The Mark of Salvation (6 page)

Her fingers absently stroked the cross he'd seen her take from Radbourne's neck . . . “John,” she whispered. Her blue eyes stared into the grave upon the nearly covered box . . . She swayed and Ceallach hurried to her side.

Before he reached her she'd sunk to her knees and Ceallach had to pull her to her feet and back from the edge before the ground gave way. He held her arms, gently urging her away from the quickly filling hole.

“Let me go!” She struggled out of his grasp, striking her fists on his chest and keening her husband's name. “John! Why did you leave me?
John!”

Ceallach tried to calm her hands, tried to offer comfort, but she was beyond consolation. As the final shovels of dirt landed on the mounded grave, she stopped hitting Ceallach and once again knelt down. This time, Ceallach let her go, stood beside her, helpless in the midst of such obvious grief.

Over and over again she picked up handfuls of dirt and let them sift through her fingers. Her lips moved, and Ceallach realized she was praying, the words unintelligible to all but her and her God. He hoped she found solace from her prayer.

Did she have children and family waiting for her back in England? He had to get this lady to Bruce so that she could return home and mourn with her own people, where she belonged. She certainly didn't belong here. With her enemies.

Lady Radbourne stood up looking composed despite the tear tracks on her cheeks. “What now?” she asked in a dull sounding voice.

Ceallach gazed at the cloudy skies, away from her troubled gaze, to the late afternoon mist rolling in from the nearby sea. What was to become of her? Would she languish in prison as Bruce's own wife had languished for years? “I don't really know. I will take you to the king—perhaps your ransom can be arranged with speed so that you may return home.”

“Home.”

There was no joy or even anticipation in her voice or expression. But why should he care? Ceallach couldn't afford to become entangled in the woman's problems. He walked her back to where his horse was tied. While they'd waited for the priest, Ceallach had removed her things from the wagon and seen that the horses were cared for. The lady's two baskets hung from his saddle.

“You may ride, lady. I shall walk.” She didn't argue. He helped her mount and led the horse to the makeshift camp behind Gillies Hill. He hoped to find Black Bryan Mackintosh or one of the king's other lieutenants.

He found Sir Bryan with the king amidst a grouping of tents. And more women. Bryan saw him and strode toward him. Bryan, who had become an accomplished knight since Ceallach had first met him seven years ago, had a nasty scrape on the side of his face and a purple bruise colored the skin all around it. “What happened to you?” Ceallach asked.

“I got knocked on the head yesterday.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “ 'Tis nothing. Come, you are just in time. The king and I are about to honor my foster brother, Adam, and Fergus Cookson.”

Ceallach raised his eyebrows in question and Bryan said, “I don't know what the king has in mind for Adam, but Fergus is to be knighted.”

Ceallach remembered his own knighting ceremony—the day of fasting and the night of prayer before taking the solemn vows. But his vows had meant choosing a way of life, vows that bound him not to a human lord but to God and his Son. Vows that had governed his life for fifteen years and had ended in . . . Ceallach gave himself a mental shake.
Stay out of the past.

“I need to speak to the king about this woman.”

Bryan glanced back at Lady Radbourne, sitting stiffly on Ceallach's horse. “From the looks of her clothes I'd guess she's English.”

“Aye.” Ceallach tugged the reins and kept walking, wanting to reach the king, make his explanation and be done. The day had become heavy with mist. Flags drooped from their poles and the tents sagged under the weight of the damp air. But the people gathered in the little clearing were in high spirits.

Before he reached his fellow Scots he tied the horse to a tree branch and spoke to his prisoner. “Wait here. I shall return shortly.”Without waiting for a response, he walked over to Bruce, who welcomed him.

Bryan rejoined the group and made introductions. “Ceallach, you never did get a chance to visit with us at Homelea before the battle. This is my wife, Lady Kathryn, and her cook, Anna. That sprite Kathryn is holding is . . . our daughter, Isobel.” Lady Kathryn said hello but her shining eyes were on her husband as if he'd said something truly amazing.
Women. Who could understand them?
Bryan was newly wed and Ceallach supposed that had something to do with it.

Bryan continued. “You know Adam, of course, but I don't believe you've met Fergus. He is Anna's son and Kathryn's good friend.”

Ceallach acknowledged Fergus with a brief nod.

Bruce pulled a young woman forward. “This is Lady Morrigan Macnab.”

Ceallach nodded to her. He'd met her before—a warrior in her own right.

Fergus eyed her suspiciously and said, “My pleasure,
Lady
Macnab.”

Dressed in her usual men's trews and saffron shirt belted at the waist, she stood straighter and said, “I'm no' a lady but a warrior like yourself.”

Fergus stepped back and Bruce chuckled. “That she is, Fergus. None better with a bow and more than competent with a sword. Best beware.”

“I shall remember the warning.”

“See that you do,” she said.

Bruce looked behind him and asked Ceallach, “Whom do you have with you?”

“Your Majesty, I found some Englishwomen in a supply wagon. One is at the hospital looking for her husband. I have just come from burying Lady Radbourne's husband, and now I am ready to turn her over to you.”

Immediately Lady Kathryn walked over to her English counterpart and offered condolences. Morrigan and Ceallach stayed behind. Didn't Kathryn know that but for the grace of God her own loved ones would be the ones dead and vanquished? How could she offer solace to the enemy?

But Bruce also walked over to the Englishwoman. “Lady Rad-bourne?”

She nodded.

“Let me help you from this horse. You may make yourself comfortable here by the fire. I will see to your needs when I've finished with the business at hand.”

“I am fine here on the horse, thank you.”

“As you wish.” With a curt nod of his head, Scotland's king accompanied Lady Kathryn back to the men and Morrigan. “Now, let us get on with this solemn ceremony.”

Ceallach had no choice but to await the king and so joined the circle of people.

Bruce addressed them. “These men proved their bravery upon the field of battle under the worst conditions. Fergus has earned my lifelong friendship and gratitude for saving the life of my natural son, Sir Bryan Mackintosh and his wife, Lady Kathryn.” Bruce gave Fergus a splendid sword, no doubt from the cache of English weapons. Fergus kissed the blade and handed it back to the king before he knelt in front of him. Bruce then tapped him first on one shoulder, then the other before pronouncing him a knight.

Bruce moved to stand in front of Adam. “Sir Adam. I had the privilege of knighting you when our fight with England began that cold day outside of Greyfriars Church.”

“Aye, my king. More than eight years ago.”

“We've suffered much since then. Yesterday you helped Sir Fergus save Bryan and Kathryn from the wrath of an English enemy. I cannot possibly reward you with anything that compares to the worth of these two, whom I love.”

Adam shook his head. “There is no need to thank me. Bryan is as dear to me as any brother by blood.”

Ceallach looked to his own foster brother, Robert the Bruce, and knew that Adam spoke true. Ceallach would lay down his life for the man who was both a brother and his king.

Bruce beckoned to his page and the young boy brought a parchment to the king who took it then faced Adam again. He offered the paper to Adam and he took it. “Adam, I wish to reward you with the newly created Earldom of Moy.”

Adam looked stunned. “You are too generous, Your Majesty.”

“Nonsense. You've been a staunch ally in the north and have earned a reward. But I suppose now you'll be asking for leave to race home to Moy and tell Gwenyth she is a countess.”

Adam grinned. “Aye.” He looked up at the sky. “There's still a fair amount of daylight left—I could leave today.”

Everyone laughed.

Bruce laughed with them, and then in a more serious tone the king said, “You are anxious to see Gwenyth and your wee ones.”

“Aye. They are never far from my thoughts. Our oldest turns five in a few weeks. It will be good to be home for the celebration.” He turned to Bryan. “Why don't you and Kathryn come to Moy while Homelea is being rebuilt?”

All this talk of home, of family made Ceallach melancholy. Where did he belong? His thoughts shifted back to the Englishwoman, and he turned toward her. She'd acquiesced and dismounted and now sat by the campfire. He stopped in front of her and she stood up from the log she'd been sitting on.

He still had no idea what he was supposed to do with her. “In a few minutes I will be able to bring your plight back to the king's attention, my lady.”

“I am not going anywhere, Sir Ceallach.” She looked so forlorn. He knew only too well how it felt to be a prisoner, to have others control your fate. But there was nothing he could do about her situation. Radbourne had been a fool to bring her. Brash, stubborn English . . .

He cleared his throat nervously. “Very well.” He walked back to the group surrounding Bruce hoping he might soon talk with the king.

“Aye, I
am
worried for your safety,” Bryan was saying to Bruce. “Who knows how Edward of England will react to this defeat of his army?” He turned to Adam. “I can't go with you to Moy, but perhaps you would take Kathryn with you?”

Bryan's wife looked very unhappy with that suggestion. “Do you think I will leave here without you?”

Bruce said, “Perhaps you should take a few weeks and accompany Kathryn to Moy, Bryan. I don't believe Edward will be able to convince his nobles to invade Scotland any time soon.”

Bryan considered this. “You're probably right. It may take him years to rally them to battle again. I would like to see everyone at Moy and introduce Kathryn to my childhood home.” The more he thought about it the more appealing the idea must have been for he said, “Aye, Adam. We'll go with you.”

Bruce gave his blessing to the trip and promised that when Bryan returned, he would have the funds to rebuild Homelea. “Now, I have one more bequest to make before I attend to Ceallach and his prisoner. Morrigan, step forward please.”

Ceallach was glad to hear that Morrigan was to be the last person singled out. He wanted no reward nor any notoriety for his part in yesterday's victory. All he wanted was to be relieved of the woman who waited for Bruce's attention.

Bruce said, “Morrigan, your family has paid dearly for fighting for Scotland. Your father and brother are dead, and you've been dispossessed from your lands. How long has it been since you saw your mother and siblings?”

“Seven years, my laird.”

“Too long. It is past time for you to reunite your family and find yourself a husband.”

“I've not given marriage much thought, my laird.”

“Aye, you have been serving your country. But now that we have peace once more, you should begin to think on it. I turned your Uncle Angus out of Innishewan on my way to Bannockburn. The estate is yours.”

Well done.
Morrigan had saved the king's life and survived the dangerous existence of a spy. She deserved to have such a reward for her efforts.

Morrigan appeared stunned at the generosity. “You have defeated the English, my laird. I need no more reward than that.”

“Take it. Innishewan is not the prize you remember. I received a report that your uncle gutted it before he left. You won't be able to occupy the castle without considerable repair. Find yourself a husband to help you restore the estate.”

“Thank you, my laird. You are too generous. But I have no need of a husband to help me. I am perfectly capable—”

“Of course you are,” Bruce said smoothly. “But you will need men to help put it to rights. Perhaps Fergus here could assist you.” He turned to the man. “What plans do you have now that you are knighted?”

Fergus said, “I haven't had time to give it much thought. I'm trained ” as a steward—perhaps I can serve Lady Morrigan in that capacity as she rebuilds.

Fergus looked at Bryan who shrugged and said, “You are certainly welcome back at Homelea, Fergus, when Kathryn and I return there. But perhaps you'd prefer to seek your fortune elsewhere.”

“I'd welcome a steward's help at Innishewan,” Morrigan said. “I'm not sure you'd earn a fortune, Fergus, but you'll at least have enough to support a wife and family.”

Kathryn grinned at Fergus. “All you need now is a wife.”

Fergus blushed and said, “Now that I've a way to provide for one, I shall look in earnest.”

Hearty laughter followed his exclamation.

“An excellent idea,” the king put in. “Fergus, go with Lady Morrigan and be of service to her.”

Ceallach saw the dismayed look on Fergus's face and the satisfied look on Bruce's. If he didn't know better, Ceallach would swear the king had stooped to matchmaking.

As the others drifted away, Bruce nodded to Ceallach and said, “I have given it some thought and I've decided that you will be in charge of this female prisoner. As an earl's wife, she would fetch an excellent ransom. But instead, I will hold her hostage to ensure the safety of my own family. Until an exchange of prisoners can be negotiated, Lady Radbourne needs a protector.”

Ceallach glanced quickly at the woman, still seated by the fire. “I am not a good choice for this work, sire. I know nothing of women and their needs.”