Chapter Nineteen
Colin knew better than to let anger rule his actions, but as he arrived back at the encampment, one arm protectively around Tiva, and the other holding his sword, his instincts told him something was wrong. It appeared everyone was awake, hours before sunrise, and he could hear several women weeping from inside Captain Kai’s tent. He gazed down at Tiva, fearing the worst.
“Stay here, lass.”
“Shouldna I come with ye?”
“Let me make sure it’s safe first.”
As he drew closer to the tent, Kenneth intercepted him. “Thank God ye’re here!”
“Where is Captain Kai? Lady Miran?”
“Inside.” Kenneth pointed.
Colin needed to get in there and see what was going on for himself, but Kenneth grabbed his arm.
“Cadha is dead,” he said. “We doona know where she came from or how she slipped by the guards, but it appears she poisoned the captain. Lady Miran saved his life.”
“This is grave news.” He pushed his way inside the crowded tent and stopped beside the captain’s bed.
Dedra was attending Kai, dabbing his brow with linen. He took one look at Kai, pale and fevered, then looked away with a whispered curse. On the other side of the captain’s bed, another cot had been set up for Lady Miran. Though she, too, was unconscious, she dinna appear as ill as Kai.
“What is wrong with her?” he asked one of the maids.
“Sheer exhaustion and shock, I think,” the maid offered. “Her gown and hands were covered in blood, the old woman’s blood.”
Kenneth stuck his head inside. “We need ye, sir.”
In Kai’s absence, Colin was expected to take command. “Dedra,” he said before leaving, “there is a lass waiting outside named Tiva. She is from Cacalay, and has been treated worse than a criminal. I trust ye will see her bathed and dressed in a suitable gown, fed and given whatever she needs to feel comfortable. Of course I will pay for whatever she uses.”
“Ye may depend on me, Colin.”
He nodded in appreciation, then went outside.
“I thought ye might want to examine Cadha’s body.”
“Lead the way.”
Lying in the snow on the perimeter of the camp, Colin used his foot to roll Cadha over. A dirk was still deeply embedded in her back. He knelt and touched the jeweled handle, knowing it must indeed belong to Lady Miran.
“The ground is frozen, we canna bury her,” Kenneth said.
Colin scoffed at the idea of giving the witch a Christian burial. She had attempted to kill his commander, and possibly Lady Miran, too. Nay, she deserved to be a burnt offering to whatever devil she served. “Build a pyre.”
Kenneth’s mouth opened but he dinna say anything.
“I hold ye personally responsible for seeing it done. And doona forget to remove Lady Miran’s dagger from her back first. Clean the blade before ye bring it to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
The next thing Colin needed to do was send two men over the Sutherland border to request safe escort from Cacalay to Lagrith. Though he hated asking for help from Clan MacKay’s greatest enemy, since the earl was Lady Helen’s father, he was sure he’d not be denied. His request wouldna reach the earl’s attention for days, for his castle was far away, but there was an outpost nearby, where a full regiment of Sutherland soldiers lived.
Colin found two of the fastest riders and gave them orders. Once they left, he returned to Kai’s tent and sat on a stool between the beds.
Hours later, Miran finally stirred and opened her eyes. “Kai!”
Colin leaned forward and captured her flailing hands. “Lady Miran, ye are safe.”
She quieted, closed her eyes, then opened them again. “W-where am I?”
“In the captain’s tent. Ye fainted.”
She shot up, looking wildly about, finding Kai on the bed next to her. “Tell me he isna dead! Tell me I got to Cadha before she stabbed him. My memory is failing.”
“I promise ye, mistress, no blade touched our captain.”
“Thank the Almighty. She poisoned the bread. Ye must make sure no one eats it.”
“As far as I know, no one else ate the bread. We had our own. Buying bread in the village was an excuse for our presence once we encountered the hostile men living there. Ye never should have eaten it.”
“I doona blame anyone. How could we have expected Cadha to be there?” She dangled her legs over the side of the cot and slowly rose to her feet, staying close to Kai. “Where is Cadha?”
“Her body is being prepared for the funeral pyre.”
“So it wasna a dream. My aim was true.”
“Aye, yer dirk ended her life.”
“Not too long ago, Captain Kai told me he hoped I never had to kill a man.”
“I am sorry ye had to drink that bitter draught, milady. Death is never something to take lightly. I remember the face of every man I’ve killed. Ye did it in the defense of our commander, so ye are not guilty of any sin. Believe me.”
Color slowly returned to Lady Miran’s cheeks, but Colin knew she was suffering inside. Only time would help her heal.
Miran held Kai’s hand to her heart. “Ye may go now. All of ye.” She looked around the tent. Two of her maids and several guards were still there. “I will watch over the captain.”
“As ye wish.” Colin stood.
“Colin?”
“Yes, mistress?”
“Did ye get Tiva?”
“Aye.” He smiled. “She is with Dedra.”
“I am happy for ye.”
“Thank ye.”
“As soon as Captain Kai awakens, I will send for ye.”