She reached a trembling hand to clasp his.
“I heard them speak,” she whispered, “as they were setting the walls alight.” She coughed again.
“Hush lass. Dinnae push yerself.” He felt the blood pounding in his temples at her words. This attack had brought home to him the danger he had put her in by taking her there.
She shook her head and he leaned in to hear her tiny whisper. “They spoke of deciding the lairdship and that ‘the lady’ should be out of the way.”
As her words hit home, a dark river of murderous rage rushed through Edmund. He clenched his teeth and sucked in a harsh breath, his mind instantly racing to Harris MacDonald.
“By God, I kent MacDonald was desperate tae take the lairdship, but I didnae believe that he would stoop tae such evil.” He shook his head, his lips in a tight line of fury. “If ‘tis MacDonald, he has blood on his hands.”
Tears trickled down Annora’s cheeks, and she coughed again. He leaned over and tenderly wiped the tears away with his kerchief. “There, lass, ‘tis over. Ye’re safe.” He held on tight to her hand, his mind looping over the events of the day.
“Someone tried tae kill me, Edmund,” she croaked, shaking her head, her eyes streaming with tears. “‘’Twas nay accident that the door was slammed and locked, trapping me inside. And ‘twas nae accident that the riders threw oil on the timbers and set them on fire.”
“Aye. There’s a wicked hand…” His reply was cut short by a knock at the door.
“Come,” he called. A kitchen-maid entered bearing a tisane. “The healer sent this fer milady. And I’ve brought ye a rosewater soda.”
Edmund propped the pillows so that Annora could sit and she gratefully sipped the hot liquid and breathed in the steam.
“I feel a little better now.” He took the empty cup from her soft hands as she lay her head back on the feather pillows. Her eyelids were drooping and it was not more than a few moments before she drifted into a gentle sleep.
He watched over her, his heart melting with concern. Once he was certain she was comfortable and sleeping peacefully, he rose quietly and trod silently out of the chamber in search of Lionel and Tormod.
He found them both in the solar, along with Tyra and Harris MacDonald.
Tyra looked up anxiously as he walked in. “How is the Lady Annora?”
He nodded to Tyra, but the rage burning inside him would not allow him to meet Harris’s gaze.
“She lives,” were his only words.
“Sit down lad,” Tormod said, gesturing to the seats around the big table. They all moved across and took their seats, with Tormod at the head, a grave, unsmiling expression on his face as he looked around.
“I have heard from many of the guards and the men who fought the blaze today. All of them held fears fer the Lady Annora’s wellbeing. I am pleased tae hear that she has been taken care of. Me hope is that she will quickly improve and soon be quite well.”
Edmund dipped his head in acknowledgment as Tormod continued.
“We were taken by surprise, and because of that, two of our men lost their lives.”
Lionel spoke up at that point. “I have me own ideas about the raid. From what I’ve heard among the men and the servants, I have concluded that someone inside the castle had warned the raiders that the guard was tae be strengthened, prompting them tae strike us in full daylight rather than at night.”
Tormod shook his head. “That is dire news. It means there is a traitor in our midst.”
It was too much for Edmund to keep quiet. He leaned forward, his gaze resting on MacDonald. “And where were ye during the raid? I didnae see ye rush tae assist, nor at the well drawing water tae quench the fires.”
Harris visibly bristled at Edmund’s words, glowering at him. The two men glared fierce daggers across the table at each other.
“Why, I was with Tyra, when I heard of the raid. It was all over before I made me way from the solar.” Harris leaned back, folding his arms, a smug expression on his face.
Edmund glanced at Tyra who was shaking her head.
“I saw ye, Tyra,” Edmund said, “as I was racing tae the western gate. Harris wasnae wi’ ye then.”
She drew in a sharp breath and turned to MacDonald. “Nay. Ye were nae wi’ me. And I wasnae in the solar. I went tae me chamber after I saw Edmund.”
“Oh. Yes” He growled at her. “I forgot. I was waiting fer ye in the solar.”
