Duncan shook his head. “It had to be our grandmother.”
Alexander eyed his younger brother. “I do not want to believe it. I fought throughout the night to find another reason, yet nothing else makes sense.” He muttered a curse. “The lass knows not ’twas our grandmother’s chamber, nor has she ever met her. Yet, she described her in exact detail.”
“So, it seems our grandmother’s spirit indeed visits the chamber,” Seathan said, his voice raw with wonder. “And it would explain the reappearance of Patrik’s stone months ago.”
“It was your grandmother’s way of revealing Patrik lived,” Griffin said. “But why would his gemstone have disappeared to begin with?”
“At this moment,” Seathan replied, “the only one who knows that is our grandmother.”
Silence filled the chamber as the brothers shared a look of agreement as to what their grandmother’s appearance to Mistress Cristina meant.
Alexander frowned, not liking the mystery. Was Cristina indeed meant for Patrik? Nay, had she taken the stone, then he would be convinced.
“But,” Alexander said, “it does nae explain the appearance of the other halved stone within the bowl, a gem I have never seen before.”
Duncan frowned. “A second stone? Sword’s wrath, ’tis a muddle.”
“Think you I do not know that?” Alexander said. “I had barred the bloody chamber myself.”
“It would seem barriers matter not when our grandmother is involved,” Seathan said.
“Do you think there are more halved stones to appear?” At Alexander’s scowl, Duncan raised his hands. “Do nae give me that look.”
“At this moment,” Seathan broke in, “our most pressing need is to figure out how to free Bishop Wishart, not the stones or their importance.”
Griffin rubbed the back of his neck.
His brother-in-law’s nervous action caught Alexander’s attention. “What is wrong?”
A hesitant look crossed Griffin’s face. “What did the stone look like?”
Alexander crossed his arms. “Why?”
“On my many trips to Lochshire Castle over the years,” Griffin replied, “I had the pleasure of meeting your grandmother.”
Seathan’s gaze narrowed. “You would.”
“On one such visit, she requested my presence in private. And,” Griffin said as he withdrew the chain from around his neck, “gave me this halved magnesite.”
Alexander gasped, his gut dropping to his toes, “’Tis a bloody perfect match!”
Chapter 17
Patrik’s body ached and his head pounded as if a mace had struck it. He blinked against the morning sun filtering into his chamber.
Though furnished with little more than a bed, a wooden nightstand and a chest for his garb, this represented his home, a place where, when but a broken lad, he’d come and rebuilt his shattered life.
He noticed his brothers and Griffin standing within the chamber. For the past year their absence had left an aching void within him. Now, desperately, he wanted them back.
Seathan muttered a curse at Alexander’s comment about the English, dragging Patrik’s thoughts to the discussion at hand. “Aye.” He shifted and pain shot through his arm, sending his shoulder muscles into spasms. With a muttered curse at his weakness, he cleared his throat. “With Wishart in English hands, Wallace’s leadership is essential if we are to stop the English.”
Seathan nodded. “Wallace is gathering forces in Selkirk Forest. Andrew de Moray and his forces should join Wallace before the end of August. Whatever it takes, the English must not reach Stirling Castle.”
“Aye,” Patrik agreed. “We must stop them before they cross the Forth.”
“Wallace plans to set up the combined armies north of the bridge that crosses the Forth,” Griffin explained.
“’Twill be dangerous,” Duncan said.
