Knight Protector (Knight Chronicles)

by Rue Allyn

  Sorcha watched horrified as Marr sword met Marr blade, and MacBirnum knight fought Coillteach guard. Even the MacKai warriors joined the fray.

  “Psst.” She felt a tug on her skirt and, turning about, found Henry crouching at her feet. “Lady Sorcha, come with me.”

  “But ... ” She looked to where Colin and MacBirnum stood back to back fighting for their lives against a dozen men. Nearby, Raeb and a Marr guard battled with Ranulf, but of Robert she saw no sign. She stepped toward the hall.

  “Nae.” Henry, standing now, pulled on her arm. “Go there, and you’ll be killed. I’m to take you to Sir Robert. He said to tell you he needs your help to reveal the truth.”

  Truth? What was the truth? Would the lies Coillteach spouted be believed? Why did he make such false accusations?

  “All right.” She nodded. “But hurry.”

  Henry headed for the main stairs.

  “There she is,” shouted some Coillteach men coming down the stairs. “Catch the bitch so she can hang with her dog of a husband.”

  “Quickly.” She held out her hand to Henry and ran with him down the hall toward the accounting room.

  A door opened opposite the accounting room, and the chamberlain stuck out his head. “This way, my lady.”

  She had little choice if she was to avoid the trap laid for her. She dashed within, Henry on her heels. They were in the earl’s book room. Sir MacClaren shut the door then hurried over to a tapestry near the hearth. But instead of lifting the tapestry, he shoved at a nearby tall, narrow shelf of books to reveal an entrance to the secret stair.

  “Sir Robert awaits you in the tower room. I will distract your pursuers.”

  “Thank you.” She had no time for more.

  He handed her a lit candle then closed the bookcase after she and Henry squeezed through the opening.

  Between the panic that stole her breath and a sudden spate of fearful tears from Henry, the climb took much longer than she wished.

  Light spilled out from the top, slightly blocked by Sir Robert, who stood holding open a door hidden beneath tapestry.

  “Thank the heavens, you made it,” Robert uttered. “If you’d been captured, Henry and I might not have managed this on our own.”

  “What do you mean? And why are you nae below fighting with the other men?” She turned from where she was settling Henry on a stool near the hearth. She gave the boy a kerchief to dry his tears and blow his nose.

  “I’m trying to find the proof needed to show Coillteach,” he paused, “and Ranulf for the lying traitors they are.”

  “What did you find?”

  He picked up some sheets of vellum from atop a chest. “I know Colin wished our suspicions were unfounded. But the proof is undeniable. Read it for yourself.”

  She took the sheet from Robert’s hand. One glance told her she had nae need to read the spidery writing. “This is the false letter the chamberlain tried to hide from me when I spoke with him in the accounting room.”

  “So you recognize it.”

  “Certainly. ʼTwas this that convinced Colin and I that the chamberlain might be a traitor. But he helped me get to you, so I’m confused.”

  “I do not blame you. The chamberlain had the letter because Ranulf placed it in the accounting room hoping you or Colin would find it first.”

  “Are you certain he did this?”

  “He’s the only person who had reason or opportunity.”

  “Aye.”

  “Ranulf was present when Colin told us that the letter had been returned in hopes that the chamberlain would come forward with it and prove himself innocent. Ranulf then stole the letter back. He placed it in Lady Agnes’s locked box when Colin asked him to discover if the box contained any evidence she was a traitor.”

  Sorcha’s eyes widened. “So this is the letter Henry saw when he tried to fix the box after the cat broke it.”

  “Aye my lady.” A dry-eyed Henry came to stand beside her.

  “I wonder why Lady Agnes didna take the letter with her?”

  “She would not want to be found with such a thing in her possession,” Robert explained. “Leaving it behind made it easy for Ranulf to retrieve it and use it a third time to make Lord MacBirnum look guilty when his rooms were searched after Coillteach accused him.”

  She shook her head. “Who would think such a small thing could cause grief to so many? I wonder where the real letter is?”

  “Here.” Robert withdrew a roll of vellum from within his jerkin.

  “You’ve had this all along?”

  “No. I began to suspect Ranulf when he tried to set you and Colin at odds. I knew he was up to something and decided to search his things when he was busy elsewhere. My first opportunity was early this morning, and there has been no time to be private with Colin to let him know of my discovery. I thought only to find Ranulf’s reasons for fomenting anger between two people who clearly love each other.”

  She kept her features carefully blank. Her feelings for Colin were not to be shared with just anyone—and mayhap nae even with him.

  “I never expected to find evidence of treason,” Robert continued. “I took the letter to give to Colin. When I saw Ranulf in deep conversation with Coillteach. I wondered why he was not speaking with MacBirnum, since MacBirnum was supposedly the traitor. ʼTwas then I realized the extent of the deception played on all of us. MacBirnum should have been beyond suspicion. His love for King John is well known, and he is a most unlikely traitor. But Coillteach is clever, for MacBirnum has never been well liked, and over time anyone can be made to appear other than they are.”

  “’Tis what Lady Agnes did with me,” chimed in Henry.

  “You are right there, lad.” Sorcha ruffled his hair. “Why are we nae below presenting this evidence?”

  “Because we lack proof that Colin is not Brice. The rumor of Colin’s death in France years ago has served both Scotland and Coillteach well. We could lead them to Brice’s grave, but Davey is still at Dungarob and didna tell anyone where he buried your husband. Even so, we canna prove the body is Brice instead of Colin. Coillteach and Ranulf could claim ʼtwas just one more of Brice’s lies.”

  Sorcha grinned. “I can prove Colin is nae Brice.”

  “How?”

  “Have you ever seen a scar on Colin’s upper left arm?”

  “Aye, and right sensitive he is about it too. ʼTis the one battle mark he willna speak of.”

  “’Tis because Brice gave it him in the fight that caused Colin to leave Strathnaver.”

  Robert’s eyes went wide. “I’d like to know more about that.”

  Sorcha stroked her braid. “Sorry, ʼtis nae my story alone to tell.”

  “So you were involved. Are the rumors of what happened here ten years past true?”

  She shook her head. “We’ve nae time to sort out old gossip.”

  “Let us return to the great hall and pray that Colin and your brother have won the day.”

  • • •

  With Sorcha away tending to the wounded, Colin, MacBirnum, Raeb, and Robert sat above the salt in the great hall, empty save for them and the two guards at the far end.

  “I was never so grateful as I was when I saw the MacKais join the fight on the side of the Marrs. You and your men turned the tide. It seems that peace truly has been made between your clans.” MacBirnum leaned wearily back in his chair and stared at the two letters he held.

  “And I was never so glad to see an Englishman as I was when Sir Robert appeared with those letters,” Raeb said. He poured wine into four cups. “Having won an uneasy truce, we’d nae have kept the swords sheathed for long without some sort of distraction. Thank you, Sir Robert, for helping my sister to bring an end to Coillteach’s treason.”

  “As for me,” said Colin. “I owe Sorcha my life many times over for calling attention to my scar. And to my chamberlain for supporting her when Coillteach tried to make her appear a besotted liar.”

  “Now that we have Coillteach and proof,
we will take him and Sir Ranulf back to court where they will be tried and executed. The traitors they identified here will be left in your dungeons for you to deal with, Strathnaver,” MacBirnum explained.

  “My lord, I beg a favor for my service to Scotland.”

  MacBirnum nodded. “If I can grant it, Colin, I will.”

  “I wish to speak with Ranulf. I canna believe he was always a traitor, and he must have had some reason for becoming one.”

  “I understand he is far from wealthy. Between that and the general fear of the MacFearann name no woman with a dowry large enough would wed him. Need and greed are enough to corrupt many men.”

  “That may be the reason; still I would like to hear it from his own lips, for he had friends he could have turned to.”

  MacBirnum considered a while then nodded. “Very well, if Sir Ranulf says anything of merit in his defense, I will show lenience if I can.” He signaled for a guard, and after sending him to bring Ranulf to the hall, relaxed back into his chair and sipped his wine.

  “How did you come to suspect Coillteach?” Raeb asked.

  “We’ve suspected him for a long time, but had little proof. My entire purpose in coming here was to catch him in some suspicious act.” MacBirnum then turned to Colin. “We knew Brice was spying for the English, but because you are twins we dinna know for certain which side you were on.”

  “And that is why you couldna involve me in proving the man I worked with was a traitor.”

  “Aye.” MacBirnum nodded. “We believed you were Brice. When you and Lady Strathnaver—excuse me, Lady MacKai—revealed your plan to deceive the traitors in the stronghold into thinking you were Brice, Davey sent me a message through Robert saying he may have found a way to trap Coillteach. Even then, Ranulf was considered suspect because he was closest to you.”

  “For secrecy reasons, I didna explain fully to Lord MacBirnum until he arrived here yesterday,” said Robert. “At that point we elected to allow events to unfold without interference. My job was to find proof of Colin’s true identity and continue to assist in identifying the spies at Strathnaver. Finding the real letters from France was pure luck.”

  Colin cast Robert a rueful glance. “I understand why you didna speak of the assistance you’ve given to Scotland’s Guardians, at least during the past few weeks when I could well have been my brother. Still, ’tis hurt I am that you had so little faith in me.”

  Robert shook his head. “You should know better, Colin. No spy worth his salt tells everything to anyone.”

  “So you’ve kept things from me?” MacBirnum asked.

  “And you’re still holding secrets from me?” Colin queried.

  Robert shrugged. “I canna possibly respond to either of you on that. I will tell you that I am done with deceptions and intend to return home to my wife with all possible speed. Then stay by her side for as long as I possibly can.”

  “Will nae one question your loyalty after being so long in Scotland?” MacBirnum asked.

  Robert’s lips thinned and he cast a sidelong glance at Raeb. “I am loyal to my family and to England and will do whatever I must to see both safe and secure.”

  “Many a man would nae see helping Scotland stand free of Edward Plantagenet as being loyal to England,” Raeb said.

  “Bringing Scotland under the English crown will cause king and country more problems than it will solve. Things may be different in the future, but now is not the time to unite our countries.”

  “’Tis glad I am to hear you say so,” Raeb confirmed. “It helps me believe you when you claim you’ll aid me in returning the MacKai horses.”

  Robert nodded.

  The doors to the hall opened and six armed guards escorted a heavily manacled Ranulf into the hall and down to the head table.

  MacBirnum stood. “I brought you here to have these men help me determine your fate.”

  Ranulf shrugged and kept silent.

  “I dinna have to include anyone in making this decision. You stand accused of the murder of Alex Daracheas. You are a traitor to Scotland, your clan, and your family, despite your father’s crimes. By rights you should hang.”

  Ranulf raised his chin defiantly. “Then hang me, and be damned to you all. I admit to betraying Scotland—though ʼtwas never my wish to do so. But I didna murder Alex. He was my friend, and I couldna have his blood on my hands.”

  “Then who did?” MacBirnum asked.

  The accused knight stood even straighter. “I didna witness the act. However, ʼtwas Strathnaver’s steward who told me of it. You might ask him.”

  “Since he, too, is in the Strathnaver dungeons, be sure that we shall, but I hold you complicit in a good man’s death. ʼTis my feeling you deserve the same fate, or worse.”

  Colin shot to his feet. He would nae remain seated and distant while he sent someone he loved to his death. Even if the greatest crimes had been committed, a man deserved to have his friends by his side in bad times. Colin went to stand beside his friend. “I asked for the chance to have you explain why you turned traitor. Your involvement in Alex’s murder, even indirectly, saddens me. However, we’ve been friends too long for me to deny you the chance to be heard. You must tell us why you did this.”

  “I canna say.” Ranulf refused to meet his gaze.

  “Do you love Scotland, Ranulf?”

  “Aye.” At last the man looked at Colin.

  “Then tell us why you betrayed her, so we may find reason let you live.”

  Ranulf shook his head.

  Colin stood his ground, demanding with his gaze and every piece of his being that his friend reach out for the mercy offered.

  The silence grew heavy, strained. Ranulf broke away from Colin’s stare, turned, and bowed his head. His shoulders slumped. “Could I accept mercy, I would, but doing so would ... harm others.”

  “What others?”

  “Do nae ask me. I’ll nae risk their lives to save my own.”

  “Were these others threatened if you didna betray Scotland?”

  “Nae, I did that because I was desperate and ʼtwould give me enough gold that I might win them back from those who held them.”

  “Wait here.”

  Ranulf shook his chains and manacles. “Where am I like to go? I canna run.”

  Colin rolled his eyes and turned away to the men on the dais. “He is my friend and needs my help. He didna betray Scotland freely.”

  “He made the choice,” MacBirnum said. “Still, I understand and admire your loyalty to your friend. Scotland needs faithful nobles like yourself and Baron MacKai. So I pray I dinna regret saving Sir Ranulf’s head.”

  “Thank you, Lord MacBirnum.” Colin beamed and bowed to the older man.

  “Wait. Dinna thank me too quickly. Since Sir Ranulf refuses to explain fully and has shown himself able to betray Scotland, I canna leave him free to do so again.”

  “You will have him killed?”

  “Nae. I will banish him to the Isle of Bana-bhuidse, and ask the king to strip him of all lands and titles.”

  The three men listening sucked in a collective breath at mention of where the hopeless went for help and few ever returned.

  “You may as well kill him. Everyone knows that isle is home to a fearsome breed of witches who enslave all who invade their land,” Raeb said.

  “”Tis the best I can do, even if Sir Ranulf gave a full confession, which he refuses to do,” MacBirnum admitted. “There he may live out his days, but if he ever seeks to return to Scotland, he will be killed on sight. Baron MacKai, will you take custody of Sir Ranulf, see him put aboard a ship and taken to Bana-bhuidse?”

  “I’m sorry, my friend,” Colin said, “but you chose treason for your bedmate and must sleep with it.”

  Ranulf shrugged. “I have failed in my purpose, so life as a slave to witches or death for treason makes little difference.”

  Colin nodded. “Raeb will make certain you get there. I’ll ask him to leave weapons and supplies with you, so you’ll h
ave a chance of surviving. Until he is ready to depart, I must return you to the dungeon.”

  Face drawn and his posture broken, Ranulf shrugged again. “Do nae imagine I dinna appreciate your intercession on my behalf.”

  Colin gave him an awkward hug. “You would have done the same for me.”

  “Aye, but you never would have dishonored yourself as I have.”

  “Do nae think of that. Think of a future when you have tamed the witches and rule their island. When that happens, I’ll bring my wife and children to visit.”

  “Think you Lady Sorcha will have you?”

  “I dinna ken, but if she does, I’ll beg dispensation from the king for you to stand by me at my wedding.”

  “If dispensation is granted, nothing will keep me away. Goodbye, my friend.” He gave Colin an awkward hug.

  Colin returned the embrace and watched the guards escort Ranulf from the room.

  MacBirnum excused himself, saying he needed to attend to preparations for his return journey to court.

  “’Tis past time I returned to England and made overtures to Du Grace regarding the MacKai horses. I will be in touch, Baron MacKai, the moment I have news.” He bowed and followed MacBirnum from the room.

  “I will be ready to take Sorcha home in the morning,” Raeb announced.

  Colin quailed. The moment had come. He’d been dreading it since stepping through the secret entrance to the earl’s chamber weeks ago and seeing Sorcha sitting by the hearth. “With your permission, I would wed her, if she’ll have me.”

  Raeb smiled. “’Tis a big if.”

  “Aye. All I can do is ask. If she accepts, we will come to you together for your blessing.”

  “Will you ask her now?”

  “If I can tear her away from her patients, yes.”

  “I canna say I much care for the idea of a Marr as a brother, but since I’m beleaguered by women, I’ll take what I can get.”

  “I love Sorcha, so if you and your sisters are part of that bargain, I’ll love you as well.”