by Kara Griffin
“You have my thanks. We should get started.” He motioned to Neil. “Have the bodies brought. We will get them buried. Is Father Fitch here?”
“Aye, Laird, he awaits us over there and will speak the Godly words when we’re ready. I’ll have the men bring them.” Neil hurried away.
Eight men carried the bodies forward and placed them next to the mounds of earthen.
Father Fitch marched forward, followed by most of his clansmen and women. He bid all to gather around. “In the Name of God, our merciful Father, we commit the bodies of Hawisa and Hammond Sinclair into your hands, O Lord.”
Before the men could lower the bodies, a shout came. Callum turned and spotted Elias who ran toward the onlookers. They parted and allowed him through.
“What is going on here? Peter told me there was a burial taking place. My children? Oh, my god, how? Hawisa…? Hammond?” His eyes widened and he yanked at his hair. His eyes filled with tears of grief and anger.
“Elias, we tried to find you and searched everywhere. Where have you been?” Callum approached and tried to pull him away, to give him a moment.
“Nay, leave me be.” Elias yanked his arm away and marched beside the graves. “Oh, God Almighty, they’re…gone…dead. Who did this? Who killed my children?” He turned and glowered at the gathered crowd.
Callum stepped forward and was about to speak when Clive sidled next to him. “Nay, stand back, Callum.” He marched toward their uncle with a harsh glare in his eyes. “You dare ask us that? You did this, you murdered your son. Aye, it was you, you who tossed him over the ledge of the cliff. And Hawisa, the harridan, I had to kill her. She confessed to the murder of Callum’s wife. Aye and you had a hand in that too, didn’t you?” Everyone remained silent as Clive made his accusations.
Elias gasped and sputtered. “Hammond was thrown over a cliff? God have mercy. And I didn’t know Hawisa killed Lydia. Why would she? You speak lies.”
Clive wasn’t done with his assertions. “You murdered our laird, too. Gavin was slain by none other than your hand. Admit your guilt.”
“I admit no such thing. Callum, you must believe me―”
He pulled Clive back and reached Elias. “I don’t have to do anything. Yet, you must tell the truth. We don’t wish it to be true, these claims. Tell us you didn’t murder Hammond and Gavin, and that you weren’t aware of Hawisa’s deed. Give me a reason to trust you speak honestly.”
Elias grimaced and turned about to view those who gathered. “You all know me and I have always dealt fairly with all of you. So I wanted to be the laird. I had a right to the claim, but I wouldn’t kill for it. I wouldn’t have harmed Gavin to take it from him. His death saddened me and as to Hammond, I searched bloody well for weeks for him. Why would I do that if I’d killed him? And my daughter? God is only privy to what was in her mind when she murdered Lydia. But I didn’t instigate her to it.” Elias’s voice pitched and he gazed at the ground as if he disbelieved what he was accused of.
Callum sighed heavily. “You haven’t given reason enough for us to declare you innocent.”
“Damned right, he hasn’t. He needs to be apprehended and tried by the council.” Clive shouted to Neil. “Have him taken to the barrack’s cell. We’ll continue with the burial. On the morrow, he’ll account for his sins.”
Neil motioned the soldiers forward. They took Elias into custody and bodily forced him away. Elias shouted his innocence and damned them all. He yelled that he wanted to say farewell to his children and that if it was the last thing he did, he would find his son’s murderer.
The entire affair sat like a rock in his stomach, but Callum motioned to Father Fitch. “Please, Father, continue. Let us finish this.”
“Lower them,” he said to the men standing near. Once the bodies were settled in the ground, he peered amongst the clansmen and women and bowed his head. “In the Name of our most merciful Father, we pray you accept them into our blessed house.” He tossed in three handfuls of dirt and raised his face. “From dust you came, to dust you shall return. Gracious God, have mercy on us as we grieve for our loss.” He made the sign of the cross and motioned to the people.
One by one, they each took a handful of dirt and tossed it into the ground.
Callum waited until all had left. He stood by his cousins’ graves, remorseful that their discord led to their deaths. As he walked away, the soldiers hastened to fill the holes.
On his way to the castle, he turned and headed to the barracks. There, he made his way to the cell and found Elias sitting on the ground. “Elias, we should talk.”
He scrambled to his feet. “Callum, I’m glad you came. I swear by all that is holy, I did not kill your brother. I was angry, aye that he was named laird instead of me, but I wanted to gain the title by a vote not by deception.”
“If you didn’t slay Gavin then who did?”
Elias gripped his hair. “That’s a good question and it confounds me. It damned well wasn’t me. As to my son, I loved him. He wasn’t a bad lad. We had our difficulties aye, and I won’t speak falsely about that. But I wouldn’t have killed him.”
“Why did you mislead me when you said you would have him attend a meeting with me if he was missing?” Callum paced before the bars of the cell and tried to remember all the questions he’d intended to ask him.
“It was my hope that he’d return. When he didn’t, I went in search of him. I thought he was visiting his comrade Owen who lives on a farmstead near the cliffs. When he wasn’t there, I continued my search of him at other farms, thinking he might’ve gone to visit others. That’s where I’ve been. As to Hawisa, I had no notion she had slain Lydia. But I must say that benefits you, does it not? She was a terrible wife to you. My lass did you a favor.”
“I don’t want to accept that you were dishonorable. The council will be called. I alone will not decide your fate.”
“You must sway them, Callum. Tell them I am innocent. I killed no one.” He held the bars of the cell and repeated his pleas.
“If I can reason a way to, I will. But you might want to come up with an explanation of your whereabouts on the night Gavin was killed. You must account for the days leading up to Hammond’s disappearance too.” Callum left the barracks and walked with hastened steps to the castle. He entered the hall and sat wearily at the table. His comrades sat quietly and none greeted him until Keith broke the silence.
“You look like you need a drink, mayhap two.”
Clive approached, but he held out his hand. “Leave me for now. I need to consider what just happened.” Callum pressed his temples as the hefty problem gave him extreme unease.
“You should set his trial on the morrow. Aye, the clan will want his hanging.” Clive groused his view and stood defiantly in front of him.
“You’re angry, Clive, as am I, but I said I need time to consider this. Let me think for a wee bit and I’ll call the council together on the morrow. We’ll decide then what will happen to Elias and whether a trial is warranted.”
“But―”
Callum’s temper rose. “Am I not the damned laird? I get to decide what’s to be done. Until I consider the matter, I won’t send a man to his grave without proof of his guilt. Now, leave me.”
Clive nodded and marched away.
Callum took the cup offered by Keith. He sat back and drank deeply. The day had gone to hell. It was bad enough they had to bury two of his family members, but then to have their father approach with such vehemence. He didn’t know what to believe.
“I know that look.” Keith poured more ale into his cup. “We should go over this so you can make sense of it.”
“I’d rather not. My head pounds from thinking about it. But you’re right, let us start at the beginning.” Callum nodded to Grady and bid him to join them. As he spoke of the events that led to this day, his ire rose.
Keith’s face was grim when he asserted his view, “If Elias wanted his son to be given a good position in the clan, why would he have killed him?”
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��Perhaps Hammond’s death was an accident?” Grady said. “Maybe he had nothing to do with Gavin’s death as he claimed.”
Keith nodded. “If he wanted Gavin dead, wouldn’t he have killed him when he’d been made laird? Why wait so long? Gavin was your laird for at least a year before he’d been slain. That’s a long time to plan retribution or to seek revenge. I don’t deem Elias was dishonorable in that matter.”
“None of this makes sense. I will speak to Elias in the morn. Mayhap he’ll answer my questions and I can get to the bottom of this. For now, I want to seek my bed. I’ve had enough to drink.” Throughout the evening, Callum had at least four cups of ale and it muddled his thoughts.
Grady shoved his arm. “You mean, your bonny lass Violet. Will you offer for her hand? Keith and I have a wager going.”
Callum chortled. “Aye? I want no part in your wager, but I haven’t had time to consider marriage. I should, shouldn’t I? I’d be a fool not to make her mine.”
“Aye, a fool indeed,” Keith said. “Just make sure we’re invited to the wedding.”
He dismissed his comrades and trudged up the steps to his chamber. Inside, the abode was dark. Violet had left no candles burning. As his eyes adjusted to the dimness of the chamber, he undressed and bathed. Violet had left fresh water in the basin and she’d set out a clean tunic and tartan for him. Lord, it was good to be cared for in such a way. When he finished bathing, he reached for the tunic.
“Leave it off and come to bed.” Violet moved aside the bed cover.
He lay next to her and took her in his arms. “You waited up for me.”
“I fell asleep hours ago. Are you all right? I imagine that wasn’t easy, having Elias come to the burial like that. What did you do, condemn him?”
He lay back and peered above him. “You saw? Aye, it wasn’t a pleasant moment. And nay, I haven’t condemned him, and yet, I have to figure out what to do with him. I must call the council together to decide if he is guilty.”
“Do you deem he is?”
Callum rolled to his side to face her. “I am unsure and want to have faith that he is innocent, but what if he is not?”
“You’ll get no answers this night. Get rest, Callum, you look tired. Are you hurting?”
He caressed his shoulder but didn’t discern the tenseness he’d felt for months. His leg though almost forced a grimace from him and he nodded.
“Henry’s healer told him what she’d put in the balm that he gave you. I asked him about it this morning and Gussy mixed a batch earlier.” She reached across him to retrieve the container and handed it to him. “This might help.”
Before he opened the medicinal, he forced her back and kissed her with longing. God how she pleased him. “My thanks.”
She set a light kiss on his lips, yawned, and settled next to him. Within minutes, her light breath sounded and she slept.
He scooped a handful of the medicinal onto his thigh and rubbed it in. Callum closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. He couldn’t get the vision of his uncle from his mind. The day played over in his thoughts and taunted him with questions. Someone knocked at the door and intruded when they opened it without permission.
Clive bounded inside. “Laird, you need to come at once.”
Callum cursed under his breath. He gently moved Violet’s arm from across his abdomen and grabbed his tunic. When he finished dressing, he stepped from his chamber. “What’s wrong?”
“You should prepare yourself, Laird, it is Elias.”
“What about him?”
“He’s dead.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Violet opened the door and Frang barreled inside the chamber. She gasped at his intrusion and he almost made it to the bed, but she was able to block him. Callum grumbled and laughed when she tried to take Frang by the hair of his neck to force him from the room. The dog yelped and she pulled him toward the door. “Get, be gone. Shoo.” Frang scooted into the hallway but turned back as if he was displeased to be ousted from their chamber.
“I’m sorry and didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.” She closed the door quietly so as not to disturb Callum. She hurried to the hall and filled a bowl with a deliciously scented pottage. As she took the bench, Keith and Grady joined her. She’d forgotten they remained at the keep.
“Good morn, Milady.” Grady took a bowl and filled it.
“You’re still here? Though I’m glad because Callum needs you.”
“Aye, and we don’t plan to leave until this mess is sorted. It’s the least we can do for Callum,” Keith said. He helped himself to the pottage pot and filled his bowl to the top.
Henry joined them a moment later. “Ah, so this is where everyone is. I shall join you.” She filled a bowl and pushed it toward him. “My thanks, Violet, for the meal. How is Callum?”
“He sleeps and I didn’t want to awaken him. It was nearly dawn when he returned to the keep. He rambled on about Elias’s death and how disturbing it was. What happened, Keith, and where is Clive?”
Keith grunted. “Who knows where he is? Clive was upset last night. It took a hard word for him to listen to Callum and for him to seek his bed. They said it appeared Elias took his life and hung himself with a swatch of his tartan’s fabric. This is terrible business for Clan Sinclair and another senseless death to add to the others.”
She saddened to learn of Elias’s death, but even more so at how it affected Callum. “Oh, that’s just dreadful. Callum must be beside himself, as well. I got the impression he didn’t believe Elias was guilty of murder. This morn when he came to bed, he wouldn’t talk about it.”
“Aye, he said as much to me last night. I vowed to stay until Callum figures this out if that’s all right by you, Milady?” Keith sat back and spooned in the pottage.
She sat wearily with Callum’s friends and Henry and tried to reason why Elias would do such a thing. If Callum alleged him innocent, the man wouldn’t have taken his life. Something was off about the situation entirely.
Keith pushed his bowl to the center of the table. “Are we welcome to stay, Violet? We mean to help Callum sort this mess.”
“Of course, and I’m certain you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I’m pleased you’ll help him. Oh, here’s Gussy. She’s going to cut my hair this morn. She has a good talent for it and my hair is bothersome at this length.” Violet pulled the chair away from the hearth and set it in the center of the hall. “Did you find your scissors?”
“I did though they were in the last satchel I had checked. Sit still, and we shall get your hair trimmed. How short do you want it?”
“I’d like it just below my shoulders.” She pressed her hand behind her shoulder to indicate the length. “Have you seen Dela? I thought she would do with a hair trim as well. The girl’s hair is always a mass of tangles.”
Her friend chortled. “That girl could use a cut and her curls are unruly. And no, I haven’t seen her yet this morn, but she might be out in the garden.”
Violet peered at the men as they sat at the table and kept silent. She could’ve laughed at the men’s stares. They appeared aghast that she would cut her hair. Once Gussy started, it took little time to finish the task. She pulled the length of it over her shoulder and was pleased with the shorter locks. It would be easier to keep it clean and would make putting it in a coif less troublesome.
“There, My Lady, you’re all done. You look beautiful and this is a good length for you.” Gussy turned and peered at the men. “Anyone else wish to have their hairs cut? My Lord?” she called out to Henry.
“I should, because who knows when next I’ll be near someone who has your talent, Mistress Gussy. I’d like it short and if you can trim my beard, too?” Henry took her place and settled back.
Gussy started at trimming Henry and smiled to herself.
Keith and Grady looked on with mirthful gazes.
Gussy took her time and when she finished, Henry appeared more handsome than he had prior. His hair had grown to hi
s shoulders, but now it was neatly cut to his nape and the length of his beard tidily trimmed to his skin.
“It’s cooler and easier to wear a helmet with shorter locks. I vow, I’ll probably wear my helmet for a time when I return to England,” Henry said.
“When will that be?”
All shot their gaze at the hall’s entrance where Callum stood. He approached the table and took her hand. Violet squeezed his fingers and smiled.
“I’ll bloody well leave when I am ready to and not a moment before. When I receive my missive… Am I not welcome here?” Henry harrumphed and retook his vacated spot at the table.
Callum sat next to him. “Of course you’re welcome, but I’ll alert the gate to bring your missive as soon as it arrives. I know you’re eager to return to England.”
Henry bellowed a laugh. “And leave you alone with Violet.” He winked at her and she smiled.
Gussy laughed at their banter. “Anyone else for a trim? Keith?”
“Hell no, I like my hair just the way it is.”
“Oh, unruly, long and tangled?” Gussy snickered when he scowled fiercely.
“Violet, is your maid insulting me?” Keith asked and sounded somewhat abashed.
Before she might answer, Gussy poured Keith a cup of mead and set it before him. “I jest, Keith. If that’s how you like it, I’ll leave it be. How about you, Grady? Although, I have never seen such long locks on a man like yours. Your hair is such a dark rich shade and it would be shameful to cut it and the length suits you. No, we should leave it.”
Grady swaggered to the chair and sat. “Cut it all off.”
Gussy gasped. “All of it? Are you certain?”
“Aye, leave a wee smidge on my head. I’ve been meaning to rid myself of the nuisance. Besides, summer is coming and it’s too hot for long hair. I trust you, lass, do it.”
Violet’s eyes widened when Gussy cut his foot-long length of tresses from his head. She had to admit Grady was extremely handsome with his long dark hair. When she caught Callum’s gaze, he shook his head as if he read her thoughts. Fortunately, Callum’s hair was short enough and he wouldn’t need a trim.