Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“ O ch, me God,” Elsie cried. “We must go and help them.”
“Nay, Elsie,” Keane barked. “Go tae me bedchamber and hide, dae ye hear me?”
But even in her shocked state, Elsie stood her ground and stared up at him, refusing to be told what to do again.
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Keane huffed. “Fine. But ye have tae stay out o’ danger, me love. Please. Promise me that. Nae more running intae battle. I told ye. I cannae lose ye. Even more so now.”
He had a point, and given all they had explored that evening, she knew his plea was from a place of love. While the idea of him going into battle without her terrified her, she could do little but abide by his request. Still, she wasn’t going to go and hide. If she couldn’t fight, there had to be another way she could help.
“I will go and gather the women and children. I am the lady o’ the castle. It is me duty tae lead them.”
Even that suggestion worried him but he had no time to argue and they both knew it. He ought to be out there already.
“Fine,” he said, as they both turned and ran to the door together. “Find them, and then hide in the Great Hall.”
Once in the corridor, they passed people flying by them at great speed. Panicked soldiers, as well as terrified maids and servants ran in different directions.
Keane and Elsie continued on down the corridor in the direction of the great hall, where everyone normally gathered for safety.
As they arrived at the large double doors, Alisdair, Owen and Iseabail arrived at the same time.
“Is everyone all right?” Keane panted, looking directly at Iseabail.
“We’re fine, Keane,” Iseabail replied. “We were just heading out.”
But Keane shook his head. “Nay. Ye’re nae going out there. I need ye tae help Elsie. She’s going tae lead the women and children intae hiding.”
For a second, Iseabail hesitated, looking from Keane to Elsie and back again. It was clear, just like Elsie, that she wanted to be out there in the battle beside her husband. And from the stories Elsie had heard from Iseabail, Keane’s sister was no stranger to battle.
“Please, Iseabail,” Keane pressed. “I ken what ye’re thinking, but Elsie needs yer help. She cannae dae it alone.”
That was an outright lie, and by Iseabail’s expression, she knew it. Instead of arguing, however, she dropped her shoulders and relented.
“Fine. But when we’ve got everyone safe, and if the battle is still ongoing, I’m going out there, and ye willnae be here tae stop me.”
“Iseabail,” Owen barked. “We’re wasting time.”
She then moved from her husband’s side and joined Elsie. Only then did both Owen and Keane nod with satisfaction.
“Get everyone tae safety,” Keane said to them both.
Elsie and Iseabail nodded, and Iseabail turned into the great hall. Elsie lingered for just a second, watching Keane turn to the other two. “We need tae rally the men.”
“They’re already out there,” Alisdair replied.
“Good. Then we need tae move.”
Just as he was about to venture forth, he threw a final worried glance toward Elsie, and then, he was gone.
The great hall was a mass of panic, with wailing children and worried women. People were running in all directions. It was chaos.
How am I supposed tae calm these people?
Elsie looked about her, wondering where she ought to start. Realizing she first had to get their attention, she hurried towards the front of the hall. Climbing onto the platform where the top table stood, she called out.
“Listen tae me,” she cried. “Listen tae me.”
It took several more attempts, before she managed to get everyone’s attention. Though the children still cried, and the women still sniffled, they finally stopped in their panic and looked up at her.
“All right,” Elsie said as calmly as she could. “We need tae work together.” Pointing to the front of the hall, she continued. “We are going tae calmly and quietly head tae the door that leads tae the kitchens. Gather those who are with ye, and follow Lady Iseabail.”
Automatically, she pointed to her companion who was standing in front of them. Not that she needed to do so. Everyone knew the laird’s sister. Small nods came from the women. Given they now had instructions, the panic faded. In its place, their faces expressed relief that there was now some direction.
“All right. Let us begin tae move.”
Elsie climbed off the platform again, and reached Iseabail.
“Ye lead them downstairs. I will remain here and wait fer the others. There are maids and servants still gathering people.”
Iseabail nodded. “Dinnae linger, Elsie. As soon as everyone is here, hurry down and join us.”
“I will,” Elsie nodded.
Slowly, the women with their children and some servants formed an orderly line. After that, they began following Iseabail as she led them through the door. Beyond it was a staircase that led down to the kitchens. It was likely the safest place for them to be. It was underground, and thus, they would be hidden from any attacks from above, like arrows and fire. Also, hopefully, the invaders would start by going upstairs and searching bedchambers.
Standing by the women as they went, she smiled and nodded, offering words of comfort.
“All will be well.”
As they continued, more servants and maids arrived with those they had found. They joined the others, and slowly the line lessened as the minutes passed. Several minutes later, a panicked looking Anna ran into the great hall.
“Och, me lady. I am glad ye are safe.”
“I am, Anna. Now, go and join the others.”
“I cannae,” the young maid shook her head. “I cannae find Edward.”
Elsie frowned. “Yer braither?”
“Aye, me lady,” Anna exclaimed. “I have looked fer him everywhere.”
“He might be outside in the battle. We have tae go, Anna.”
“Nay.” Anna shook her head. “Ye dinnae understand. He’s only a boy. He’d ken nae tae go outside.”
Elsie thought for a minute. She then pressed her hand onto Anna’s shoulder. “Then he may be down in the kitchens already. Ye go with the others and look fer him there. I will go back through the castle and see if I can find him.”
“But, me lady…”
“Go, Anna,” Elsie said determinedly. “He’s likely already down there. I willnae be long. I promise. Now, hurry.”
With her face full of doubt and worry, Anna hesitated, not wanting to leave her side. Everyone else had gone now. It was only Elsie and Anna left in the great hall.
“Go,” Elsie repeated firmly.
Only then, did her maid run towards the door.
Once Anna had disappeared, Elsie ran out of the great hall and began her search. The boy was likely already safe, but she had promised Anna she would look, and so she must.
Running up the wide staircase, she headed to the bedchambers first. She would work from upstairs down, and thus be nearer the great hall when her search was finished. Hurrying through the corridor, she flung door after door open, calling Edward’s name. As it happened, she found two or three others hiding in the bedchambers. Once by her side, she instructed them to get down to the kitchens immediately.
On she went, calling out Edward’s name, but to no avail. When she was certain he was not upstairs, Elsie hurried back down to the main floor. She checked Keane’s study, the library, and the family dining room, but he was nowhere to be found. While she could hear the battle going on outside, the yells and screams of men, and clanging of swords, inside the castle felt eerily quiet.
Now determined Edward was safely down in the kitchens, Elsie flew back out into the corridor and ran straight into the chest of a soldier.
“Och, God,” she gasped, wondering why any of the men would be inside of the castle. But a second later, she realized the soldier was not in fact, one of Keane’s men at all.
“Och, look who I’ve found,” the man said, grabbing Elsie’s arm so tightly that she cried out in pain.
He was not alone. There were three others with him. But how had they gotten into the castle if it had not been announced that the gates had been breached?
“The laird will be pleased. Come on. We’ve got what we came for. Let’s get out o’ here while they’re distracted fighting.”
“Get off me,” Elsie screamed. “Keane! Keane!”
One of the men laughed out loud. “There’s nay point screaming, lass. Yer man cannae hear ye. He’s too busy fighting. Now, move.”
Dragging her harshly along with them, they maneuvered through the castle. Avoiding the front entrance and the battle that continued outside, they took another corridor and hurried down it. They did that several times until they reached the back entrance of the castle.
All the while, Elsie screamed loudly in hope that someone somewhere might hear her.
“Shut her up,” one of the men yelled. “She’s driving me mad.”
Suddenly, Elsie felt an immense pain in the side of her head. Her legs buckled beneath her and then everything went black.
The throbbing pain in the side of her head woke her. Before Elsie even opened her eyes, she brought her hand to it, as though pressing against the pain might alleviate it. It didn’t, of course. Nor did it ease the horrible dizzy, sick feeling in her stomach. She also felt stiffness in her body. The more aware she became, the more she realized that she was lying upon a cold stone floor.
When she did eventually open her eyes, her deductions were proven true, for she was indeed, lying in a cell of sorts. It was filthy, and smelled awful, a mixture of urine and death. Likely a dungeon in the bowels of wherever those men had brought her. Looking at the solid stone walls that surrounded her, she noticed scratches. Some were words, other’s looked like they had been clawed by a wild animal.
Good God! What has happened in this place?
She moved slowly, for her aching muscles would not allow her to do anything else. Wincing as she went, she finally managed to push herself to a standing position. The room was cold with a barred window high up on one wall. It let little light in, but there was enough for her to see her surroundings.
Apart from a bucket in the corner, there were no other furnishings. No bed, no table, not even a blanket. Shuffling to the barred gate across the room, she took hold of the bars and peaked outside. The corridor was as dark as the cell, and though a chair stood in a corner across the way, no one was seated in it.
“Where the devil am I?” she breathed.
She could scream for help, yet she knew it would be pointless. The men had said they were taking her, so clearly, she was no longer in the castle. In fact, she was likely miles away by now. Miles from the castle and miles from Keane.
“Keane!” she gasped.
God, I hope he is all right. I have tae believe he is all right. He will be going out o’ his mind, discovering that I have been taken.
Ye have more things tae be worrying about than Keane.
Yes. She supposed she did. This was Laird Gunn’s doing. The men who had taken her had not said so, but a feeling deep in her gut told her it had to be true. They had mentioned something about the laird being pleased. Who else could it be?
Yer faither?
Possibly. After losing that duel, her father had been entirely humiliated. Her last words to him would not have helped his rage either. This could be payback. And yet, he had given his word that he would not return.
This is the same faither who was willing tae give ye up tae a cruel man just fer an alliance. Surely, ye cannae expect him tae keep his word.
But actually, Elsie could. For all her father’s faults, he had always been honorable that way. Which led her back to her original conclusion.
This is Laird Gunn’s doing. I just ken it.
For some time afterwards, Elsie had nothing to do, only pace back and forth. Whoever had taken her was in no hurry to see her, and the movement at least kept her warm. She had no idea how long she had been there, left alone to wonder what was going to happen to her. But eventually, she heard footsteps echoing in the corridor beyond.
Running to the gate, she grabbed hold of the bars.
“Hello?” she cried.
A second later, Elsie laid her eyes upon a man about her father’s age. Unshaven and unkempt, he gazed at her for a long moment. She was surprised to see sadness in his eyes.
“This is nay place for a lady,” he said, shaking his head.
“Where am I?” Elsie said.
“The dungeons,” he replied, not understanding her question.
“I ken I’m in the dungeons,” she retorted in frustration. “I mean. Where am I?”
The man looked a little taken aback. Realizing she was clueless as to her location, he said, “Ye’re in Laird Gunn’s castle.”
“I kent it,” she spat. But then, something didn’t add up. “It would have taken us days tae get here. I ken I was knocked out, but surely, I would have woken ‘afore now.”
The man eyed her carefully. “From what I heard when the guards brought ye in, they gave ye laudanum tae keep quiet.”
That would explain the sick dizzy feeling she had experienced when she had roused earlier.
He stood looking at her for a second, and then started to back away. “I’m sorry. I have tae go.”
“Wait! Wait! Where are ye going?”
Still looking remorseful, he said, “The laird instructed me tae let him ken the minute ye woke.”
The man appeared no happier than Elsie that she was locked away, and in that second, Elsie saw an opportunity.
“Ye could let me out,” she pleaded. “Ye could tell him I escaped. Please. Please, ye have tae help me.”
The old man lowered his eyes, as though by doing so, he did not have to look upon her plight. “I cannae. He’ll have me hung.” The man was stepping away at each word he spoke. “I’m sorry.”
And then, he was gone.
“Damn it all tae hell!”
Now all she could do was wait.
A little while passed, and then she heard footsteps again, only this time, it was the sound of more than one person. The prison guard arrived back, jingling his keys, followed by two guards. Keeping his eyes low, so he did not have to look at her, he unlocked the gate and pulled it wide open.
The guards stepped inside, each grabbing her arms, before yanking her out and into the corridor.
“I’m sorry,” the old man whispered as they hurried past him.
Elsie’s feet barely touched the floor as they continued up steps, through doorways, and along corridors. With their faces like stone, neither of the men dragging her said one word.
Eventually, they arrived at a door. One of them lifted a hand and thumped on it loudly.
“Enter,” a deep voice came from inside the room.
The guards opened the door and continued to drag Elsie in. Clearly, she had been led into Laird Gunn’s study, for the books, ledgers, and the huge desk at the far end of the room gave it away. He was not at his desk however, and instead, stood glaring at her from beside the fire.
“Lady Mackay, me laird,” one of the guards announced.
“Leave us,” he demanded.
Immediately, the men turned on their heels and left the room.
“Well, isnae this nice?” he snarled. “At last, I have me bride in me castle.”
“I’m nae yer bride,” Elsie spat, glaring back at him.
“Nae. And whose fault is that?” he snapped. “Yer treacherous scheming has caused yer faither and I a lot o’ trouble. By now, ye should have been me wife, and yer faither and I would have been allied. But nay. Ye were determined tae ruin it all, and so ye did.”
Like her father, Laird Gunn was clearly under the impression that she had conspired with Keane to work against them. It was not the case, but she had no intention of denying it. What was the point? Like her father, Laird Gunn would not believe her either.
“But ye will be me wife, Elspeth. In fact, I have a priest here, willing and eager tae marry us.”
“I’m already married,” Elsie said, feeling that she was stating the obvious.
No doubt her father had run back to the laird and told him all that had occurred after he had visited her and Keane. Surely, the man was bound to know.
“Och, I ken that. But nae fer long.”
Elsie shook her head. “I dinnae understand. I cannae marry ye if I am married already.”
Tilting his head to the side, he looked at her like she was stupid. “Nay, me dear,” he drawled patronizingly. “But once I have forced ye tae annul yer marriage tae Mackay, ye will be free tae marry me. And if ye dinnae agree, I will marry ye as a widow.”
His words cut through her like a knife. That was his plan? And how did he imagine he was going to make her do something she clearly didn’t want to do? She felt her eyes fill with tears but she refused to give him the pleasure of seeing her cry.
“I willnae dae it. Ye will have tae kill me first.”
“Och, ye will, Elspeth,” the laird snarled. His tone was so certain that Elsie began to worry. “Ye will dae it tae save yer precious husband.”
Elsie gasped. “What dae ye mean?”
“Well,” he said, pacing back and forth with a sneering grin on his face. “At this very moment, Laird Keane Mackay is being held in a safe place by me guards. If ye dinnae dae as I ask, I will kill him. Then ye will be a widow, and I will get tae wed ye anyway.”
Elsie’s heart hitched at his words. She took a sharp intake of breath at the very idea of Keane’s life being taken because she refused to comply. She imagined the man she loved being tied up in some abandoned place somewhere, having God knows what being done to him.
Laird Gunn seemed delighted at her reaction, and with a wide grin, looked at her smugly.
But if there was one thing Elsie was not, it was a fool. As she allowed what he had said to sink in, she realized it could not be. Laird Munro was making no sense. If he did have Keane, he could forgo forcing her to do anything. He could just kill him like he had killed his father. It had always been his intention to take over the Mackay clan. She knew that from overheard conversations between the laird and her father. He had no need to keep him alive. With Keane dead, she would be a widow, and he would be free to take her as he had threatened.
He doesnae have him. He’s bluffing.
That sudden realization bolstered her courage, and she stood a little taller. And yet, Elsie did not want him to know that she knew he was lying. Not yet, at any rate. She had to think it through. Besides, what if she was wrong? It was unlikely, but could she really take that chance? Taking another minute to come up with anything that might save both her and Keane, an idea popped into her mind.
“I am with child,” she lied.
It was now Laird Gunn’s turn to react, and as his jaw slackened, his mouth fell open. Glaring at her in astonishment, his mind worked, trying to decipher if what she was telling him was true.
“Ye are lying,” he barked.
But Elsie shook her head determinedly. “Indeed, I am nae. Keane was eager tae get me with child so I wouldnae escape,” she embellished.
“Escape?” the laird gawked. “But ye planned this.”
“As I told me faither,” Elsie said, trying to think on her feet. “I had naething tae dae with the kidnapping. But like him, ye likely dinnae believe that either. What daes it matter now? I am with child, and I am married tae another. I am nae yers, and I never will be.”
Laird Gunn continued to glare at her. Then, turning away, he paced back and forth in front of the fire. For a long moment, he didn’t speak. Elsie could not begin to imagine what he might be thinking but she was certain of one thing only. He didn’t believe her. What he would do with that information was anybody’s guess.
“Ye are sticking with this ridiculous story?” he finally asked, spinning to look at her.
“It’s nae a story,” Elsie defended. “I am with child.”
“We’ll soon see about that.”
Elsie frowned at him as he glared back at her.
“There’s only one way tae be certain. I will send fer the healer.”