Page 56 of Fearless Heart
ChapterSeventeen
Something changed in Heath. Since he and his comrades returned to the caves, he’d been quiet and withdrawn. Lillia tried to get him to tell her what bothered him, but her pleas were to no avail. He spent little time with her and attended meetings with his comrades. At night, during the darkest part, he’d go missing for hours. It was all she could do to stay abed and not appease her curiosity.
She’d awakened to find Heath gone and decided she wouldn’t worry about him. Yet, she could do nothing but consider his woebegone nature of late. Lillia thought perhaps he regretted their marriage for he certainly hadn’t mentioned it since they’d parted the abbey.
She entered the ossuary and found Gilroy tending his tasks. “I need to do a chore. Have you anything I can do? May I tend to Kerrigan’s horse?”
The lad lifted a bucket and nodded. He approached with a currycomb and handed it to her. “Ye remember how to do it?”
She nodded and took the brush from him. “I find it relaxing and right now I need a diversion. My thanks, Gilroy.”
“I’m off to get water, m’lady, for the beasts. Be back in a wee bit.”
Lillia ran her hand along the smooth coat of the horse’s neck, Liam’s warhorse. He was quite an animal and was somewhat hostile for he stomped and snorted his objection at her ministration. She decided not to touch the men’s horses and moved to Kerrigan’s mare. “You’re a beauty, aye. Absolute perfection. I never asked your lady what she named you, but I imagine it is a name of splendor. If you were mine, I’d name ye Baroness, for you’re just as regal as any baroness I’ve ever met.” The horse whinnied and stomped its left foreleg.
Noise sounded outside the ossuary and for a moment Lillia thought Gilroy returned. A horse neighed and men’s voices came. She heard Heath’s shout outside.
Heath called, “James, what brings you to our caves? Have you news?”
Lillia stayed behind the mare, thoroughly hidden by the horse’s wide girth. She wasn’t certain if their company was an ally given Heath’s voice had a bit of tenseness to it.
They entered the ossuary. The man, James, removed his saddle bag and tended to his horse. Heath, Graeme, and Brodin stood watching. Liam was nowhere in sight.
“I came with news, aye. My horse needs a rest, mind if I keep him in here?” The others didn’t answer and James continued to see to his horse’s needs.
“Where’s your band of barbarians? You never travel alone.” Graeme approached, but stood too far from her.
Lillia remained still. She perused the man, James, and would never put the word handsome to him. His hair was as black as a moonless night and his eyes as dark as a devil’s. What’s more, his face covered with a thick beard and his garments filthy. She realized the tension in the ossuary and would’ve alerted them she was there, but with the surly man’s presence, she decided she best stay hidden.
“My followers await me near the village. I’ve given them a night’s leave. Rohan will be pleased with the business. Now I suppose you’re wanting to ken why I’ve come …”
Heath folded his arms and leaned against the stall in front of her. She couldn’t see his face. “Aye, if you don’t believe what I told you about Lillia Hunter … I spoke the truth.”
James bellowed a mocked laugh. “I ken ye did for I stopped by Sweetheart Abbey and spoke with Friar Hemm. He told me of it under duress. Unfortunately I had to use a bit of force to get him to tell me what I wanted to ken.”
All were quiet and the only sound within the ossuary was that of the wind entering the opening. Lillia held her breath for a moment. The friar must’ve bespoken of their union. She suspected this man wasn’t an ally of her husband’s or the guard’s.
James finished his tasks and turned to the men. His scowl well placed and furrowed his brow. He wasn’t pleased by their deceit if that’s what the guard had done. “Hunter’s lass would be better served being protected by Robert. I confirmed that you indeed wed the lass, Heath. Will you not consider her safety and allow me to take her to our king? Are you as devoted to Robert as you deem? I’ve wondered that for the length of the ride here.”
Heath pulled away from the wall. “James, we had to mislead you before … I have known Lillia my entire life … and now she is my wife. I told you this. Were she to be taken to Robert, she’d be imprisoned and no longer free to live her life. You ken the king wouldn’t allow her freedom. We are devoted to Robert, but she is my wife.”
Graeme added, “And she has done nothing to warrant such an imprisonment, for she doesn’t wish to pursue the throne nor covets it. She is no threat to Robert.”
“Damned if she isn’t. Whether she covets the throne or nay, others will use her to gain access to it. You give me no choice, my comrades. If you do not hand the lass over to me to be taken to our king, I will have to take her by force. Mayhap I shall have a lengthy discussion with Robert. Aye, he’d be interested to know where the King’s Guard hides, what they have done these past years. He will indeed send a legion of his most skilled men here to fetch you and take you to Edinburgh to be judged. You ken the punishment for treason …”
Graeme blocked the cave’s exit and frowned at the man. “James, you would betray us after all we’ve been through. After all we’ve done to aid the king, protected him in battle?”
Heath approached the garish-looking man and stopped in front of him. Lillia’s chest rose and fell with her fright. She thought they’d break out with fisticuffs, for she hadn’t seen her husband look so bedeviled before.
“Of course he would, would ye not, James? Aye, you’ve always been loyal to Robert, as have we. Och and once again you aim to take one of our lassies and subject her to a life of captivity? Was not what you did to Kerrigan enough to make ye see reason?”
Lillia drew a small gasp, but covered her mouth. What had James done to Kerrigan? She wanted to know, but would have to ask later.
“I never meant for Kerrigan to be harmed, just as I mean to see the Hunter lass safe and in the care of the king. If she remains here, ye ken she will be found by the Comyns. It is only a matter of time before they become aware of your whereabouts. All your protection is for naught. Be sensible, lads. Let me take her to Robert.”
Heath shoved his dark comrade’s shoulder. “Nay. She’s my wife and I’ll not allow her to go. She is my responsibility. I married her to save her from this misbegotten fortune, to keep her from Robert. If you betray us, James, we’ll never forgive you. Even if we must break our vow to Robert, we will not turn Lilla over to you.”
Lillia’s heart beat heavy. He’d married her only to keep her from going to the king? She suspected as much but didn’t want to admit his reasons for marrying her. Why hadn’t she listened to her heart then? She loved Heath, more than he knew, but she couldn’t let him or his comrades face certain death to keep her safe.