Lost in the Mist of Time

by Karen Michelle Nutt

“What do ye think he has planned for us?” Dermot had been thinking about it for a while now.

  Teige looked at his friend not wanting to panic him, but he was pretty sure they were not going to just be released on their own recognizance. This was Fingham Butler they were talking about and the man had not been the same since his daughter Ella had passed on to the other world. Then there was Tremain who had his own reasons to detest the Fitzpatricks and all that serve him. There would be no mercy from him either.

  “Teige?” Dermot felt uneasy now.

  “Do not worry, Dermot. We will think of a way out of this.”

  Murrough hurried over to Dougray with his news. “Ye were right. There is a hidden entrance within the stone.”

  “Ella was not exaggerating then.” Dougray had often wondered about her tale of a secret path. “It is not guarded?”

  Murrough’s mustache twitched with amusement. “Not anymore. It looks like the cave travels beneath the castle. We did not walk the length of it. Did Lady Ella happen to tell ye where this secret passage leads to?”

  Dougray nodded. “To one of the storage rooms located in the dungeon.” “This is yer plan?” Murrough nearly choked. “Ye are taking us into the dungeon? Forgive me for saying this, but do ye not think it would be wise to avoid the very place that Butler wants to put us?”

  “Nay, Murrough. It’s exactly where we want to be. He’d never suspect it.”

  Even Fiach had to smile. “Ye are a genius, cousin.”

  “Genius?” Murrough shook his head. “Ye better say a few prayers, priest, that we again see the light of day.”

  Dougray moved toward where Hamish and Cormac were located, leaving orders for Murrough to explain to the other men about the plan.

  “Cormac, a word with ye please.” Dougray couldn’t help but let his eyes wander to the man’s sword. It was as Fiach had said. The weapon was clean. He met Cormac’s eyes now. “Do ye wish to share what has ye turned inside out? I stress that now would be a good time.”

  Cormac had been dreading this moment but found there was no other way around it. “I swear I didn’t smell the deceit until it was too late.”

  Dougray had no wish for this to be drawn out. “Get to the point.”

  “I was with Fiona when the messenger arrived to give the notice to milady. They could not find me so readily. I should have been there but I was not.” His anguish evident as he continued, “I read the summons, milord. It said that if milady didn’t come alone, they would withdraw and yer death would be secured.

  “She was with Teige, Dermot and young Hamish. I never left her unguarded at the castle,” he defended himself. “When I arrived back and was informed about what had happened, I hurried the men, but still we were too late. Tremain had already taken them prisoners. This ye know, but there is more.”

  “More?”

  “It is just a hunch but I cannot shake it. I fear that Fiona knew that I would be needed back at the keep, but purposely kept me…busy.” He cleared his throat feeling extremely uncomfortable discussing this but knowing that he must. “She said things, milord, that did not make sense at the time, but now seem only too clear. She knew. She knew that there would be a message and I was too preoccupied to….” He lowered his head not able to continue his shameful telling. Slowly he removed his sword offering it to Dougray. When he did not take it, Cormac looked up questionably.

  He had listen to all that Cormac had relayed to him. He was not pleased, but he knew that he could trust this man. “I do not see what good it would do me to take yer weapon, when we are about to enter the Butler’s hold.”

  “But I thought….”

  “Aye. I know what ye thought. We have a serious situation here. If you are right about Fiona, then I want to know whom she has been talking to.”

  “Aye, milord. I will speak to her straight away.”

  “Cormac, I must warn ye that ye may not like what ye find out. Can ye handle that with the way ye feel about the lass?”

  He swallowed hard nodding his head. “Aye. I have been thinking that myself. If she has been deceitful…. If she deliberately in any way….” He couldn’t finish what he was about to say for the pain of her betrayal ran too deep.

  Dougray patted him on the back. “We shall see. Now go back to yer position and await my word.”

  “Aye, milord.” He moved back beside Hamish.

  Murrough had waited until the discussion was complete before he walked over to Dougray. “Ye were questioning Cormac?”

  He nodded. “We have another problem it seems. Fiona may have known all about this.”

  Murrough shook his head. “What of Cormac? Matters of the heart are a tricky business.”

  “Aye, but I believe that Cormac can be dependable. I wager from now on that he will not let his lower extremities interfere with his logic.” Dougray saw Fiach’s skeptical expression, but he chose not to acknowledge it.

  Dougray knew Fiona. She was one to work things to her advantage. She wanted Aislinn’s place in his heart. That was no secret. She may have assisted with the kidnapping, but she didn’t orchestrate it. Someone else with means was behind this.

  Tremain knocked before he entered her room with his request from Lord Fingham. She took a good look at the man, now that she was no longer seething with anger over him murdering Hamish. She hadn’t forgiven him for that slight, but because Miriam had spoken so highly of him, she was rather curious to find out why.

  Tremain was probably no more than ten years older than she was. She had to admit that he was handsome with thick blond hair and strikingly light greenish-blue eyes. But she could not erase the image of poor Hamish lying in a pool of blood.

  Tremain had walked over to her and slightly bowed showing his respect. “Milord wishes to speak with ye.”

  “Really now. And do I have a choice in this matter or are you simply being polite?”

  He would have smiled at her bravery, but he did not want to give the woman any encouragement. He had heard all about her of course, but now he had firsthand experience with the likes of the Scathach. She fought well, and had courage far beyond some of the bravest. His gaze took in her appearance. He would have thought that she would look more like a man, but she didn’t look anything of the sort. She was formidably tall in structure, but elegantly sculpted creating a rare and powerful-looking woman, definitely a striking figure, beautiful even. If circumstances had permitted them to meet without malice, he may have found that he would actually like her. “Nay, it is neither.

  I am simply doing what is expected of me.”

  “So you are expected to lead a woman to a man who despises her as an enemy? Doesn’t seem quite gentlemanly does it?”

  Tremain’s back stiffened at her remark and his eyes narrowed. “The Butler is an honorable man and that is why I chose to follow his orders. As for yer husband…well the man does not even know the meaning of the word. Be glad that I have rescued ye from a fate that would surely end in yer demise.” “You feared for my life then? This is why your men tried to cut me in half, while you were busy slaying a mere boy.”

  He knew she spoke of the young lad that had been killed. He felt regretful about it, but it had been unavoidable. The boy would not lay down his weapon. He supposed it was to be expected that she would have preferred it was he that had been run through. “I did what had to be done,” he stated but not quickly enough, for Aislinn saw the anguish there before he could mask it. With his guard down, maybe she could risk asking about the others. “What of Teige and Dermot? Will you let them go?”

  Again Tremain was impressed. The woman did not weep for her release, but asked for her men’s safety. She was indeed worthy to have Fingham Butler’s favor. “It is not up to me to decide.” He saw worry crease her brow and chose to tell her of his lord’s plan. “They will be judged fairly, maybe even have a chance to declare their loyalty to the Butlers.”

  Aislinn closed her eyes to hide the anguish she felt in her heart. She knew without a doubt that Teige an
d Dermot would never denounce their loyalty to Dougray. So where did that leave them? When she opened her eyes, Tremain had moved and was now standing directly in front of her. She would have taken a step back, but his hand came to rest upon her shoulder. His touch was somehow comforting and the look in his eyes was not of a man who wished to do her harm. This sent a rush of confusing thoughts her way. She wanted to hate him, but yet there was something in him that spoke of honesty. “Ye must come with me now. Milord awaits.”

  “Before I go, will you answer a question?”

  “Depends on what it is?”

  “I know how you feel about Dougray, but do you hold any animosity toward his sister?”

  She saw him flinch and he took his hand away. “Why would ye ask this?” “She told me about you, Tremain, and her relationship with you. I’ll have to say she painted a better picture than I have seen so far.” “She spoke of me to ye? Why?”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  His eyes raked over her trying to discern what point she would have in mentioning Miriam. He had not seen her since the day they took her away to be Sir Reynolds’ wife. He knew the man was dead and Miriam had refused to marry another. He had often wondered if she thought of him, as he thought so often of her. Even with the Fitzpatricks being the enemy, he could not deny what his heart felt for Miriam, but all of this didn’t matter. He was a man with no title and had no lands. There was no point in pursuing her and opening old wounds. “What was between Miriam and myself ended long ago and has no bearing on my life now.”

  “What a shame.” She walked right passed him leaving him to wonder what she meant by that statement.

  He led her down the long hall to where Fingham’s private chambers were located. Cold fear seeped through her resolve. Was this how it was going to be? She was going to be forced to bed down with the man?

  She glanced warily at Tremain for any inclination to what was in store for her, but his expression was unreadable.

  He opened the doors. When she didn’t make a move to enter, he gently but forcefully took hold of her elbow and led her inside.

  No words were spoken. Tremain gave a slight bow before he turned and left them alone, closing the large wooden doors behind him.

  She just stood there not wanting to move forward, her eyes casually searching for what she could use as a weapon for she had no intention of letting this man touch her. She heard his low chuckle and her gaze darted to where he was comfortably seated near the fire.

  “You find something amusing?”

  “Aye, that I do. Ye are full of spunk. It is no wonder ye were named after the fearless Scathach.” He shook his head. “I find it most intriguing that ye were looking for a weapon. Did ye believe ye needed something to ward off any unwanted affections?” He rose and she took a step back. “Come here,” he demanded.

  “I will not go to you willingly. I have news for you, buster, that you will not force me to do something I don’t want any part of.” She took her stance, her fists raised to her sides, ready to give him a run for his money.

  He quirked a brow, shocked that she was actually ready to do battle with him. Then he couldn’t help himself. He had not been this amused in ages and to think that the wife of his detested enemy was the one to accomplish this. He threw back his head with a roar of a laugh.

  Aislinn just stood there thinking that he must be insane.

  When he finally composed himself once more, he addressed her again. “Ye would make an old man chase ye around the room? I assure ye, at one time I would have fancied that challenge, but tonight…” He sighed deeply. “…I fear I am not up to it. I only wish to talk.” When she still did not come forward, he tried again to put her at ease. “I would no sooner harm ye than I would me own daughter.”

  Knowing how Fingham had felt about his daughter, Aislinn knew he had made a sincere promise. She lowered her hands, but she remained cautious. She slowly walked over to him. He offered her a chair near the fire and he took the other. A small table separated them and she felt a little better for it. “So what did you wish to speak to me about?”

  Fingham smiled, pulling on his long gray mustache. He then leaned forward and poured wine into the goblets. He offered one of the cups to Aislinn, before he himself took a long welcomed drink. He studied her, realizing she made no move to touch her wine. “Ye can relax. I do not ravish my prisoners until after I have had my dinner.” He meant it as a joke, but this remark set Aislinn to her feet. “Oh, sit, sit. I was only jesting with ye. Ye had a look about ye that made me think ye feared I would devour ye.” “You have given me no reason to think otherwise.”

  “Forgive me then. I was most rude. Please sit down.” He then cut a piece of apple offering her a slice.

  “No, thank you.”

  With a shrug, he ate the slice himself.

  Again Aislinn took a seat though her stance told Butler that she was ready to flee the moment he gave her any reason that she should.

  “Ye have given me great cause to doubt some of what I have been led to believe about Dougray Fitzpatrick. I do not like to be wrong in my convictions. Ye said that the man confided in ye his feelings about my daughter?”

  “Yes. According to everyone he was a bereaved man, not the cold calculating one that you seem to think him to be.”

  “Why should I believe ye?”

  “You don’t have to. I am only stating what I know and what I’ve seen. I was not here when the tragedy took place, but with all that has happened of late, it makes me wonder if there is something else afoot. Maybe we could compare notes. Let me brief you on what has been going on at Dunhaven. A family was brutally murdered, leaving a small boy orphaned, ships have been attacked, and cargo has disappeared just to name a few. There was enough evidence left behind to incriminate your clan.”

  “Whatever Fitzpatrick may have told ye, I am not in the habit of killing innocents. It is not my style to cut a man down when he has no weapon nor do I hide behind sneak attacks. My quarrel is with Dougray Fitzpatrick and no one else. And if what ye say be true, well I would want to personally deal with the culprit who is responsible. I have also lost livestock in the plenty. So much so that I fear my people will suffer come this winter.” “Dougray did not issue the slaughter of your cattle.”

  He leaned forward. “Could it be that ye are so enamored by the man that ye refuse to see what he might be capable of?”

  “I am only telling you what I know. I have another question for you.” “And what, pray tell, might that be?”

  “Did you or did you not send me a summons stating that you would kill Dougray if I did not come directly to hear the terms?” “A summons? I do not know of which ye speak.”

  “I thought not. Didn’t you wonder why I was with a small escort in the heart of your territory?”

  “It was either ye sought to raid us, or ye simply became lost. I voted on the latter.”

  “And you were lucky to come upon us? We are being played as fools and we walked right into it. It was no coincidence that your men were right where we would be heading. Someone planned it. Do you know the reason why someone would go to so much trouble?”

  “Nay, I had not thought that it was anyone but Dougray causing me such grief.”

  “Here’s something more that you might ponder. Dougray was supposed to ride the mount that your daughter took instead. I believe it was his death that was sought, but Ella simply got in the way. And since you were so bent on revenge, this someone thought that you would carry out the deed they had intended. It would mean less trouble for them. Lord Fingham, I am convinced that you are being used. Even if you don’t believe me, wouldn’t you wish to at least find out if that were true?”

  Aislinn was not sure what Fingham Butler thought of her suspicions, for he had ordered Tremain to escort her back to her chambers. Of course, the door was once again securely locked making escape impossible. She wished that she had her journal with her so she could write about her ordeal of being captured by the inf
amous Butler. She had come to the conclusion that he was merely a grief-stricken man, not a murderer.

  Even though she was beginning to think that she was in no immediate danger, she wasn’t going to take any chances. Earlier she had palmed the knife that Fingham had been using. She placed the weapon under her pillow before she stretched out to rest. She would just close her eyes for a moment, but the toll of the last few days had taken hold and she fell into an exhausted sleep.

  She most likely would have slept through the night, if she hadn’t been jolted awake by the sound of a creaking door, her door. She reached under her pillow clutching the hilt of her knife. She could see the intruder only as a shadow, but she knew by the span of the shoulder width that it was a man. Well he would be quite surprised when he found out how unpleasant she could be when awakened from her slumber.

  She waited for him to draw near for she knew if she were to strike, she would have only one chance. Her heart was beating so loud against her chest that she was afraid the culprit would know that she was awake. It was dark, the light from the fireplace was nearly out, but still she lowered her eyelids a fraction of an inch, so that he wouldn’t know she was watching him. His hand reached out to touch her and that was when she sprang forth, her weapon hand raised to strike. She would have done great damage, if the man hadn’t possessed quick reflexes. He clutched her hand in an iron-firm grip making her wince out in pain. She dropped the knife, but her other hand was still free and she swung with all her might.

  “Dar Dia!” he swore beneath his breath. “Aislinn?”

  She paused in her assault. “Dougray, is that you?” she whispered back. “Aye, that it is. And I’ll be telling ye that it is a fine way ye be greeting yer husband.”

  “Oh, Dougray.” She leapt at him throwing her arms around his neck in a fierce embrace. “It’s really you.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Did ye miss me all that much?” “More. How did you get in here?”

  “I have my ways.” She could not make out his features clearly, but she knew that he was grinning.

  “Well, master magician, how do you plan on getting us out of here?”