Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

M ARGARET WAS STARTING to cry, and Alice held her, her own eyes red. Alana felt the same terrible grief, or perhaps she felt even worse, for she knew that Sir Alexander would die. Her visions always came true, and now this one would, as well. She glanced at Godfrey. He was pale. But then, he knew about her vision of her father's death, too.

Suddenly Joan rushed into the hall with Eleanor. "What is happening? Why is Margaret crying? Who has come?"

Iain turned toward her. "I am sorry, Lady Joan, but Sir Alexander has been mortally wounded."

Joan cried out, her knees buckling, her face draining of all color. Alice left Margaret, rushing to her mother and putting her arm around her. "No," Joan whispered. "No."

Alana gazed at Joan and her daughters and felt a terrible pain. They loved Sir Alexander—far more than she, an abandoned child, ever could.

Godfrey came over and steadied her. Alana was grateful, but she saw that Iain was not. His eyes were wide and hard as he stared at them.

Alice suddenly turned to Iain. "We must go to him!"

Iain was forbidding as he spoke. "I am leading the march on Elgin, Lady Alice. We will besiege it and this time, it will fall. It is not safe fer ye to go there."

"I don't care!" she cried. Tears began. She seized his arm. "I must see my father—he cannot die!"

Alana tensed, disliking the moment they were sharing. "It is not safe," he repeated. "And as much as I dinna wish to add to yer grief, yer prisoners here."

Alice cried, "He is our father! But you only care that we are your prisoners!"

Iain tensed with rising anger. "It is not safe—ye will wind up in the midst of a siege, and ye could die along with Sir Alexander."

Alice trembled with dismay, releasing him. "I will never marry you," she hissed.

Alana almost gasped. How had Alice learned of Bruce's interest in their union?

"I dinna realize there was to be a union betwixt us," Iain said coldly. "I am protecting ye, Alice, and I am protecting yer sister and yer mother, too."

"No. You are keeping us from Sir Alexander as he lays on his deathbed!"

Alana could not stand to hear any more. She left Godfrey's side, hurrying to Iain and touching his arm. "Iain. He is my father, too. I must see him. We all must go!"

Iain turned to her. "Alana, I cannot allow it."

Suddenly it was as if they were alone in the hall. She laid both her hands on his chest. "I am asking, no, begging. Take Joan and my sisters to our father. Delay the attack on Elgin. Take me to my father."

Iain inhaled, his gaze locked with hers, his expression grim. "They would take ye prisoner," he finally said. "Buchan would have ye locked away for the rest of yer life!"

"I don't care!" she cried, for in that moment, she was desperate.

"I care," he said. "No one goes to Elgin, except for me."

Margaret sank onto a bench and began to weep.

* * *

O UTSIDE , THE A PRIL morning was sunny and bright, but Alana felt chilled to the bone as she stood beside Iain as he prepared to mount his steed and ride to war. The front gates were open, and she could see his Highland army, two hundred strong, milling about the ridge. His banner with its red dragon flew above it.

"Ye will forgive me," he said.

Alana could barely speak. She felt dazed. Her father was dying, Alice had heard about the marriage and Iain had denied them a visit to Sir Alexander. She found her voice. "I will probably forgive you, one day," she said hoarsely.

He seized her arm and pulled her close, kissing her roughly on the mouth. "I am going to war. I will think of ye every day, Alana."

"And I will think of you, every single day." His refusal to allow her to see her dying father did not affect her love. Nothing could affect her love for Iain, she thought. "And I will pray that God keeps you safe." She felt almost no emotion now—she felt nothing but the need to see her dying father one final time, even if it meant risking capture by her uncle.

She had to see Sir Alexander before he died. There was no choice. He was her father, and she loved him, in spite of everything.

"I am keeping ye safe, Alana," he said.

She could not smile at him. She knew what she must do. Part of her was afraid—of course she was. She had no wish to be captured by her uncle. Still cold, she hugged her light wool mantle closer to her chest.

He leaped astride his horse and galloped from the keep.

Alana did not wait to see him ride all the way through the entry tower; she whirled and ran into the hall, refusing to think, filled with determination. Joan sat at the table, weeping. Margaret held her hand tightly, red-eyed. Eleanor sat on her other side, offering comfort. Alice was standing with Godfrey, and they both whirled.

Alana halted. "We will ride to Elgin in an hour," she said. "Godfrey, you will guide us."

He paled.

* * *

N O ONE SPOKE during the hard ride to Elgin. They kept to the main road, but were prepared to veer from it and into the woods at the first sign of any other travelers—or of any soldiers. At noon, Alana insisted that they pause briefly to rest, for it was clear to her that her sisters and Lady Joan were not up to the task of such a rapid and hard ride. And in the midafternoon, they heard thunder in the near distance.

Godfrey halted everyone abruptly. Thunder boomed again. Alana flinched, in that moment realizing that it wasn't thunder that they were hearing—it was the battering ram.

Iain had begun his siege.

The other women realized it, too, as they looked at one another with fright. "How will we get in during a siege?" Joan asked hoarsely. Her eyes were red from weeping. She had not been able to stop crying since they had left Brodie.

Now they could hear the frightened whinnies of horses, the shouts of men. They had not expected Iain to attack so swiftly. Alana rode up to Godfrey. "She is right. How will we get in?"

Godfrey gave her a look. "He will probably grant you anything."

"I already begged him to allow us to go to Sir Alexander!"

"I doubt you begged enough."

Alana began shaking her head. "We should tie the horses up in the woods and go on foot. Tonight, when the fighting stops, we can try to gain entry through a side door. You will be allowed in, Godfrey, surely, as will Lady Joan and the girls."

They dismounted and led their horses into the forest. As they walked along a deer path, the sounds of the battle growing louder, Godfrey said, "What if Buchan is there?"

Alana prayed that was not the case. "I have to see my father." She did not know what she would do if she learned Buchan was within Elgin.

Alice suddenly seized her arm from behind, causing her to whirl. "Why? You do not even know him! You cannot love him! You betrayed us and pledged to Bruce!" Tears streamed down her face for the first time since she had learned of Sir Alexander's wounds.

Alana cringed. "I do care. That is why I have risked Iain's wrath to bring us here!"

Alice released her horse and started running through the forest toward Elgin and the siege.

Alana was about to set chase, but Godfrey restrained her. "You cannot possibly reason with her now. And she will not go far."

He was right. She glanced at Joan and Margaret. To her surprise, Joan's eyes were not filled with hostility or hatred. They only mirrored grief, enough so, that suddenly Alana had the urge to comfort the other woman. But she did not dare do so.

They paused when they reached the edge of the woods, where Alice sat huddled beneath a pine tree. The hill beyond was bare; Elgin sat upon the adjacent ridge.

Iain's army was lined up there. Archers were firing upon Duncan's men on the ramparts, as they fired back. Other Highland warriors loaded and shot missiles from three catapults. A dozen men were working the battering ram upon Elgin's front gates. No one was yet attempting to climb the castle walls.

Joan and Margaret sat down with Alice under the pine tree. Alana now saw Iain upon his warhorse, riding back and forth along the ridge, directing his men. Some of the numbness within her faded. She watched a hail of arrows descend upon him and fear stabbed through her, but the arrows bounced off his shield.

Godfrey tied up their horses and turned to Alana. For a moment, he watched the battle, too. "He is right. You should not go within, Alana. You are a traitor. If my father is inside, if Buchan is, you will be seized the moment you are recognized."

Alana knew he was right. And for one moment, she thought of heeding Godfrey. But then she knew she must see her father one final time. She had to know why he had chosen Alice and Margaret over her; she had to know if he truly loved her at all.

She fought sudden tears. She had to know why!

"I have no choice," she said hoarsely.

"There is always a choice," Godfrey said.

* * *

T WO HOURS AFTER dark, the catapults ceased. The archers had already retired to their cook fires, and the battering ram had been parked with stone brakes. An eerie silence fell upon the night.

Godfrey led the women, all in hoods, from the woods and across the first hillside. By the time they reached the next ridge, Elgin a dark silhouette atop it, two more hours had passed. Unspeaking, they traversed a gulley in order to skirt Iain's entire army.

Margaret was the one who knew where the side door was. She had often used it as a small child, going outside to play with the dairymaid's children, in a time when the land was not at war, but at peace.

When they finally reached the door, Joan could barely stand, and both of her daughters held her up. Godfrey called out softly until the peephole was opened.

"Who goes there!" a soldier asked. Through the slit in the wood door, the whites of his eyes showed vividly in the dark night.

"It is Godfrey of Frendraught, and Lady Comyn and her daughters are with me."

The peephole was abruptly drawn closed. Alana trembled, and several minutes went by, but then the door was opened. "Godfrey?"

"Sir Edwain?" Godfrey asked.

"Good God, your father will be thrilled that you are here." Sir Edwain pulled the door wide and the women rushed inside. He then shut it and bolted it behind them.

"Sir Alexander." Joan seized his arm. "Is he alive?"

"Yes, but barely, my lady," the knight said grimly. He glanced briefly—curiously—at Alana. "I will take you to him."

As they rushed across the bailey, Godfrey asked, "So my father is here, defending Elgin?"

"Yes, and we have been expecting the earl at any time."

Alana's heart leaped with relief. Her uncle wasn't at Elgin—not yet. She only had to fear discovery by Duncan. She tugged her hood up higher, until the brim fell across her forehead.

"My friend, let us take the ladies to Sir Alexander, and then I will seek out my father," Godfrey said, but in a tone of command. Alana knew he meant to protect her from Duncan.

They soon entered the castle. Inside, torches lit the walls, and weeping could be heard. As they hurried to the stairs, they passed a pile of dead soldiers. Amongst them was a very young, freckled boy, and Alana looked away, trembling.

When would men realize that no good ever came of war?

They raced up the narrow stone stairs and onto the second floor. The torchlight in the corridor was duller now.

Alana's heart turned over hard. Ahead, a door was open. Inside, the room was lit by candles and with firelight. And she knew exactly what she would next see....

Joan whimpered. Alice broke into a run, rushing inside ahead of them. She screamed.

Joan and Margaret followed, Alana staying behind them. They faltered upon the chamber's threshold. Alana looked past them.

Sir Alexander lay upon the bed, his clothes soaked with his blood. His face was so white and still, he looked like a corpse. His weapons lay in a pile on the floor.

Alice held his hand, but she dropped it and whirled, fury in her eyes, her tone. "How dare you come with us!" she screamed at Alana. "Traitor! Whore! Be gone! Leave us alone! Go back to your Highland lover!"

Alana flinched, but otherwise did not move. Joan ran to her husband and sank onto the bed, taking his hands in hers. "Alexander," she cried. "It is I, Joan. I love you! You cannot die!"

"Father!" Margaret dropped to her knees by his shoulder. "Please don't die. Please don't leave us."

Alice glanced from her sister and father to Alana again. "Go away," she said.

Alana hugged herself. "He is my father, too."

Choking on tears, Alice knelt beside Margaret. "Father? Can you hear us? Please, wake up!"

Godfrey touched Alana from behind. "You should speak with him now, and I will get you back outside, before I seek out Duncan."

"I can't," she whispered, stricken. "I have to say goodbye, too!"

Godfrey grimaced. "Then I will do my best to keep Duncan away from this room." Suddenly he seized her arm and their gazes locked.

Alana froze, for an instant thinking he meant to kiss her. Instead, his gaze darkened and he turned and hurried away.

"Joan?"

Alana jerked as Sir Alexander whispered his wife's name. She saw his lashes fluttering as he attempted to open his eyes.

Joan stroked his forehead. "We are here, darling. I am here with the girls."

"Alice?" he gasped. "Margaret?"

"They are here," Joan whispered.

Alana felt dismay stabbing through her.

"We are here, Father," Margaret cried.

He turned his head slightly toward his daughters. He seemed to smile. "Alana?"

Alana started crying. She went forward. "I am here, also...Father."

He was still gazing at Alice and Margaret. "I love you so." He suddenly looked at Alana. "I love you. I always have."

The tears streamed down her cheeks. Alana somehow nodded. But his eyes were closed. "Oh, God," she gasped, terrified that he was dead.

Alice laid her ear upon his chest. She looked up. "He lives."

Still clasping both of his hands, Joan said, "Try to give him some water."

Alice took a mug from the side table. She sniffed it then tried to entice Sir Alexander to drink. But he lay unmoving and unconscious.

Alana realized they would keep vigil now, until he died.

She glanced around the small chamber for the first time. She retrieved a small stool and brought it over for Alice to sit upon. As Alice sat, their gazes briefly met.

She then rolled up a rug and gave it to Margaret as a makeshift seat. Margaret smiled weakly at her, her blue eyes bright with tears.

Alana stood at the side of his bed, with Joan and her sisters, and she thought, I do love you. But she wished he would explain to her, so she could understand, why he had left her to be raised by Eleanor, why he had chosen his other daughters over her.

* * *

T HE FIRE BEGAN to go out, some hours later. The room felt terribly cold. No one wept anymore. Outside, a dull light stained the night.

Alana got up and went to the fire and poked it with the iron. Flames hissed.

"Elisabeth."

Alana whirled at the sound of her father's voice. His eyes were wide-open and so very blue and he smiled, the smile of someone happy and surprised. She did not know who or what he was looking at.

And then the light was gone.

Joan cried out, collapsing upon him, weeping.

"No!" Alice and Margaret cried as one.

Alana stared at her father's sightless, lifeless eyes. He was gone.

She hugged herself, fighting not to cry, wondering if he had actually called out her mother's name with his last dying breath. And as she stood there, shaking and shaken, the night sky blushed pink. The shadows inside the chamber lightened.

The sun was about to rise, and when it did, Iain would renew his siege.

She wanted to hug her father as her two sisters and Joan were doing. But she was afraid to insert herself amongst them. And time was running out. She had to leave.

Alana wet her lips and managed to speak. "It is dawn. The siege will soon begin. Sir Alexander wanted you safely out of harm's way.... Joan? We should go."

Joan was sobbing softly, clasping her husband's lifeless hands to her breast. She could not respond, but Alice whirled, her arm around her weeping sister. "We cannot leave him!"

Alana blinked back tears. "I am afraid for you if you stay here."

"What difference will it make?" Alice said. "Iain took us prisoner, if we stay here, he will do so again."

She had never been in a siege, Alana thought. "Or you might suffer injury or death during this battle."

Alice's eyes widened.

There was a sound at the door, and Alana turned, expecting Godfrey.

The Earl of Buchan smiled coldly at her.

Her heart seemed to plummet through her entire body. She cried out, backing up into the bed.

"So the whore dared to enter my castle," her uncle snarled. His eyes were hard and cruel.

Her heart exploded with panic now. She could not move—she could barely draw a breath.

Joan stood up. "He is dead, John. Alexander is dead."

The earl barely glanced at his brother. "I was told he would not live." His burning gaze held Alana's. "But some good will come of this night. I punish treason with death, Alana," he said.

"No," Joan said instantly. Alana started. "She brought us here, risking her life to do so, and she is your niece. Alexander is—was—her father!"

Alana was shocked that Joan would defend her now.

"I do not care!" Buchan strode forward, hand raised. Alana ducked, but too late. His blow was severe, and it knocked her off of her feet, onto her father's lifeless body.

Alana cried out in pain as Joan gasped. Alice stared, horrified, while Margaret screamed, "Stop!"

Alana pushed herself up to stand, but then Buchan seized her hair and jerked her hard toward him. She gasped as she crashed face-first into his legs. He then kicked her hard in the ribs. Alana careened onto the floor, buckling over. Tears of pain blinded her.

"Ye will die for touching her," Iain roared.

Alana looked up as he moved past her, sword raised. On the floor, on her hands and knees, Alana realized that he was going to kill her uncle. She was shocked, as this was not the vision she had had!

But Buchan seized Alice, pulled her in front of him, and laid a dagger at her throat. "I have heard you bed one sister, but will wed the other," he said.

Iain froze, his sword in midair.

Buchan smiled. "Drop your sword, Iain. Or watch your bride die."

Joan cried out.

Iain dropped his sword, and did not reach for the other sword on his left hip.

"John! My God! Alice is your niece!" Joan begged.

Buchan moved toward the door, dragging Alice with him, using her as a shield. No one spoke, everyone watching him. Alana still crouched on the floor while Iain remained in the room's midst, as still as a statue, as watchful as a hawk.

Buchan went through the doorway with Alice, who was white with fright, her expression one of desperation. They turned right and disappeared from sight.

Iain knelt down beside Alana. "I will kill him," he said, reaching gently for her.

"I am fine," she told him. "What will he do to Alice?"

"When he loses this war, she will be a useful hostage to him," Iain said, helping Alana to stand. "And yer not fine." He tilted up her chin, his gaze on her jaw, which was surely turning black-and-blue, for it throbbed so badly. "Ye disobeyed me, Alana, damn it. I ordered ye to stay at Brodie. I forbade ye coming here!"

"I could not obey, Iain! Oh, God, he has Alice!" Alana cried, genuinely frightened for her sister. "We must help her!"

His glance flickered toward Sir Alexander, then Joan and Margaret, who held one another. "I am sorry, Lady Joan." He retrieved his sword.

"He has lost his mind!" Joan was crying again. "His brother is dead and he has abducted Alice! Why? To use her against Bruce one day?"

Iain's grim expression was answer enough. "Wait here." Iain turned and strode from the chamber.

Alana started. Images from her vision flashed in her mind—of Buchan, about to murder Iain. She hesitated. Then she took up her father's short sword and raced after Iain, who was at the end of the corridor. "I am coming with you!"

He whirled, incredulous. "Go back to the bedchamber, Alana," he ordered.

She ran up to him. "I can't let you hunt Buchan alone!"

"Ye defied me by coming to Elgin—and ye openly defy me now? To my own face?"

"I wish to help you, Iain!" she cried breathlessly. Alana ran past him. Where would Buchan take Alice? Would he take her up to a tower room, to imprison her as he had imprisoned Alana? She started up the stairs.

Iain quickly seized her arm, then rushed past her to lead the way. There were no torches lit in the stairwell, and it was almost as dark as the night. "Ye think he's gone to the closest tower." It was not a question.

"I do."

"We must be wary," he said softly. "Duncan is within, too. However, he is probably on the ramparts, wondering why I have yet to begin the siege."

Alice nodded, even though Iain could not see her action. He reached the landing and paused until she was beside him. They started down the hallway. On the farthest end, the Earl of Buchan stepped out of a chamber.

Buchan saw them and froze; Iain broke into a hard run, sword raised. Alana ran after him.

The earl withdrew his sword, backing into the room he had come from. He slammed the door closed.

Alana knew Alice was within, she was certain. Iain was ahead of her—she could not keep up with him—and he reached the chamber. Alana ran up to him, panting.

He gave her a terse look. "Ye stay here, in the hall, ye dinna come inside. This time, ye obey me."

Alana nodded.

"Vow it," he said.

She hesitated. "I can't."

He was disbelieving. Then he reached for the door's iron handle. To their surprise, it lifted in its latch—Buchan had not slid the bolt inside.

Iain gave her a sharp glance, nodded and pushed open the door. He did not move as the oak door swung open.

Alana glanced past him. There was no light inside the chamber. She saw nothing but dark shadows.

A few sconces boasted torches in the hallway, however, so they were in the light.

"Alice?" Iain spoke.

There was no answer. There was no sound at all now, except for Alana's heavy breathing.

Her heart raced. She imagined Buchan within, her sister in his grasp, his hand covering her mouth. She looked up at Iain. He gave her a warning glance, one she knew meant that she was to stay still. "Be careful," she mouthed silently.

He stepped back, away from the open doorway, closer to her. As he did, he pulled the chain and cross he wore from his neck. He tossed the necklace into the room.

The gold made a soft metallic sound as it hit the stone floor. And then they heard the scrape of leather soles on stone, just to the left of the doorway.

Buchan had dragged her sister farther away from the door, Alana thought. And as she had that notion, Iain charged within. "A Bruce!" he roared.

Alana raised her father's short sword, rushing inside after him.

Buchan stood to the left of the door, and he released Alice so he could raise his own sword and meet Iain's onslaught. Their swords clashed viciously and rang.

Alice stumbled. Alana lowered her sword to seize her hand and pull her toward the doorway. She glanced at Iain—he and her uncle were locked in battle, blade to blade, Iain savagely intent, Buchan appearing frightened.

"You came back for me?" Alice gasped.

It took Alana one second to make up her mind, as she watched the men disengage and then strike at one another again. This time, their swords shrieked so loudly, it was as if someone had pulled on the wrong strings of a harp or violin.

"Go! Go back to Joan and Margaret, then find Godfrey if you can and leave the castle!"

Alice's eyes went wide. Then she nodded and ran off.

Alana faced the two men inside and saw that Iain had backed her uncle into the far corner of the room, and he was smiling ruthlessly now. But before he could deliver a fatal blow, she heard the many booted footsteps racing toward her from the stairwell. Alana saw Duncan, Godfrey and another soldier rushing up the hall. She screamed in warning. "Iain!"

But he had heard them, too. And for the first time since finding the Earl of Buchan, Iain glanced at her—away from his enemy.

Fear seized her—Iain was engaged with Buchan, and Duncan would surely capture her. "It is Duncan, Godfrey, one more," she gasped, raising her sword to defend herself.

The Earl of Buchan snarled, "You're finished now, Highland dog."

But Iain did not hear him. Either that, or he did not care. He leaped away from Buchan, rushing toward Alana at the door. Clearly his intention was to defend her now.

Buchan rushed after him, sword raised. His expression was vicious, his eyes murderous. It was déjà vu—it was her vision come true.

"Iain!" Alana screamed in warning.

Iain turned and met the blow with his own sword, so hard, that Buchan's sword was driven from his grasp, and it fell, clattering across the floor. Iain ran to her just as Duncan came into striking distance. Duncan snarled, the sound animal-like, thrusting his blade toward her. From behind, Iain roared, leaping in front of her and deflecting the blow. Their swords screamed.

Alana watched the two men strain against one another, and knew this was a different match entirely—Duncan was a seasoned soldier, unlike her uncle. But Duncan also had Buchan and the other men to help him bring Iain down.

She turned. Buchan had just staggered to the doorway, sword in hand. But Alana saw blood on his sleeves—he had been wounded in the earlier fight.

There was no time for any sense of relief. Godfrey suddenly turned and pushed his blade against the throat of the soldier behind him. "Alana, go, go now!" he shouted.

Alana froze, realizing what Godfrey was doing—he had trapped his father's soldier against the wall so she could flee. She looked back at Iain, as he and Duncan parried violently another time. Iain's blow was so powerful that Duncan was propelled back into the wall. Iain struck again and Duncan's sword arm shot back into the wall, and he released his sword, which tumbled away.

Iain turned to look at Buchan. Her uncle raised his sword, staring back.

Alana knew what he meant to do. "Iain!" she screamed. "We must flee!"

She knew Iain had heard her, and that he understood fleeing was the best course of action at this moment. But determined as he was, he reacted instantly, savagely striking at his enemy. Buchan was driven from his feet, but he managed to hold on to his sword. And there was no more time; they had to escape. Iain leaped past Duncan, took Alana's hand and they were flying as if on wings, past Godfrey, past the soldier and down the hall and stairs.

They fled through the downstairs, past awakening housemaids and soldiers, and through the hall. In the next corridor Alana saw her two sisters and Joan, slipping outside. They ran after them.

Alice cried out when they reached them. Iain took the lead and they hurried after him, across the back courtyard. Two boys with a wagon filled with wood gaped at them. And then someone shouted out in warning from the ramparts above.

Ahead, Alana saw the small side door that they had used last night to enter Elgin. A pair of Iain's Highland warriors stood there guarding it.

"Who goes there?" Someone shouted from the ramparts above them. "Identify yourselves!"

They were but strides away from that door. While Buchan's and Duncan's men were atop those walls, Iain's men were outside them.

"It is I, Lady Comyn, Sir Alexander's wife," Joan suddenly shouted, slowing down as she did so.

Alana did not know what to do, and did not have to decide. Iain seized her and dragged her to the door and pushed her though it.

"Sir Alexander is dead," Joan cried loudly. "The Earl of Buchan is wounded. And Duncan has just been defeated.... We are fleeing Elgin, as you should!"

Alana heard her every word and gasped, as Iain shoved each of her sisters in turn through the small door. "Lady Joan!" he barked.

She came running to him then, while a commotion began on the castle walls. Dozens of soldiers appeared, staring down at them in confusion. And then Joan and Iain, followed by his two men, were safely outside. As they ran from the castle, a dozen of his mounted warriors galloped up to them to protect them from Elgin's archers. But no arrows were fired at them.