Page 54 of Fearless Heart
They stood about surveying the damage. Graeme and Brodin righted a few of the tables, and Liam pulled benches near enough for them to sit.
Rohan was privy to their secrets and entrusted with their endeavor to aid the king. He’d been a good comrade well before they were exiled with the Bruce. Heath detested seeing his commerce in such disarray. The man worked too hard as it was.
He directed his servants to clean and toss the batches of ale. “They spit in me ale. Can you believe that? Who would do such a thing? Waste good ale all for naught? I suspect the friar sent for ye? I had one of my lads go and tell him of the attack.”
Graeme nodded. “Aye and we came straight here.”
Liam leaned against the table. “Do you ken who they were? Was it the English?”
Rohan shook the wisps of his brown hair, his ruddy cheeks trembling with his movement. “Nay, I thought at first it was the wily MacDoughalls for you ken how they dislike our being here. But och, it were not they who did this.”
Brodin scowled about the chamber. “God almighty, they ruined your batch of brew. The blighters. I hope they rot in hell.”
Rohan found a grin. “Och, lad, no worries. I have aplenty stored below. I’ll send some home with ye.” He directed his servers to bring a fresh batch ale that had yet to be served. “The men who came, I deem them to be English supporters. They asked where we might find the king’s guard. They also sought two lads who were said to be abducted from Bothwell Castle. Of course, I had no knowledge of that.” He winked, letting them know he was on to them.
“The Comyns. They trailed us here.” Heath stood hastily, and wanted to be on his way back to Lillia. Rohan stopped him with his next summation.
“James Douglas’ lads came before the loggerheads. They asked if I’d seen ye. I told them nay. They spoke of a scuffle near Loch Awe and that Good Sir James was after the MacDoughalls. But I tell ye, they weren’t the MacDoughalls that came here.”
Graeme rounded up a few cups and dunked them into the ale barrel. He handed them out and sat wearily. “So that’s where James has been and why he didn’t follow us back to the caves.”
Liam finished his drink hastily. “He didn’t send word to us about an imminent battle. If the king is with him, he should’ve included us. He knows we continue to uphold our oath to protect Robert.”
Brodin finished his drink and poured more before he asserted his view, “He’s deliberately avoiding us. I say we go to Awe and find out about this scuffle.” He shot a quick glance at him. “Your wife will be safe enough until we return.”
Heath supposed she would be since James was busy and the Comyns didn’t know where they resided. “Aye, I too want to ken what’s up James’ arse. If Robert is there, so should we be.”
They finished their drinks and left several coins for Rohan. As they left the village, Heath glared at the destruction around them, the smoke that waffled from the burnt structures, the women and children who feared for their lives. He wanted to squelch every last Comyn in retribution.
The ride to Ben Cruachan, a high mountainous peak that sat adjacent to Loch Awe, took long to navigate for many of the slopes steep. Their horses slowed the pace, sometimes sliding on the loosened rocks. Once they reached the bottom of the pass and rode along the loch, Heath spotted a regiment a short ways off.
“That must be James and his band. Let us confront him,” Graeme said.
Before they rode into the camp, they used the oil and soot to camouflage themselves. If Robert was present, they needed to ensure he didn’t recognize them. Their task quickly completed, Heath was the first to head in the camp’s direction.
He kept his eyes trained for James, his burly comrade was taller than most. And his dark hair easy to spot for he never wore a helmet for protection. Heath pointed at a group of men who sat around a small fire.
“What make you of that?” Graeme asked.
“Appears we’ve missed the action,” Brodin said in a surly tone.
“Aye, the fighting is over by the looks of it,” Liam said, dejected.
They reached James who stood hastily when he noticed them. He sent his men off and bid them welcome. “Come and rest yourselves.”
Graeme dismounted and nodded to James. “Is Robert here?”
“He was, but has left for his lodging in Turnbury.”
Heath dismounted and scowled. “Why did you not send for us? We should have been here to protect the king.”
James spat on the ground and motioned them forward. “I didn’t deem it beneficial to have ye here. You ken why, you lied to me.”
This was Heath’s fault and he needed to make it right. Their oath given for the king’s protection was of great importance to them and he’d be damned if James wouldn’t allow them do their duty.
Once his comrades joined him and they stood by James, Heath moved forward. “James, we need to speak privately.”
His comrades shook their heads, but he knew what needed to be done. “Come, let us walk a bit.” James followed him. “Our oath to Robert still stands. We will not be left behind when he needs us. I am the reason you are perturbed. There is a lass at our caves. Lillia Hunter, ah, Fraser now for I’ve married her.”