AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Thirteen
Fin
He looked down at the young man lying on the table before him. His skin was pale and waxy, his eyes wide open and unseeing, fixed on some point far in the distance. Fin’s eyes traveled down to the ragged slash across his throat. He noticed the dried, crusty blood around the wound, and the dark, viscous pool he laid in.
“I’m sorry, lad,” Fin whispered. “I didnae mean for this tae happen tae ye.”
Fin knew Marcus was bound for the headsman anyway. There was no way he would avoid the executioner’s axe for attempting to assassinate the Duke. The fact that he failed, and the Duke lived did not mean his sentence would somehow be lighter. Marcus was going to die either way. Fin just never meant for it to happen in such a grisly way.
“I suppose it saves them the trouble of having a public execution,” Walter said. “Shame it had to end this way, though.”
“He didnae deserve tae be cut down like a sick dog in the middle of the night,” Fin growled. “He didnae deserve tae be bled out like that.”
“No, I suppose not.”
Fin found himself wondering what the last moments of Marcus’ life were like. Had he been scared? In pain? Had he even realized what was happening? Fin sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head. He knew this was not his fault. Marcus brought this upon himself by trying to kill the Duke. It did not matter that he was being coerced to do so, it was his decision to do it. But even though he knew it was not his fault and that Marcus only had himself to blame, he could not help but feel responsible anyway.
“He was a kid,” Fin said. “He shouldnae’ve been caught up in this in the first place.”
“Maybe it was precisely because he was a kid that he was caught up in it in the first place,” Walter replied.
“What dae ye mean?”
“If he was coerced into doing this like you believe, maybe the person doing the coercing picked Marcus because he is young. Vulnerable,” Walter offered. “Or was young and vulnerable, at any rate. He was easy to scare. To coerce.”
Fin nodded thoughtfully. “That could be,” Fin said. “That makes a lot of sense.”
They both fell silent for a long moment as Fin continued to look down at the torn, bloody body of the boy. He was doing his best to stifle his guilt but was having a difficult time.
“So, what is your next move?” Walter asked.
“I’m going tae question the assassin.”
“Take a deep breath and try to relax, son,” Walter said. “You are not going to do yourself any favors if you go charging into that cell like an enraged bull.”
Fin blew out a long breath, recognizing the wisdom in the man’s words. “Aye. I ken ye’re right,” he said. “But part of me wants tae rip the man’s head off his neck with me bare hands.”
Walter nods. “I know. Just keep in mind that you will not get the answers you seek if you tear the man’s head off his body.”
Fin nodded. “Aye. I’ll dae me best tae restrain myself.”
“Good plan.”
Fin took one last look at Marcus, stretched on the table, laying in a puddle of his own blood and felt the corners of his mouth pulling downward in a frown. He marched himself out of the physician's chambers and down the corridor, heading for the black cells.
He needed answers, and the only person who could give those to him was in a dark cell below the keep.
* * *
“Dae ye have his name?”
Henry shook his head, a grim expression on his face. “No, unfortunately,” he said. “He will not give it to us. Nor will he tell us anything else of consequence.”
“He’s nae said much, eh?”
He shook his head again. “Not a word,” Henry said. “He’s got a zealot’s determination and resolve, I will say that.”
“Does he work here at the castle?”
