Hannah Howell (20 page)

“He can and will, but we must wait until dark.” Tomas mounted. “We need to work our way around to the western wall. It seems there is a wee door cut into that side.”

“A door in the wall?” That made no sense to Revan. “Why would they weaken their own defenses so?”

“I dinna think old Fergus kens it is there, Revan,” replied Tomas. “ ’Tis Brenda’s door. She uses it to sneak in her lovers. Fergus may allow her to be very free with her lovers, but he obviously likes to forbid her some men. ’Tis well disguised. Our man, Matthew, says we willna see it until he opens it. Brenda and her whorish appetites have worked to serve us well.”

Revan maneuvered his horse so that he was close beside Silvio and could hear everything that was being planned. “The man could be pulling us into a trap.”

“ ’Twas something I worried about,” Tomas said, then shrugged. “I dinna think so.”

“ ’Tis not always wise to trust a man that can be bought.”

“That adage may be too sweeping, Revan. Matthew says he wants no part of the treachery Thurkettle is planning.” Tomas smiled briefly. “He says he doesna care a corbie’s arse about the king himself, but James
is
our king, and he will have no hand in tossing him off the throne.”

“Yet he demands payment. If he truly feels that way, he would help us simply because honor demands it.”

“Honor doesna put much food in a man’s belly, m’friend. Matthew is a poor man. As he said, we can afford to give him a wee bit of compensation for the risks he is taking. A very practical man, our Matthew.”

“Did he say where Tessa was or how she fares?”

“He isna placed high enough to ken that sort of thing so soon after she has arrived,” Silvio answered. “ ’Tis why I didna ask.”

“Well, our Matthew has proved cleverer than we thought,” Tomas said. “He does ken where Tess is. He says he is sure she hasna been harmed yet. She looked sadly weary and tattered when she arrived, but he saw no wounds or bruises, and she held herself proud. She has been put in the dungeons to await Thurkettle’s decision as to the method of her death.”

“Aye.” Silvio cursed. “Thurkettle will want to think on the matter for a while, plan something he can truly savor. Does Matthew ken whether or not Thurkettle expects us, is ready for us?”

“Thurkettle expects us to race for the Douglas’s keep, but he is also ready for us. He is but watchful. There is no great increase in defense. That matters little really. Matthew feels certain that many will slip away or surrender if given but half a chance. He has also gathered many an ally. Thurkettle inspires more fear than loyalty. We capture or kill Thurkettle, and his defenses will crumble like dry bread.”

“So speaks Matthew?” Revan was not sure the trust put in Matthew was warranted, but saw no other choice.

“Aye. I am not too fond of depending so heavily upon one man either. Yet, I do feel he can be trusted. There is something else to be considered—’tis Tess we come to save. Even amongst Thurkettle’s pack of dogs there will be ones who will want no part in the cruel murder of a wee lass. Also, Tess lived here for five years. She may not have been well treated by her kin, but she was well thought of by the poorer folk in that keep.”

Revan thought about that for a moment, then nodded. “Aye, she would be. The cold cruelty of Thurkettle and Brenda would have helped that. Tess must have been a rare touch of kindness for many of them.”

“There is the wall. Matthew spoke the truth. I can see no door.”

“Ye are certain this is the right wall?” Silvio asked, a hint of derision in his rich voice.

Tomas replied with a sarcastic reference to Silvio’s aging eyes. Revan listened in faint wonder as the pair continued to quietly, and amiably, bicker. Their kinsmen, who made up the majority of the more than twenty men with them, were quick to add their wry opinions. Revan recognized the tart humor that came so easily to Tess. He heartily wished he could share in their apparent confidence. His insides were too tight with worry. While Silvio and his men thought of victory, all Revan could think of was all that could go wrong.

It was not a problem he had ever suffered from before, and he knew it was because Tess’s life was at stake. Revan did not doubt the concern Tess’s kinsmen felt, yet they would have anticipated such emotion, prepared for it, and compensated for it. It came as an unsettling surprise to Revan. That surprise combined with his new and tumultuous emotions had made it nearly impossible to calm himself, to remember only his training and how to use it to help her.

“I see something,” hissed Tomas.

Yanked from his thoughts, Revan stared at the wall. It was a moment before he saw what Tomas did. The smoothness of the wall was now broken in one place. Slowly a line of faint light appeared. Matthew had spoken the truth about the door. Now all that remained was to see if they were all being invited into a trap.

“Dismount,” ordered Silvio. “We must stay low as we run to the doorway. Stay low and go one at a time. Be sure the guard on the wall has passed by before ye race cross the clearing. We dinna want to alert our enemy too early. I will go first,” he said to Tomas as he dismounted and crouched near the edge of the trees. “Tomas, ye and Revan come along after I get there and slip inside.”

Crouched by Tomas, Revan watched Silvio make his way to the wall. Silvio was dressed in dark clothes, as they all were, and it was not easy to keep him in view the whole way. There was a brief clear sight of Tess’s uncle when he finally reached the partly opened door and paused by a shadowy figure positioned there. The moment Silvio slipped inside the walls, Tomas started across the open space, and Revan quickly moved to stay beside him.

No one stood beside the door when he and Tomas finally reached it. That caused Revan to hesitate briefly, fearing some trap. Tomas went inside and yanked him along. Revan was relieved when he saw Silvio sitting with three other men against the rear wall of the smokehouse. He followed Tomas in hurrying to join the small group and was quickly introduced to the square, graying Matthew and the two other men.

“Nothing has changed,” reported Silvio as they sat down near him. “Tessa is still in the dungeons, and that bastard Thurkettle dines and drinks with those two traitors, MacKinnon and Dermott.”

“Can we get to any of them?” Revan asked. “What about the tunnel leading from the stables to the dungeons?”

“Sealed.”

“Sealed?” Revan was not really surprised, but his disappointment cut deeply.

“Aye,” replied Matthew. “Old Fergus had it blocked up shortly after ye and the lass escaped. He feared it could now be used for an attack instead of as a way to escape.”

“I would have done the same, but I had the small hope that Thurkettle wouldna have the wit or the time.”

“The man can be very clever when he scents a danger.”

“So what is our plan?” Revan kept a partial watch on Silvio’s men as they continued to slip inside the walls unnoticed by the guards who passed by on the walls with an easily judged regularity.

“We wait until most of our men are gathered,” replied Silvio. “Matthew will then give a signal. The ones he has on his side have a diversion planned—a rousing argument and a fight. Most of the guards will be drawn to watch it. Half of my men will go up onto the walls whilst the rest of us get inside of the keep to get Tess and Thurkettle.”

“What are the odds against us? I mean to say, how many men does Thurkettle have?”

“There could be two to every one of you,” replied Matthew. “He has a dozen hard-eyed mercenaries who will fight until Thurkettle is clearly caught or dead. They are past worrying about being part of a crime, even one as black as treason. They are all past due for a hanging. Thurkettle has five men who will stand firm guard over him. Ye will have to cut them down to get to him. Most of his other men-at-arms could easily surrender. Their loyalty to that cur isna strong, and many are troubled by what he drags them into. The others willna fight.”

“How many guard Tessa?”

“None. ’Twas thought it wasna needed, and there really arena the men to spare. Old Fergus couldna fully stop the Douglas from taking men, and there are still some out looking for ye and the lassie.”

“There, lad.” Silvio lightly slapped Revan on the back. “Good news. Luck is with us tonight. We shall have Tess free in but a short while and will rid the king of one low traitor as well.”

“I fear I willna believe it until ’tis done. I have tried to share your hopes, but I find it impossible.”

“Aye, I have noticed that. Ye are very black-spirited for a man who speaks of marriage only in terms of duty done and honor served.”

Revan silently cursed as he fought to meet Silvio’s intent gaze with calm. “Duty and honor mean a great deal to me.”

“I can see that.”

Silvio’s grin was a smug one, and Revan tried to ignore it. He suspected that he had revealed a great deal of his inner turmoil to the man, and it annoyed him. What he was feeling was not something he wished to discuss or have known, yet he was sure that Tess’s kinsmen had guessed it all.

The last of Silvio’s men arrived, and Matthew gave his signal. As Revan joined Tomas and Silvio in creeping toward the keep, he promised himself that he would find the time to reconsider his betrothal to Tess. He did not like the feelings tearing at him. They stole his skill. Marriage to Tess could cause him to lose the one thing he could feel true pride in—his skill as a king’s knight.

“How do ye like your accommodations, dear Cousin?”

Tess eyed her beautiful cousin with disdain. “They could benefit from a wee cleaning.”

When Brenda smiled, Tess wished she were free so that she could hit her. It did not surprise her to see Brenda. Her cousin liked to watch people suffer. Tess had noticed that shortly after she had come to live with the woman. Taunting someone chained to a wall and condemned to death would be exactly the thing to draw Brenda’s interest. She swore to herself that she would not allow anything that Brenda said or did to touch her, that she would not give the woman that pleasure.

“ ’Tis a wee bit dark down here.” Brenda leaned against the bars. “They say ’tis best to ponder the error of one’s ways in the dark. It can lead to a cleansing of the soul.”

“Ye would require a full year of nights for that, dear Cousin.”

“Your wit can grow very tedious. Men dinna appreciate such a sharp tongue. A lass like you canna afford to have too many faults. ’Tis difficult enough for ye to gain and hold a man.”

“I havena done so poorly.” Tess inwardly cursed, wishing she had left the subject alone, for Brenda would now pursue it, and Tess dreaded that. She did not have the confidence to bear up well if Brenda taunted her about Revan.

“One man in eighteen years?” Brenda laughed softly.

“Most women would consider one enough. Most women would consider your greed the mark of a whore.” She could see that she had angered Brenda and knew that was not particularly wise but could not feel overly concerned about it. “Most men as well.”

“Is that so? Sir Revan didna find me so unappealing.”

“Men are notorious for taking whatever is offered. Their loins ofttimes rule their minds.”

“A woman can conquer any man through his loins—just as I conquered Revan. If my father hadna threatened his life, Revan would still be in my bed. He must find ye a very poor replacement, but, as ye say, men will take whatever is offered.”

Tess fought the sting of those words. Revan had said he had never been Brenda’s lover. Revan’s word was far more trustworthy than Brenda’s, and Tess struggled to keep believing him. She would not let Brenda sabotage her faith in Revan. It would not be easy, however. Her confidence in her ability to hold the attention of a man like Revan was weak—very weak. The lack of any words of love from Revan only made that worse. Tess was sure Brenda had sensed that weakness.

“If ye intend to discuss each man who has shared your bed, Brenda, ye had best tell your father he will have to delay murdering me—for at least a year or two.”

“Ye do think yourself amusing. ’Tis very possible ye are jealous. If ye and Revan hadna been forced together, away from everyone else, he never would have turned to you. Any time we are placed side by side, Cousin, the men will always choose me.” She smoothed her hands down her sides. “Men like a wee bit of flesh upon their women.”

“Your vanity is truly overwhelming. It leaves me quite speechless.”

“Very little has ever succeeded in doing that. However, ye will soon be silenced forever. ’Twill be interesting to see how my father decides to end your poor life. He can be very clever. I have often been left astounded at how long he can keep his prisoner alive all the while inflicting great pain and injury. ’Twill be fascinating to see what ye can endure.”

“I shall be pleased to provide you with as much diversion as I am able to. ’Twould sorely grieve me if ye grew bored.”

“Very kind of you, Cousin. I sensed that ye wouldna be a disappointment to me. Now, I dinna believe Revan will long survive you, but, be assured, I will see that his last hours are pleasurable. Revan and I shall again savor the passion we indulged so often before his foolish loyalties forced him to flee.”

“To be loyal to one’s king is hardly the act of a fool, Brenda.”

“Oh, aye, it is when that king gives out so little reward.”

“Revan has his honor. Ye and your treacherous father canna say the same.”

“Treacherous mayhaps, but alive and soon to be very powerful. There is ever the chance that, when Revan sees that his cause is a lost one, he will give that loyalty of his to my father. Then I could enjoy his skill as a lover for more than a few hours. ’Twould be a great shame to lose such a fine lover, to see that lean, strong body given over to the worms.”

“I believe Revan would prefer the worms to a low, murderous traitor and his whore of a daughter.”

Tess smiled faintly when Brenda abruptly stood straight, gripping the iron bars of the cell door so tightly that the knuckles of her hands grew bone white. Brenda clearly could not shrug off too many slurs. Tess briefly wondered if she should be wooing her cousin instead of insulting her, then inwardly shook her head. There was no mercy to be found in Brenda, and to plead for it would only give the woman pleasure.

“Mayhaps my father will decide to let ye just rot in those chains,” Brenda hissed. “A slow death with an occasional taste of water to ensure that ye last a long time. I shall enjoy watching that, seeing ye die bit by bit as ye hang there in your own filth.” Brenda turned and stalked away.

It was difficult for Tess not to call after her cousin. The images Brenda had left her with were horrifying ones. Tess trembled, and a chilling sweat broke out on her skin. She prayed that Thurkettle did not have the time to indulge in that style of execution, that he would want to be sure she was dead before he got caught up in the war against the king.

 

 

Revan was the first to break into the keep itself. He felt a surge of exhilaration when he found MacKinnon there with Brenda, the pair clearly attempting to flee. He ached to fight MacKinnon and was pleased when the man drew his sword, proving that he would choose battle over surrender. Revan moved to face MacKinnon squarely and out of the way of his allies, who were still coming in and rushing to meet the threat of Thurkettle’s personal guard.

“Kill him, fool,” Brenda ordered MacKinnon as she got out of the men’s way. “Kill him and ye can have me.”

“ ’Tis no grand reward,” Revan said, directing his words at Brenda but keeping his gaze fixed upon MacKinnon. “Near every man in Scotland has tasted that sweet.”

“Kill him!” she screamed. “Cut him down, MacKinnon, ye coward.”

“Shut up, ye shrewish whore.” MacKinnon glared at Revan. “Ye willna take me alive, Halyard. I willna let ye turn me over to the king’s rage. We will settle the matter here. Ye will have to kill me or set me free.”

“I will have no difficulty in killing you. Ye will pay dearly for your part in trying to kill Tessa.”

“Such heat for that bone-thin, sharp-tongued wench. Well, ye are welcome to what is left of her.”

Revan felt the cold grip of fear. “If ye have killed her . . .”

“Killed her? Nay. I was leaving that chore to her loving kinsman—Thurkettle. He can be so ingenious in such matters. But, ’twas a long ride here, Halyard. I felt a need to taste what ye have protected so well, and it was sweet.” He smiled coldly. “So sweet that I had myself many a taste ere I dumped her at Thurkettle’s feet.”

It was almost impossible to control the blinding rage that seized him, but Revan knew he had to. If he gave in to it, he could make a fatal mistake, and he knew that that was what MacKinnon wanted. It was an old game the man played, taunting an adversary until he made some blind, reckless move, and Revan was determined not to let the man win.

“If ye have hurt that lass—” Revan began.

“Let us just say that your slut’s harbor isna so snug now. I have widened it a wee bit.” MacKinnon lunged.

A harsh cry of fury escaped Revan as he parried that thrust. He knew his rage added strength to his blow, but he strained to keep it reined in, to stop it from clouding his mind. As he fought, he ignored Brenda’s cries for his blood and prayed that MacKinnon was lying about what he had done to Tess.

Revan soon began to fear that he and MacKinnon were too evenly matched, that they would fight on until they both collapsed from exhaustion. It was as that concern entered his mind that his break came. MacKinnon’s next swing was awkward. Revan blocked it as he pushed the man hard up against the stone wall. As MacKinnon fought to free himself, Revan drew his dagger and buried it in the man’s throat.

He stepped back, allowing MacKinnon’s body to slide to the floor. The death rattle had just sounded in the man’s throat when the rustle of skirts caught Revan’s attention. He whirled around in time to see Brenda rushing toward him with a dagger in her hand. As she tried to plunge it into his heart, he caught her by the wrist and twisted until the knife slipped from her fingers. He ignored her curses and threats as he dragged her toward the great hall.

Inside of the great hall Silvio, Tomas, and some of their kinsmen were swiftly culling the guards who tried to keep a swearing Thurkettle out of their reach. Revan shoved Brenda toward a youth who stood guard over those who had surrendered or were too wounded to fight, then plunged into the battle. He intended to reach Thurkettle first.

 

 

Tess frowned as her concentration on her prayers was broken a moment later. There was something going on in the keep, she was certain of it. The sounds were indistinct, and it was impossible to guess at their cause, but before there had been only silence. The fact that she was hearing anything at all was worthy of attention. It would require a great deal of noise to reach her deep in the bowels of the keep.

Suddenly for one brief moment, the sounds were clearer. There was the clash of swords, men shouting, and a scream of pain. An instant later a heavy thud echoed through the dungeons, and the noise was muffled again, the clatter of footsteps on the stone stairs further disguising them. Tess gasped when a wild-eyed, disheveled Brenda appeared, a bloodied sword in her hand.

“What is happening?” she demanded, trying not to let her hope of rescue rise too high.

Brenda just glared at her and ran past. Tess tried to lean forward but winced as her shackles held her in place. It was possible Brenda was headed for the tunnel. A moment later Tess had that suspicion confirmed as Brenda’s screech of fury ripped through the stone caverns.

“That fool! That thrice-cursed and damned idiot. He has sealed it.”

Tess watched as her cousin raced back and grabbed the keys from the wall. She tensed when Brenda tossed the sword on the ground and frantically scrambled to unlock the cell door, trying key after key. Something had filled Brenda with fear and a need to escape. Neither boded well for Tess, for a Brenda driven to survive could be a very dangerous animal. If it was an attempt to save her that was causing the uproar, Tess could find rescue near at hand. And Brenda, she mused, as she watched her cousin pick up the sword and enter the cell, could easily steal all hope just as it was in reach.

“Your father has chosen ye as my executioner?” She eyed Brenda warily as the woman stood in front of her.

“Nay, but I may yet have that pleasure.”

“Someone has arrived to clear out this nest of traitors.”

“Aye, your mongrel kinsmen and Revan. Those idiots my father hired are either surrendering or dying. ’Tis all gone—all chance of escape, all hope of a high place within the Douglas’s court. I could have been so rich, so powerful. Now ’tis all gone. Even all my careful plans to get free of my father’s plots canna work now. And ’tis all your fault.”

There was the sharp edge of hysteria to Brenda’s voice, and Tess knew that could make her cousin even more dangerous. “I didna draw your father, and ye, into the Douglas’s plots.”

“Since ye and that stupid king’s knight ran off, nothing has gone as planned. Nothing. Well, I have a fine new plan now.”

“Using me to buy your freedom?”

“Nay. I have no hope of freedom. None of those gallant knights”—she spat—“will allow me to escape punishment. Nay, I am for dying, and I mean to take ye with me.”

“Ye could throw yourself upon the king’s mercy.” Tess tried to suck in her stomach, pull it back from the sharp sting of the sword point Brenda had pressed there.

“The mercy of the king? The same mercy his mother the queen showed those who plotted against his father? The same mercy his regents showed those two young Douglas earls when they dragged them out into the gardens and beheaded them? The same mercy James himself showed yet another Douglas earl as he stabbed him to death over dinner? I think I shall choose my own death, thank ye very much.”

“And go to your Lord with the stain of murder upon your soul?”

Brenda laughed, a high unsettling sound. “He will never see that one amongst all the others. I am fated for Hell, and we both ken it, dearest Cousin. But, I shall have one last moment of pleasure ere I leave this earthly cesspit. They will be coming for you soon. Just as they do, just as soon as ye taste the sweet chance of freedom, I will kill you before the eyes of the men risking so much for your sake.”

Tess felt a little sick. She looked past Brenda to the steps leading out of the dungeons, then down at the sword scratching her belly. It would require a great deal of luck to break free of this tangle.