Page 25 of Forbidden Allianc
“I am fine.”
“Far from it.” The priest gestured to a nearby chair. “Sit.”
“Father Lamond, my stepfather is dead.”
The priest caught the back of a chair. “God in heaven.” Grief filled his eyes. “I am so sorry, lass. Angus was a fine man.”
“He was,” she rasped. “Nor didhe die alone.”
“What happened?” the cleric asked.
“Lord Dalkirk charged my stepfather with stealing livestock. A lie,” she hissed. “As they were hanging him, my mother ran… She t-tried to go to him, but theycut her down.”
As her body began to shake at the memory, Father Lamond stepped forward, but finding a need to offer comfort, Cailin drew her against him. Too well he remembered learning of his family’s death, of the grief, the pain so intense, ’twas as if it had stolen his soul. “I am here, lass,” he soothed as he stroked her hair.
She brushed at the tears pooling in her eyes. “I canna believethey are gone.”
“I know.” Her every fractured breath resonated through him. “Your family will be avenged,that I swear.”
Slowly, her body’s trembling ceased and her breaths grew steady. Face red with emotion, she stepped back. “I am sorry, Father, I hadnameant to cry.”
“Never apologize for your feelings.” Controlled rage shook the priest’s voice even as he sought to comfort her. “You honor your parents with your love.” He hesitated. “And your stepbrother?”
Face ashen, she took the seat the priest had indicated. “The earl’s guard took Blarto the castle.”
“Is he alive?” the priest asked as he bent to inspect Elspet’sinjured ankle.
“I dinna know, but Sir Cailin has promised to find out. If he is, hewill save him.”
“Thank God.” Father Lamond frowned. “This doesna make sense. As a trusted follower of the Bruce, never would Sir Angus do anything to attract the earl’s attention.”
“We believe that, somehow, the earl discovered Sir Angus’s true loyalty,” Cailin said.
Worry dredged the elder’s brow. “Why?”
“After they killed my stepfather and mother, the earl ordered his guard to search our home. They discovered the detailed map of Tiran Castle signed by you hidden in my stepfather’s belongings. After,” she said with a shudder, “Dalkirk’s men hauled me into his castle, but before the earl could bed me, I escaped. ’Tis how I injured my ankle.”
The priest crossed himself. “Thank God you were able to slip away.” His worried gaze shifted to Cailin. “Lord Dalkirk willna stop untilhe finds you.”
“Mayhap, but he will rue the day we again meet.” The anger in his voice whipped through the small confines. Cailin smothered his outrage, focused on what must be done. “Though I spent my early years in Tiran Castle, I will need another map to familiarize myself with any changes that have been made since.”
“Of course.” Pride filled the priest’s eyes. “I will help however I can to reclaim your birthright and—” He glanced toward her, “to avenge both of your families’ losses.”
Cailin lay his hand on Elspet’s shoulder in a show of support.“I thank you.”
“I thank you as well,” she said, and accepted the vicar’s ministrations to assure himself that her ankle bore noserious damage.
The priest’s mouth pursed as he probed the swelling, then he gently placed her foot on the floor. “After you eat, I will put some herbs on your ankle andwrap it tight.”
She nodded. “Whatever is cooking smells wonderful.”
The vicar waved Cailin to a nearby chair. “I made venison stew this morning. We can carry on our discussionwhile we eat.”
He fed several small sticks into the fire beneath the cauldron. Flames shot up and the soup began to bubble. Cailin’s stomach growled at thetempting aroma.
“I find it incredible that you met,” Father Lamond said as he ladled healthy portions into the bowls. After placing a spoon in each, he set the steaming fare before them.
Cailin almost groaned at his first bite and resisted the urge to devour the rest. “I came across her in danger in the woods and offered assistance.” He refused to embarrass her by revealing the truth about her theft. She’d done what she had to in order to survive.
