“Nay, he…wait. A day after the man left, I noticed that my stepfather was troubled. When I asked him, he wouldna explain. Never had I seen him this anxious. He rode out soon after, when my mother and stepbrother were working in the fields. Worried, I searched through his things in hopes of discovering the reason. I found—” She closed her eyes.
“Steady, lass.”
Red-rimmed eyes met his. “I found a map of Tiran Castle, with entries of improvements recently made. At the bottom, along with a brief note, ’twas signed,Yours in faith, Father Lamond.” She sniffed. “’Twas the day after that my stepfather was charged with poaching and killed.”
Cailin stilled. God’s blade. Sir Angus’s death was far from serving justice from theft.
“What is it?” Elspet asked, her voice trembling.
Cailin met her gaze, damned what he would reveal. “Your stepfather wasna killed because of false charges of stealing hart but because my uncle discovered his loyalty to King Robert.”
Chapter 4
“My stepfather was loyal to King Robert?” Firelight wavered against the cave walls as Elspet fought the grief, the anger surging through her at Cailin’s assertion. “You are wrong. His fealty was to Lord Comyn, and he was often called upon and involved with planning significant battles for our liege lord.”
Cailin slowly shook his head. “His supposed loyalty was a cover, proven by Father Lamond’s name on the document in Sir Angus’s possession, a man my uncle knows is loyal to King Robert. Your stepfather gathered information valuable to King Robert, aiding him in his rightful claim of Scotland.”
A slow throbbing built in her head as she stared at Cailin, struggled to accept his words. Elspet stilled, finally understanding. “A fact you know because your allegiance is to King Robert as well.”
He nodded. “I swore my fealty over a year ago.”
“And my stepfather?”
“I first met Sir Angus during a meeting with the Bruce this past summer.”
Merciful saints. The time when her stepfather had traveled to take care of important business. She could barely breathe at the enormity of the disclosure. The news shattered the beliefs of the life she’d known. “I never thought, neverimagined that…”
“Sir Angus McReynolds was a man trusted by Scotland’s king,” Cailin continued, his voice filled with respect. “A knight who worked alongside others faithful to the Bruce to quell any who fought to deny him his rightful crown.”
She rubbed her brow. “’Tis much to accept. But my stepfather secretly working for King Robert would explain why the Earl of Dalkirk, a loyal Comyn supporter, would want him dead.”
“Elspet…”
Questions flooded her mind. “Did my mother know? Was she a supporter of King Robert as well?” Had she died because of the politics of men? Livid, Elspet held up her hand. “Even if you knew, it matters little. Both are dead, murdered by the Earl of Dalkirk.”
“Nor,” Cailin said through clenched teeth, “will he escape his crimes.That I swear.”
The raw violence in Cailin’s voice matched that raging through her blood. And why wouldn’t he loath his uncle? The Earl of Dalkirk had also killed Cailin’s parents during his youth. “How did the earl discover my stepfather’s ties to King Robert?”
“As your family lived unharmed until recently, I suspect something raised my uncle’s suspicions and so ordered your home watched. His knights must have captured a recent visitor of consequence to Sir Angus, mayhap the knight you spoke of or another, and the information was pried from him.”
Bile again crawled up her throat. “You think whoever it was, theywere tortured?”
“If he is loyal to King Robert, aye.”
The thought of such brutal actions made her want to retch. “Nor should I be surprised,” she whispered. “Lord Dalkirk is known for his cruelty, for making people suffer.”
She swallowed hard. The crackle of the flames and the scent of smoke within the cave carried on as if everything was normal when ’twas anything but.
“Elspet, ’tis imperative that you help me,” he said, his tone soft but firm. “Nor, for your safety, except for Father Lamond, can you tell anyone what I shared with you.”
“I willna, I swear it.” She hesitated. “You believe my mother knew?”
“I would think she was aware of Sir Angus’s involvement. It may be the reason why she was hanged. And,” Cailin said, “I seek your allegiance to King Robert.”
“If my family’s loyalty was given to the Bruce, the decision is simple. I only wished they had told me. Only wished that…” She shoved aside the rush of sorrow. Now wasn’t the time for regrets but action. “I give my fealty to KingRobert Bruce.”
Cailin nodded.
