’t looking for Luke. Finagal had never done that before—hoped to see a man, and she found it exciting. Considering her circumstances, it was silliness, she reminded herself. Still, confiding in Luke and no one else, even Patrick whom she considered her best friend, amazed her.
She glanced once more toward the courtyard and at last, there he was walking toward her. An odd sort of eagerness gripped her. Hush, she commanded her heart. Hush and do not allow it.
“Ah, there you are,” said Luke. “You were right, my fingers cannot work the cheese at all well.” However, he continued, holding up his line with a small fish hanging from the hook. “‘Tis my first.”
He was oddly beaming and she could not help but ask. “Have you never fished before?”
Luke puffed his cheeks, “May I now trust you with a secret?”
“Of course.”
“Nay, I have not fished since I was a wee laddie and never alone.”
“Why not? I thought all lads loved to fish.”
“That they do, or so I have heard. You see, I have been...shall we say, put away.”
She could not hide her horror. “Put away? I thought only the feeble minded were put away and you seem to have your wits about you.”
“Thank you, I try to have my wits about me. Nay, ‘twas not that sort of put away.”
“I am happy to hear that. ‘Tis unthinkable what becomes of the witless in those places.”
Luke was taken aback. He had given very little thought to the plight of the feeble minded, but she did and he admired her for it. A queen normally did little but adorn her husband’s court, but if Finagal were queen, she would surely change all that. Indeed, Scotland could use a queen like Finagal. “They are put away because they become unmanageable when they are grown. What other are we to do?”
“There must be something, but our king does not care.”
“I see, then I shall ride to his castle immediately and throttle the lad.”
Finagal laughed. “May I watch?”
“You may even help me.”
She took a moment to check on the other children and then asked, “For what crime were you put away?”
“Nay, no crime at all. ‘Tis not easy to explain, I am finding. Perhaps one day soon I will be able to tell you more. Remember, you are not to breathe a word of what I just said.”
Finagal glanced at her little brother, took a step closer, and caught his arm before the little one bumped his head on the bone. “Nathan, slowly over the bone like I showed you.” The toddler wrenched free of her grasp and continued on just as he had before. This time luck was on his side and he made it successfully over the bone without falling on his face.
She turned to grin at Luke. “Why is it the lasses do all the teaching when the laddies are small, and later the fathers claim to have made their sons into fine warriors?”
Luke chuckled. “I see you have noticed how unfair the world is. What else do you find unfair?”
“Well, let me see.” She took a moment to watch two brothers spar with wooden swords and was glad their other brother, little more than a year younger than she, was there to mind they didn’t hurt each other. “I find it vastly unfair for lasses to suffer the pain of giving birth.”
“With that I agree, although ‘tis the lads who fight the wars.”
“I suppose that might make it fair.” She reached out one more time to grab her little brother, let go and watched him struggle to get to his feet again. “There are surely other things I find unfair, but I cannot think of them just now.”
“Perhaps later we may talk again.”
“Perhaps. Mother allows me time to be alone after the noon meal when the children nap, just as I allow her a bit of freedom in the mornings as I am now.”
“That is very kind of you.”
Finagal bit her lower lip. “I shall miss her most once I marry and go away.”
“Of course you shall. Where will I find you after the noon meal?”
“Here, I will wait for you here. I want to hear all about your home and why you were put away.”
Luke nodded, turned, and walked across the glen to the courtyard. What was he going to tell her about his life? What could he tell her, or rather how much? For a moment, he regretted becoming so fond of her, but fond of her he was and even if he wanted to, he could not change that.
*
PATRICK FOUND IT HARD to take his eyes off Graw, and intentionally stopped several times as they walked back up the castle hill, just to take in the view and keep her with him. When she asked about his home, the home her grandmother grew up in, he was happy to tell her all about it. He was about to mention his parents when they reached the castle and he decided to keep it for later.
Just as her mother had, Graw led the way to a side door and by then the guards were expecting him. She hated to see him walk down the hall to go see the king, but perhaps he would come back. At least she hoped he would and was thrilled when he stopped and looked back.
“Will you walk with me later?” he asked.
“Aye.” Nothing pleased her more and she could hardly wait. She took the flowers to the kitchen to make her arrangements. After that, she intended to quickly replenish the vases that needed it and hurry back.
*
PATRICK WAS SURPRISED to find no one there when the guard escorted him into the great hall, left and closed the door. He supposed he was to wait and wondered how long it would be before someone came. Meanwhile, he clasped his hands behind his back and decided to get a better look at one of the enormous tapestries. The colors were exquisite, the expressions on the warrior’s faces were fascinating, and he soon began to imagine what it must have been like.
“It is magnificent, is it not?” asked the king, suddenly standing behind him.
Patrick quickly turned, knelt and bowed his head. “You are looking well, my king.”
“I slept very well, thanks to you. Good heavens lad, get up.” He waited for Patrick to rise before he spoke again. “I hoped to see your brothers today.”
“So had I, but we seem to have misplaced one. Callum went to look for him in the night, but found neither Tavan nor his horse. We fear the worst.”
“Blackguards this close to my castle? I am not surprised. As you are aware, they seem to be seeking my death lately. But what cause would they have to harm your brother?”
“I cannot guess. He is a good archer and hoped to match skills with your guards.”
“Do you mean he went to the encampment?”
“Aye.”
The king frowned. “I see. I will send guards to search for him directly. Have you eaten?”
“I have.”
“But perhaps you could eat again?” The king turned and then shouted. “Enter!” A flood of people came in, beginning with the usual guards and then those carrying platters with far more food than the two of them could possibly eat. “I expected all three of you.”
Patrick smiled, “I shall enjoy making my brothers sorry they missed it.”
The last of the servers to enter, Graw carried a single goblet and when the king sat at the table, she set it down before him.
He tipped the goblet toward him, found it half-empty and suspiciously looked at her, “You bring only a swallow of water?”
She rolled her eyes, “I had to bribe the cook to let me bring that much. ‘Tis not my duty to serve.”
“Perhaps it is not me you wish to see.”
“Your Majesty, you know I love only you.” She quickly turned to Patrick. “Have you told him yet?” Just as quickly she looked back at the king, “I have seen one, they are remarkably alike. It is quite...”
“Unsettling,” said Patrick.
The king chuckled. “I cannot wait. That reminds me, where are my guards?” He turned in his seat, motioned and two of them came running. “See this lad? There is another looking just like him. Find him and bring him to me unharmed.”
Both nodded and rushed out of the room.
“Wait!” the king shouted. In just a moment, the guards came back in. “There are three, bring me the one named...”
“Tavan, Your Majesty.”
“Aye, Tavan.” He dismissed everyone, even Graw, with a wave of his hand, and went about deciding what he would eat.
Even though Patrick took a seat, the king could not help notice him watching Graw leave the room. “Do you think to take her away from me?”
Patrick grinned, “Only if you allow it.”
“Are you claiming her?”
“I would like to, but I will not unless she is willing. I do not want an unwilling wife.”
“That is wise of you. I hate to see her go, but she must marry someday. Do you promise to bring her back occasionally?”
“I promise.”
Patrick ate his second morning meal only half listening to the king chat about the King of England and the war he expected someday. He wanted Graw and he already had the king’s blessing, but what was he to do about Finagal?
*
KYLIE DESPERATELY WANTED Callum to go back to the inn and rest, but she feared he might be suspicious if she suggested it again. Leisurely walking with him toward the stables at the end of market road, she asked, “What shall we do now?”
“I hope to find the lads you are betrothed to. Do you see none of them?”
“Not yet.” She was afraid he had not forgotten about that. As soon as they approached the stables, she dropped his hand and hurried on ahead. Hopefully, her horse was still there after all and perhaps her husband would pay the fee.
Behind them, a man shouted, “Kylie!”
It made both of them quickly turn around, and when she saw whom it was, Kylie eased behind her husband. This unsuspecting groom-to-be was the skinny one, so bowlegged he needed a cane to help him walk. “He is one of them,” she whispered.
The man looked to be close to fifty and Callum felt sorry for him. Nevertheless, he put his hand out to stop his approach. “Do not touch her.”
“‘Tis quite all right, I...”
“She cannot marry you.”
Her name caught the attention of another man who hurried over just in time to hear what Callum said. “Of course she cannot, she is pledged to me.”
The skinny man could not believe it and yelled, “But I paid the price and the wedding is all arranged.”
It didn’t take long for a crowd to gather and Kylie seriously considered making a run for it. Before she could, Callum moved aside and once more took hold of her hand. She was totally exposed, embarrassingly so. “Father has been arrested,” she managed to say.
“‘Tis a mistake, she is mine!” shouted the second man.
To her horror, the third man, the one she ran into earlier that morning, was coming straight for her. She lowered her head and once more tried to step behind Callum, but he would not let her.
“She will not marry either of you,” said Callum.
“Why not?” several people asked at once.
The third man made his way through the crowd and grinned. “Because she is to marry me.” It did nothing to calm the first two men, who suddenly turned their glares on the third.
“He lies!” the first shouted.
“He does not lie,” Callum said. “Her father promised her to all three.”
“All...” The third man gasped. “She smiled so sweetly and agreed to the marriage...she lied to me!”
Kylie held her breath and when she heard Callum’s reply, she was as shocked as the crowd. “Aye, she did and I saw her do it.” She wanted to crawl into a cave and hide forever. He saw her do it? Callum had been watching her?
“You admit she lied?” asked the second man. “I say she needs be arrested.”
“Perhaps, but what lass has a say over her father’s doings?” Callum asked.
Kylie studied her husband’s face. He looked serious and if he truly agreed, she could very well be arrested. Nothing horrified her more. The crowd was staring at her, Callum had a firm grip on her hand, and she could think of no way out. “I meant no harm,” she tried.
“I say you did,” said the second man.
Callum quickly glanced at Kylie. “You say right, but what am I to do? I also was tricked and now she is my wife.”
“Wife?” all three of her intendeds repeated.
He waited until their shock and murmurings calmed down. “If she is arrested,” Callum continued, “I am honor bound to stay and I’ve a home to go to. The fields wait for no man and the spring planting is at hand.”
“Where is her father?” asked the third.
Callum answered, “He was arrested for betrothing her to a fourth.”
The first man rolled his eyes and walked away, as did the second, but the third man was not yet satisfied and came closer. “You did not tell me you were married when we talked this morning. You lied and I say you are as wretched as your father.”
Callum glared at the man. “Take care what you say to my wife.” He held his glare until the man moved back, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd.
Kylie should have been grateful he kept her from being arrested, but just now, she was appalled and let go of his hand. “You watched me?”
“I heard you and your father argue, and wanted to see if you would carry out your threat to marry if he refused to give you the price. I was curious.”
“So you followed us?”
“Aye.”
“You’ll not abide your curiosity ever again, I’ll wager.” She started to walk back toward the stables.
“Where are you going?”
“I wish to see if my horse is still in the stable.”
He expected some measure of gratitude from her, instead, she seemed hostile. “What is it, what has upset you?”
She stopped and turned her ire on him. “We agreed you would tell your clan the truth. Do you intend to tell them you watched me trick that poor, old, tired lad into thinking he could have me? Will you say that?”
“Kylie, it is not my clan it is our clan and I will not say anything you wish kept between the two of us. I have no desire to dishonor you, but I do wonder...”
“What?”
“Why did you put up with it?”
Her husband was asking for the truth and that was the last thing she intended to tell him. “We do not have a clan. Where does a lass alone go? How does she survive? I hated every day of it, but at least with him I was safer than out in the world alone.”
Callum lowered his searching eyes. “But you could have married?”
“I tried that once and Father told the lad I had a dreaded malady he would catch on our wedding night. Believe me, I tried every possible means of escape and he always found a way of stopping me. Oh what does it matter, what is done is done and I’ve no way of undoing it.” She left him standing there and did not stop until she reached the stable.
Why did she possibly care what his clan thought of her, she wasn’t going there? It would not be her home and he could not be her husband, no matter how much she wished he could. Her horse was indeed gone as was her father’s, and when she asked, the stable master said he had none to sell. She shrugged as if it didn’t matter...but it did.
Standing behind her, Callum said, “I do not regret it.”
“Do not regret what?”
“Marrying you.”
Kylie slowly turned around to look into his eyes. “How can you not?” It was such a dear thing for him to say, if he had opened his arms to her, she might have melted, but what would that accomplish? She was beginning to love the man and her desperation to get away before she did, seemed to grow by the second. If only he would go back to the inn and sleep.
“You do not need a horse. You will ride with me on the way home.”
“It seems we have no choice,” was all she said.
*
LAIRD SAWNEY MACGREAGOR liked the times when everyone else was outside enjoying the sunshine and he could practice his English with Luke. Their stomachs were full, the new batch of wine was excellent and Sawney was as curious about the life of a prince, as the prince was about the whalebone, and the previous laird who nearly ruined the MacGreagor clan.
“What happened to Dena after that?”
“She married the new Graham laird and has eight children, the last I heard.”
“And your wife fought a gray wolf to save Dena. I am astounded; many a lad has lost that battle.” Luke sipped his wine and rubbed the back of his neck. “Tell me, have you a soothsayer?”
“Nay, they are not welcome by most. There was one who lived in the woods not far from Clan Swinton. Why do you ask?”
“I’ve a friend who believes in them completely and lives her life accordingly. Was that soothsayer never wrong?”
“Constantly. She proclaimed a daughter and I got three sons. Before that, she warned of an attack that never came and before that, she advised the clan not to eat beef for a month. She claimed it was somehow poisoned. We needed the leather and I refused to let the meat spoil, so I ate a good portion to show it was safe. Even so, we were forced to let much of it go to the dogs. Not one of the dogs died.”
Luke smiled, “You take little stock in soothsayers?”
“I do not. The priest claims it is nonsense, but the seers are right just enough to convince a few.”
“‘Tis not easy to change a belief.”
“Not easy at all.”
It was on that subject Luke pondered long into the night. How do you change a belief? It seemed even with proof, it was impossible. Yet not changing Finagal’s belief meant she would marry her cousin. There had to be a way to do it, there just had to be.
*
KYLIE PAID LITTLE ATTENTION to where they were after she and Callum walked back down the market road to the tables. He was quiet and so was she. She hoped he was thinking of sleeping and not about her treachery.
Twice, as they walked down the row of tables, he glanced at her, thought she was about to cry and decided to distract her. When they came to a table with an array of jewelry, he stopped. “I have two sisters, both younger. Might you help me choose favors for them?”
“How old are they?”
“Bardie is seven and Colina is not yet thirteen.”
“I see.” She carefully chose a simple one for Bardie, closely examined it and then put it back. A ring caught her eye, then another necklace and another before she made up her mind and set her selection aside.
Standing not far away, Callum was pleased with the delight on Kylie’s face as she examined the jewelry. She had only begun to sort through the array when he felt the tip of a sword in his back. Careful not to alarm her, he slowly turned and when he looked back, both cousins were grinning at him. Barnad motioned for him to come away, so he quietly obeyed. Had the street not been filled with people and had fewer of the king’s men been nearby, he would have pulled his sword and fought them. Still, the chance of hurting someone else, or having too many to fight deterred him.
For the eldest sister, the choice Kylie had to make was much harder. Would she want something fit for a child or one a woman would cherish? A golden ring attracted her attention, but then she spotted a necklace with a single pearl, picked it up, and looked to see if Callum approved.
Callum was gone.
Kylie set the necklace down, made her way through the crowd to the side of the road, and tried to find him. Perhaps he wandered away to look at something else. As tall as he was, he should not have been hard to see, but she couldn’t find him anywhere. It did not seem reasonable he would leave her there alone. How was she to pay for the jewelry without him? Nay, something was amiss. Per chance, she caught sight of her husband just as he rounded the corner of the inn. Behind him were two of the King’s guards with their swords drawn. “The cousins,” she whispered. “They will kill him sure.”
In a panic, she ran that direction so she could see where they were taking him, but when she reached the corner, her husband and the cousins were out of sight. It occurred to her that Patrick and Graw might still be in the market and looked in every direction, but she couldn’t see Patrick either. It was the perfect time to make her escape, but that was the last thing on her mind. Her husband needed help...he needed her. With no other option, Kylie headed for the castle.
*
THE COTTAGE THE COUSINS took Callum to was small, with not nearly enough room for a proper sword fight. It was grossly untidy with soiled clothing on the floor or tossed across chairs, used bowls left on the table and air that was filled with the pungent odor of mildew. Catal kept the tip of his sword in Callum’s back while Barnad put his sword away and checked the second room.
“My sister is gone,” said Barnad. He let the curtain fall back down between the two rooms and turned to face Callum.
“Good.” Catal muttered.
Callum’s first concern was to keep the cousins away from Kylie. In one swift movement, he picked up a chair, swung it around, and knocked the sword out of Catal’s hand. Before Barnad could draw his sword again, and with the same chair, Callum hit him hard in the knee, causing the chair to shatter and Barnad to cry out in pain. Unfortunately, Catal quickly recovered, grabbed Callum’s arm and put the blade of his dagger against the side of Callum’s neck. “Breathe wrong and you shall die.”
Callum hesitated a moment too long to react before Barnad had his sword drawn, and was holding it high in the air with both hands ready to strike. Callum reluctantly dropped what was left of the chair.
“Take his weapons,” Barnad said, bringing his sword down and putting it in the hollow of Callum’s neck instead.
Catal put his dagger away, stripped Callum of his weapons and tossed them toward the door. Next, he grabbed the only remaining chair, turned it around and motioned for Callum to sit down.
Callum was certain he had damaged Barnad’s knee and hoped it was broken, yet Barnad did not show his pain. Instead, the look of rage in Barnad’s eyes convinced an unarmed Callum he would be better off obeying. If they wanted him dead, he would not still be breathing. As soon as he sat, Catal grabbed a length of rope and began to tie him up.
“I might wonder why you hesitate to kill me,” Callum said.
Catal smirked. “We have our reasons.”
“Where is the other one?” asked Barnad.
“The other what?”
Barnad raised the tip of his sword a little higher against Callum’s throat and narrowed his eyes. “Do not toy with me, you know what. Where is your twin?”
“I do not have a twin.”
“Then we did not see you talking to him? He was with Graw and word is the king highly favors him.”
“Oh, that twin. I truly do not know where he went. Perhaps I might interest you in a wager or two. I can...”
“Silence!” Barnad shouted.
Now tightly bound to the chair, Callum watched the cousins put their weapons away, leave, and close the door.
*
“HAVE YOU MORE STORIES to tell,” asked the King.
Patrick could not eat another bite and suspected the king wanted to postpone his pretended concern for his son as long as possible. “Our father tells many, shall I go on?”
“Aye.”
“Very well. There came an odd black stallion into the meadow, the likes of which my great-grandfather, Neil, had never seen. The horse was black from head to toe, even his eyes were black, and he shied away from all save Neil. Neil knew the MacDonalds were going to attack and...”
One of the large double doors abruptly opened and the king turned in his chair, “What’s this?”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Graw said, running to him and stopping to quickly curtsey.”
“What is it, what is wrong, child?”
“The cousins have taken Patrick’s brother.”
Patrick immediately stood up. “I feared this would happen, I will find him.” He had taken only one step when the King took hold of his arm.
“I will see to this.” said the king. “Graw, send in the guards.”
Graw raced to the door, opened it, said something to the men waiting outside, and moved out of the way so they could enter.
“Bring me the cousins and do it now before they can do more harm.”
All six guards bowed and quickly left. When the king turned back, Graw was standing beside Patrick. “Is there more to tell me?”
“Nay, but Patrick should know...I mean, Patrick must...”
“Say it child, do not make me guess,” the king demanded.
“It is just that Callum’s wife came to tell me and now she is gone.”
“Gone where?” asked Patrick.
Graw truly did not know where, but she knew why. She wanted to tell him the truth, but when it came down to it, she still could not betray Kylie. “I do not know.”
“Perhaps she only went to look for her husband,” said the king. “‘Twould be natural for her to wish him safe.”
Patrick studied Graw’s worried expression, noticed she would not look at him and guessed the truth. “Graw means my brother’s wife has run away, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, I see. Then we must find your brother so he can go after her.”
“I should go after her,” said Patrick.
“A brother can do many things, but he must not interfere in a marriage. If she runs away, she has good cause. Has he beaten her?”
“Nay, Callum would never do that,” Patrick answered.
The king noticed Graw shake her head in agreement. “You know more than you are telling, am I right?”
She kept her head down. “I gave my word not to tell and I have already said more than I should.”
Thinking he could get her to tell, Patrick smiled. “I am reminded I asked you to walk with me.”
The king frowned, “I suppose in that case, I must see to that endless parade of tiresome visitors who have come to see me. Very well then, off with the two of you.”
