Conquered Heart (Legend of the King's Guard Book 1) Page 14

  James stood beside a tree when he reached the incline. His comrade covered with blood and his eyes black with a murderous look. “He’s below. We saved him from the attack of four or five MacDoughalls. Best ye get him out of here, James. Take him to safety.”

  “There is much to consider. My thanks, Graeme, for your aid. Aye, I’ll see to our king. I will be in touch if there’s any further skirmishes.”

  “We will come at once.” He tugged at his horse’s tether and when he reached the trail, he took the saddle. His comrades awaited him and they started off toward home. It would be an easier ride, for at least they knew Robert lived through the battle and got through the line of MacDoughalls.

  Graeme considered the king’s next move. If he were shrewd, he’d find a place to hold up until he gained more supporters. He might recoup the losses when he reached the Campbells for many hid in the northern region. One day they would crush the MacDoughalls and the Comyns. But for now, it was time to backtrack and assess.

  Chapter THIRTEEN

  As much as she enjoyed having the bairn around, Kerrigan vowed to find his mother. She couldn’t wait for Graeme’s arrival, for the woman had to be nearby. Even though she’d promised not to go to the village until Graeme returned, she persuaded Gilroy to attend her. She thought she would have to protect him rather than he defend her. He was slight and appeared incapable of hurting a fly, let alone a knave.

  The last time she’d visited the tailor, he was of no help in locating the woman or the man who purchased the cloak. She hoped luck would be on her side and she would find the lady. The bairn’s mother had to live somewhere nearby, as the abbey wasn’t too far away.

  Arriving at midmorning, she hoped to attend to her task and be back to the cave by the afternoon. Gilroy went off to buy wheat and rye for Annag. Kerrigan waved to him when he walked in the opposite direction.

  Even with her heaviest cloak, she grew chilled from the coldness settled on the ground as she walked along. She ambled down the lane that reached the outside of the hamlet, where the rows of cottages ended. The search was for naught, and she turned around to walk back through. There had to be a hundred cottages, most covered with a thick cover of thatch to ward off the rain and snows. Some had spires where vented smoke wafted from. The sight and knowledge of the cottage’s warmth made her feel the brisk chill even more.

  Would she ever find the mother of the bairn? Her eyes glanced from woman to woman, but most were not of such a class to wear such an elegant cloak. The woman who wore it had to be a lady of means or was one of wealth. Many questions plagued her as to why she would abandon her child. Was she in peril? Had she no means to take care of the babe?

  Kerrigan considered the woman’s actions, and she realized that nothing, not one excuse would make her be desperate enough to give up her bairn. Near the well, she stopped to watch the ladies, for most came to retrieve water for their households.

  Women and ladies alike came and went for several hours and still she had not seen one in a blue cloak. Kerrigan grew frustrated and walked back to the tailor’s cottage. But when she reached the lane where the tailor was located, it appeared his shop was closed or vacated.

  Ahead on the lane she spotted a few soldiers and realized they watched her. She revered around the tailor’s cottage and tried not to draw attention to herself. When she was out of view, she quickened her steps and ran toward the mead hall. If she reached it, she could flee from the back and make her way to the lane and leave the village.

  The soldiers called after her and they too ran. Kerrigan’s heart leapt and thumped madly in her dash. They were too close and right behind her. She ran until she couldn’t run another step. As she bent, rasping and trying to catch her breath, the soldiers stopped.

  “Where are ye going? Did you not hear us?”

  “What do you want?” She backed until she reached a nearby cottage. Her eyes darted, and she tried to find a means to escape.

  “We wanted to talk to you,” a soldier who had a scar along his jawline, said. He looked crass and of an ill manner.

  “Where ye running to? She’s a pretty one, is she not, Henry?”

  “I must go. My husband awaits me.” Kerrigan walked past them and was about to run again when the second soldier tried to grab her arm. She wished she’d brought along Finley’s dagger for protection.

  “Don’t run off, girl. We only want to talk to you.”

  All the times she visited the village, no one ever approached her. Their voices gave away their alliance, for she recognized their accents and discerned them to be English soldiers even though they dressed as crofters. She walked briskly and paced herself so she was a good distance ahead. The lane toward the caves would be desolate at this time of day. It was best not to take that route. Rohan’s mead hall was just ahead and there she could at least hide or escape from the back exit.

  She stepped inside and walked toward the buttery where the servers collected more mead and ale. Two servers left the space. As she stepped nearer, she noticed the two English soldiers stepped into the hall. Kerrigan tensed, knowing they wouldn’t let her be.

  “Kerrigan! Over here, lass.”

  She shot her eyes at the person who called out. “Robert.” Her brother sat with several men from the Moray clan. She remembered their faces and knew them by name. Stephen and his brother Timothy sat on each side of her brother. Alfred and his brother Leonard sat with them.

  “What are ye doing here?”

  She sat next to Stephen and smiled, relieved they were there. “I needed to stop in at the tailor’s. I am gladdened to see you.” Kerrigan gazed around the hall and noticed the men who had chased her were gone.

  “I’m on a respite until we’re called to arms,” Robert said. “We’re to find supporters and send them to the king for his army. The rebellion lost a good many men in the latest round of fighting.”

  Kerrigan titled her head, but refrained from asking about the recent battle. Surely it wasn’t the same skirmish that drew Graeme away. She smiled, for she knew well and good why they were in area. “Have you come to visit your lady?”

  The men at their table whooped, teased, and laughed at Robert.

  “Nay, besides, she’s gone. I suppose she left because of the threat of the English coming.”

  “It appears they are soon to come. I saw a few of their soldiers in the village this day.”

  Robert nodded. “Aye, must be scouting the area.”

  Kerrigan reasoned his lady love must have absconded, but it also reminded her of Galyn. Was Robert the man Galyn had been with and waited for? She mentioned he left, and she hadn’t seen him. With Robert being away doing the rebel’s bidding, it was likely he might be the man she sought.

  “What is the name of this remarkable woman who caught your attention?”

  “A gentleman never speaks of such, dearest sister. Besides, I shall have my secrets, just as you have yours.”

  She pretended a pout. “Very well, secrets abound. I shan’t press you for it.” But Kerrigan couldn’t let it go for she needed to know. “Is her name by chance Galyn? You remember her, her family visited Bothwell many times when we were younger. Her father was knighted, Sir John Shale.”

  “He wishes with all his heart it was she. Were ye not besotted by her when you were a lad?” Stephen asked.

  Robert’s cheeks flushed. “Nay, you loggerhead. It is not your friend, Kerrigan. Why the need to know?”

  His comrades laughed.

  “She has left the area and is staying with me. I thought if it was she you sought, I would tell you where she is.”

  Robert tossed a coin on the table and motioned for his comrades to move aside. “I’m through here. Do ye wish us to escort you home?”

  “I would like that, Robert. It appears I do need an escort and with you five champions, I vow no one would dare approach me.” Kerrigan followed the men out of the mead hall. The soldiers who had chased her seemed to have fled. She was relieved, and more so that her brother a
nd his friends would travel with her on the desolate road to the cave.

  Throughout the ride out of the village, Robert jested with his comrades. Kerrigan was happy to see he was jovial and had means to keep him since he no longer stay at Bothwell Castle.

  As they neared the cave, Kerrigan asked Robert to stop so she could dismount. She stood on the ground and gazed at her brother. Pride filled her, because he appeared as a soldier should, much akin to Graeme’s comrades. “I can go from here. Please continue on and be safe. God be with you.”

  But Robert wouldn’t allow her to continue without him. He dismounted and insisted he walk her the entire way. She had no choice but to accept his escort.

  “Await here, I will return shortly,” he told his friends, and motioned her forward.

  His friends sat upon a grassy hillside by the lane. Kerrigan continued walking and when she reached the arch before the first hillock, she stopped.

  “I am staying in a nearby cave. I will need to go from here on my own.”

  “Why can I not walk ye?” Robert took her arm and wouldn’t release her.

  “I promised those I am staying with I would not tell of the location of the cave. You must trust me, Robert, for I shall be well and safe.”

  “Very well. I will be around for a few more days and then we will travel north to join up with other regiments of the king’s army. If ye need me, just send word to Rohan’s.”

  “I shall. It was good to see you.” She hugged him close and as happy as she was to see him again, she grew melancholy she might never see him again. How she wished they were children again with their only care about who could throw the farthest rock.

  “I miss Innis Chonnel, don’t you?”

  “More than you know, lass. Be safe, sister.” Robert kissed her forehead and walked away.

  Kerrigan resisted going inside the cave even though it grew colder. She sat upon a large stone near the entrance, thinking of her childhood, family, and longed to return to those happy times. With Graeme gone, she needed a distraction, and contented at seeing Philippa come outside the cave with the bairn.

  She held out her hands, silently asking the nurse to hand over the bairn. Kerrigan looked at the cherub’s face. He was a sweet laddie. Since Philippa came he hardly cried. He was getting bigger and longer. She cooed to him and made sweet noises to get him to smile. Who wouldn’t be mollified by a toothless grin of a bairn? Kerrigan’s heart swelled while holding him.

  Galyn came from the cave and sat nearby. She said little to her since she came to stay with them. Kerrigan grasped she was dispirited, but her friend was even more withdrawn. Concerned, she motioned to her.

  “Come and sit with us, Galyn. The bairn is being especially endearing this day for he’s smiling and making sweet wee sounds.”

  “Nay, I am fine here,” she said, and kept her gaze toward the other hillocks.

  “I deem you should hold him. He will bring you cheer.” Kerrigan approached her, but Galyn stood and turned away.

  “I need to be going inside now.” Before she responded, Galyn left.

  She didn’t know what to think of that. Her friend acted somewhat peculiar. Kerrigan stayed outside for a few more hours. The lad, Gilroy, returned from the village. He walked near the second cave and waved to her. She called to him, letting him know supper would be served.

  “Be sure to wash up before you come inside,” she added, because she noted the lad didn’t seem to wash his hands or face.

  The bairn fussed and Kerrigan handed him back to Philippa. She took him inside and Kerrigan had chores to attend to before dinner, too. She couldn’t stop thinking about Galyn and her strange reaction when she’d asked her to hold the bairn. Why would she abhor the wee one?

  Her friend had always taken to the younger children when they were at festivals and such. Often they played games with the small children and kept them occupied whilst the adults enjoyed their entertainments.

  Kerrigan didn’t understand, but she realized she had no time to ruminate about it since Annag would need help with supper.

  Discouraged at not finding out a single detail of the lady in the blue cloak they’d seen at the abbey, Kerrigan realized her promise to Graeme would likely not come to fruition.

  Chapter FOURTEEN

  Alone in the main chamber of the cave, Kerrigan slumbered by the fire. Finley, Annag, Philippa, and the bairn took up most of the space in the antechamber. She resorted to sleep alone. The night grew cold, and she’d used three tartans to stay warm. As she lay there, she listened to the quiet. No one rose yet it neared dawn, much too soon to rise. She’d wondered what awakened her at such an early hour. A yawn stretched her lips, and she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

  How she missed Graeme. He’d been gone over a sennight, and she longed for word of him. She eagerly awaited his return for all she wanted to do was gaze upon his handsome face. Her daily prayers focused on his well-being and she dreaded each minute that went by.

  The sound of shouts outside forced her to sit up. She stared at the entrance and waited for more noise. Her imagination ran wild. The voice she’d heard wasn’t familiar. There it was again. Another shout sounded and then came a harsh laugh.

  Kerrigan ran into the adjacent chamber and took the dagger Finley brought. He’d left it near the out cove in case she needed it. She pulled a tartan over her head, hid her hair, and ran forth.

  Outside, she didn’t see anyone. She looked to the hillock in front of her and more sounds came from beyond.

  Gilroy!

  The lad stayed in the second hill cave. Was someone there? Hurting him? She ran faster than she’d ever run and reached the entrance. As her heart raced, she yelled out so the intruders would hear, “To arms! Garrison rise, there are intruders. To arms, men!”

  She hastened inside and saw two lads. They were much older than Gilroy, at least a handful of years. The two of them stood over the poor lad in a threatening manner. With the dagger held tight, she approached. “Be gone before the garrison comes.”

  “Oh, another one,” an interloper said, as he came at her and tried to take her arm. “I’d wager he’s a thief too.”

  Kerrigan was fast on her feet and avoided his grasp. She jabbed the dagger at him and hit the lad’s shoulder. Her hand moved fast, and she tried to strike him again, but he jumped away out of reach.

  “The lad plucked me.” He yelled and slumped against the wall. “I’m bleeding. The blighter cut me and ruined me best tunic.”

  Thankfully they thought her a lad. She held up the blade. “Aye, and I’ll cut ye again if you don’t flee. Go, get out of here.”

  The other lad ran to his friend. “Come, there’s nothing to be had here. Let us go before the garrison comes.” The two lads shoved her as they ran past.

  Kerrigan reached Gilroy. “Are you hurt? Did they injure you?”

  He shook his head. “Why did ye shout for the garrison? We don’t have a garrison, m’lady.”

  She raised the lad’s dirty face and peered at him. “Nay, but they didn’t know that. You are injured. Your hand is bleeding.” She assessed the wound which appeared to be minor from one of the intruder’s dagger. Gilroy’s eye swelled. They’d taken to fisticuffs to scare him.

  “Why did they call you a thief? Did you steal from them?”

  The lad shook his head. “Nay, m’lady, I didn’t steal from them.”

  Appeased by his answer, she leaned to the side and said, “Is this where you sleep?”

  “Aye. ‘Tis where we keep the horses.”

  Her eyes swept the domain and an uneasy feeling washed over her. Toward the back of the chamber two undisturbed tombs sat in the center. The cave walls were dug out and skeletons occupied the holes. The ossuary where locals kept their dead was fully occupied given the amount of people that rested there. Her hair prickled her neck, and she feared the dead would move from their places of rest and come to life. Certain she’d heard too many ghastly tales when she was younger, her imagine overrode her good sen
se.

  “This is no place for a lad. Let us leave the dead to their slumber. Come, we’ll get that wound cleaned and ye something to eat. You will stay in the main cave.”

  “My lord Graeme wouldn’t like that, m’lady. He has great regard for his horse as do the other men. I’m to tend the horses. That is my task. I cannot leave.”

  She sighed, feeling woe for the poor lad. “Well, he is not here and doesn’t have a say. I bid you to come to the main cave at least for a while. ‘Twould be best to ensure the intruders have left the area. Ye stink, lad. Aye, when’s the last time you had a bath?”

  “A bath, m’lady?” his voice incredulous at her question.

  “A bath, lad, where you wash yourself and get clean. You have taken a bath before?”

  He shook his head.

  Kerrigan could’ve cried at the lad’s hard life. Many young ones joined garrisons who never washed. Some even used the tactic to keep others away lest they be teased or harassed by the elder soldiers. Unless told to wash, many a lad avoided such a torturous chore. This lad appeared no different from many his age.

  “Await here,” she said when they exited. With a quick glance, she ensured the two intruders fled and didn’t see anyone about. She hastened to the main cave and retrieved a small bit of soap she’d saved. As she left, she grabbed a tartan she’d used during the night.

  “Come, Gilroy.” She led the way to the stream. Although the morning chilled, they couldn’t await the warmth of the day. No one could be within a few feet of the lad without holding one’s nose. “Unclad yourself and use this soap to wash your body.”

  He looked at her as if she’d gone mad. Kerrigan was about to laugh, but she realized the lad was being bashful and probably never undressed in front of a woman. It was somewhat endearing because she understood his hesitancy. He was at an awkward age. Young enough to be mothered, but too old to be told what to do. Still, she would see to his care whether he liked it or not.