Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
G raeme tidied his small room in the lower quarters of the castle, but his thoughts were on the suspicions growing against him and his brother. There was a chance he would never shake the reputation he had created with his father, but it was also that reputation that had made him such a fierce warrior. Finlay had told the Laird of Graeme’s skills with a sword, bow, and fists, which was one of the reasons the Laird agreed to allow him and Danny to join his forces.
“Move aside, Danny,” a voice in the hall said.
Danny's room was next to Graeme's, so he heard it loud and clear. He stood and went to his door, looking out to see what was going on. Danny's room was smaller than his. It held only a small bed, a table, and a wardrobe.
Graeme stepped into the room, and anger flooded him as he saw Danny up against the wall with Brody’s large hand on his chest.
“I didn't do anything,” Danny said.
“What is the meaning of this, Brody? Take your hands off my brother.”
“We have orders from the Captain to search any rooms we see fit for the missing items,” Dougal, another Guard, said.
Brody picked up the blankets from Danny’s bed and riffled through, flipping the quilt over. Then, he shoved the bed aside to look under it. From there, he moved to the wardrobe to go through Danny's few belongings.
“The Captain ordered this? Did he specifically say to search Danny's room, or did you decide to do it on your own?" Graeme glared at them. "My brother has done nothing wrong.”
Brody grew frustrated as he tossed things from the wardrobe and then shoved it aside to look behind it. "Where are they?" he muttered.
"You're not going to find anything because I didn't take anything!" Danny replied.
“Nothing here, Brody, but then only a fool would be dumb enough to hide items in his room." Dougal shook his head.
"I know he did it. Take him,” Brody said.
“No, I have not stolen anything!" Danny cried out as Dougal grabbed his arms. "Where are you taking me?”
Graeme stepped up to Brody. “What are you doing with my brother? I demand to know.”
“The Captain has requested to see him after his room was searched. We are doing our duty. Do not get in the way, Graeme.”
“Then I shall come along,” Graeme said.
“You may follow us, but there is no guarantee the Captain and Laird will see you,” Dougal said.
Graeme didn’t want to push it, so he simply nodded and allowed the men to do their job. He nodded a reassurance to Danny, so as not to worry him. Graeme followed as they forcefully walked Danny out of his room and down the hall. Others were there, snickering and hurling words of hate toward his little brother that Graeme couldn't protect Danny from.
Graeme knew the damage was done. Being proven innocent wouldn't change the fact that everyone thought Danny was a thief in the castle. He grew angrier but restrained from acting on it, knowing it would only make things worse. He knew from his days as a bandit how quickly things spiraled out of control.
Moments later, Danny was pushed into the Laird's office, where he and Kieran awaited. An oak desk sat by the window, and parchments, maps, and books were strewn everywhere. Graeme followed his brother in without invitation.
“Graeme, you don’t need to be here,” Cameron said.
“With your permission, I would like to stay. My brother has done nothing wrong, and I wish to understand what has happened,” he said.
“Very well, but you will remain quiet and hold your temper in check,” Cameron said.
“I will, my Laird. Thank you.”
Graeme did as was told and stood silently in the back of the room while Cameron and Kieran grilled Danny. They asked him every possible question, from his whereabouts during a certain time to how often he left the castle grounds, which Graeme knew was rarely. He understood that they were deciding whether Danny had the chance to leave the grounds and sell any goods he had acquired. But Kieran kept a tight log of comings and goings of all his men, Danny included, and there were no gaps in the log. That proved he hadn’t had a chance to do what he was accused of.
Danny answered every question honestly and without hesitation.
Cameron looked at Kieran, and they conferred quietly for a moment before Kieran said, "Thank you, Danny. You may return to your quarters."
"But—" Brody began but shut his mouth at the look Kieran gave him.
"Come on, Danny. Let us return to your quarters and clean up the mess they made." Graeme glared at the two Guards and then led Danny back out to the Great Hall and down to their rooms.
A couple of days passed, and Graeme and Danny kept a low profile, did the work they were assigned, and nothing more. They ate their meals alone or with Finlay and Eva, and returned to their rooms. But this did not keep the situation from escalating, as Graeme had hoped.
Somehow, answering the Laird and the Captain's questions and having his room searched wasn't enough to prove Danny’s innocence among the wagging tongues of the Keep. The Guard, staff, and residents loved gossip, Danny was the latest rumor, and they would talk about it until the thievery ended. Danny was watched constantly and even harassed, something Graeme would discover and stifle gently so he would not be charged with fighting. That would only get him thrown in the dungeon, where he would not be able to protect Danny. Because of that, he was quite careful.
“Graeme, there is talk that I might be locked up just to see if the thieving stops while I am in the dungeon. If I am being set up, it would be easy for someone to stop what they are doing just to make me look guilty. I'm nervous,” Danny said as they ate their midday meal.
“They will not be doing such a thing. Not over my body. They will have to kill me before you are put in a dungeon,” Graeme said angrily as he listened to the pain in his brother's voice.
“But you are powerless to stop it. They all think I'm guilty. It is only a matter of time before they decide I'm guilty without proof.”
Graeme lifted his head and saw a familiar face, Danielle. She was in the doorway of the dining hall and made a direct line toward him. He was always happy to see her, but this business with his brother had distracted him from giving her the attention he wanted to. He was also frightened that her being associated with him and his brother would put a damper on her reputation, so even though it pained him, he'd steered clear of her. It seemed that she was seeking him out now.
“Hush with you now; we have company,” Graeme said to Danny.
“Hi, Graeme. Danny,” she said.
“Danielle, you are a beautiful sight always,” Danny said a little flirtatiously.
Graeme elbowed him, which made Danny laugh. At least he was laughing, Graeme thought.
“I've heard everything that's been going on, and I can't believe what they are saying. It's unfair,” Danielle said.
“It is unfair, but life is never fair, lass. I do not know what else can be done. They have searched my brother's person and his quarters, and they have questioned him. I think the only thing that can be done now is for me to take him far from here.”
“What? No. I don't want to leave. I will not let them push me out,” Danny said.
“Lower your voice, lad,” Graeme said. “This has been long overdue, even before this mess. They have not given us a moment's peace since we joined them. Now, it will never stop. I'd rather take you to a quiet village where we aren't known, and where you don't have to deal with the daily cruelty and harassing words. What is the point?”
Danielle looked panic-stricken.
"Lass, are you all right?" Graeme asked.
Danielle nodded. “I understand you wanting to leave, but, Graeme, running isn't the answer. I have another suggestion if you'll listen to me,” she said.
“Of course, lass. I’m listening,” he said.
“What if we search for the real thief? Prove that Danny isn't behind the thefts.”
Graeme and Danny exchanged a look. Catching the thief would prove Danny’s innocence. Graeme thought it just might work.