David rode in front flanked by his sire on one side and his brother and Sweeney on the other. Two guards rode in line with them, each carrying the Drummond banner. The Scottish breeze across the valley caught the edges of the flags, snapping them with vigor.
The snapping sound made him sit taller in his seat. The pride he felt in leading this fearsome army of Drummond warriors with his father and brother no doubt showed in his expression and his countenance. He set his horse to a healthy canter once the gates of MacGruder Castle came into view.
They had no time to waste.
When they reached the portcullis, he was surprised to see the heavy grille had been raised at their approach. He stopped, indicating with his hand that all were to stop behind him. “I wish to speak with your laird.”
The guard standing above him said, “You and your sire and no others.”
His father didn’t hesitate. “We’ll enter with five guards. They may remain in the courtyard, but they’ll follow us.”
The guard exchanged a glance with one of his fellows. “Accepted. Enter. My laird awaits you in the great hall.”
David’s gut began to roil, a slow churning that reminded him to keep his temper in check. This was too easy. Something was surely afoot, some underhanded deed being covered up. In fact, he was so certain of it that he motioned for Sweeney and his brother to ride around to the back of the curtain wall while they were inside.
He vowed not to mention that he’d been to see Anna last night, or that he was aware of the appalling way she’d been treated. He dismounted, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword just to remind himself that his weapon would serve him well, if necessary.
As they crossed the bailey, Micheil whispered orders to their guards. The men took up their assigned places while David and his father entered the hall. Once David’s eyes adjusted to the dingy interior, they were led to a table in the center of the great hall, where Lorne MacGruder sat across from Gilroy Walters.
“I’ve come to claim my bride,” David said, his chin lifted and his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Your bride?” Walters glanced from MacGruder to David and then back again. “Anna and I are to marry in two days. He has betrothed her to me, said your betrothal is off.”
“Nay, it’s not. Out betrothal was sanctioned by our king. We were to marry in less than a moon, so you may take your leave, Walters. I’ve decided to move the ceremony up to a fortnight from now,” David said, stepping closer to him with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Lorne MacGruder stood up, his hand on his sword. “I have rescinded my approval of your marriage to my daughter. I choose to give her to Walters. I’ve already sent a missive to our king, but you know that, Drummond.”
“And what does Anna say about that?” David asked, seething with anger, wanting to reach out and grab the man by the throat. “Or our king? He sanctioned our betrothal. Just because you sent a missive does not mean he will accept it.”
“Anna is a lass. I care not what she thinks. ‘Tis my job to make decisions for her. And once I advise the king of what happened to my daughter, he’ll understand the need for the change and the importance of seeing this done quickly. ‘Tis her best interests we all have at heart. Everyone but you, Drummond. You claim to love my daughter, but you’re interested only in your personal gain. Anna is distressed and needs to have her life settled. Surely you can understand that after all that has transpired. Anna wishes for happiness. This is her best chance.”
Walters nodded. “Agree to this match and go on your way. We need not involve the king in the matter. He’s a busy man. Honestly, Drummond, you could have any lass you want. Go choose another.”
“I choose Anna. Where is she?”
“She’s not here,” her father replied, returning to his chair and falling into it with a plunk, a shady grin on his face.
David returned to the doorway to the keep and called three of the Drummond guards inside. “Search the keep for Anna MacGruder.” The guards did as they were bid, but he could see that his threat did not bother MacGruder at all. Unable to trust anything the fool said, he headed up the staircase to check her chamber. Empty.
He raced back down the stairs, waiting for his guards to return and report. All three came back empty-handed, shaking their heads.
“Where is she?” David said, feeling his cheeks flush with anger.
“You’ll never find her,” MacGruder chuckled.
His sire stepped in. “MacGruder, why the animosity against my son? You approved this marriage at one time. He said he did not care if she was untouched, so why have you changed your mind? Are you paying him a huge bag of coin, Walters? If so, ‘tis most unethical. My wife sent a missive to our king, and you know how King Alexander favors her. I would advise you to hold off on the marriage for three days until we can determine the king’s wishes in this matter.”
To David’s surprise, Walters paled at the mention of their king, whispering frantically to MacGruder, “You said the king would approve.” Lorne’s only reply to either man was that same self-satisfied little grin. He had as little care for Gilroy Walters as he had David Drummond. What was at the core of this fiasco?
Walters was unsettled. David’s sire had advised him that this man held little land, only had a few families to work his fields. Apparently, he feared having his land stripped from him. He paused, then swallowed. “I will wait, but not more than three days.”
“Take your leave, Drummonds. You’re no longer welcome here,” Lorne said.
“Do I have your word you’ll not marry your daughter to Walters until the king passes his decision on this?” Micheil asked.
“Nay, you have no vow from me. You have continued to harass me, and I heard David attempted to speak with Anna last eve. Stay away, Drummond, or I’ll see your son’s head on a pike in front of my gates.”
David trudged back out of the great hall, his sire next to him. Once they gained their horses’ backs and circled back to Drummond land, his sire turned his head toward him, speaking only loud enough for him to hear.
“Why is it that you are not more upset about these events?”
David smiled. “Because I asked for help.”
“Help? In what way?”
“My cousins have been patrolling the area since this morn. I’m sure they know where Anna is, and I intend to go after her.”
His father quirked his brow at him. “Think you they’ve found her?”
David smiled. “Aye. I’ll leave you in a bit and go after them. Then I’ll do what I must. If I think we need warriors, I’ll return for your assistance.” He let out a bird call for his brother and Sweeney. A few moments later they joined up with them. His sire looked at him in shock.
“Where did they go?”
“I sent them to the back of the curtain wall to see if there were any signs of horses leaving that way. Daniel is a hell of a tracker.”
Daniel smirked at his sire but then said, “Lots of action a short distance from the back exit, but nothing that went far. All trails led back to the front.”
Sweeney added, “Except for yours from the other night. Falcon feathers in one area.”
His father looked at the three of them for a long moment and then smiled. “When did you suddenly grow up, David?”
David replied, “She will be mine, Papa. You can count on it.”
***
Anna’s head pounded, the same way it had for the past few days. Potions, potions, and more potions. The last thing she recalled was being sent to her chamber after the Drummonds were seen. She forced her eyes open, hoping she’d find David there, but her heart sank when she saw only her mother. They were in some strange chamber she didn’t recognize.
“Mama, nay,” she moaned, wishing things were different. She pushed herself upright, taking in her surroundings. “Where am I?”
“We’re at Lochluin Abbey. Your sire wished for us to take you far away, but the weather did not accommodate it. There are torrential downpours outside, so ‘twas safer for us to settle here.”
“Why? Why does Papa object to me marrying David? He wants me and I want him, and his parents do not seem to mind at all.”
Her mother hung her head, tears misting her eyes until they overflowed and flooded her cheeks. Though her mother was often sad, she’d never seen her this distraught. “Mama?”
Amidst the hitching of her words, she managed to speak bits and pieces. “My fault…all my fault. So sorry…” She choked out the words, her face cradled in her hands. What could she possibly be referring to?
“How could this be your fault?”
“You don’t understand. Run, I will lie for you. Just go. Take your brat and run until you find David, and don’t ever come back. I will understand.”
Her mother stood, holding her brat up and helping her into it. “I’ll cover for you. Just go.”
Anna had never been more confused, but though her mother’s hitching sobs broke her heart, she didn’t intend to squander this opportunity. She gave her a quick hug, then headed out the door. The passageway was empty, but she had no idea which way to go. She headed in one direction but found only the chapel, so she turned around and ran as fast as she could, ecstatic to find the door to the outside. She pushed it open, only to be temporarily slowed by the force of the wind and the rain pelting her face. Taking a deep breath, she plunged out into the storm without another thought, pulling her hood up to protect her face.
Where to go? She briefly considered heading directly toward Drummond land, but the ferocity of the storm changed her mind. Lochluin Abbey was near Cameron land, and David and his parents were allies with Aedan Cameron.
If she could just get to their keep, they would help her.
She ran and ran until the pressure in her lungs forced her to slow down. To her surprise, she hadn’t gone very far before she noticed the Cameron keep ahead.
Unfortunately, her luck ran out. The sound of horses’ hooves came from behind her, and she found herself scooped up into a pair of arms.
Filib said, “Hang on, or you’ll fall off and snap your neck.”
Her excitement was only momentary. “Filib, just take me to the Cameron keep. Hurry.”
Another horse approached them from behind, grinding her wishes into the mud. Her sire shouted, “Take her back now, Filib.”
Filib turned his horse around and she fell against him, tears mixing with the rain on her cheeks. “Please.”
“I cannot go against Papa. I’m sorry.”
“Then do me this favor. One favor. Please, I beg you.”
“What?”
“Send a message to David. Let him know I’m here.” She could see by the clench in her brother’s jaw that he was weakening. “Filib, I need your help. Mama told me to run, she knows how wrong this is. Please, I beg you to help me.”
He peeked at her face for just a fraction of a second, enough for her to know he did care. He whispered, “I don’t know if ‘tis possible. Papa watches everything Ossian and I do, just as he does with you.”
“What has happened to him? I hardly recognize him anymore.”
He shook his head slightly as if to agree with her. “I know not. I don’t understand why he suddenly appears to hate David Drummond. But you know how brutal he can be with his warriors. I won’t be able to help anyone if he decides I’m his enemy.” He gave her a sly wink. “But I know he’s wrong, so I’ll do what I can.”
Once they reached the abbey, her sire bounded off his horse and hurried inside the building without giving them a second glance. Ossian joined them from a different direction. He’d likely been sent out to search for her, too.
Filib helped her down and guided her inside. Many nuns stood in the passageway, their expressions confused and lost. What had happened?
Her brother took her by the hand and led her back to the chamber they’d been given. The closer they came, the clearer the issue became. Her sire was inside the chamber berating her mother for letting her go. She heard a resounding slap just before they entered, and she couldn’t help but wonder if her father had struck her mother.
Did his cruelty know no bounds?
Filib stopped her just outside the chamber, holding his finger up to his lips to listen to their conversation.
Her mother said, “I don’t understand why you’ve changed your mind, Lorne. I thought you approved this marriage. What has changed?”
“You and Struan convinced me that the clan could benefit from this match. I believed it would gain me special favor from our king, but he hasn’t sent me any coin or offered me more land. He’s done naught for me. And neither have the Drummonds. I thought they’d offer to help with our castle. We need a new roof, but they’ve offered naught.”
“They would likely help you if you asked them.”
“I’ll not do it. I have my pride, and you know how I feel about that family.”
“Mayhap the king will gift you something once the marriage takes place, Lorne.”
How she wished she could see the expression on her mother’s face. Someday, she’d express her gratitude to her mother for standing up for her. And whatever could her father mean? Why would he hold a grudge against the Drummonds?
“We’ll never know. Now I know I can’t allow this marriage to take place. I never should have agreed in the first place. With the attack, it makes my decision easy. She’s tainted, so we’ll marry her to Walters. There’ll be no more discussion about it.”
Filib gave her a nudge, which she immediately understood. The conversation had ended, and he didn’t wish to get caught eavesdropping. When she stepped into the doorway, her father whirled around. Pointing an accusatory finger at her, he said, “You will stay here. Understand that I have a decree that I will not bend on. I promise you that you will not get your way, nor will your mother get hers. If you force my hand, I will drug you, tie you up, whatever it takes—and the king will go along with me. I will explain all the circumstances to him, and when he knows the truth, he will support me.” He cast a scathing glance at Anna’s mother, who once again burst into tears. “Your mother understands what I say is true.
“I’ve been foolish. The Drummonds’ attempts to change my mind will never work. I have waited long enough. This stops now. I will invite the king here to bear witness.”
She stared at the man in front of her, a man she’d once adored, a man who had been taken over by some unknown force, some sickness, that had turned him so resolutely against her. “Papa, please. I love him.”
Her words did not affect him one wee bit, instead making his resolve more forceful.
“There will be no David Drummond in this family.”