Page 26 of Fearless Heart
James chuckled and motioned to one of the abbey stable lads. “You and your comrades are becoming as severe as I am.” He chuckled at his jest. “Come, I have much to tell.”
Heath followed and sent a monk to fetch the friar. They waited for everyone near the large hearth in the hall. Friar Hemm sent all from the chamber and closed the door for privacy.
All assembled and James bid them to sit. “There is much to discuss. I just came from Robert. He’s taking rest at Turnbury for the cold season. Och, he was not pleased to learn of the Comyns latest attempt to usurp him. I vowed to find the child before they did.”
Graeme cut in, “Have you word of where the Comyns went? If we might trail them, it might lead us to the child.”
James pinched his eyes with his fingers. He appeared tired and woeful. “My lads trailed them to the king’s autumn festival. They tracked two men who pursued a lass, but she and they disappeared. There is word that the Guardians placed the bairn with the Hunters for Aylmer met with the elders soon after the queen’s bairn was born.”
Heath groaned. He’d been right all along. Lillia had to be the queen’s child.
“What’s wrong with you?” James asked.
“Nothing, continue.” Heath gave a glance to his comrades and hoped they would keep Lillia’s existence quiet until he figured out what to do. Besides, James had no care for anyone especially if that someone affected the king. He’d proved that when he took Kerrigan to see Robert against her will. That was a difficult time for them. They respected and revered James, but their churlish comrade put the king’s matters foremost and all else secondary even if it affected one’s welfare.
James pivoted his gaze to each of them before he went on, “I fear there is more distressing news to report … the Comyns told tales of the king’s guard aiding them.”
Graeme stood and kicked his chair back. It fell over and the bang echoed in the hall. “Why would they speak such a falsehood? We have never aided them.”
James sighed. “Why do ye think? They mean to gain the commoner’s support against the Bruce and if they have the king’s guard aiding them, or supposedly aiding them, many will trust their lies about Robert. You’re isolated here. Have ye any awareness how far and widespread the tales are of your heroics? Why your tales almost rival mine.”
Brodin scoffed. “I’d say surpass, James. Och ye ken it’s not true. We’d never side with the enemy against Robert. They’re the reason we’re holed up in the God forsaken forest to begin with.”
Liam added, “The Bruce doesn’t ken it’s true and neither does anyone else.” He cursed aloud, and the friar was too perturbed to chastise him. “Surely Robert knows our loyalty. We would never go against him.”
“Mayhap he believed that once, but lest ye forget, you disobeyed his direct order to stay on the isle. Likewise, he knows not that you’ve protected him during battles. What with Liam escaping him last year and the many tales promulgated of your deeds … He’ll not ken what to believe. He may reissue the price on your heads.”
“Damnation,” Graeme shouted. “How are we to prove our innocence?”
“We must find the man who told the tales and take him to Robert.” Heath pondered it and added, “There are ways to make him speak the truth.”
James fingered the leather scabbard holding a large dagger over his chest. “If we can find the slimy piece of shit, I’ll get it out of him. Once he tells Robert the truth, he’ll exist no more.”
Graeme retook his seat. “You will have your lads search the land and find out the name of this Comyn.”
He nodded. “I will, rest assured, we will find him.”
“We shall go to Hunter land to find the lass your followers spied.”
James nodded. “Aye and when ye find her, I will come and take her to Robert.”
They sat quiet for a moment until Graeme spoke, “Once we dispatch the liar, secure the lass, and ensure Robert doesn’t set a price on us–all will be righted.”
“What a harried situation,” Liam said.
Heath remained silent.
James pulled himself out of his seat. “I must be off. The Comyns will be difficult to track now that they know we’re on to them.”
Graeme stopped him from leaving. “How do they ken we are on to them?”
“One of the Comyn’s clansmen searching for the lass on Hunter land was killed. John Comyn came to claim his kin. He accused Aylmer Hunter of the deed but he denied knowing they were there or having him murdered.”
“And now they believe someone knows their intent?” Brodin asked.
“They must. Apparently Hunter’s daughter is missing. The Comyns apprehended the sentry searching for her. Arms were drawn. Your father, Heath, was there. He smoothed the situation, och he had a good many Frasers with him at the festival. The knaves had no choice but to lie down their arms or risk the losses.”
“We must take care that the Comyns don’t find out we’re trailing them. If only we knew what hole they crawled into,” Liam said.