***
A half hour later, Colin met his brother entering the great hall.
"The whoreson won't speak a word," Bryce growled.
"I figured as much."
"Based on what Warton and Rusty said, sounds like the same band of miscreants who shot Da from the wood nearby."
"I agree."
"Which clan could they be from? We've had no intense conflicts for a few years."
"I thought hard on it the whole way here. I cannot think of anyone who hated Da enough to assassinate him. What would they have to gain by it?"
Bryce shook his head. "Several of us had a meeting on it earlier. We came up with naught."
Colin turned, spying the healer on the other side of the great hall. "Did Deidra pay a visit to the prisoner yet?"
"Nay, she was busy." Bryce walked with him toward her.
"Deidra, what can you tell me about Da's injury?"
The middle-aged woman with gray hair shook her head, looking dejected. "'Tis a bad one, Colin. The arrow went through the lower side of his gut. I may be a good healer, but I'm nay that good. I did the best I could on him, but I'm thinking even an Edinburgh physician couldn't heal him. It'll take a miracle."
Dread weighed heavily upon Colin's heart. He couldn't imagine life without his da. "Is he suffering?"
"He does nay seem to be in any pain, but who can know, in truth? I wish I could do more. I'd best go check on him again."
"When you finish with him, can you come to the dungeon? We brought in a prisoner who has an arrow in his leg. He may very well be the man who shot Da."
"And you wish me to heal such an evil man?" she snapped, her gaze sharp as a spear.
The woman's vehemence rendered Colin speechless for a moment. "Aye, we must question him and find out which clan he's from. Several men in his party fled. We need to stop them before they attack again."
"I'll think on it." She stormed away and up the stairs.
Colin could well understand Deidra's anger, and he was tempted to feel the same way himself, but he wasn't barbaric enough to withhold the help of a healer from anyone, even from a man who'd tried to kill his father. He believed in upholding the law. If the archer recovered, he could be turned over to the authorities. But first, Colin had to find out what the man knew.
He and Bryce strode outside to the bailey, then descended the steps into the dungeon.
Lying on the floor, the man writhed and groaned in pain.
Colin stopped before the cell door. "We've asked the healer to come down and help you."
"I want naught to do with a healer!" the man shouted.
"Which clan are you from?"
"Go to hell!"
Ignoring him, Colin asked, "Why did you shoot at us? What grudge do you hold against the Camerons?"
Eyes closed, the man lay still, not uttering another word.
"Damnation. I think he passed out," Colin muttered.
"Hope he doesn't die before we get a name from him," Bryce said.
