Page 73 of The Bells of Triumph
23
SHADOWS BENEATH THE TREES
“Where are they?”
It was the third time Seamus had asked that question in the last half an hour. Flora wished she could give him a better answer.
“I dinnae ken. We've searched the entire keep. Brid asked the stable master if she took a horse or if Finn ever arrived. But nay one has seen them today.”
“How is that possible? How could two people just vanish like that?”
“I ken that nay one wants to say it,” Connor cut in, speaking in a hushed tone, “but I think we would be wise to consider all the possibilities.”
“What are ye saying?” Brid demanded with a defensive edge to her voice.
She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at Connor. He swallowed nervously.
“I just mean to say that only a few days ago, Finn was nae exactly on our side of things.”
“Are ye accusing my brother of something?”
“Think about it, Brid,” Connor urged, placing his hands on her shoulders, trying to soothe her.
It didn't work well. And if Flora were honest, she would admit to being just as dismayed at Connor's implications.
“Campbell must have uncovered our plans to attack Murray Castle somehow. The only person who knew of our plans that we cannae account for is Finn. He has been against Seamus simply because he is a Murray from the start. We both saw how paranoid he was at Glenkirk. Do ye think he was suspicious because he was trying to hide something?”
“I will nae hear of this,” Brid hissed.
“Nor will I,” Flora added. “It was because of Finn and only because of Finn that we did nae have a riot on our hands after we invaded Murray Castle. Had he nae stepped up, the villagers would have turned on Seamus. He might nae have agreed with everything Seamus has done, he might nae like Seamus, but he would never turn on Seamus only to help Campbell. Besides, yer insane explanation says nothing as to where Iona is. She was here, in Murray Castle, since the feast. How could Finn have anything to do with her disappearance?”
The corners of Connor's mouth angled down, though he stayed tight-lipped. From the grimace he wore, Flora knew that there was more going on than he was saying.
“What? What are ye nae telling us?”
Connor stepped back from Brid, as though he needed to brace himself for what was about to happen.
“Spit it out,” Seamus barked.
“I talked to some servants and the other healers. Nay one has seen Iona since the day Finn left for Glenkirk.”
“Och, so now ye think the two of them were in on it together? That Iona has been working with Campbell too?”
“How much do we truly ken about her?” Connor asked, trying to defend himself from Brid's questions.
“She is my family, likely all that I have left of one.” Flora winced at Seamus' tone. “That is all I need to ken about her.”
“Nay, ye ken that she showed up claiming to be family. But ye have nae seen or heard from her in nearly two decades. Who is to say she is telling the truth?” Connor sighed and threw his hands up in surrender. “Look, I hope more than anyone that what I am saying is nae true. But I think it is only wise that we consider every possibility. Until either or both of them make an appearance, we cannae rule anything out.”
“Aye, we can. Ye and Brid will go to Glenkirk,” Seamus ordered. “See if they are there. He might have forgotten about the meeting today. She might have gone to keep him company. The two have grown rather close. If they are nae there, interrogate the soldiers. Ask the servants where they might have been. We will get to the bottom of this.”
Connor nodded solemnly, but Brid just looked furious. He reached out to try to take her hand, but she snatched it away and huffed off towards the stables. Flora couldn't help but worry as she watched Connor trudge after her.
“What are we going to do about everyone else?”
Seamus glanced over her shoulder at the room full of men talking and eating behind her. They had gathered all the village elders and leaders, the warriors who had led battles, and any other important voices throughout the clan. They needed to come up with a more solid plan to protect the clan from Campbell than running rigorous patrols every night. They needed a plan on what to do when Campbell finally made his appearance again. Seamus had extended the invitation to Finn and Iona, only for neither of them to show themselves and disrupt the entire afternoon.
“It will nae take but a few hours for Connor and Brid to find answers. They will either find that Finn and Iona merely forgot about today's meeting, or that there is something more here going on. Either way, we need only to distract the men for a while.”
