“Our people were starving. Our land cannot provide for us. It is rocky and useless. Zarah gave what she took to those in need.” He kept his hands on his knees, his knuckles bruised and scarred as he gripped them.
“What happened to the girls who were taken from their homes? Raped? How does that help your people?” I hated the way innocent victims were caught up in war.
“You don’t understand how angry our people are. How they have suffered because the British hate us. Zarah did what she could to give us hope.” He lifted his head. “Now you have killed her.”
I could see his anger. He might be caught, but he had a dignity about him.
“I didn’t kill her.” I had to say it.
“You took her shooting arm. She felt ruined, as good as dead without it.” His eyes blazed when he dared look at me. “Zarah was not a bad person. She tried to lead our people. Some were not so willing to follow her. It was not her fault that they went too far once they landed here.” The prisoner rattled his chains. “I know I’m going to hang. Get it over with. I will be with Zarah. I loved her.”
Jeremiah pushed me behind him. “Who helped you here? How did you get in the castle?” He grabbed the man’s face and forced him to look into his eyes. “Colin, find Zachary McFee. Another traitor.”
“Stop it!” The man tried to wrench his face free, throwing his chain at Jeremiah. It was no use. Jeremiah had the power to make the man freeze in place.
“Where did you get the poison for the arrow?” Jeremiah had to pry the man’s eyes open. “He’s singing in his head. It’s an old trick. He’s been coached by someone who knows vampires.” He glanced at me. “Gloriana, you visited the witch who lives near the beach. Do you think she could be in league with the pirates?”
It was a good question. But I couldn’t think of any reason why she would be. There was a noise outside the door, then we could hear scuffling and a yell. The door crashed open. Colin and Willum had a man between them. He had blood running from his nose and still fought to get free from what had to have been their painful grips.
“I’m innocent. Who is spreading lies about me?” He saw the man in chains, slumped on the stool. “You! Is this the liar who gave you my name?” He lunged at him, grabbing Valdez’s knife from his waist and plunging it into the prisoner’s throat. He’d aimed well, for the amount of blood that flowed down the victim’s chest assured me it was a death blow.
My fangs were down but I stayed where I was. We all were in shock, I think, Valdez most of all. He wrestled his knife from the man’s grip and threw him to the ground.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t imagine he’d do such a thing.” Valdez stared at Jeremiah. “Is he dead?”
“Yes, there’s no doubt.” Jeremiah stepped back from the body, his fingers bloody. “Well now, it seems we have no choice but to question you, McFee.” He strode over to the man on the floor and picked him up by his shirt front. Jeremiah was obviously furious. He threw the man against the wall with such force that McFee bounced. He hit his head then slumped to the floor.
“Jeremiah, you won’t get answers if you kill him.” I stepped around the dead prisoner, ignoring the smell of blood in the air. It wasn’t easy.
Jeremiah stood over the man McFee and finally looked back at the man in chains. “Colin, remove the trash, if you please. It seems I will need the stool and the chains to question the new prisoner.”
I stayed out of the way as Colin and Willum got busy taking off the chains and dragging the dead man out of the room. When they returned, they attached the chains to McFee with enthusiasm while the new prisoner shook his head and seemed to come to his senses.
“What’s this?” McFee rubbed his eyes. “Where am I?”
Valdez stepped outside then came back with a pitcher of water and threw it in McFee’s face. “That should wake him. You know where you are, McFee, and you’d better answer Lord Campbell’s questions if you value your life.” He and Colin dragged the man to the stool and sat him roughly on it.
“Questions?” McFee moaned and gripped his head, leaning over. “You almost killed me. What did I do? Why are you treating me this way?” He retched. “I’m gonna be sick. My head!”
Colin ran out of the room and returned with a bowl. “Lose your supper in this, man. Then quit your moanin’. The master has questions for ye.” He shoved McFee’s legs apart and set the bowl on the floor on top of the chains.
We all waited. Was he going to be sick? Valdez offered to douse him with water again. That got McFee’s head up.
“I ain’t done nothin’. Why are you treating me this way? The traitor tried to kill the mistress. I hope I killed him. Did I? Is he dead?” He looked around the room. He pointed to the puddle of blood. “I got him good with that knife, didn’t I?”
“He’s dead all right.” Jeremiah stepped up to him. “And his last words named you. Why would he have your name in his head unless you helped him when he tried to kill Gloriana?”
“He’s a liar. I ain’t no traitor.” He looked at me. “I think you’re wonderful, Mistress Gloriana.” He gave me a smile that showed a missing front tooth. “Best shot with an arrow in the castle, ain’t ya?”
“Quit talking nonsense.” Jeremiah had had enough. He grabbed McFee’s face as he’d done the traitor and stared into his eyes. “He’s doing it too. Singing in his head. If we needed proof this man was in on the plot to kill you, Gloriana, this is it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What plot? What do you think I’m doing?” McFee rattled his chains, the ones on his hands and his feet. He kicked the bowl out of the way and it went spinning across the floor.
“The man lied if he said I knew what he was doing. I killed him for being a liar. You would do the same, your lordship.”
Jeremiah kept staring at him. “Why are you singing in your head, McFee? It’s an old tune, a child’s tune. And you are singing it over and over again. Who told you to do that?”
McFee looked down at his hands. “Happens I used to work for a family of vampires, sir. I know one when I see him. Sleeping all day, up at night. Word gets around about certain clans. The Campbells, the MacDonalds. There’s good money to be made if you’re willing to put up with their strange ways.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. People knew? Outside of the family compound? Jeremiah schooled his features, but I could see that this news bothered him. Now McFee had told about the singing to avoid having his mind read. Colin and Willum from Dollar stood next to the door, taking in the news. They would certainly remember every word and not hesitate to share it all.
“I’m sorry, yer lordship, but I learned long ago to keep my thoughts to myself. It’s a habit I won’t break. If I hang for it, so be it.” McFee stared down at the chains, tears running down his cheeks and into his long beard. “It’s been an honor to work for you and Mistress Gloriana. It truly has been.”
“Why would this traitor, this pirate who tried to kill the woman I love, call you out as the man who helped him?” Jeremiah picked up the hammer and tapped it into his own palm. He did it with a rhythm almost like a heartbeat. Tap, tap, tap. I couldn’t look away.
The woman he loved. He had announced it to the men in this room, to the world.
“Sire, yer lordship.” McFee sobbed and wiped his nose with a noisy rattle of those chains. “Believe me. I don’t know. I wouldn’t help such as him. I’m just a working man, doing what I’m told. I was sent up to the battlements last night. Mayhap I had a word and thought to jest with the man. But I didn’t know him as a pirate. We was watchin’ the two of ye shoot. I was tryin’ to get the man to lay down a bet.” He wiped his streaming nose on his sleeve again. Blood was matted in his beard. “I’d seen the lady shoot, ye see. I knew it was easy money.”
Jeremiah just watched him, his face so serious it gave me chills. Tap, tap, tap.
“He told me to sod off. Was unfriendly. So I walked on down a ways for a better view. Left him. I didn’t know he was going to pull out
his gear and shoot at the lady.” He looked at me, more tears streaming down his face.
“I think you’re somethin’ special, mistress. Shootin’ like that. I was glad I kilt him just now. The man deserved to go straight to hell.” He sniffled and threw back his head, a sad sight with blood from his nose smeared across his face.
“I’m so glad you seem to have healed. ̕̕̕Tis a miracle.” His effort at looking proud of what he’d done impressed me.
“Thank you, McFee.” For some reason I believed him. The pirate had thought the only name he knew in an effort to take down someone with him. “I don’t suppose the man told you his name or anything about himself.”
“He was unfriendly, like I said.” McFee leaned forward. He obviously hoped that he might have an ally in me. “When I remarked that I hadn’t seen him before, he claimed he’d been on a ship.” He wiped his nose again on his other sleeve. It had almost stopped bleeding. “I know many of the lads who fought on the ships with his lordship or the captain were now in the castle, guarding it. I thought nothin’ of it.”
“That doesn’t help much.” I touched Jeremiah’s arm. “Will you let Lord Campbell read your mind now? If you do that and prove you are not a traitor, perhaps you can be spared whatever torture he plans for you.”
McFee shuddered. “I don’t like it, but I’ll do it for you, mistress. Here, you read my mind and see if I’m lying or no.” He gave me that gap-toothed smile again, though it was a shaky effort. “You can do that, can’t ye?”
“Yes, I can do it.” I didn’t like to and never intruded on the minds of the people around me. “I promise it will only be for a few moments. To find the truth of what happened last night.”
“Thank ye, mistress. You’ll see. I did not help the pirate. I do not want you dead. Yer so pretty and all.” He must have heard Jeremiah growl, we all did.
“Meaning no disrespect, yer lordship. Everyone here admires both of ye. It’s a lucky thing to be hired by the Campbells. I’ve said it many a time, enjoying myself at your table.”
“Can we get on with this?” Jeremiah gestured me closer to McFee. “You try to hurt my lady and you’ll never draw another breath. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, yes, yer lordship. I am yer servant. Would never…” He obviously noticed that he had tried Jeremiah’s patience. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again. “Have at it, mistress. I ain’t singing now.”
I leaned closer and looked. Mind reading isn’t something I enjoy. And I really hate for someone to read my mind. Jeremiah does it to me all the time and I think it’s an invasion of my privacy. However, it is a way to get to the truth. I could see that McFee didn’t like pirates and would never have truck with them. He liked me and wouldn’t want to kill me. Then I saw something that made me draw in a breath and look at Jeremiah.
He must have seen the same thing because that hammer came down with a crash on the table. “By God!”
McFee jumped, his chains rattled and the men by the door all rushed to stand next to the chair. Valdez put his hands around McFee’s throat.
“What is it?” Valdez had his knife out. “Is he the traitor? Say the word and I’ll end him now.”
“He could be. Let me at him.” Jeremiah took McFee’s face in his hand. He squeezed until I thought the man’s eyes would pop out. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that you have worked for Robert MacDonald?”
“I, I didn’t think it mattered.” McFee could barely get the words out.
“Go on.”
“Jeremiah, it would help if you let go of his face and allowed him to talk.” I could feel the tension in my lover’s back when I rubbed it. “He’s not going anywhere, he’s chained!”
“One moment. Valdez, do you sense any shifter in him? Any other talents?” Jeremiah didn’t release his prisoner.
Valdez had stepped back at Jeremiah’s first command. Now he got closer, obviously using his own special talent to find out what he could about McFee. He gestured and Jeremiah finally let go. McFee rubbed his face and looked at me gratefully.
“I ain’t no shifter. I know what they are. Not no witch either.” McFee rattled his chains. “What say you, Mr. Valdez?”
“He’s right. He’s just an ordinary mortal in need of a bath.”
“Here now, no reason to insult a man. I hear the master and mistress are right fond of washing, but most of us don’t have the luxury of a tub.” McFee shook his head. “Not to be complaining, mind ye. This is a right good place to work. I’m happy with my post.”
“But you used to work for MacDonald.” Jeremiah could barely squeeze the name out. “Did he send you here to spy for him?”
“What? Why would I do that?” The man looked genuinely confused.
“Then why would you come here? Why leave a job with the MacDonald clan?” Jeremiah really hated saying that name. “I hear they pay well.”
“Oh, they do. But your wages are just as good.” McFee glanced at the men who stood by the door. “The trouble was, the MacDonald has new men in his guard. Fancy types who have to wear uniforms.” He smiled at me again. “Have you seen this, mistress? All done up in skirts and wigs?” He shuddered. “Not a fighting man among ̕̕em.”
Jeremiah and I glanced at each other. We certainly had noticed the guards around Robert and Fiona MacDonald before we’d left Edinburgh. Fiona liked the formality of court and her guards reflected that.
“They’ll be stayin’ at court much of the time too. If there’s ever to be fighting, I’d not heard about it. Not like the company here. I left when I found out that you were hiring men to guard the coast. Your wages are good and I like a bit of action.” He kicked at his chains. “Especially like a job where I don’t have to wear one of them fancy uniforms.”
“Let Gloriana look into your mind. We must know if you have been spying for MacDonald.” Jeremiah stood rigid. “Or shared our fight and failure with the pirates with that man.”
“Come and look, mistress. You’ll see I’m tellin’ the truth.” McFee studied his dirty boots. “Happens one of the MacDonald guards did pay me a visit t̕ other day. Now I see that as a try at spyin’.”
“Indeed. What did you tell him?” Jeremiah paced a circle around the man on the stool. He gestured the other men out of his way and they clustered next to the door. I stayed against the table. Poor McFee. I hoped he could talk his way out of this one. I wanted to see those chains removed and the man back on his feet.
“I did not say we failed with the pirates. No, I didn’t, yer lordship. I told him we blasted those pirates to bits. That we were bold, sailing right up to Ireland and strikin’ down their ships at anchor and shootin’ up their castle. Told him about Intrepid, that huge cannon you sent for from Edinburgh.” McFee smiled. “Fella couldn’t believe it.”
“You do like to talk, don’t you, McFee.” Jeremiah stood behind the man. He could have slit his throat from there and that would be the end of it. No, he wouldn’t do it. He didn’t kill just because someone irritated him. And it was clear that McFee did irritate him.
“Aye, sire. Especially when I’ve had a pint or two. Holly has been serving us well at last meal.” He rattled his chains. “I’d hate to miss it, sir.”
Jeremiah actually laughed and walked around to face McFee. “God forbid you miss last meal.” He waved Colin over. “Release him. It’s clear he had no involvement in the plot to kill Gloriana.”
“Thank ye, your lordship.” McFee grabbed Jeremiah’s hand and kissed it. “I will serve you well, I swear it.”
Jeremiah jerked his hand free and wiped it on his jacket. “You will be watched. I will also arrange for a bathing tub to put in the barracks for the men. Be sure to use it before I see you next.”
I almost laughed at the look on McFee’s face. “Aye, sir, yer lordship, sire.” McFee held out his hands so Colin could unlock his chains.
“Be sure to report to me or Colin if that MacDonald spy comes to see you again.” Jeremiah wore his stern look, like h
e was thinking hard.
“I will, sir. Never fear. I could even drag him in front of you, if need be.” McFee sighed when Colin continued to work on his chains, shaking his hands when the first chain fell. “You could read his bleeding mind. I guess it’s true what they say. That the MacDonalds and the Campbells are always fighting.”
“We are ordered by King James to cease our quarrelling.” Jeremiah picked up that hammer again. This time he slammed it onto the table. “If Robert MacDonald thinks to spy on me, then that may be impossible.”
“Dirty spy. I’ll have a bit of fun showing him how men as work for the Campbells won’t put up with no spying.” McFee was clearly on our side now.
“No, you must pretend to be his friend. I would rather he think we don’t care that he is sniffing about.” Jeremiah put his arm around me. “I will have someone follow him when he leaves, so don’t fail to report as soon as you see him.”
“Aye, yer lordship.” McFee sprang to his feet as soon as the last chain fell to the floor. “I am at your service.” He bowed and almost fell over. “My head. The room is turning around me.” He pressed his hands to his forehead.
“Have Maggie fix you one of her special tonics. It will set you to rights.” I smiled at him. “Thank you for your loyalty to me, Mr. McFee. I’m sorry you didn’t get to bet with that traitor, you would have won.” I dug out a coin. “Here you are. For your trouble.”
“Willum, see that McFee gets to the housekeeper’s quarters for his remedy.” Colin said.
“My winnings!” McFee bit into the coin. “Now that’s all right!” He tucked it away. “A special brew? Not ale, is it?” He gave Valdez a wide berth as he staggered out of the room. “Oh, but the walls keep moving. Got a bit of a headache too. The master has a strong arm, yes, he does. He threw me right into the wall. Don’t cross him, Will.”
Willum murmured something as he gripped his elbow and steered him toward the housekeeper’s room down the hall.
“I’m thinking that the man who tried to kill you worked alone.” Jeremiah walked with me through the castle and out to the courtyard. It was a cool night and I wished for a shawl.
Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Page 21