The Maiden Switch

by Allie Borne

  “I will go with ye,” Merianne stated, turning to go prepare herself. Redland put out his hand, and looked at his young wife, remonstratingly.

  “It is thy duty to stay at the keep and see to its defense. I am fairly certain of Philip Cumyn’s actions, but we cannot be sure. If he realized he has lured me out, he may try to charge the keep.”

  Merianne doubted the sanity of such a plan and she knew that Redland expected no such thing. “Philip Cumyn could not storm this keep, whether or not I was here. You-”

  But Redland interrupted her argument, “Ye will no’ be coming, Merianne. Thy presence would only require me to protect ye, as well as Miss Luke. While I argue with ye, those we care about are in danger.”

  “Go, then. I will see to the keep,” Merianne agreed, desolately.

  Bryan grabbed her up and embraced her, kissing her fiercely. “I will no’ come home until Philip Cumyn is dead, Merianne. I refuse to allow him to terrorize the clan any longer.”

  Meri looked at the man she loved sadly. “Do not allow anger or vengeance to color your thinking, Bryan. Act only as Lord Redland and not as Bryan Murray. Philip knows nothing of being Laird if he knows only greed and self-preservation. He is predictable. Do not make the same mistake.”

  “Tis one thing to sacrifice myself for the greater good. Tis another to sacrifice those whom depend on my protection. I will do what I must.”

  Bryan left without a kiss or caress. He did not look back. Merianne felt withered inside. Her husband would have his revenge. He would risk everything. She could not allow that. Rushing back up to the master chamber, Merianne flung open the latch of her maid’s trunk and began digging around in the bottom.

  “Voila!” she exclaimed, as she came out with a book she had lifted from her uncle’s library. “I knew this would be relevant reading material in Scotland,” she fairly sung as she quickly leafed through the pages of the text. The book had been written about the defense and attack of castles. Even castles, it seemed, were vulnerable to fire. What if Phillip Cumyn’s keep were under attack? He would have to return to his lands and defend his home, his source of power.

  “What am I thinking? Attacking his clan directly would be an act of aggression my husband is not willing to make.” Stiffening, Merianne tilted her head, “But I am.”

  The loathsome man had murdered three men and abducted her friend. He had caused Mary much suffering. “This cannot go unpunished,” she ground out through clinched teeth. Most importantly, Merianne was desperate to distract the leech from Mary and Bryan. She could not bear to lose them. She would not.

  Pulling her small sack of gun powder and flint from her maid’s trunk, Merianne slipped on her cloak and down the servant’s stairs to the stables. She watched the men trot out with their horses and quickly dashed in to grab Mary’s nag. Rushing to the back stall, a figure stepped from the shadows and blocked her path. She had to skid to a halt to avoid running into him. Looking up, she saw her husband’s thunderous face.

  On instinct, she turned and ran. Bryan reached out with both arms and grabbed hers. Yanking her back against him, he flipped her around and peered into her face. Bryan’s scar quivered with restrained ire. Slowly and deliberately he ground out, “Where were ye going, Merianne?”

  She said nothing. The strength of his rage, coupled with the rippling of his muscles, told her silence was the wisest choice. To her extreme chagrin, her eyes began to tear. Shaking her slightly, he repeated the query more vehemently.

  “I-I thought to start a small fire by the Cumyn’s keep, to distract him and lure him back to his home, so that ye could return with Mary.”

  “And if ye were caught?”

  “I planned on waiting until the clansmen had left.”

  “I have heard some disturbing news, Merianne. I have heard that, perhaps, ye were planted by Cumyn. I have heard that yer loyalties may lie elsewhere.”

  Merianne squinted her green eyes at her husband, trying to make sense of his tirade. “S-some one has told you I am a Cumyn?”

  “Someone has told me that ye are, in fact Cumyn’s mistress. That ye have been paid to fool me. Now I find ye sneaking out to warn him. What else must I think?”

  Merianne stood very still. Perhaps, if she did not move at all, she could avoid thinking or feeling. Yet, Bryan was already turning her about, already marching her towards the servant’s entrance. Up the stairs he pushed her, twisting her arm painfully. She welcomed the distraction, focused on the way her wrist bent against her arm.

  Swiftly, Bryan shoved her into Mary's small room and slammed the door. A searing sob shook her chest as she heard a key turn in the lock. Running to the small door which linked their rooms, Merianne was surprised to find it also locked.

  “I beg thee!” she called out to Bryan, “Do not leave me here! How could you think me not a maiden? How could you think me not a lady?”

  “Ye have been known to lie before, Woman. I will sort this out when I return.” Bryan stomped down the stairs and out into the bailey. Merianne wished to rush to the window to track his progress. Her pride would not let her. Instead, she threw herself across the tiny bed and began to sob.

  Her lies had set the stage for his suspicion. He did not trust her. He still resented her duplicity. Now, when others whispered their nasty thoughts, he had listened. “He can not be too careful,” an inner voice cautioned. “Is it not better that he know you are here and not betraying him to Thane Cumyn?”

  “Nooo!” she screamed into her pillow. “It is better if he trusts me.”

  “And how might he when you promised to stay and not a moment later were running for the door?” her conscious self-corrected.

  Merianne was disgusted with herself for being so shortsighted. She was disgusted with her husband for questioning her motives. How could he think me a common whore? Then Merianne thought back to the waterfall and sighed raggedly.

  It was true, she had lain with him in a most wanton fashion. What else was he to think?

  “No!” she would not blame herself for his accusations. She had acted only to save her friend, never to place others in danger.

  But to save my friend, Bryan must put himself and his clan at risk. The plan has worked out well for Cumyn, not so much for me. Who has spread such nasty lies about me? Merianne thought, hurt by the deceit. A jealous lover? A disloyal soldier? She would find out when Bryan returned. She would find out, then she and Mary would go home. Already, a new life might be forming in her womb. She would not allow this man to call her child’s mother a whore.

  “This is why I should have stayed in England,” Merianne whispered to herself. Eyes puffy and red, she buried her face in her pillow and cried herself to sleep.

  ~ ~ ~

  Bryan’s body shook with rage. How could he have missed the signs? He might not have believed it but that it came from the mouth of his own kin. According to Robert, the lass had set up with Cumyn six months hence. He had found her at a bawdy house in London. Phillip had chosen her for her resemblance to Redland’s betrothed and hatched a plan to con Bryan into marrying the tramp. As it stood right now, Merianne Warren, the real Merianne, was being held captive near the Highland border. Robert had sent men to free Bryan’s betrothed as the rest circled in on Phillip Cumyn. The net of lies which the doxy he had married had woven, had successfully distracted him for far too long. He had heard that girls such as she could fake the state of maidenhood. She had truly reeled him in. He had thought himself in love with her. Bryan’s gut twisted, bending him over his horse in pain.

  He could not seem to rid her scent from his skin. Slapping the reigns to the horses neck, he cantered ahead of the rest. Two hours of a grueling pace helped to numb his mind and focus his senses on the present. Fresh hoof prints lay before them. Two sets. Bryan had expected more. He had planned on a group. As they entered the tree line, Bryan noted a crumpled form.

  “I will check,” Arthur cautioned, sliding gracefully from his mount. Pulling his dagger from its sheath, Arthur appr
oached the figure in a slight crouch. The others circled their mounts about him, to provide some protection, in case of an ambush.

  Gingerly, Arthur poked the man with his toe. When no motion ensued, he kicked the man over, rolling him onto his back. The sight was horrifying. Ian Cumyn, judging by what was left of his face, had been cut from crown to crotch. His body opened like a change purse, spilling some of its bloody contents upon the soft green grass.

  Arthur returned to his horse, sheathing his dagger. Aiden bent over in the saddle and emptied the contents of his stomach. All of the men looked away, sharing in his revulsion. Bryan looked to Sir Robert. He meant to ask him to predict Phillip’s next move. Robert was pale. Beads of sweat had broken out across his brow.

  The other men had turned. Some looked green or cast empathetic glances over to Aiden as he wiped at the corner of his mouth with his shirt sleeve.

  Not Robert. Robert’s glazed eyes remained on the corpse, almost as if he saw himself upon the ground, not his enemy. The thought disturbed Bryan and he shook it free. Robert was not known for being overly dramatic or skittish. Something else must be concerning him.

  “Sir Robert,” Bryan interrupted. “Which way might Phillip Cumyn proceed? To my betrothed or to Mary?”

  “Dost thou mean yer former betrothed, My Lord? Thou art, after all, currently wed,” Robert quirked a rye smile at his cousin.

  “If the woman I married is not Merianne, then the marriage will be annulled. Answer the question, Robert.”

  “I believe he will care nothing for this Mary. She is either another of his ploys or is too beneath him to be of much concern. I believe he will ride to yer bride.”

  Bryan was not so certain. Likely, Ian spilled his guts before Phillip had spilled his entrails. He would know that Mary was with Andrew. Phillip might choose to take out the next in line before he circled in on Bryan. What good would a promised bride be, next to an heir?”

  “Then I would like you to proceed with two of my men to join up with your own. I will travel with the smaller number to retrieve my brother and this ‘Mary.’”

  Sir Robert opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it abruptly, nodding. Bryan turned to two of his most loyal. “William and Jamie, attend to Robert. Return to the keep when thou art able.” With a nod, the trio was off at a gallop.

  “My Lord,” whispered Arthur. “There is something no’ right about these recent developments. I ‘ave known many women in my time and I fancy I can read them as well as I can read any mon. Merianne was no kept woman. She hadn’t the sophistication for that. Ye yerself lay with the girl. Ye should know first hand she came to thee a maid.”

  “I thought so, Arthur, but I have been blind to her lies in the past. I do no’ know if I can trust her. I have known Robert his entire life. He has never given me a reason to doubt his loyalty. Would ye have me disregard my kin over a woman I have yet to truly know?”

  “I would have thee consider many possibilities. Do no’ assume that Robert’s sources are reliable. Many men will say anything for a bit of silver. Others jest like to undermine yer authority. Be careful that ye not reveal yer soft underbelly to anyone just now. Tis all I have to say.”

  Bryan nodded. He wanted to believe that the woman he married was his true and intended spouse. He wanted to believe that Robert was honest and trustworthy. Perhaps Arthur’s story would pan out. Perhaps they were both telling him the truth as they knew it. Time would tell.

  “Let us make haste. With any luck, Phillip and his trackers will be hours behind us and we will be able to return to the keep with my brother. I would not like to die with no heir.” The handful of remaining horsemen turned their mounts west and began to head for the cabin.

  ~ ~ ~

  Sir Robert rode impatiently towards his men. If his plan were to work, he must make good time. The woman he called Merianne Warren would be there, waiting for him, surrounded by the safety of his men. He would return to the keep a hero.

  “My horse tires, Sir Robert. Might we set a less tedious pace?”

  “Nay, William. Tis essential that we intercept Miss Warren before Phillip realizes we have discovered his plot. If ye can no’ keep pace with me, then ye will have to be left behind.” Kicking his horses flanks again, Sir Robert cantered ahead.

  William looked back at Jamie who shrugged and kicked his horse’s flanks. He, for one, would not be thought a coward or a lolly gagger when their was a maiden to be rescued. William rolled his eyes, believing full well that Sir Robert’s posturing was feigned. The man was eager to ride in after the true fighting had ensued and claim his victory. Why was it that Lord Redland could not see through him? Blood was thicker than water. Must it also make men thick in the head?

  ~ ~ ~

  Lord Redland was an hour away from his brother. There was nothing for it. He was being overtaken. He would have to lead the Cumyn men away from the cabin. He could make a run for the keep but the likelihood that they would make it seemed slim. Bryan racked his mind for a plan. Where could he go? Arthur and Aiden flanked their leader, desperately hoping he knew what to do.

  “It sounds like at least a dozen men,” Arthur offered. “We will need to meet them where we might have the advantage.”

  “I can think of no moves that would not sacrifice the horses,” Bryan retorted. “I am loathe to give Silkey up to that mon.”

  “Let him have the beast. He’ll take better care of him than he does his own kin,” Aiden squeaked, surprised at his own audacity and a bit embarrassed over the clear cowardice in his words.

  “Ye are right, Aiden. I would never risk the lives of my people over an animal. Here is the plan. We will ride quickly to the falls. We will make a run for the path behind the falls, then dash across the fields. The keep is two miles from there. They will be forced to dismount or ride around. Phillip’s fat arse will no’ be getting off his steed. Besides, he will sense he has us trapped. He will send men down to scout us out. When they realize which way we’ve gone, it should have bought us enough time to get home.”

  Aiden nodded. Arthur shrugged. “If I fall behind, Bryan, do no’ come back for me. I will take as many out as I can. Tis the clan we must think about now.”

  Bryan looked at his old friend and laughed. “Ye’ll be the first to the door, I’d wager, old man.”

  “Promise me,” Arthur insisted.

  “I promise that I will leave ye to die a hero, if that’s how ye wish it.”

  The horses frothed as they strained and pushed their bulk up the steep path. The moment they hit the clearing, the men slid from their horses and smacked their hind quarters with the flat of their swords. Spooked, the horses ran.

  “With any luck, they’ll break through the others and make it back to the keep,” Bryan gasped out. “That might warn the clan of our trouble.”

  Sliding down the muddied trail, the men splashed into the water. Diving beneath the pool, Bryan swam as well as his boots would allow. Thank God he had not worn his trewes. It took several precious minutes for the last man to clear the cave and head out at a run. Bryan set a grueling pace. They were running for their lives. Fifteen minutes to the keep. If they were lucky, it would take Phillip’s men twenty...if they were lucky.

  ~ ~ ~

  “The devil take them!” Phillip roared, seeing the men disappear behind the falls. “Evan, Adam, go and fetch their horses. I want Redland’s stallion. Jessie, Tom, get down there and find out where they’ve hidden themselves. They’ll be behind the falls, I’d wager. Run them through if ye can.”

  Sir Phillip sat atop his steed, peering this way and that, waiting impatiently for progress. Adam came back, red faced and grinning, the black stallion by his side. The horse attempted to bite him several times, but soon quieted with a punch to the jaw.

  “Report!” bellowed Sir Phillip, when his men disappeared behind the falls.

  Tom dashed back out, yelling, “There is a passage behind the falls! They have escaped!”

  “Where does it leave out?” Phi
llip yelled down.

  “By a barley field. It must be no’ two miles from the Murray Keep. They must ‘ave made a run for it.”

  “Shall we follow them on foot, Sir?” the foul-breathed Adam asked.

  “Nay. They’ve a ten minute head start. We’ll go back down and catch up on horse back. I’ll ride the stallion. I have a fancy to run Redland over with his own steed.”

  Adam chortled and brought the animal nearer. Switching from his horse to the frothing beast, Phillip called to his men. “Follow on foot. We will come round the other way.”

  Tom nodded and disappeared beneath the falls.

  “And our horses?” Evan asked.

  “Leave them. If we succeed, this will be our land to roam as we please. If we do no’, we will have nay use for them.”

  Evan nodded and followed his master back down the path.

  Chapter 7-The Chase

  Merianne woke with a start. Her room had taken on a golden glow. She stood and shuffled to the narrow window and peered out over the expanse of land to the West. Bryan must have been gone now for hours. The sun was low in the sky. The fields looked lovely, basked in the warm light. She could almost see to the barley field, she thought.

  The melancholy of those memories was too much and she pressed her forehead to the glass, welcoming the cool feeling against the throbbing there. She wanted to cry, but the tears would not come. A dull, hollow ache had taken their place within her chest. Shadows played against the wheat grass, moving, with the wind, across the land.

  Merianne smiled, despite herself. She loved this place. She loved the people. She hated Bryan’s betrayal, but she loved him for himself. She could find some peace with that. Heart full of emotion, she looked longingly at the fields, wishing she could lie out their, cheek to the soil and feel Mother Earth’s heart beat with hers.

  Something caught her eye. Far to the left of her view tiny figures were making their way through the newly tilled field. They seemed to be moving quickly, though she could not tell. Alarm swelled within her. As the figures grew closer, she noticed the white blonde and grey cues of Arthur and Bryan. They were running? On foot? Something was not right!