Lost in the Mist of Time

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  Declan’s small hand tightened on Aislinn’s and she stopped as though she were afraid to move. She lifted her gaze to see Abbot Kirwan approaching them with his beady eyes shifting first to her then back to the boy. A slow smile spread across the man’s face causing the hackles at the back of her neck to rise. She glanced back among the trees, almost fearing someone would attack them from behind.

  “What are ye looking for, milady?” his voice was sickening sweet and his approach was far too bold. Aislinn pulled the small boy behind her.

  “Did you wish to speak to me?” “Nay.”

  Declan clutched her skirt and she could feel him quaking against her. He choked back a sob, staring at the abbot with one eye. “A.J., he did it,” he whispered as the memories came flooding back to another day, another place where Abbot Kirwan had approached. “He hurt everyone.”

  She glanced down at the frightened child, as the dawning of the words seemed to sink in. Her gaze shot back to Kirwan, who was standing no more than a few paces away.

  “I wondered when he would remember. Thought he had when he went into hysterics that first day he spoke.”

  She recalled that incident. Declan had been fine, happy until Kirwan had pushed his way into her room. Then he had become frightened, inconsolable. Why hadn’t she seen this? “You killed his entire family? Why?” At that moment, she wanted to take the man and throttle him with her bare hands. “Politics, milady. The MacKennas were chosen to be the sacrificial lamb.

  We needed to have a reason for Lord Dougray to retaliate against the Butlers, and what better way than to have it look as though the feuding clan was slaughtering his innocent tenants.” He glanced at the boy with a sigh. “He should have died with the rest, but he hid himself well, and with the confusion of the fight, he was overlooked.”

  “You monster. How could you wear the holy robes and stand there so calmly talking of people’s deaths.”

  “Their souls were not in jeopardy. I prayed for them to enter the kingdom of God. It had to be done. Our lands are slowly being taken over and I will not stand for it. I was protecting what belongs to us. Dougray’s father was just as weak. That is why he and his English wife needed to be eliminated too.”

  “You were responsible for the fire?”

  “Of course. He would have given back the lands to the Tudor King that fancies he has rights to us here. He was ready to lay down his sword, but I took care of that. Then the wayward son returns, the lands granted to him with his word of loyalty to Henry Tudor on his deceiving lips.”

  “He wanted what was best for Dunhaven. Don’t you see that? He was trying to make it productive once more.”

  “He had no such intentions. He allowed heathen ways to litter the minds of his people. It was only a matter of time before he decides to renounce his religion as well. Henry already teeters with it as he produces bastards. He is a liar. Lord Dougray Fitzpatrick was trained by the best, and the deceptions slip from his mouth just as fast. I played the game as well, sending false accusations to both sides causing conflict wherever yer husband turned, making it impossible to know where his loyalties stood. It would have been only a matter of time before either the chieftains here, or the Tudor followers, eliminate him, but time is running short and I have no wish to prolong this. As for ye, milady, ye are uncouth with yer beliefs. If yer husband had not took pity on ye and returned, ye would have been dead already.”

  “Dead? What do ye mean?”

  “Why do ye think ye were so ill? I was unfamiliar with the dosages, but I figured it out well enough with Fiona. I expected ye to die with yer bastard child.” He gave a brief chuckle. “I’m surprised ye didn’t figure it out. Even the imbecile Cahir had become suspicious and had asked questions. Oh he thought he was so sly, but I knew he suspected me. That’s why I had to get rid of him.”

  The man had murdered Cahir and had poisoned her, causing her to miscarry. Rage boiled inside of her, but she forced herself to appear calm. She could see she was not going to be able to reason with this man. He had lost his grip on reality and couldn’t see past his own demented truths making him far more dangerous than she had originally thought.

  “Go back to the castle, Declan.” She pushed the boy forward. If she could distract Kirwan long enough, the boy might have a chance. Declan hesitated but she was forceful. “Do as I say. Run all the way back and don’t stop.” The boy moved into action then. Aislinn didn’t feel comforted when she heard Kirwan’s laugh. Then she knew why. For six men seemed to materialize out of nowhere immediately surrounding her. “Go after the lad,” Kirwan ordered.

  “Let him go. You have me,” Aislinn pleaded.

  “Do ye think I am not of my senses? The boy can identify me. Now go!” He nodded again to two men. Aislinn reacted also for she wasn’t going to let them slay Declan for their own personal pleasure.

  The wild flowers forgotten, she withdrew her dagger she had hidden within her sleeve and jabbed it into the man’s throat. She immediately took the slain man’s dagger from its sheath and threw it at the other man who was still after Declan. Her throw was wide, for another had reacted by tackling her to the ground. She immediately rolled and brought up her knee into the man’s groin. He doubled over in agony and she broke free, but before she could get to her feet, another was upon her. She grabbed her last assailant’s sword and the man impaled himself before he could retract his steps. She pushed him aside and jumped to her feet, her own sword drawn. Two more and she would be home free. She could already see that they were wary of her, making Kirwan furious.

  “Get her! She is a mere woman!”

  They approached her slowly as she kept her stance. “Which one of you would like to die first?”

  That seemed to infuriate the smaller of the two men and he lunged at her. She easily deflected the blow. She kicked him sending him back into his partner, both men fell, the one on top letting out a bellow as his own partner’s weapon slashed into his back.

  Aislinn would have easily taken the other, but Kirwan demanded her attention.

  “I wouldn’t do it if I were ye.”

  She glanced at the beady-eyed man and saw that he was holding Declan against his chest with a knife pressed to his neck. “Drop your weapon or the lad dies.”

  She hesitated, but the menacing look in Kirwan’s eyes told her that he meant it. She lowered her sword at once, and this time, she let the men take her. They yanked her hands behind her back securing them tightly.

  Kirwan let go of Declan and he immediately ran over to her, throwing his arms around her legs. “I tried to get back, but Abbot Kirwan’s man caught me.”

  How she wished she could hug the frightened boy. “It’s all right, Declan.”

  Kirwan walked over to them with a satisfied grin on his face. “Now move and no more trouble from ye. One false act and I will slice the boy in two, and I’ll gladly let ye watch. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Perfectly,” she spat at him.

  Kirwan looked to the remaining men. “Get rid of this mess.” He motioned to the fallen dead.

  Chapter 75

  Dougray sensed something was wrong even before they found the blood that had not been covered up with dirt and mud. “She and the boy were taken,” Murrough confirmed what he had already suspected. “We found fresh graves.” He saw the anxious look that penetrated Dougray’s features. He quickly assured him that it wasn’t what he feared. “They were strangers. Obviously milady tried to fend them off.”

  “Obviously,” he gritted between clenched teeth. Why was she out with Declan when she knew it was not safe? He should have never allowed them to come back with him to Dunhaven.

  “I will go with ye.” Shane came to stand by him.

  “Do ye really think that is a wise idea, Father? Ye have already jeopardized yerself by being here.”

  “I will see ye and yers safe, Dougray. Staying away was to protect ye. That has failed. It is time to step forward.”

  A multitude of emotions flitted across his f
ace: anger, gratitude, and fear…. He needed all the help he could find. Finally he nodded his consent and his father gripped his shoulder in a tight clasp. “We will find them, son.” Dougray was ready to mount his steed when Fiach came riding in fast. Because of his anxious hurry, he nearly collided with Dougray’s large warhorse. “I am sorry, Dougray, but I have come to realize who murdered Cahir.”

  “Who do ye suspect?”

  “Kirwan. His robes were soiled at the hem, an odd stain that had me bothered until I remembered that Cahir’s hand had been wiped clean.” He saw the skepticism in Dougray’s eyes and he hurried on to explain. “Let us just say that a dying Cahir could have reached out in desperation to the very man that had sliced his throat.”

  “But Kirwan? He has been abbot at Dunhaven for more years than I can count.”

  “Aye, this I know. I would not come forth with this if I were not certain of what I accuse. Kirwan has always been impeccable with his appearance. Do ye think that he would allow a stain on his hem? Blood is not so easily removed. We know that Cahir knew his attacker. He would not have feared Kirwan’s approach.”

  Cormac had been listening and came forward now. “Milord, I wish to speak.”

  “Go on then.”

  “I had always thought it odd that Fiona would call on her deathbed for Abbot Kirwan, especially since she is not of the faith. I had thought that she was just delirious, but she begged me to warn ye. She said to beware of the robed man.”

  “He must have been the one to poison her.” Fiach looked back to Dougray. “The man on guard will swear to the fact that he saw the abbot leave the gates soon after milady had.”

  Dougray’s face clouded with unbridled anger as he went over each ill- fated incident that had taken place. Abbot Kirwan had made a point to see Fiona when the woman was not of the faith, and he was there to bless the food that Aislinn was to eat. Roth had said he had been to the kitchen. He knew of their whereabouts at all times. The kidnapping, the slaughtering of the MacKennas…. “Dar Dia! I will kill him.”

  The trap was set and Kirwan waited for Dougray to come into view. He was informed that they were already headed in their direction. He knew that the fool would come for his whore, and there she waited, huddled with the child who should have meant nothing to her.

  Misfits, all of them. It was right to eliminate them before they infected those deserving of God’s good graces. Even now faced with impending death, the woman they call Scathach glared her defiance. She never knew her place, but he would teach her this day. She would watch her lover be slain before her eyes. Then he would gladly kill the boy. He knew that would be her last straw. She would lose all will to fight. He sighed regrettably for her death would almost be too easy.

  They camped over the ridge and made their plans. Dougray knew there would be no meeting, no negotiation. They were dealing with someone who wanted his head and obviously would go to great lengths to see that it was severed from his body. This would be a fight to the death.

  He recognized immediately Robert Burke’s crest. He knew that he should not have trusted the man. He should have gone with his instincts, but Dubhdara had assured him that they would have an alliance with his clan. Now it looked as though this was not going to be the case.

  They set up camp and the fires were going. The night was already chilled with a hanging mist that seemed to surround them. “Milord.” Cormac bowed. “We have captured a Burke. He wishes to have a word with ye.”

  He was on his feet immediately and advanced toward Teige to find out whom they had captured lurking around their camp. Never had he expected to see who was thrust before him. Years of training controlled his impulse to draw his sword and relieve the man of his head. “So Sir Robert, what brings ye here before me on such a wondrous night?” Dougray’s open hostility was not lost to him. He was treading on thin ice and he was well aware that the only reason he was still breathing was because Dougray wanted answers.

  “I am here to help.” Robert raised his hand in a gesture that asked him to wait before he reacted with violence. “Hear me out and ye will know that I am speaking the truth.”

  “Why should I believe ye?”

  “There is no reason whatsoever that ye should, for it is no secret that we do not like each other over much.” When Dougray didn’t say anything he continued. “And I do not have a care if ye live or die, but I do, however, have regard to what Dubhdara thinks. I need his alliance, and to preserve it, he has made it known that I should keep ye alive.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Abbot Kirwan is waiting to put matters into his own hands. The Tudor King has been convinced that ye are a threat and should be eliminated. It was Kirwan’s words that turned him. It is rather ironic, don’t ye think, since Kirwan loathes the English rule, but has used them to his advantage. He fears Dunhaven will fall into the English hands and wishes to prevent it by petitioning for the church to see Dunhaven sanctioned.”

  “That’s ridiculous. The church will not interfere with the way things stand. King Henry wavers now on what he will do with the church and all that follow. He would never allow such a take over.”

  “Aye, we both know this, but the abbot has lost sight of reason. His own demented ways are all that he sees. He wants ye dead come tomorrow and he has convinced a small garrison to protect him. We are here to take him down.

  I only come to warn ye for my own men’s safety.”

  Dougray wore a grim expression still wondering if he should take him at his word. “Aislinn and Declan?”

  “They are being kept alive so that they may witness yer death.”

  “How very thoughtful of Kirwan.” His sarcasm was thick. “I hope he won’t mind if I don’t readily put my head down on the block for him.”

  Robert’s eyes caught the movement to the left of him. Stepping from the shadows, he met Shane Fitzpatrick eye to eye. “Lord Shane?” He couldn’t help but wonder how the man was still alive when all had thought him dead. “Nay, I am not a ghost. Yer vision is quite good.” He relieved Robert of his doubts. “Dougray, ye can trust Sir Robert. I can vouch for his honesty.” He pulled the hood over his head and watched the man gasp. Shane chuckled softly. “I had to know whom to trust.” He threw back the hood once more. “Dubhdara came straight away to inform me that ye had given the notice promptly to him.” “It was a test?”

  “One that ye passed. I apologize for the deceit, but there was no other way to go about it. As for Abbot Kirwan, I had also approached him. He was clever with his deceit, not giving one way or the other where he stood. I fear I had trusted him for he had been abbot with the Fitzpatricks since before ye were born, Dougray. I did not know his hatred ran so deep.”

  “Even I did not suspect him, Father. I was deceived by the robes he wears.”

  “Now that we know whom we fight against,” Fiach spoke up, “maybe we should now discuss the plan for taking Kirwan down without harming the captives.”

  In the early morning, Dougray’s men moved into position. Fortunately for them, the thick mist that had covered the land shielded them from view. Dougray wanted Aislinn and Declan released before the fighting commenced for he didn’t want to take a chance that they would be harmed in the skirmish.

  Cormac and Hamish took care of the guards while Teige and Dermot quietly approached Aislinn and Declan. It was too simple, making Teige feel increasingly uneasy. Something wasn’t right. He motioned for Dermot to hurry. He released Aislinn from her bounds while Dermot took Declan into his care.

  As Teige had suspected, they were not so lucky sneaking back out of camp for Kirwan had anticipated such a ploy and was waiting for them.

  “Get them away!” Dermot shouted as he turned to fight. At that moment, Dunhaven’s kern came charging in to help make the escape successful. For the moment, Kirwan was distracted from his intent. He turned to defend himself.

  “I need a sword,” Aislinn insisted even though Teige was forcefully leading them farther away.

  “My o
rders are to lead ye to safety, milady.”

  “I will not sit around when I could be down there helping.”

  “Nay, ye will not. I am to hogtie ye if ye even try to make yer way back. Don’t make me do that, milady.” He looked at her kindly, but she had no doubt that he would carry out the threat.

  “A.J., please stay with me.” Declan sounded close to tears. She leaned down and picked him up, trying to calm the child’s fears.

  “Don’t worry, Declan. Everything will be all right.”

  Dougray’s garrison, with the help of the Burkes, easily took down the enemy, but Abbot Kirwan had eluded them. Once the fight had become too intense, the man had slithered away, like the snake that he was. Murrough had ordered the men to comb the area for him. He would not be allowed to escape.

  Through rising mist, Dougray wearily made his way back to let Aislinn know that it was nearly over, but what greeted him filled him with a sheer fright.

  The missing Kirwan had Aislinn in a stronghold with his dagger dangerously close to her neck. A quick assessment of the situation and he knew there would not be a back up. Teige was sprawled on the ground, either unconscious or dead. Declan huddled in fear near the tree trunk, his arms hugging his knees near his small trembling body.

  He turned his attention back to the abbot. “Let her go, Kirwan.” His stomach clenched tight, as he desperately tried to keep his fragile control in check. “It is I that ye want.”

  “Put down yer weapon,” Kirwan demanded, knowing that, in matter of moments, he would be surrounded. He didn’t understand how his well thought out plan had been throttled. Right now he should have had the Fitzpatrick hanging by his neck, but instead he was the one trapped like a fox ready to be ripped apart. Well he wasn’t going alone. He would take Dougray with him. He relished in the thought that he would still have his last revenge.

  Dougray did as he was ordered and slowly placed his sword at his feet, while all the time he kept his gaze on Kirwan. He straightened to his full height. “Now let her go.”