“Aye, but once you have, you have only the pain of the wound, not the burn,” Cat said.
From then on Glyniss occasionally trusted Cat to sit with Meggie. A bond was formed between the women, as Glyniss could see that Cat had the heart of a healer. Cat would sit with the girl at times, Kenneth at her feet. Meggie slept most of the day, much to Glyniss’ worry and concern.
One afternoon, weary of the sickroom and the confinement of the castle, Cat took Kenneth for a riding lesson, with Cameron tagging along.
“This lad is like a cocklebur under your saddle, lady. Mayhap you would like to take the air without his presence?”
“Nay, Cameron. I enjoy Kenneth. I don’t mind him coming with me at all.”
Cat laughed out loud at the arrogant, impudent look Kenneth gave Cameron over his victory.
Cameron rolled his round brown eyes and laughed along with her.
Cat amused Kenneth by playing a riding game. He would lie on the ground as if he were sleeping, and she would ride at a full gallop, bend down, and pick him up to hoist him behind her on the saddle. It was one of her classic stunts, and she performed it in part to prove to herself she could still perform. She also galloped the horse and stood in the saddle, the reins in her teeth, grinning at the astonished look on Cameron’s face.
She pulled her bow and, reins still in her teeth, shot an arrow at a nearby tree. She dropped down in the saddle before coming to a halt at Kenneth’s feet.
Cameron hailed her as he approached. “My lady, never have I seen such a feat performed by any woman on a horse, but I must take a risk and chastise you. I have undertaken your safety in a solemn vow to your husband. Ye must know that my base blood would be worthy to be shed at his hands should ye come to any harm.”
“I beg your pardon, Cameron, I am really in no danger. I have ridden this way hundreds of times before, and Roderic does tend to hover.”
“Aye, as any mon would hover, cosset, and protect ye, hoard ye to himself like a miser does his gold. Think ye he willnae toss me from a window in the castle should I allow ye to come to the slightest harm?”
Cat sighed and inclined her head. “I concede, sir.”
She spent the rest of the afternoon working with Kenneth, helping him learn to stand in the saddle. Admonishing him to be patient, she walked the horse slowly while he grew accustomed to the animal’s movements. Holding the reins, she did her best to help him balance.
When the sun dropped low into the sky, Cat decided it was time they got back to the castle. Cameron had grown weary of waiting and started back ahead of them, although still in sight. Helping Kenneth mount behind her, she walked the horse slowly back, enjoying the lovely shadows of the end of the day.
When she entered the keep, Edna came to her immediately. “Glyniss is gone; she went to look for herbs that will tempt the poor lass to eat. But, she should be back by now, lady.”
“I’ll go. I’ll find her,” Cat said.
Kenneth followed her as silently as her shadow. They walked in the forest down the trail Edna had pointed out and made quick time, as they would soon be in darkness. Cat’s step faltered when she heard a startled scream. She turned quickly to Kenneth.
“Go for help!”
She pointed behind him toward the keep, and ran through the trees following the sound of the woman’s frantic voice. Running down the trail, she saw Angus Mackay and Glyniss struggling on the ground. He lay on top of her, holding her down, and tried to rest between her legs. He fumbled with his clothing, and Cat knew at once he was bent on rape.
Chapter Eleven
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing if ye obey the commandments and a curse if you will not obey.
~Deuteronomy 11:26
As he raised his kilt and tried to maneuver his erection into her body, Glyniss screamed in rage, beating at his back with her fists. He held her arms as she tried to fight him.
Cat ran up to them and kicked Mackay hard in the ribs. Grunting in pain, he rolled away and Glyniss scrambled up.
Mackay came up to his full height and faced Cat. The hatred in his eyes was like a blow. “Ye unworthy bitch. Ye have shamed me and interfered with me for the last time. Better I have ye as I wanted from the start.” He drew back his fist and tried to pound it into her temple.
Although Cat dodged the blow enough that it did not knock her senseless, her cheek felt as if it had exploded. She lost her balance and fell hard to the ground. Mackay covered her body from behind and the weight of him impeded her efforts to move him off. He pulled her hair back, and she whimpered in pain. Glyniss tried to help her, reaching out to pull him off. Angus turned and, backhanded her brutally.
Cat screamed as Glyniss hoisted herself to a standing position.
“Go, Glyniss, run!”
Angus turned back to Cat, flipping her over to face him and putting a hard hand on her throat.
“No,” she wailed, reading the intent in his eyes. Angus had not forgotten the humiliation she and Roderic had dealt him. He cared not if he died, but rape her he would. Knowing it was hopeless, Cat screamed Roderic’s name. Angus controlled her movements with his weight and pressed down on her throat while his hands groped at her breast.
“Ah, lass. Call for him, scream his name. It will be me that rides ye. Do ye sigh in pleasure when he takes ye? When you rut with that Norman, does he give ye your woman’s joy?”
He put even more pressure on her windpipe, and though Cat continued to fight him, it was getting harder to breathe. From a distance she heard Glyniss cry out.
Deprived of oxygen, Cat became dizzy and faint then Cameron appeared out of nowhere and let out an unholy growl of rage as he lifted his sword. The blow was so strong Cat felt it ripple through her own body when the sword breached the back of Angus’ head.
The stroke was true, for although it was now dark and she could see little, she felt the tension leave his body. Cat was certain Angus had just died upon her; his head slumped forward, and she felt a warm splash of blood.
Cameron pulled the body from her like so much refuse and pushed it aside, then put out his hand to help her stand.
Cat ignored it, turning away on her hands and knees. Feeling a desperate nausea clawing at her middle, she was retching on the ground when Gavin came running through the forest holding a torch to light his way.
Roderic was behind him, sword drawn. He stopped suddenly and lowered his weapon when he realized that Cameron had already removed the threat. Cat raised up, taking deep breaths, and Roderic turned in a rage to Cameron.
“Curse you, where were you? You stand too long at the privy? Beseech me why I should grant you your life!”
“Roderic, no. Please, don’t be angry, just hold me,” Cat said.
He felt her trembling and bent down to pick her up in his arms.
Gavin stepped between Cameron and Roderic. “See to your wife.” He turned to Glyniss.
“Ye be well, lady?”
Glyniss nodded her assent.
Cat refused to cry, but she held tightly to Roderic while he carried her back to the castle.
Roderic took her to their chamber, and called for hot water, then directed the healer to see to her. Cat sat silently in the hot tub of water and tried to come to terms with what had happened, while Glyniss sat near her on a stool, gingerly trying to see to the injury on her cheek.
“Ah, lass, what ye must have suffered in this keep. Edna said that one was your brother. What manner of a mon would try to rut with his own sister?”
Cat looked up, concerned at how it must have appeared. “Roderic knows he was bent on raping me, too?”
“Nay, for Cameron was told by me only that he was hurting ye. He swung his mighty weapon with haste, though we could see little. Gavin came with his torch, and we all could see better, yet Cameron had disposed of the lout. Sir Roderic will be even more angry if he kens why ye were losing the food in your belly.”
“How could I have done this?” Cat spoke as if to he
rself. “It’s not safe here.”
Glyniss snorted. “Where be it safe for any lass when a man wants a taste of what lies between her legs? Men are lusty, and a lass is at risk to a mon if they choose it. He thought me cast out, belongin’ to no one, just as I am, or even a whore who follows the army of Montwain. If a woman has no husband, he could expect no retribution for his deeds. If he is a renegade thief, forcin’ a lass to a quick tumble in the grass is as common as the sunset.”
“Aye, and he had reason to want me dead. You see Glyniss, I am not Brianna Mackay.”
She whispered her tale when she told Glyniss of her abduction by Angus.
“Ye must tell Sir Roderic the truth. Lies only breed more of the same!”
“I can’t. What will happen to the clan if I do? Roderic is helping them, and the King wants the clan to have the protection of the soldiers. Roderic believes they are the finest in Scotland, and they can defend these people and give them a chance to build anew.”
Cat sighed, shaking her head. “Angus is dead, and all this will hurt Edna. She loved him. She raised him.”
“Ah, then she raised herself a viper. Ye fought for us, lass! There was no other way to go. Think ye he would have let ye be once he was done with ye? Nay! He would have killed ye, too. Fie! The way he hated your husband he would relish the deed. We cannae wish it undone unless ye wish he had his way with ye, mayhap even stealin’ your life.”
“I had no choice but to do as they asked when I came here, Glyniss.”
Cat was surprised to see no judgment in the other woman’s eyes.
“Aye, I ken. Many is the time a mon has forced marriage on a lass. Most do it for land and gold the lass may own. I am certain he thought it a righteous cause indeed to save his neck from a stretching.
“I care not from whence ye came. Ye risked your own hide for me, and I will not forget it. ’Tis all the more glad I am that mon is dead. Ye helped Montwain sting his pride in front of his clan? Ah, lass, men can wreak not a small vengeance for such a slight.”
Cat stood, bone weary, and although she felt better now that she was clean, she was exhausted. Glyniss continued to work at daubing some medicine on her cheek, and Cat pushed her hands away. “Stop fussing, Glyniss. You were hurt, too.”
“Aye, but not on my face. Men never notice others as they do the lady they take to their own beds. Ye are his wife, and I dinnae want these bruises to stir Sir Roderic’s anger to an even hotter fire, for Cameron will be punished this night.”
“Punished?”
“Aye, I heard talk from the soldiers. He’s to be flogged.”
“Flogged? You mean whipped?!”
“Aye, lady, though how many lashes none can say save your husband. They speak of it now in the great hall.”
Cat stood up from the tub in a rush. She searched in haste for her gown and dressed, leaving her hair hanging wet down her back. Her heart wrenched with guilt when she considered Cameron’s efforts to protect her. One word from her in the kitchens, and he would have stopped speaking with Nigel and followed her. Cat realized that her own independent nature was truly more than a hindrance to her adjustment in this time. It was a danger to Cameron, who would be punished severely. Putting on her shoes, she turned to Glyniss. “Come with me. ‘
She all but ran down the stone steps to the great hall, and several soldiers were clustered about the long table. Gavin stood facing them all; Roderic sat at his right, Cameron at his left.
Roderic made a brief sign with his hand for Gavin to begin.
“I call a tribunal,” Gavin said. Facing Cameron, he went on. “You stand accused this day of abandoning your duty to Lady Montwain. How then do you testify to this charge?”
Cat tried to walk forward and speak, but Glyniss reached out to grasp her firmly by the arm and haul her back. Cameron stood to face Gavin and Roderic.
“I plead guilty, sir. I was lax in my duty. Lady Montwain had entered the keep. I knew not that she had left once again in search of the healer. I kenned she was putting her horse away in the stable. Hence, I was derelict, and I stand guilty as charged. Sir Roderic, I submit to your will.”
Cat suddenly gripped Glyniss’ hand on her arm and whispered low under her breath, “No.”
The noble knight had a pained expression on his face; however, he stood resolved. Gavin spoke once again. “Do we all stand in agreement that this hearing was fair and just?”
Roderic’s men one by one nodded an assent. Cat rushed forward.
“I would like to beseech this council to be heard. Although I am but a woman, I plead your indulgence that you grant me favor to speak.”
All then turned to Roderic, silently waiting for his decree.
“Permission granted.”
Cat took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “I beg that you grant mercy to Sir Cameron, for I, too, was at fault. I should have run for help when I saw that Glyniss was being attacked, but I tried to intercede, and the attacker turned on me. I should have run back to the keep to plead for assistance. I did not inform Cameron that I was leaving.”
Gavin folded his arms before him, eyes narrowed when he spoke. “Think ye, lady, it be your duty to inform the mon to make his responsibility a light one?”
Cat heaved a heavy sigh. “Nay, sir, maybe not, but I cannot be silent if he’s to be flogged.” She turned to Roderic. “Is this true? “
“Aye, the punishment will be twenty lashes.”
Cat grew pale at the thought. Turning to look at Glyniss, her expression was one of disbelief and astonishment, and she whirled back to Roderic.
“You mustn’t do this!” she cried out. “You can’t!”
“Brianna …” Roderic interrupted.
“Aye, lady, we can,” Gavin said.
Suddenly, Cameron spoke up. “Hear me, my lady. Say no more, for my duty is a sacred trust. You could have been killed, and I embrace whatever punishment my comrades decree.”
Addressing Roderic, her eyes pleading with him desperately, she spoke. “Please. May you lessen the punishment?”
“Why would I do that when I could have lost you?”
“Because I ask it of you … nay, I beg it. You are my lord, my husband, Roderic, and I beg you, please.”
“Enough!”
She had pushed him too far. No one spoke, and the silence stretched for a long moment as Roderic considered her pleas. Finally, Roderic spoke.
He turned to Gavin and bit off four angry words. “Five and ten lashes!”
The soldiers took Cameron to the middle of the courtyard and tied him up. Cat forced herself to stand and watch, though every stroke of the whip was a lash to her conscience. Cameron bore it all stoically, never once crying out. Roderic stood beside her, and at one point he spoke in a low murmur. “You needn’t watch this.”
“Would it be any less cruel if I did not watch it?”
“Show me your displeasure in our chamber, lady, but here I will have your loyalty.”
Cat looked away, took a deep breath, and nodded. Later, she was silent and solemn when she entered the sick room, and began tearing strips for bandages for Cameron’s back. Glyniss silently crushed up the herbs with mortar and pestle, and mixed the unguent that she would use on the wounds, then asked Cameron to lie down so she could have better access to the cuts.
“Have you anything you could give him for the pain?” Cat asked.
Roderic entered the chamber as Cat had just spoken the question. “Brianna, I will speak to you in our chamber now. Leave him to the healer.”
“Be at ease, Lady Brianna, for I will mix up a potion that will have him sleeping shortly,” Glyniss said.
Cat nodded, putting the bandages near the table by Glyniss’ medicine, and followed Roderic silently down the hallway to their chamber. When the door closed behind him, Roderic immediately pulled her into his arms. He trapped her chin gently in his hand to examine her cheek.
“Does this pain you still?”
She made futile little moves as if to push him
away, but he held her fast.
“I’m in very little pain, Roderic. Not like Cameron. ‘Twas my folly that brought down every stroke of that lash.”
He nodded, uncompromising. “Aye, ’Tis true.”
She snorted. “I see you’re not going to ease my guilt.”
He shook his head very slowly. “Never, lass. With your title comes duty, and the two go hand in hand. Your manner as lady here may foster these people or give them tribulation. ’Tis time you yield to that knowledge. Gavin will take Cameron’s place in keeping you safe until his back is healed.”
“Why must I have one of your soldiers take time out from his duties to follow me about? I am not accustomed to having a man guard me.”
“You are accustomed to having your own way, Brianna, but heed me in this you will. I’ll warn you, Gavin will stop you from leaving the keep at all, even to hunt if you continue to risk yourself. Nor is he to allow you to please the boy with standing in the saddle.” Cat was not surprised Cameron had told him.
“I cause no harm when I ride standing in the saddle!”
“You harm me, with worry for your life and limb. Find another way to entertain Kenneth.”
She pushed away from him and sat on the edge of the bed. He sat beside her and took her gently in his arms, massaging her shoulders and stroking her back. Perversely, at this moment, Cat resented his touch.
“What are you doing?”
“Mayhap I seek to give you ease, to show you tenderness after being so roughly handled and abused.”
Cat felt tears come into her eyes. She didn’t like her vulnerability, or his gift to comprehend her needs. Angus had inflicted upon her a loss of power and control even of her own body. In her own time Cat had accepted the belief that if a woman were capable and strong enough, she could, in fact, defend herself. Angus had proven that to be a lie. Though she was competent with her sword, she was not allowed to carry the weapon, and was defenseless in this time by the very nature of the culture. Her husband was her protector, and though in her own time she would have taken offense at such a presumption, it was necessary here.
Despite Cat’s longing to blend in at the castle, it was a struggle. She had to fight against her inborn need to be independent and move freely, to do what she wanted when she chose to do so. Roderic would never understand those needs, yet he refused to punish her and allowed her own remorse to be a full recompense. He was trusting her to make the changes necessary in her own behavior. For now, it was enough.
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