Chapter 19
Fennella made her way back down to the dungeon at dawn, bringing a bag full of rations for their prisoners this time. While she knew it was custom to starve the prisoners, she needed something more from them and the way to their words was through their stomachs.
This time, a guard accompanied her, one that had been on the wall the day the keep had been attacked. If her suspicions were correct, she would need his word this evening at dinner.
The pungent smell was stronger this time and Fennella nearly gagged as they rounded the corner, the light brighter than the last time she had visited.
Pushing the individual sacks toward her guard, she saved one and approached the cell in question, seeing its occupant clearly.
“Good morning my lady,” he rumbled, shifting on the floor. “You have come to visit me again.”
“Aye,” she answered, pushing the sack through the bars and landing at his feet. “There’s fresh bread and fruit in the bag. If you can eat, that is.”
He chuckled, taking the sack. “Your laird proved his point on mah face. I can just barely move mah jaw this morn.”
She wanted to apologize for Aleck’s brutality, but this man had slaughtered innocent people. The mere thought of what he had done had her holding her tongue. “I wish to ask you a question.”
“I wish the same,” he answered, arching a brow. “Perhaps we can trade answers mah lady?”
“Alright,” Fennella answered, seeing no harm. The man would likely die in this cell. “You may ask first.”
He picked up the sack, peering in at its contents. “Ye are McPherson’s sister, are ye not? The one they call Fennella.”
“Aye,” she replied, clasping her hands before her. “Have ye heard of me?”
“A great deal,” he said, placing the bag beside him, the chain around his ankle clanking on the floor as he shifted his weight. “But I dinnae believe any of it. Your brother is spouting that ye were taken by force. ’Tis the reason he is able tae garner such an army.”
Fennella was outraged. Her face became pale. He would destroy the lives of innocent people for his own ambition...
But did the clan not remember she had wed the Scot at her own keep before leaving? Why would anyone believe such rubbish?
Likely because they were frightened of what Dearg would do if they did not believe him.
“Most people did not know of your wedding and tis not hard to spread a rumor. I dinnae believe it, mind ye,” the prisoner repeated. “But alas, I still have mouths to feed and yer brother was offering a good sum for the work. ”
“Slaughtering innocents?” she shot back, fury swelling within.
He gave a slight shrug. “Are there ever any guilty ones when it comes to war? Aren’t we all innocents in our own way?”
He did have a point, but she was not going to give him that victory. “Is it time for my question?” she asked instead.
The prisoner inclined his head. “Ask away mah lady.”
“My brother trusts you,” she started, clenching her hands tightly together.
“Aye.”
“Would he trust you with a secret that would risk my life?”
“Aye.”
“What of my husband?” Fennella pressed on.
The prisoner chuckled. “That is two questions mah lady but seeing that I will likely never step foot on the bare soil of Scotland again, I see no harm in answering it. Aye. He would have told me if he plotted against yer husband.”
Satisfied, Fennella inclined her head. “Enjoy your fast.”
“Lady Fennella,” he called out as she started to leave. “Do have care. I would hate for something tae happen tae ye.”
She turned back, catching his eye. “’Tis not me you must worry about.”
There were others that had far more to worry about than she did.
After her visit with the prisoner, Fennella found herself leading the other women of both the village and keep, save Isla, in ripping cloths to make bandages for the impending war on their land.
Already the word was spreading in the far reaches of Aleck’s rule, and there had been a steady stream of villagers coming to make the keep their temporary shelter.
Fennella spent the morning attempting to find a place for those that had arrived, passing out blankets and providing food to those that had traveled far.
With each smile she felt renewed that Aleck could defend his clan and defeat her brother, knowing that he would attempt to do so until his last dying breath.
She just hoped that it wasn’t to be soon. Fennella had not lied to her husband about needing him. She did need him. There was much for them to do together, much to experience, and the mere thought of him going to battle had her throat clogging with emotion.
What if Dearg’s army was too vast? What if he had elicited the help of other clans around the country, clans that would like nothing more than to wage war on this one?
What if they could not win?
The thought stuck with her through the luncheon, where Aileene forced her to sit at the table, a steaming bowl of hearty stew before Fennella. “You are dead on your feet,” she scolded. “You must eat.”
Her stomach churned at the thought and Fennella pushed the bowl away, reaching for her wine glass instead. “I cannot. There is too much to worry over.”
Aileene joined her at the table, taking her hand. “The Campbells are a fierce lot, Fennella, you included. Your brother is not going to understand what is happening and it will be far too late for him to back out.”
Fennella chewed on her lower lip. “Perhaps I should go as well, attempt to talk to Dearg.”
“You think Aleck will allow you to do so?”
“I am not going to ask his permission,” she stated firmly. If she did, he would lock her in a room to ensure her safety. “I have the same fighting skills he does. Someone needs to watch his back.”
Aileene grinned. “You truly love him.”
“Aye,” Fennella said softly, the vise-like grip on her heart tightening.
“And I cannae lose him now.” Despite everything that had passed between them, she felt her love grow regardless.
When he had listened to her in the study the day prior, valuing her opinion, Fennella knew that she could never leave him.
He held her heart.
“What about Isla?” Aileene asked, dropping her voice to a whisper. “She will not stop until she is his wife.”
Fennella had thought of that as well, but she was going to push the woman until she told the truth, starting with tonight. The prisoner had said as much. This woman could have ties to Lachlan, but Fennella was starting to realize that there was likely a tie between Isla and Dearg.
She just had to get the woman to slip up on her story and prove it to Aleck as well. The last thing she wished to do was cause him more pain, but Isla was not in this keep to join her bairn’s family and become a Campbell. She was here for other reasons that Fennella had not quite figured out.
One thing was for certain. Isla would never take her place next to Aleck.
That night at dinner, the entire family was there. Both Duncan and Uncle Fergus had reclaimed their seats at the table and Fennella knew it was because they would be leaving on the morrow to meet her brother in battle.
The entire dinner would be bittersweet.
Turning toward the other woman at the table, Fennella smiled sweetly at Isla, who was eyeing her warily. “May I ask a question Lady Isla?”
“Of course,” the woman said slowly, patting her hair.
Fennella picked up her glass, holding it in her hand. “You stated that Lachlan gave you that ring. Was it your wedding band?”
“Yes,” Isla blushed, stealing a glance at Aleck’s hand, where the ring rested. “And passage into the Campbell clan. He knew that his brother would recognize it.”
Fennella looked at her husband, who was eyeing her with some curiosity, and she willed for him to allow her this boon. “Did he not give you anything else?”
Isla’s gaze narrowed. “No. Our time was brief. My father had already threatened his life. Lachlan could not stay with me.”
“Tragic,” Fennella sighed. “I would imagine a man like Lachlan would have left you coin to get away from your father.”
“He did not,” Isla said tightly, her smile forced. “I found my own way, Lady Fennella.”
“By way of my father’s lands?” she asked innocently.
“Yes.”
The moment the word was out of her mouth, Isla’s face paled, seeing her error. “I mean to say, I came from the north.”
“My father’s lands are the south of here,” Fennella said softly, twirling the glass in her hands. “You cannot come from both locations at the same time Lady Isla.”
The woman cleared her throat several times before turning her eyes on Aleck, who had been watching the exchange with fascination. “Surely you can understand, my lord, that my brain is addled from the babe.”
He inclined his head. “What I understand, Lady Isla, is that mah brother was never interested in marriage at his age. He had his fair choice of women and tae know that he hid his marriage from his family has never made sense tae me.”
Isla was now starting to pant, sweat dotting her forehead. “I assure you; it is the truth my lord!”
Fennella set her glass on the table. “I believe my brother Dearg sent you here to drive a wedge between me and my husband so that you could take my place.”
“Lies,” Isla seethed, gripping the table. “I dinnae know your brother.”
“And yet,” Fennella continued, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger, “you knew that my father’s lands were not the way to travel this way from where you are claiming to be from.”
Fennella watched as the finality of what Isla had done sank in, knowing that her hold over Aleck was no longer.
Aleck rose from his chair and beckoned a guard forward.
“Take her tae her room and make certain she doesnae leave.” He then glared at the woman.
“Ye deserve tae hang for yer treachery woman, but I am only thinking of the innocent child who should not suffer because of its mother’s poor decisions.
I am allowing this boon but I willnae be crossed again. Do ye understand?”
Isla rose to her full height, shaking off the guard that attempted to take her arm. “Dearg is going to kill you, my lord.”
Aleck chuckled darkly. “I welcome his attempts.”
Fennella did not loosen her breath until Isla was out of sight, picking up her glass with trembling hands. She had done it. She had unmasked the traitor and saved her husband’s life in the process.
“Fennella.”
Meeting her husband’s gaze, she saw the tenderness there. “Thank ye,” he said quietly.
Unable to find her words, Fennella just inclined her head. Now that they had that out of the way, the worries turned to the battle on the morrow.