“My men and I were ordered to find you and whoever youtraveled with.”
Cailin glanced her way before meeting his mentor’s gaze. “You never knew it was me?”
“Nay. We were given a rough description, told that you had abducted Elspet and were dangerous. Once captured, you were to be killed and your body disposed of.”
Cailin grunted. “With no one the wiser that I was alive orhad returned.”
“So it would seem,” Sir Petrus replied with disgust. “You are here to reclaim what is rightfully yours, I take it?”
Cailin nodded. “I am, but I need your help.”
Face solemn, the master-at-arms nodded. “Whatever you need, I am atyour service.”
“Though I trust you, before I say more, you will swear yourfealty to me.”
Without hesitation, Sir Petrus knelt, pledged his fealty, then stood.
“What I am about to tell you,” Cailin said, “you willna repeat until I tell you.”
“I swear it.”
“The charges my uncle pressed against Sir Angus McReynolds were lies,” Cailin said,
A muscle worked in the knight’s jaw. “That I can believe. I have known Sir Angus my entire life. He was a fine and honest man.” Sadness filled his gaze as he looked at Elspet. “After the deed was done, I learned of the earl’s order, and that your stepfather and mother were dead.” He shook his head. “A terrible loss.” He exhaled a rough breath. “I am sorry, lass.”
She gave a shaky nod.“I thank you.”
Sir Petrus frowned. “What I do not understand is why Lord Dalkirk would falsely accuse such an honorable man of a crime.”
“Because,” Cailin said, “Gaufrid discovered that Sir Angus’s true loyalty was to KingRobert Bruce.”
The master-at-arms’s face paled. “Scotland’s king?”
Hand clasping his dagger, Cailin drew himself to his full height. “Aye, a fealty I share. I would know if youfeel the same.”
His mentor’s face relaxed, as if a burden lifted. “I always believed the Bruce to be Scotland’s rightful ruler. As with you, I swear myfealty to him.”
Cailin nodded. “Father Lamond gave me a list of men who are trustworthy within the stronghold and will swear their fealty to me.” Parchment scraped as he handed the roll to the knight. “I need you to speak to each one, swear them to secrecy, then explainthe situation.”
“I will.” Sir Petrus unrolled, then scanned the document. He frowned. “There are several men not on the list who I trust and am confident will pledge their oath to you as well.”
“Excellent. I will meet you here tomorrow. Once we learn how many men will shift their loyalty to me, we will begin plans to seizeTiran Castle.”
“Aye,” he replied.
“One last thing.” Cailin’s gaze moved to Elspet before returning to his mentor. “I need to know if her stepbrother, Blar, is alive.”
Disgust clouded the master-at-arms’s eyes. “He is, but—” He frowned at Elspet. Taking a deep breath, he said, “’Tis with great regret that I must inform you that your stepbrother isna a good man, nor oneI would trust.”
Chapter 8
Cold rage surged through Elspet at Sir Petrus’s disparaging remark. “Y-you are wrong. Blar is a good man. Though he and I have not always agreed, I would trust himwith my life!”
“Keep your voice down!” Cailin warned as he peered through the slit into the stable. Body tense, he turned to the master-at-arms. “Explain.”
“I admit that I have never seen eye to eye with her stepbrother,” the knight stated. “A fact not helped by the way, during his visits to the castle, he behaved as if he were above us and went out of his way to garner favorwith the earl.”
“Garner favor with the earl?” she sputtered, taking a step closer within the confines of the tunnel. “He offered Lord Dalkirk the respect his station demanded, a man I assure you, he despises.”
