Page 66 of Bride takes a Scot
“Nay, she has not. Much has happened though since I returned… He frowned. Treasure? They’d actually found something from that old map? “What did ye find?”
Claude clapped his hands and disappeared beyond the door but returned a moment later holding a chalice and a cross, both apparently of gold. They glinted in the candlelight from the altar. “Milady came with me when I searched the caves beyond the loch. I found these, buried.” He handed the objects to him.
Declan held them, one in each hand. They were heavy, and both were exquisitely etched with embellishments that shone brightly. “I know what these are…”
Claude’s eyes widened and he stepped nearer. “What? Do not leave us in the dark.”
“Grandda often told stories around the fire about an old king who was given the task of hiding away old relics entrusted to him during the first crusade. He claimed that they, a large regiment from Scotland, traveled with Normans, Flemish, and Germans on a ship from England. They were delayed by a Portuguese army that insisted they aid in capturing Lisbon to expel the Moorish. He boasted about their bravery and that the king was given rewards, which he buried somewhere near here to keep them safe.”
“These items appear old enough to be those relics. They must be the objects the old king hid,” Faelan said. “Or some of them.”
“I suggest we keep the items here in the chapel and allow Friar Faelan to use them in his services,” Claude said. “The homage of it will reward us with God’s blessing.”
“I think that is a fair idea, brother. Ye have my permission to keep them here, Friar. These objects belong to the MacKendricks though and will not leave my land.”
The friar bobbed his head. “I am honored, Laird, and will bless these objects at once. Perhaps I will have a special Mass so the clan can participate in the blessing.”
His brother and the friar left him and disappeared beyond the door to the antechamber.
Declan sat back on the bench and relished the quiet and solitude of the chapel. Solitary, he was able to fully consider how unaware he had been throughout his life. He’d been unaware of his parent’s discord, his wife’s troubles with Silas, and whatever animosity forced his foe to take such a stand. Declan opened his eyes and swore he would never be unaware again.
On his return to the keep, he heard the gate watchman shout their call to arms. All MacKendrick soldiers within hearing distance charged to the gate. Declan ran forth and reached the gate at the same time as Anse.
“What goes?” Anse asked.
Declan forged his way through the mass of his soldiers until he reached the watchman.
“There is a band of soldiers riding toward our gates. I saw them in the distance.”
He turned and stared, waiting for the riders to come within view. “It looks to be Campbell’s soldiers. Open the gate.”
His men did as he bade, and the gates were opened. There were at least ten Campbell men on horses. They stopped just inside the gate. Declan recognized Micah, the Campbell’s commander-in-arms.
Micah dismounted and approached. “Robbie was on his way to see ye. We were ambushed on the trail, and he was injured.”
Declan regarded Robbie’s body lying over the back of a horse. “Bring him to the main keep.” He rushed to the keep and shouted for Isabella when he got there.
She knelt beside a trunk just inside the hallway. “What is it?”
“There is an injured man…”
“Take him to the first chamber above the stairs. I will get Edith.” Isabella hurried away.
Declan directed the men to carry Robbie to the chamber above. Once there, they set him on the bed. He searched his comrade for injuries. “What happened to him?”
His commander paced by the bedside. “Five men rode at us. While we were fending off four of the men, my laird was battling the last. After the four men rode off, I turned back and found Robbie lying on the ground. He was attacked with a dagger that we found still embedded in him. Fortunately for him, he had chainmail on but there are cuts where the chainmail was breached, and he bled a great deal.”
“Help me prepare him. We will need to remove his upper garments.”
Isabella hastened into the chamber toting a large bucket of hot water. Edith followed her inside, carrying cloths and Isabella’s medicinal satchel.
“Tend to him, love. I do not want to lose him.”
“Who is he?” she asked.
“Leona’s brother.” Declan helped Robbie’s commander remove the heavy chainmail and the remainder of his garments.
“I will do what I can, Declan, but I make no promises. The wounds look grave. Leave us. Edith and I will tend to him. Edith, we might need Lillith to aid us.” She dismissed him and bent over Robbie, prodding his wounds.