Love's Ransom (12 page)

Eight

Thomas and another member of Zander’s trusted men were on watch high on the western hills which guarded the fertile land of the Long Glen. It was Thomas who first caught sight of the two men riding out of the mist as the evening shadows lengthened on the evening before truce day.

‘Whoever they are they’re brave men to come by way of the marshlands,’ his young companion muttered. ‘Do you think they come in peace, or expecting to catch us off guard to steel the sheep grazing the higher ground?’

‘I do not know, Mac, my friend,’ Thomas said grimly. ‘I will fire my pistol and they will know we keep watch and are not to be trifled with.’ He clambered onto a higher rock so that the travelers would see him silhouetted against the evening sky. He drew their attention with a single shot. He began to reload immediately so it was Mac who saw the white flag.

‘They have a white pennant,’ he said doubtfully.

‘A white…? From the direction of the marshes! That is the way the old man came when he brought Mistress Isabella to offer herself as ransom in place of her brother. I was here that day, with Zander and Walter. He put a hand to his brow and stared into the distance. ‘I think it is the same man. His name was Sam, but the second rider is no more than a laddie, as far as I can see from this distance. I don’t think they bring trouble. Perhaps they bring a message from the Ellwoods.’ He turned to look at his younger companion who was not yet sixteen summers. ‘Can you ride fast and tell Zander? Do not let Mistress Isabella hear. They may bring bad news and in her condition….’

Zander rode at once to the western boundary. He was pleased to see Sam again and he brought provisions, knowing they would be hungry. Sam had told him it was impossible to stop to eat while crossing the marshlands. His brow darkened as he listened to their news and the description of Neb Truddle.

‘He’s ruthless and cruel,’ Sam added in troubled tones. ‘He’s wanted Miss Isabella since she was little more than a bairn. Master Jamie would have come but we couldna be sure it is not another trick to get him away frae home and leave his sisters and mother without protection.’

‘I understand,’ Zander nodded. He frowned. ‘He would know tomorrow is an awkward time. Many of us are involved in the trials. The rogue has planned well. Henry is away and I am needed at Sir William’s side when the courts assemble - six men of our own and six belonging to the English warden. The trials will go on most of the day and only end when those men who are found guilty have been hanged.’ He gnawed his lower lip as he considered. ‘But do not worry. I shall protect Isabella with my life. Now do you wish me to guide you through the mountain so that you can attend the truce day too?’

‘No,’ Sam said at once. Peter was disappointed. The young man had never been to a truce day. ‘If Neb Truddle sees us he will guess we have come to warn you, Sam explained. But I thank ye kindly for the food. We shall rest here, with your permission, and set out at dawn after the truce day is over.’

‘I understand. Isabella will be sorry not to see you. If we have any news of Neb Truddle I will send young Mac before you leave, but be assured I shall do everything I can to keep Mistress Isabella safe.’

***

According to his plan Neb Truddle reached his destination as dawn began to break on the Truce Day. It was early November and bitterly cold, though like to be fine and dry when the sun rose. Truce days lasted from the dawn of one day to dawn of the next. A man risked being taken prisoner and held to ransom if he was found there without good reason after that, so Neb had no time to lose if he was to capture Isabella and ride away with her when darkness fell. He was ravenously hungry and in need of heat, food and news. The local blacksmith’s was the place to get heat and news. If he was lucky, and the man was generous, he might be given food too. Already pedlars were setting up their stalls and entertainers cleaning and tuning flutes and trumpets and various drums and whistles. Neb needed to become familiar with the layout of the various narrow vennels between the cottages. He stared up at the stone building that was Moyenstane Tower. So this was probably Isabella’s home now she belonged to the Douglas fellow, but he was confused when he saw a second, smaller watch tower on top of the hill above the settlement. He took the track towards the noise and bustle and what seemed to be the centre of the community. Clusters of cottages spread out in four directions from a large well. There were small barns and pig sties, a mill, a carpenter’s and further up the hill was the smiddy. Neb reckoned both the blacksmith and the miller would probably be able to supply the information he needed.

Jud Snodd was already wearing his leather apron and urging a young lad to work harder at pumping the bellows at the forge. He expected a good trade and plenty of money from the English warden and his followers. He eyed Neb Truddle approaching with a purposeful air but the man had no horse needing shod so he turned away. Before he entered the village Neb had tethered his horse beside a stream with a good patch of grazing. He wanted to be ready for a quick getaway with his prisoner.

‘I’m looking for the home of an old friend,’ Neb began. ‘Isabella Ellwood. She came here to offer herself as ransom in place of her cowardly brother. I heard your chief was lenient and claimed her as wife for his son?’

‘Ye heard right. What’s it to you?’ The two men eyed each other warily, each recognising the same spiteful gleam in the other’s eyes at the mention of Isabella. Jud Snodd realised he might earn some easy money for his information as well as reaping revenge . The woman had taken young Nell from him, and that milksop of a husband had tricked and humiliated him with his witchcraft.

‘Maybe ye’d like tae share a bowl o’ gruel and a tankard o’ ale while we talk? I can supply most information a man might want hereabouts. For a price,’ he added slyly. He exhorted the lad at the bellows to pump harder and to call him if a customer came, then he led Neb into the filthy hovel he called home. It was divided from the smiddy only by a wall made of ill-fitting wooden boards. The food and warmth and a generous tankard of home brew soon loosened the tongues of both men.

‘She should have been my woman.’ Neb whined in his nasal tones. ‘I’ve come to take her back. She’ll be glad to bide in my house when I’m finished with her.’ Snodd nodded and his piggy eyes gleamed malevolently.

‘Ye’re in luck, her husband is away frae home. I heard he’s visiting the monastery but I reckon he’s practising his witchcraft.’

‘Witchcraft?’ Neb gave a scornful guffaw. ‘Surely you canna believe in such things!’

‘Ye havena seen him work his spells,’ Snodd claimed defensively. ‘He’s no more than a stripling but he can overcome men twice his size, even me.’ Resentment filled him as he recalled Henry’s treatment of him and how he had been forced to pant up the hill like a dog on a leash. ‘He looks no more than a youth but his wife is carrying his bairn. It must be the spawn o’ the devil.’

‘Isabella is carrying a wean?’

‘Aye, ye’re a better man than me if ye can succour a bairn like that.’

‘I’ll make sure she’s rid o’ it before I get her home.’ Neb declared roughly. ‘Tell me again. How am I to find the room where she sleeps. I shall hide there until she comes to bed at nightfall. I shall silence her and let her see who is master. Then I’ll bind her and carry her away. Ye think she bides at the top o’ the tower?’

‘Aye, so I’m told. I’ve never been further than the ground floor. The wall around the tower yard is too high to climb and it’s as thick as the height o’ a man. Ye’d need tae get in and out by the gate.’

‘Is the gate locked at night?’

‘Since the King’s peace ’tis only locked if the watchmen warn o’ reivers coming. They round up the cattle and horses and get them inside for safe keeping.’

‘They’ll not be expecting thieves on truce night.’

‘No, but I hear Nell, her maid, sleeps in a wee room at the top o’ the tower tae. I wad have taken her already if I could. I’ll pay if ye bring her to me. Ye’d need to gag her and bind her legs for she can kick.’

‘I hear Warden Herries wants three men to swing. The men will be agog at the hangings. No doot the maids will be dancing or fingering the pedlars’ wares.’

‘Aye, that will be the best time to get up the stairs. Nell follows her mistress like a shadow,’ Snodd grumbled, remembering his frustrated efforts to get Nell alone.

***

Zander had been riding around the outskirts of the settlement since day light, searching for a man of Sam’s description. There were strangers everywhere but none with an exceptionally large nose. He was beginning to think the man had been lying, hoping to trick Jamie Ellwood into leaving his home unprotected. Suddenly a figure dashed from the bushes. Zander was almost thrown from his horse. He strove to calm the frightened animal.

‘Please sir, sorry sir. I have news!’ the lad panted breathlessly.

‘Why it’s Donald’s young brother, Duncan, isn’t it?’ Zander guessed he did not want to be seen so he slipped from his horse and drew the shivering boy between him and his mount. Since Henry’s and Isabella’s confrontation with Snodd, Zander had asked the boy to keep his eyes and ears open when he was working at the smiddy, but he had held little hope that Duncan would dare to tell him even if he did hear anything of interest for Snodd had a cruel temper and Duncan’s mother was a widow and needed the pittance the blacksmith paid him. Duncan repeated the conversation he had overheard between the stranger and Snodd.

‘You heard this through the cracks in the wall?’ Zander asked as Duncan related Neb’s plan to hide in Isabella’s bedchamber. He tensed and an angry pulse beat in his lean jaw as he listened to the man’s intentions for dealing with her.

‘Snodd told him the young mistress is expecting Master Henry’s baby but he said he would get rid of it before he reached home with her,’ Duncan whispered hoarsely, his eyes round with horror.

‘The man must be a fool if he thinks he will not be seen.’

‘He plans tae wait until the men are watching the hanging, and the women are dancing. Snodd said most o’ the men would be too drunk to give chase by nightfall. No one would notice if the Mistress had gone.’

‘That’s true.’ Zander agreed. It was audacious but the man had planned well and Isabella often went early to her bedchamber after a long day. He cursed the duties he was expected to carry out, when all he wanted was to keep Isabella safe.

‘You have done well, Duncan.’ He took out his leather pouch and gave the boy several coins. He gasped and stared at Zander.

‘This is more’n Snodd pays me for working six moons.’

‘Take it to your mother or hide it safely. If Snodd sees it he will take it from you and want to know where you got it.’

‘Aye, I’ll hide it, Sir.’ His face paled. ‘I must get back. He’ll whip me if he knows I left the bellows.’ Zander frowned at the prospect.

‘You’re a brave laddie, Duncan. If you get into trouble, or lose your job with Snodd, come to me. Meanwhile listen and keep watch.’

Zander mounted his horse and rode on, deep in thought as he pondered how he could keep Isabella safe without telling her that Neb Truddle was here. He didn’t want to alarm her, but there were so many strangers milling everywhere.

As he returned to the Tower to break his fast he ran into Walter.

‘Anna is down in spirits,’ Walter declared. ‘She wanted to come down to see the merchants and watch the entertainers but strange smells or tastes still make her sickly and I can’t be with her while we are on duty at the trials. I have forbidden her to leave the house.’

‘Walter, my friend! You have given me a solution!’ Zander announced, giving Walter a hearty slap on the back.

‘A solution?’ Walter asked, bewildered. Zander explained about Sam’s arrival and his warning about Neb Truddle.

‘He means to harm Isabella. He plans to carry her off. I will take her to Anna’s, away from the crowds. I’ll ask Anna to keep her there.’

‘You’ll be lucky!’ Walter groaned. ‘I already asked Isabella to keep Anna company but she wants to buy materials for her baby, and afterwards for herself. All the women are excited.’

‘I must get her away from here. I need to know she is safe while we are at the court meetings. You must help me.’

‘How can I do that? Women can be stubborn, Zander.’

‘Look! There’s Isabella on her way from the kitchens. Come and help me.’

Isabella was looking forward to wandering around the stalls and entertainers and seeing the merchants displaying their wares. Nell was as excited as a child. This was a rare occasion.

‘We women never get to see the merchants and choose our own materials,’ Isabella explained when Zander tried to persuade her to spend the day with Anna. ‘We shall never see another truce day. I am looking forward to seeing everything. Well everything except the hangings,’ she added with a shudder. ‘I promised Sir William I would make sure there was plenty of good food for the Warden and his men and those appointed to judge.’

‘You don’t understand Isabella,’ Zander pleaded desperately. ‘The Douglas Clan have made many enemies through reiving in the past. Border people have long memories. As Sir William’s daughter-in-law, and soon to be the mother of his grandchild, you could be in danger. Please let me take you and Nell to Anna’s house. She needs you.’ He nudged Walter in the ribs.

‘Zander is right, Isabella. Anna would truly value your company and your friendship today and Nell would love Glossie’s three puppies, wouldn’t you Nell?’ Nell had no money to spend but she was torn between her longing to see everything and share the day’s excitement or seeing the puppies. Her loyalty was to her beloved mistress, so she hung her head in silence and scuffed her toe in the dust.