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“You made it,” he said, satisfaction deepening his words. “Richard said you would. I said it was impossible. But you did it.”
“Aye, I made it.”
The Marshal took another step into the cave, his gaze sweeping it. It stopped midway across the back wall, and Tadhg turned to see Maggie had come up.
She’d dropped a tunic over her wet body and pulled her hair back, even trailed a silk veil over her head, but these attempts at propriety disguised nothing: she was an erotic, carnal creature, wild and entirely improper.
The Marshal bowed slightly, and thus earned Tadhg’s respect in a way he never had before, for all his chivalric achievements. “My lady,” he murmured.
She came out of the shadows. “I can leave,” she said softly. “I wanted only to meet this ‘greatest knight in Christendom’ that Tadhg has spoken of.”
The Marshal laughed. “I do not know if I deserve that appellation any more, my lady. Your Irishman has done what few ever thought he could.”
“I knew he could.”
He bowed again, then turned to Tadhg. “As for whether you should stay or go, tha is up to your man, but methinks this matter concerns you too.”
Tadhg waved her in, and she settled in near the wall and interlaced her fingers before her belly, the picture of docility.
The Marshal heaved a sigh. “We’ve received word from Richard. He is well. The ransom will be paid. He spoke of you. And your…burden.”
“I do not have it any longer,” Tadhg said bluntly. “It has been placed in safekeeping, out of my reach. And yours. Do what you will to me.”
William Marshal took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. “What would you have me do?” He sounded weary, as well he ought. Another rebellion was brewing in England, another treachery of John’s, and now the dagger upon which it all might hinge, was gone.
“You could kill me,” Tadhg suggested.
William looked over, startled. “Why would I do that?”
Tadhg shrugged. “Any number of reasons. John has declared me outlaw; you’d be within your rights.”
“Ah. Yes, well, John cannot go about declaring outlaws. He needs a judicial hearing, and there was not one. Christ knows John has a way of surpassing even his father and brother in his overreach of power. One day, it will bite him. Therefore,” the Marshal said in a summarizing way, eyeing the glittering walls. “I would call any sentence of outlawry into serious question if I were ever questioned on the matter. Which I would be. England will be safe for you again, Irish. I shall see to it personally.”
Tadhg paused a moment. “You should know, my lord, Richard suggested I deliver the dagger to you.”
The Marshal sat back on the bench and looked at him for a long moment. “I see. But you have delivered it elsewhere.”
Tadhg nodded.
The Marshal sat back, looked around the room. “You were given orders to deliver it to safety. At least that is what Richard told me. You have done that?”
“Aye. As safe as can be in this world.” If the castle of a stalwart and loyal Scottish earl hundreds of miles from even the most ambitious English king—or French one—could be considered safe.
The Marshal pondered this, then shrugged. “Then ’twas a deed well-done. I am not a man to second-guess decisions made in peril. Were I in your boots, Irish, I might have done the same thing.”
Tadhg smiled a little. “But you do not know what I have done, my lord.”
“No, I don’t, do I?” He took a turn around the cave interior, glancing at the etch
ings. “Do not tell me. I do not want to know. It is enough that it is safe.”
“As safe as I could see it done. At least it is out of John’s reach. And Philippe’s.”
“And Richard’s,” the Marshal added ruefully. “God Almighty knows how we struggle with our kings.” He shifted his gaze to Magdalena. “I understand a debt is owing to you, too, my lady.”
“I am no lady, my lord, and it is all owed to Tadhg.”
“Mm,” he said and looked at Tadhg. “And how would you settle such a debt to a man like Tadhg, my lady?”
