"Of course, I trust you. They're well hidden in the cellar at Darby Hall. I daresay he will have a difficult time finding them."
Cyrus nodded. "In that case, he will try to recapture you and force you to hand them over. 'Twill likely happen tomorrow."
A chill passed along Elspeth's spine. She could've never guessed that Alexander's son could be so evil.
Cyrus's jaw clenched hard. "I'll kill him if he tries it." Eyes narrowed, he shook his head. "When I saw that he didn't allow you to eat with everyone else at his table, I wanted to run him through. I knew you were hungry, and he was trying to torture you by eating in front of you."
"Think naught of it. He turned my stomach. I had no appetite then, anyway." She bit off a piece of carrot and crunched it.
Staring absently at the bottle in his hand, Cyrus frowned. "Makes me think of something that happened in the past." He took a long swallow of the wine, then offered it to her.
She drank a few sips. "About being hungry?"
"Aye."
"What happened?"
He seemed hesitant to reveal the thoughts and memories playing out behind his solemn and soulful gaze. "When I was a lad of seven summers, I fostered with Chief and Lady Comyn of Toramuir, who owed fealty to my father."
Elspeth nodded, hoping to encourage him to keep talking.
"'Twas considered an honor that their overlord entrusted them to help raise his heir. 'Twas also a great responsibility. They were kind enough, but their eldest son, Ben, was a hellion. A cruel lad, even at ten summers."
She frowned, ire stirring in her chest. "What did he do? Refuse to allow you food?"
"He caused me to miss one supper. But when a servant told his mother what he'd done, she punished him."
"I'm glad." Elspeth cast the tough and fibrous carrot stub aside. "I detest bullies."
Cyrus nodded. "I learned to become a strong fighter, at least. As much as I could, I protected the younger lads from Ben. Even though I was three years younger than he was, within a year or two, we were almost the same height. Paul MacTarril was his best friend and cohort in the mistreatment of the lads, his lieutenant, so to speak."
Elspeth gasped. "So that's why you and the magistrate share no brotherly feelings."
"Indeed. I got into many fights and arguments with Paul and Ben. After I'd been there about three years, another laird's son fostered with us. As soon as I saw the wee lad and my foster brothers' snide grins, I knew what would happen. Since they were less successful in beating me up, they would focus all their aggression on this newcomer."
"Oh no." Elspeth's protective mothering instinct rose to the forefront. She dreaded to hear how the tyrants had treated the small boy.
Cyrus frowned. "Patrick was seven summers and half the size of Ben, who was thirteen by that time. Ben had threatened to beat the lad if he ate, but I didn't know it. Patrick told no one for days. He was terrified of Ben and getting thinner by the day. Finally, the boy admitted to me what was happening. I told him to stick with me if he wanted to remain safe, and I forced Ben to back down."
"That was so kind of you." She already had an enormous amount of admiration for Cyrus, but this information made her revere him even more.
"One day, Ben caught the lad alone, and I discovered Patrick on the ground while Ben was kicking him with all his might. I knocked Ben down and gave him a black eye for that. From then on, Patrick stayed near me most of the time and we became friends. He was the closest thing to a brother I had there. But… I should've known better than to make a friend."
"Why? Surely 'tis better to make friends than to be lonely."
Cyrus's expression turned dark and tormented. "At a most crucial time, I was unable to protect wee Patrick. And worst of all, I think Ben did it to punish me because he knew I saw the lad as a younger brother."
"Good heavens." Though Elspeth dreaded the answer, she had to ask, "What happened?"
"Ben held the lad upside down and dangled him from the battlements. I was running toward them, intending to grab Patrick, but Ben dropped him a moment before I could reach them."
"Oh, the poor lad." Tears burned Elspeth's eyes.
"He died instantly. I was overcome with guilt and grief and… rage. Being so young, I didn't ken how to deal with that many painful feelings at once. I tried to strangle the bastard, but someone dragged me off him."
"I would feel the same." She wiped the moisture from her eyes.
"The wee demons tried to blame it on me, but the laird and lady knew I was friends with Patrick. A few of the other foster brothers lied, saying it was an accident because Ben had threatened to do the same to them. Regardless of whether I was labeled a tattletale or not, I told the laird the truth of what had happened. Finally, a few of the other lads revealed what they saw. Even some of the servants on the ground had been witnesses. Chief Comyn could scarce believe the cruelty of his own son."
