Chapter Four
Ceit left the chapel with the other ladies and attempted to stifle a yawn. The morning service was usually one of her favorites, but on this day, she was exhausted after tossing and turning most of the night and then spending the last hour on her knees in prayer. She had seen a large mon with his head bent in prayer when she arrived, recognizing instantly that the form belonged to Tavish. It had surprised her to see him there and already in prayer, or at least looking to be praying. Now he was no longer in his pew. She tried to look around discreetly, but he was not in the chapel. The group of women made their way towards the queen’s solar where they would break their fast. Ceit sensed Tavish nearby but still had not seen him. She looked around and spotted Elizabeth Fraser, Deirdre Fraser’s cousin. She maneuvered herself to stand next to her.
“Ye ken Magnus’s brother is here?”
“Aye,” Elizabeth whispered while looking ahead.
“I will take him to see Magnus. Someone might persuade the king to let him go. If that is the case, then they will look for Deirdre. If ye ken where she is, ye would be wise to find them, and tell them with all haste.”
“How do ye ken so much?”
“Does it matter how so much as what I ken? Deirdre isnae here anymore, is she? Magnus and Tavish will want to ride out straight away. Can ye have belongings ready for them to take? Wherever Deirdre is, they willna care for if she’s under Lord Hay’s control.”
Elizabeth dared a look at Ceit from the corner of her eye. She nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Meet us at Tavish’s chamber in an hour.”
Ceit broke away from the group and allowed them to move ahead of her. When she was sure no one noticed she left them, she searched the passageway until she saw a darkened spot within the shadows. She moved towards it, hoping it was Tavish but preparing herself in case it was not.
“I dinna ken if ye’re brave or foolish to seek a mon hidden in the shadows,” came the soft rumble of Tavish’s voice as he stepped out from behind a column.
“And I dinna ken how ye fit behind that column. I suppose it is neither of ours to reason why. Come with me.”
Ceit did not stop but continued, assuming Tavish would follow. They walked in silence until they came to a passageway that led to a part of the castle not intended for many to visit.
Before they entered, Ceit paused and looked up at Tavish.
“Lord Hay has returned. Mary spoke of it this morning on the way into chapel. I dinna ken for sure how she kens, but I would venture a guess she warms his bed regularly. Tavish, if he is back, I imagine he is down there right now.”
Ceit watched as the news settled upon Tavish. She watched a transformation that would have scared her had he not created an unexpected sense of security for her. The warrior was now standing before her rather than the charmer. It did not escape Ceit’s notice that somehow Tavish had his sword strapped to his back and bracers on his wrists.
“Tav,” she reached a tentative hand out and placed it on his forearm. He looked down and covered it with his own. It dwarfed her hand, but his press was mild. “Please be careful. Hay isnae to be trusted. He is a cruel mon, and he has nay morals to speak of. I’m aware of how he’s treated other men he’s thrown into dungeons at his own keeps. I have seen how he behaves here when he assumes nay one is watching.”
Ceit watched Tavish’s reaction. For his part, Tavish did not miss Ceit’s admission that she had spied on him, but this was not the time to address it.
“Are ye prepared to see yer brother in a bad way? He has been down there for several days.”
Tavish nodded but his voice did not follow. Magnus might have been the largest of the brothers, but he was still Tavish’s baby brother. If they had mistreated him, there would not be a path to hell long enough to keep his tormentors from entering the fires of damnation.
“I have skills in healing arts. Let me tend to him once ye get him free. Bring him to his chamber, and I will meet ye there. I canna linger once they allow ye entry.”
Ceit turned but Tavish still had hold of her hand. He pulled her against him as he had the night before in the alcove.
“I dinna ken why ye are helping me, but I appreciate it. Ye are putting yerself in danger with nay gains for ye. I would have ye be far from here and safe, but I ken I canna see ma brother without ye. Thank ye, mo leannan.”
Tavish had not planned to call her his sweetheart, but it seemed right. He dipped his head and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. She turned into the kiss and opened her mouth to welcome him in. She slid her arms around his neck as he held her with iron bands clamped around her waist. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and she breathed in his fresh scent of pine soap.
The kiss was over too soon for them both, but they pulled apart, knowing this passageway, while deserted, was not a place to engage in a tryst.
“I’m helping ye because Deirdre is kind. I dinna ken her well, but she never teased me aboot ma burr or made me fear I was uncouth. Her cousin, Elizabeth, also welcomed me.”
Ceit looked up at Tavish, sure he was about to say something but seemed to decide better of it.
“I also want to help ye because I am drawn to ye. I dinna ken why since ye also irritate me.”
Her eyes would not meet his as she admitted this. She was bold by nature but admitting her attraction to a man was beyond even her usual directness. Tavish tucked his finger under her chin and lifted it until she was looking at him again. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
“I am drawn to ye too. Ye dinna irritate me, but ye do challenge me already.”
This would have been a good time to admit, whether she was drawn to him or not, that she would soon be saddled with him. He refused to ruin the moment. Ceit looked at him for another heartbeat before pressing a kiss to his jaw. It was as far as her neck reached.
“We should hurry.” Ceit led the way as they descended into the dungeon.
Two burly guards who stunk like the cells that surrounded them stood before them. One guard was missing several teeth, and the rest appeared to be ready to follow suit.
“Lady Comyn, what brings ye here? Ye havenae been here in some sennights.”
Tavish gave her a hard look that spoke louder than words. He would be asking her about that later. His anger rose when his mind considered her down here without him.
“Aye, well ma uncle is nae longer here, so I havenae much reason to visit. I’m afraid I wasna able to bring ye any of the cook’s fruit tarts this time, but I brought something that might be more useful.”
She pulled two small drawstring pouches from pockets deep within either side of her skirts. The sound of coins clinked as she handed them over.
“I expect these will help Lord Magnus’s cell open a little quieter today.”
The men looked at one another.
“Out with it then,” Tavish growled. His temper rose with each moment of familiarity Ceit showed these guards.
“He isnae in his cell, ma lord. Lord Hay, well, he took him out. They are, um, in a separate room. The lord doesnae want to be disturbed. This may nae be the best time.”
“He is ma brother,” Tavish reached back for his sword and drew it. “I would advise ye take yer coin and step aside.”
He darted his eyes to Ceit but never shifted his attention from the two guards.
“Ye should go.”
She did not need telling twice.
“Please be careful,” and then she was moving back up the stairs to the passageway, leaving Tavish with a waft of her perfume. His sister and sisters by marriage preferred floral scents, but Tavish noticed the night before that it was thyme and rosemary that Ceit wore. When he no longer saw her, he turned back to the guards.
“I dinna want to hurt ye, but I will kill ye if ye stand in the way of me seeing ma brother.”
“Ye’re one of the Sinclairs?”
“Aye, he is. See his plaid. This isnae worth ma head. I amnae willing to fight a losing battle,” said the one on the left.
Both men allowed Tavish to pass. He walked along the dim corridor of cells. Most were empty, but a few held pitiful shells of men who languished there with no hope of ever leaving. He was almost to the end when a roar of pain reached him. He recognized the sound. He was sure it was Magnus. He ran to the room and kicked the door open. The sight that met him forced so much fury to course through him he hardly saw through it. He took in Magnus strapped to a table and a man who must have been Lord Archibald Hay swirling a cat o’ nine tails above his head, ready to lay another lash across Magnus’s already shredded back.
“Hay! I will kill ye!” Tavish hurtled himself into the room and thrust his sword towards the man who inflicted pain of more than one kind on his brother. “The king didna authorize ye to torture ma brother. Ye dinna want to obey? Neither do I.”
Before Hay landed another lash on Magnus’s back, Tavish slid his sword into Hay’s side. Not enough to kill him, but deep enough to slow him from battering Magnus.
“Magnus, would ye like the honor of killing this pile of dung, or can I just be done?”
“Neither.” Magnus moaned in a voice that cracked from days of disuse.
“Neither? Why the hell nae?”
“I have just the perfect place for him to visit.”
“Purgatory?”
“It shall feel more like hell.”
“Then it willna be a visit. More like a new home.”
“That’s aboot the right of it.”
Hay keeled over as the brothers exchanged words as though they were in the lists rather than a torture chamber.
“Tav, did ye kill him? I told ye nae to do that.”
Tavish looked around but saw neither of the guards who fled. Tavish crossed to the table that held Magnus in only two strides and unbuckled him.
“Och, Magnus. Ye’re in a right state. I dinna ken what to say.”
“That’s a first,” Magnus got the words out before he groaned.
“We need to get ye to the healer sharpish. Ye dinna look well.”
“Ye must be pleased aboot that. Ye might finally be the handsome brother if never the tall one.”
Tavish laughed more from the relief of hearing his brother make jokes than the actual words. His height was a constant source of humor for his brothers and annoyance for him. They were so similar in height that most only picked out Magnus from the breadth of his shoulders. Even up close, the only way many people told Callum, Alexander, and Tavish apart was that Tavish most resembled their father with their barrel chests and thick limbs.
“Ye canna be that close to dead if ye still have yer sense of humor.” Tavish held Magnus upright as he dragged him towards the door and away from the various torture tools hanging from the walls.
“Are ye sure ye didna kill him?”
“Bah, the wee mon just canna handle a little twinge. It isnae like I ran him through. Naught but a scratch to the ribs. Probably just canna stomach the sight of his own blood.” Tavish nudged the man with his boot and saw his chest move. “Someone will find him here soon enough.”
Two guards who were not the ones Ceit bribed stood sentry outside Magnus’s cell.
“Where do ye think ye’re going? This mon’s a prisoner of the king.”
Tavish still had his sword in one hand and had every intention of getting his brother out of this pit of hell even if he had to fight them both one handed. When they stepped forward, Tavish looked at Magnus who leaned against him. He would not endanger Magnus when he was incapable of defending himself. He would have to let Magnus rest against the wall while he dispatched their blockade. Magnus shook his head. Magnus’s silent message shocked Tavish. He would stay in the dungeon.
“Vera well. I will go to the king directly. When I return for his release, ma brother will have been given real fresh water nae the pish ye give prisoners. Do ye understand? I dinna need to be clearer, do I?”
The guards nodded and watched as Tavish led Magnus into a cell that was so disgusting that Tavish was not sure if he wanted to howl in anger or weep in sorrow. Guilt flooded him. He did not want to leave his brother there for another moment, but he needed to secure the king’s approval before he took Magnus away.
“I will be back as soon as I can, little brother. Dinna fash. Ye’ll nae even have time to miss me.” Tavish grinned as the guard shut and locked the door between them.
“Tav, what aboot Deir?”
Tavish did not want to admit that he had no clue where the woman was. He understood it would only cause Magnus further pain, but he would not lie.
“I dinna ken. Nay one has seen her in days. Her parents insist that she is unwell and confined to her chamber. I have heard otherwise. I believe she isnae here anymore, but I dinna ken where she is either.”
“Tavish, wait. I need ye to give something to the king.” Magnus reached into his sporran and pulled out something that Tavish did not recognize. “It’s our marriage decree.”
Tavish looked at his brother for a long moment before rushing from the cell and the dungeon.