AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERTEN
Kin lay on the bed in his chambers, staring up at the canopy above. It was a far cry from the cold dark dungeon where only the rats had kept him company. The chambers were comfortably furnished, the large bed standing at the center of the room and a wardrobe and washstand positioned opposite the wall. A window looked out over the courtyard, and a large rug lay before the open fire, which had been kindled and filled the room with a merry glow.
Cillian had left him some time previously, and Kin had fallen asleep, waking only as the sunlight coming through the window moved across the room and fell across his face. He smiled to himself at his good fortune, and though he could remember nothing of the MacGlens, he was grateful to them for the salvation they had brought him. Whatever his circumstances may now be, they were certainly better without a noose around his neck.
“Are ye awake now?” Cillian asked.
He had knocked at the door and not waited for an answer before entering the room, and Cillian now sat up with a start.
“I… yes, I am, and I might trouble you for something to eat,” he said, his stomach rumbling, despite the fine meal he had eaten with the laird and his family the previous evening.
“We can stop by the kitchens if ye wish. I am to complete yer tour of the castle,” Cillian replied, and Kin nodded, rising to his feet, and stretching out his arms.
He was curious to know more about his hosts and the castle, their inheritance. This was an old family with a noble line, and if he was to share their cause, he knew he must discover more about them.
“Murdina is certainly a feisty creature, is she not? Unafraid to speak her mind. I find her sisters… foolish, but she is quite different,” Kin remarked, when a few moments later, Cillian led him along a wide corridor lined with portraits of the family.
“She and her sister were akin, and Freya and Ella… aye, well…” Cillian remarked.
“I did not know there was a fourth sister,” Kin remarked, and Cillian paused, the look on his face suggesting he had said too much.
“She… took her own life. Tis’ a difficult subject for Murdina. Stay clear of it if I were ye,” he replied.
Kin nodded. He had no wish to upset Murdina, but he was curious as to the fourth sister–curious to know what had led her to that dreadful act of self-harm.
“But Murdina herself, what do you make of her?” he asked, changing the subject.
They had come to the end of the corridor now, and Cillian paused, a blush coming over his face.
“She is… a good friend to me. She always has been,” he replied.
“I see,” Kin said, raising his eyebrows.
“Be careful if ye think more of her–her father… the laird wouldnae take kindly to it,” Cillian whispered, glancing around lest anyone else should be listening.
Kin was intrigued. It seemed the clan had as much mystery to it as he and the thought of learning more about Murdina was an enticing one. She had a spirit about her, which would not be easily crushed. He thought about her words–her intention to run away and her desire to better herself with the sword. She was certainly not like other women; of that, Kin was certain.
“Tell me, did the laird agree to return the key and coin to my possession?” he asked, and Cillian gave an exclamation.
“Oh… aye, I have them here. My apologies,” he said, rummaging in his pocket.
He brought out the key and the coin and handed them to Kin, who held them up to the light and examined them, hoping that their absence might serve as a reminder of their purpose.
“I cannot imagine what lock this key fits or what payment this coin is meant to serve,” he said, for the sight of them drew only a blank conclusion.
He could reason it well enough–the key would fit some lock of which great importance was attached, perhaps relating to the letter bearing the crest of the MacGlens. The coin was no ordinary coin but embossed with a phoenix. It was nothing like the rough-and-ready mints of the Scottish currency, but a coin of distinction, one which Kin weighed ponderously in his hand.
“Tis’ a noble lookin’ piece, though I have never seen such markin’ before,” Cillian replied.
“Nor I–at least so far as I can remember. But tell me, do you have a library here, or are we too far from the bounds of civilization?” he asked.
A thought had just struck him, and he wondered if the answer to his questions might be found in the pages of a book. Cillian laughed.
“We are nae so barbarous as to be without books. The laird’s father was a scholar of some note. He built a fine library here. I am sure there would be nay objection to showin’ ye it,” he said, and Kin nodded.
“I would like to see it,” he said, and Cillian beckoned him to follow.
He led him down a back staircase that emerged onto a gallery, below which was the great hall. This, in turn, led to a wider corridor with doors leading off on either side and at the far end a pair of double doors above which was the crest of the MacFadden clan. Cillian pointed towards the doors.
