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When she just stared at him silently, he explained, "Liam apparently kept the arrow because something about it bothered him. The blood obscured the coloring, so it must have been the length that did it. Biddy's was as short as the boys', and so were her arrows," he pointed out, then shrugged. "It may have been that, but whatever it was, it was enough to make Liam keep the arrow in that chest in his room, bloodied and all. "
Evelinde's eyes widened as she realized the arrow she'd seen in the chest in their room was the one that Darach had been shot with.
"But the blood dried up and over the years got brushed off every time he took something out of, or put something into, the chest. By the time he noted that there were white feathers among the darker ones, he thought little of it… until the day he came down to the cliff and found me cleaning rabbits. "
"Rabbits?" Evelinde asked with bewilderment, not sure what one thing had to do with the other.
Fergus nodded. "Biddy hadna been hunting since Darach's death. She used to like it before that, but after shooting her husband, she never picked up her bow again until I convinced her to join me hunting almost ten years to the day after Darach died. She'd been sick for a couple of weeks and stuck indoors else I doona think I'd have convinced her to accompany me, but in the end she decided she would and would catch some fresh rabbits to make a nice stew for supper.
"I soon regretted pushing her into it," Fergus said on a sigh. "When we returned, I sent her in to start chopping her vegetables while I brought the rabbits here to clean and skin them. " His gaze slid to the pile of stones. "As much as Biddy liked to come here to visit her sister, I did, too. I often visited Jenny and talked to her while doing some task or other. The first time it was just to assure her that Darach was rotting in hell for what he'd done to her. But 'tis a peaceful spot, and I kept returning. "
He shrugged unhappily, and said, "That day, I brought the rabbits here to tend them, and Liam came looking for me. When he praised me on the number of rabbits, I wryly admitted they were all Biddy's catch. It was only then I noted the recognition in his eyes. Had I realized he'd know the arrow's fletching I would have claimed they were my own and let him execute me for killing Darach, but 'twas too late. I could not convince him then that it had been me who had killed Darach. He would not listen, and I had to kill him.
"Liam never saw it coming," Fergus assured her as if that might make a difference. "He had dismounted and was standing with his back to the cliff. I launched myself at him and pushed him over the edge without a fight. "
"And little Maggie?" Evelinde asked, her gaze now slipping to the door in the curtain wall. She knew that once he finished explaining everything, he would turn his attention to killing her. She needed to figure out a plan to save herself, and Evelinde was thinking that she might hit him with a rock and make a run for the door in the curtain wall.
"I was sorry to have to kill little Maggie. "
Evelinde's mouth compressed at the words. It seemed to her that Fergus had been awfully sorry over each of the murders, but it hadn't stopped him committing them, or following them with others. He'd no doubt be sorry to have to kill her, too, she thought with disgust, then stiffened as she noted that the door in the curtain wall was open a little. For a moment, she thought Fergus had simply not closed it properly, but then she noted that several faces were crowded in the narrow opening. She recognized Cullen at once, as well as Mildrede, Tavis and—Her heart squeezed as she spotted Biddy and noted the expression on her face. Evelinde had no idea how long they'd all been there listening to Fergus's confessions, but it was long enough to leave Biddy shaken and pale.
"Little Maggie was a sweet lass. "
Evelinde forced herself to turn her gaze back to the man lest her distraction warn him they were no longer alone.
"But she had to poke her nose into this business. Like you," he added grimly. "The only difference was she came to me first with her plans to resolve the matter. She fancied Cullen would be so pleased to have his name cleared, he'd vow his undying love for her… the little fool.
"I tried to sway her from looking into it, but she, too, thought Jenny's death might be involved, and turned her suspicions on Biddy. The moment she did that I knew I'd have to kill her. But I liked the lass, and hesitated until the day came when she searched Biddy's room as you obviously did this morn. "
Evelinde's gaze skittered in apology to the door, but Biddy's attention was focused solely on Fergus as he spoke.
"When she found the letter, Maggie came running straight to me. I hurried her out here to the cliff. She was so excited telling me of her find, she hardly noticed where I was steering her. If thinking Biddy had killed Darach wasna bad enough, the lass also concluded that Biddy must have killed Liam because he somehow sorted it out.
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"And then we stepped through the door and out here onto the cliff, and the wind near to stole the breath from both of us. She turned to me with confusion asking, why we were here and I struck her, knocking her out at once. I then set her on Jenny's grave and tried to sort out what to do. Maggie had to die to protect Biddy, but how? And then I decided just to throw her off the cliff while she was still unconscious. She would just never wake and never suffer. "
"And my accidents?" she prompted when he fell silent. "That was you as well. "
"Aye. I've been trying to make it look like an accident so no one could turn on Cullen, but ye keep escaping with yer life. " He grimaced, then admitted, "And I am sorry about having to kill you, too, as it seems obvious the lad loves ye, but he'll get over ye in time. "
Evelinde's mouth tightened at the words. The man had no idea what love was if he thought it was so easily forgotten. However, he was moving forward again, and she searched her mind for another question to keep him talking.
"What of the rumors?" she asked, grabbing at the question, as Cullen began to slide through the partially open door behind the man. "Did you start those, too?"
Fergus paused again. "Not a purpose. It was after Liam's death they started in whispering about murder and wondering about Darach as well. I worried they'd look to Biddy. So, to turn the gossip away from her, I mentioned to someone that I'd heard someone else had seen a dark man fleeing the area about the time that Liam would have died. The next thing I knew the rumor returned to me with Cullen's name inserted in place of 'a dark man. ' I have ever been sorry for the trouble that's caused ye, Cullen. "
Evelinde had been watching her husband creep slowly and silently up behind Fergus as she listened to the man speak, but his last words made her stiffen as she realized some sound or perhaps her watching had given away Cullen's presence. She glanced sharply to the soldier and was somewhat surprised to find that while she'd been watching her husband, Fergus had been sidling closer to her. Now he was little more than an arm's length away. Before she could rectify the matter and move out of reach, he lunged forward, catching her upper arm and hauling her back up against his chest as he turned to face Cullen, and added, "But ye've handled it well, lad. Yer father would have been proud. "
Cullen had stilled, his jaw clenching with frustration as she was caught, but that was the only reflection of his feelings as he glared at Fergus, and said, "He might be were he still alive. "
"Fergus," Biddy said quietly, slipping through the door in the curtain wall and moving up beside Cullen. "Let Evelinde go. "
The sharp prick of a knife against her neck told Evelinde he wasn't ready to do that. She stood completely still, holding her breath lest she accidentally slit her own throat as she waited for an opportunity to free herself or otherwise bring an end to the situation.
"I did it all for you, Biddy," Fergus said solemnly.
"But I didna want it done," Biddy said sadly.
"Ye shot him," he pointed out with exasperation.
"Aye, but—That was in a moment of rage over what he'd done to Jenny," she said, trying to explain her feelings. "Murder is wrong. I should have—"
"It isna murder when 'tis someone like him. Darach deserved to die," Fergus insisted. "He was a cold, heartless bastard. Had he lived, he'd have just broken yer heart over and over again, made ye more miserable and ruined countless other young lasses. "
"Aye, but at least I'd have not suffered the guilt I've suffered all these years thinking I'd committed a mortal sin and murdered my own husband," Biddy countered, sounding angry for the first time. "And Liam and little Maggie didna deserve to die. They were both good people, both friends and loved ones whose passing I've mourned. "
Her gaze flickered to Evelinde's face, and her lips tightened before she added, "And then there is Evelinde. Ye planned to kill her, too, did ye not? Who would have been next? Cullen, when he tried to find out who killed his wife and sought vengeance? Would ye kill everyone I love in your supposed effort to 'protect' me? I'd rather ye'd killed me that night than any of the others, including Darach. Ye've done nothing but cause me more pain, Fergus. Do ye no see that?"
Evelinde swallowed and shifted her eyes to the side, trying to see Fergus. He was still as stone behind her, but his breathing was rapid, and she wasn't sure how he was responding to Biddy's words.
"Let Evelinde go," Cullen said grimly, drawing her gaze back to his stony face. "Her death will win ye nothing now. 'Tis over. "
"Aye, 'tis. " Fergus sighed by her ear, then began to back up. "I'm sorry, Biddy. All I ever wanted was to make ye happy and protect ye. Ye deserved better than the cards ye were dealt. But I've managed to muck everything up. "
"Fergus, let Evelinde go, and fight me," Cullen growled, moving forward as Fergus continued to drag her back toward the cliff.
"I've no desire to fight ye, lad. I feel bad enough fer killing yer father. I'll no add yer death to the list of me sins. "
"Well then, doona add Evelinde either," he said desperately.
"Please, let her go, Fergus," Biddy said quietly. "Cullen and Evelinde love each other. They deserve the happiness neither of us found. "
"Aye, mayhap they do," Fergus agreed, but backed up several more steps before pausing to say by Evelinde's ear. "I'm going to let ye go, lass, and when I do, yer to walk straight away from me to yer husband. "
"What are you going to do?" she asked with concern.
"Never ye worry about that," he said. "Ye just go to yer husband and love him. Biddy's right, ye deserve each other. "
Evelinde opened her mouth again to ask what he was going to do, but Fergus suddenly pushed her forward. Unprepared for it, she stumbled, but Cullen was there to catch her, steadying her with one hand even as he lunged past her to catch at Fergus. Evelinde whirled as his hand left her, eyes widening in horror as she saw Fergus pitching off the cliff and Cullen throwing himself forward to catch him.
Evelinde wasn't the only one to scream out, but she was the only one close enough to make a grab for Cullen as he caught at Fergus and was pulled off-balance. She caught him by the back of the plaid and followed him to the ground as he fell. Cullen landed with his legs on the cliff but his chest hanging over the edge. Fergus, however, was hanging in midair, kept from plunging to the bottom of the rocky incline only by Cullen's hold on his tunic. When his weight began to drag Cullen forward, Evelinde scrambled onto his legs, adding her weight to his own to anchor them.
"Let me go, lad," she heard Fergus say almost kindly.
"Nay," Cullen growled. "Take me hand, yer plaid may rip. "
"Take his hand, Fergus," Tavis coaxed, as the men rushed forward to try to help.
Evelinde relaxed a little as Gillie and Rory knelt on either side of her and caught at Cullen to help keep him from going over the cliff with the man he held.
"Take me hand, ye stubborn bastard," Cullen snapped, as Evelinde heard the faintest tearing sound. "I'm trying to save yer life here. "
"Why? So ye can later hang me fer murder?" Fergus asked dryly, then repeated, "Let me go. I'm ready. "
Cullen was stiff and silent, and Evelinde knew he was hesitating, unwilling to let go the man who had been a first to him for years and probably had trained him in his youth, but also aware that did he save him now, he would then have to punish him for three murders. It would mean hanging him.
Evelinde's heart went out to her husband, knowing how agonizing a decision this must be for him, but then the choice was taken out of his hands. The hard wind that had been pounding at them suddenly died an abrupt death, a brief hiccup just long enough for her to hear the sound of Fergus's tunic tearing away; and then the wind roared back, slapping at them as Fergus plunged downward. He never screamed, the only sound was the shriek of the wind around them.
