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“He will find shelter nowhere,” growled Blair. “I shall seek him out and slaughter him, just as he did my kinsmen. And my sister.”
The girl paled and reached once more for the stonework at her side. She would have spoken again, but Aiden interrupted them.
“The castle occupants are all assembled, and the search is ongoing, as you ordered. Already, though, we have discovered two horses from Mortain in the stables here, and several bolts of McGregor tartan. It is clear that the spoils of the robbery found their way to this keep.”
Blair’s lips flattened, his resolve hardening. “As we expected. Very well, locate whatever carts ye may and load all that is ours onto them. We shall return the plunder to Mortain along with stock from the fields hereabouts to replace what was destroyed. It will aid our people in re-establishing the prosperity of their estate. Once ye’re satisfied that nothing of value remains, set every building here tae the torch. We will leave nothing standing.” He lifted his chin to survey the doomed castle. “The Earl of Ingram will never again pose a threat to his peaceful neighbours.”
“Burn it to the ground, Laird? Are you sure?”
“Aye, ye heard me. I am quite sure.”
“And them?” Aiden raised his arm to indicate the throng of terrified peasants and servants who huddled together in the middle of the courtyard.
Blair turned his mount to regard the fearful group, his brow furrowing.
“No!” The cry from behind caused him to twist in the saddle to look back at the lady in the doorway. She had taken a pace forward, her hand outstretched in entreaty. “No, you cannot harm them. It was none of their doing. It is me you want.”
“You are quite correct, Lady Roselyn. I do indeed want ye, an’ your freedom shall be part of the forfeit to be paid for your brother’s evil work. As for your servants—”
“They are innocent. It was my fault. I caused my brother to go to Mortain. I am responsible and you must not harm anyone else.”
Blair pulled on the reins to wheel his mount around to face her once more. “You, Lady Roselyn? And exactly how might ye have been responsible for the massacre of almost a hundred men, women, and children, one of them my own sister?”
Still the wench refused to meet his eyes. “I… I knew about the gold in the Mortain coffers. It was the Lady Joan’s dowry and… I told my brother where it might be found. He went to Mortain to take it.”
Blair’s eyes narrowed. It was true that Joan’s dowry had been a generous one, fifty gold crowns. The settlement was large because it was destined to remain within their family. Blair’s father had negotiated the sum, and though the marriage took place after the elder McGregor’s death Blair had seen no cause to seek a reduction to the agreed amount. The money meant little enough to him now, though, in the face of such a tragedy. Even so, it would irk him to know that Ingram had profited so richly from his barbaric act.
It seemed to him inconceivable that this trembling wench would have knowledge of the strong room situated in the foundations of Mortain Castle. It was true that the fortified room had been empty when he and his men had managed to gain entry beneath the rubble and burning timbers, but surely Ingram would have found the stash of gold coins by systematically searching the premises once he had killed those who protected it. He leaned down over his horse’s neck to regard her more carefully as he continued his questioning.
“So, lady, wherewasthe gold to be found? Exactly?” Blair’s tone was deceptively soft. He waited for her response.
Roselyn’s voice was low also, little more than a whisper. “It could be found by descending into the storage rooms. A… a concealed entrance beneath the stairs at the rear of the buttery led to another chamber, and here was where the Lord of Mortain kept his valuables.”
His eyes widened at the accuracy of her account. Blair was incredulous. “How? How could you know that?” he breathed.
“I… Lady Joan was an acquaintance of mine. And I visited Mortain often as a child so I knew the castle well.”
“Ye knew my sister?”
Lady Roselyn nodded. “I did, slightly.”
“Ye told your brother all of this? About the dowry, and the strong room?”
“Yes. I… I am sorry, I never expected that he would… would—”
“By God’s holy bones, what the hell else did ye imagine he might do?” Anger caused him to roar at her, his grief resurfacing now that the demands of conflict were over. “Did ye expect my cousin to just stand to one side and invite your murdering, robbing bastard of a brother to step inside? Was Edmund to just hand over his family’s wealth without protest? Of course there would be a battle, and of course there would be casualties.”
“Yes, I realise that, but—”
Blair slashed the air with his hand. “I don’t have time for this. Ye shall pay also for your part in this bloodbath, and pay dearly. But first, I intend to track down your brother and haul him back to face good Scots’ justice at the end of a claymore.” He leaned toward her and beckoned her with his fingers. “Come here, madam. While I decide exactly what I intend to do wi’ ye, ye can wait under guard with the rest of your household.”
The woman remained motionless, her lavender gaze fixed on a spot close to his right shoulder. Blair’s patience was at an end. He urged his horse forward and mounted the steps. Lady Roselyn recoiled as the huge beast bore down upon her, the horse’s flaring nostrils puffing air into her startled face. She stumbled in her haste and crumpled to the floor with a pained cry. Blair hauled on the reins to prevent his destrier from trampling her under his powerful hooves then slid to the stone flags to lean over the prone figure.
“Take my hand,” he instructed, his gloved palm outstretched. The woman raised her hand but didn’t take his. Blair grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her to her feet. The English wench winced and let out a startled squeal though he had not struck her. He noted that the top of her head barely reached his shoulder. “Come,” he commanded and turned to stalk down the steps, tugging his captive behind him.
“Wait, I—” The girl lurched forward to bump into his back, then she grabbed his leather tunic and held onto it. “Please, may I take your arm?”
“My arm? What…?” He peered down into the frightened features, her eyes closed now as she fumbled to grasp his elbow. And at last it made sense. “My God,” he exclaimed. “Ye’re blind.”
