Chapter 20

S ibylla heard the Douglas horns as she neared the bottom of the hill but kept on toward the enormous army. To her left, she caught a glimpse of the eastern force with a single rider leading it before focusing on the leaders to the west, trying to judge their speed. Her intent was to ride between the two forces if she could do so in time, and try to stop the carnage before it began.

At the bottom of the hill, still some fifty yards from the Douglas's army, she saw the leader of the Percy lot closing fast on her and spurred harder toward the Douglases. Her swiftly seeking gaze spied Archie the Grim just as he raised a hand.

The notes of the Douglas horns changed abruptly and the horses slowed, but they were near enough that several dashed by on each side of her.

She reined her horse in hard, shut her eyes, and held her breath as the noisy sea of horseflesh and riders flowed around her.

Aside from still-jingling harness and blowing horses, an eerie silence fell.

She opened her eyes to find Archie the Grim, the Black

Douglas, in front of her, his expression revealing just how he had come by both names.

"My lord," she said hastily, "it is not—"

"Be silent," Douglas snapped. Then, "Let him through, lads."

A prickling sensation shot up her spine, telling her who the "him" was.

Straightening, Sibylla raised her chin. She would have liked to explain the whole thing to the Douglas first, but his forbidding expression kept her quiet.

He was not quiet. "Have you lost your senses?" he demanded, his face too close to hers and choleric with fury. "Do you know how near you came to death?"

"I—"

"Silence!" he roared. "I do not ask questions to hear your prattle but to keep me from snatching you off that horse and putting you over my knee!"

"That is my right now, my lord," Simon said with icy calm from much too close behind Sibylla for her comfort. "She is my wife."

She dared not look at him, so she fixed her gaze on Douglas, reassuring herself that Archie at least would not make good his threat. His expression still suggested otherwise, but at last he shifted his gaze to Simon.

"By heaven," he growled. "I've a mind to hang you both if only to ease my temper! I told you what I'd do if I caught you conspiring with the Percys."

"By my troth, sir, I have not done that," Simon said. "I cannot tell you why Cecil Percy is here. We were getting to that when the horns interrupted us."

"Aye, Stewart horns," Douglas said. "You've no right, unless Fife be with you, to be blowing such."

"I did not order it," Simon said. "To my ken, Fife is nowhere near here."

"That was my fault, my lord," Sibylla said, her eyes still on the Douglas but only too aware that Simon was within arm's reach of her. "I told my hornsman to blow as if the King's whole army were behind us. He . . . he misunderstood."

Stunned silence greeted her explanation.

"As . . ." She swallowed. "As soon as I realized what had happened, I told him to blow the Murray notes instead. I'd seen the Percy men below and a host of riders to the west, so I thought the Percys had lured Simon into ambush. That's why I—"

"Enough," the Douglas said curtly. He turned to Simon. "I expect I'd better hear what you have to say."

Movement of riders wending through the mass behind Douglas soon revealed to Sibylla that she had more to face than Archie's temper and Simon's.

Meeting first Buccleuch's harsh gaze and then Garth's reminded her that they both regarded her as a sister now, subject to their authority as well as Simon's.

With an inward sigh, she looked back at the Douglas. He had turned to Buccleuch and Westruther. "You two should also hear what Murray has to say," he said.

"With respect, my lord," Simon said. "I'd ask that Cecil Percy join us. Unless I much mistake the matter, he has concerns about this incident, too."

"Aye, sure, why not?" the Douglas said with more than a touch of sarcasm. "At least his men, though armed to the teeth, are holding their peace."

Sibylla, shocked to think the leader of the visitors to Elishaw had been Cecil Percy after all, and wondering where else her thinking had gone amiss, turned to catch a glimpse of Percy only to find her gaze locked with Simon's instead.

Simon had had all he could do not to snatch her off her horse right there in front of God and two armies and use her exactly as Archie had suggested. His fingers fairly itched to grab hold of her. But when she turned, and her silvery gaze met his, all he could think was how blessed he was that he hadn't lost her.

Such thinking, however, being clearly unacceptable under the circumstances, he forced icy calm into his voice to say, "Do not expect thanks for this, madam."

"I am not so foolish, my lord," she said. "I know that when you decide on a course, you remain certain you are right even when events prove you wrong."

"We will talk later," he promised, turning to watch Cecil Percy approach.

Behind Percy, four men-at-arms flanked two others, whom Simon recognized with astonishment and a sense of irony as the Colville brothers. Casting a glance at Sibylla, he saw that she had recognized them, too.

As her gaze met his, her lips curved wryly, making him sure that, believing Kit was Lady Catherine, she had leapt again to conclusions—this time about the Colvilles. The two might well be involved, but he had yet to see evidence of it.

Nevertheless, as he heard Douglas order his men to fall back and give them space to talk, he looked forward grimly to hearing what the Colvilles would say.

Sibylla watched the Douglas's men move a short distance away and saw, too, that Cecil Percy's men likewise moved back—except for the four right behind him who stood with Thomas and Edward Colville.

She studied Thomas, trying to read his expression. With so many other horses moving, she did not hear one approaching her until Westruther's voice sounded practically in her ear.

"So you've been riding like Auld Clootie again, as young Sym would say."

Managing not to jerk her reins, she turned to him and said, "I did as I thought necessary, sir. Not that I expect you or Buccleuch, let alone Simon, to accept that."

Garth's bright blue eyes twinkled. "Simon is the only one that need concern you, lass. But I'll wager you do have some unpleasantness coming your way. I'm a gey tolerant fellow, myself, but if Amalie were to—"

"Amalie is with child, sir. I am not." It occurred to her as she said it that she might be, but she took care not to let that thought show on her face.

Garth was shaking his head. "Try telling that to Simon and see where it gets you," he said. "I'm sure you had cause, Sibylla, and I've reason of my own to be glad you are quicker to act than to think. I wish you luck, lass."

"As long as neither you nor any of the others mean to make me miss hearing what is said here, sir, I shall remain content for now."

"Nay, we'll keep you near, lass, especially Archie. Wat and I did tell him of your marriage. But as you and I both heard when he spoke to you, he still looks on you more as a daughter than as Simon's wife. He may have more to say to you anon. But for now, he will keep you close to him for your own protection."

Sibylla nodded but knew the Douglas would not protect her from Simon. The journey back to Elishaw would be discomfiting no matter what happened here.

Simon could wreak his vengeance on her at last, with every right to do so.

Cecil, encouraged by Douglas to speak his piece, said, "I was in the area for private reasons when I came on this chap, Colville, and his men. He warned me that Scottish reivers were on their way to harass my people again and steal their beasts. We waited with him until Murray and his men appeared. Colville said they were the reivers. I met Murray, and we'd begun to speak when events transpired as you saw."

Simon watched the Douglas shift his fierce gaze to Thomas Colville. "You say you know of raiders attacking here in England," Archie said. "Where are they?"

"I fear they are here, my lord," Thomas said, gesturing to Simon.

Simon saw Sibylla bristle, but she wisely held her tongue.

He said evenly, "You know that is not true, Colville. But you and my cousin have now said enough to make me certain that your trail, not his, is the one we followed here from Elishaw. You stayed there last night under false pretenses."

"I am not surprised that you would make such an accusation," Thomas said with disdain. To the Douglas, he added haughtily, "It is wholly untrue, of course."

Keeping tight rein on his temper, Simon said gently, "You will hardly be foolish enough to insist on that. You must know that one of your men rides a pony with a misshapen hoof that we can easily identify."

Thomas glanced at Edward, their expressions showing that they did know.

Simon added, "My own experience proves to me that a man may do things in obedience to his liege lord, or a brother, that he would not do on his own. If you two set things in motion at someone else's command to draw me into a trap you expected my cousin Percy to spring for you, you'd be wise to admit it."

When both Colvilles remained silent, Douglas said curtly, "If you've aught else to say, lads, say it now or I'll be drawing my own conclusions."

"It was not like that," Thomas said. "We had nowt to do with bringing the Percys here, though I'll admit we used the Percy name to gain entrance to Elishaw."

"Why?" Douglas asked.

"I knew that Lady Murray"—Thomas glanced at Sibylla—"the dowager lady Murray, that is, was a Percy, so I thought . . . that is, my lord suggested that the name would gain us entrance. When these Percys appeared unexpectedly today, I told them what we have suspected for some months now—that Murray of Elishaw is behind the raiding both here and throughout the Scottish Borders."

"Is that notion Fife's or yours?" Archie asked bluntly. "Both, I'm afraid, sir. We have come to see that Murray pretends to remain neutral merely to cover more disreputable activities that increase Elishaw's wealth."

Sibylla snapped, "That, Thomas Colville, is a fiendish lie, and you know it!"

"Hush, lass," Simon said. "Nobbut what she speaks the truth, Colville. Are you prepared to swear that you lied to my people at Elishaw and gained entrance there with no idea but that you'd find stolen sheep and cattle in my bailey?"

"You know that was not my purpose," Thomas said. "I don't deny that my lord Fife would be content had we found such, but you know very well that I sought something far more valuable."

Impatiently, Douglas said, "Well, Murray, is there aught to what the man says?"

"Nay," Simon said without taking his eyes off Thomas. "I thought nowt but that Cecil Percy had come a bit earlier than expected to Elishaw."

"That is true, my lord," Sibylla said. "However, I did suspect mischief."

"That's enough, madam," Simon said. "Leave this matter to us."

"Nay then, I'll hear her," the Douglas said. "Go on, lass."

Sibylla said, "You have heard of the missing heiress, Lady Catherine Gordon, my lord. The Colvilles have been searching for weeks for her."

"I am betrothed to the lady Catherine, my lord," Thomas protested.

"I did hear that, aye," Archie said. "And a travesty I thought it, too. Do you mean to say you gained entrance to Elishaw to search for your wee heiress there?"

"Aye, for you see, my brother had seen her with Murray," Thomas said.

Simon kept silent, wondering how Edward Colville would explain that.

But Sibylla said angrily, "Remember the lad Dand, Thomas Colville, and tell the whole tale! If Edward saw us with Kit and Dand, my lord, then he and his men are the villains who pitched the poor lad into the Tweed. So terrified was Kit of them that she hurled herself into the river after him rather than let them catch her."

Simon turned to hush her again, but Douglas flicked a hand, silencing him.

Edward Colville, Simon noted, was silent but deeply flushed.

When Sibylla began to go on, Thomas cut her off, saying, "Murray, do you allow all your womenfolk to run their mouths so? That's a fine tale, my lady, but my brother will tell you 'twas simply by accident those children fell into the river."

"Is that so?" Sibylla asked Edward scornfully.

"Aye, it is," he muttered without looking at her. Thomas said, "For Murray to pluck them out and carry them back to Elishaw like more of his ill-got beasts was nobbut theft. Edward rode at once to tell me he had them. I informed my lord Fife, and we decided that rather than set siege to Elishaw to regain what was mine, we'd try a less martial way first."

Douglas said, "Why did you not simply ask Murray to give her back?"

The Colvilles looked at each other again.

Furiously, Sibylla said, "Because they never thought of that! They and their master had other plans in mind. So they got in by lying, then took the opportunity to cross-question poor Dand about Catherine's whereab— No, Simon, I will not be silent. You do not know this part. Then , Thomas Colville, when Dand would not tell you where Catherine was, one of you pitched him down those stairs to his death."

Shock stopped Simon's breath in his throat.

Sibylla saw Simon's ashen face and wished she might have broken the news more gently to him. "Aye, sir, it is true," she said to him quietly. "They did it in the dead of night, after our lads were asleep, but there was a witness."

"Kit?"

"Aye, she is safe. You were right about that."

"There, Douglas, I told you they had her," Colville said.

Simon said, "We do have a wee lass at Elishaw, my lord. But I'd swear on my life that she is not Catherine Gordon. The lad the Colvilles evidently killed—"

"That is a damnable lie!" Thomas exclaimed. "I'll admit we did threaten the boy when he refused to tell us where the lass had hidden herself. But it was only by the most regrettable accident that he fell down the stairs."

"You swung him over the stairs, threatening to throw him," Sibylla said.

"Be silent, damn you! You cannot know such a thing to be true."

"I've heard enough," Douglas said. "Take them, lads, and if they have other men yonder amidst Percy's lot, seize them all."

"With respect, my lord," Percy said. "We are in England, and many of us could have died here today. I'd like the privilege of hanging them myself."

"Nay, we'll keep them," Douglas said. "You've little evidence to show, whilst it seems we can prove murder and attempted murder against them. Also, when we chat with the Colvilles' men, I believe one or two of them, to save their own skins, will tell us more about the other raids. I'm guessing they had much to do with them, too."

Buccleuch said casually, "I own, Percy, I remain curious about your presence here. You've a large tail for a man just out for a day's ride."

Cecil Percy glanced at Simon. "I was on my way to Elishaw," he said. "In response to a very odd summons."

Visibly puzzled, Simon said, "Summons?"

"Aye, sir, for I received a message from your lady mother, suggesting—nay, commanding—that I set the exact date for my requested visit to a few weeks hence and bring my daughters with me, mayhap my sons, too. The tone of her message indicated that you were ready to seek a wife"—he flicked a glance at Sibylla—"and might soon be seeking a husband for the lady Rosalie as well. I was in no way averse to discussing such possibilities, even an alliance, with her. However, as I had not . . ."

He paused, glancing uncomfortably from face to face and back to Simon.

"Sakes, sir," Simon said. "I'd assumed that Fife used your name because he'd somehow intercepted your message to me! Are you trying to tell us that you did not request my permission to visit Elishaw?"

"I did not. I cannot deny that I'd readily accept an invitation, but I'd sent no messenger, so . . . Sithee, I did wonder if Annabel had perhaps imagined I had."

Sibylla put a hand to her mouth, but seeing Simon stiffen, she reached it out to touch his arm as she said, "Pray, sir, is that all you wondered about her?"

Percy had a charmingly rueful smile, and he flashed it as he replied, "In troth, my lady, one does not like to suggest . . . I have long admired the way Elishaw has maintained its neutrality in hard times. Indeed, I had the greatest respect for Cousin Annabel, because knowing Sir Iagan, too, one saw clearly that . . . well, that she . . ."

". . . that she ruled the roost," Douglas said bluntly. "Just so," Percy agreed. "So you see, to receive such an odd message, one suggesting possible marriages betwixt our families, I desired to . . . uh . . . be sure that Annabel had not gone . . . that is to say, that she was still in full possession of . . ."

A shout of laughter erupted from Buccleuch. "Save us!" he exclaimed. "You wanted to be sure before engaging in talks of marrying your offspring to a Murray, that she had not gone mad and might thus pass her madness to the Percy line!"

"Just so, my lord," Percy said with a distinct note of relief in his voice.

As Buccleuch, Westruther, and Douglas roared with laughter, Percy added hastily to Simon, "As you might understand, cousin, I knew that such an inquiry would require a personal visit and . . . and much tact. I dared not entrust it to another."

Simon was struggling visibly with his own emotion, but Sibylla was not sure if it was anger or amusement until he caught his lower lip between his teeth.

He gave up the struggle then and joined the others in their whoops.

Shaking his head, Simon said when he found his voice again, "I promise you, sir, my lady mother is in full possession of her senses. She can be a little trying at times, due to her habit of seeking to manage everything in her orbit. But that habit has served us well today, I think."

"Aye, it has that," Douglas agreed, still chortling. "For, sithee, in a more roundabout way, her meddling likewise brought me here."

"I did wonder about your presence, my lord," Cecil admitted.

"Aye, well, the Governor of our Realm taught me the value of efficient watchers. Thanks to mine, I got word yestereve of a large English band of Percys moving toward the border. Your men, in fact, sir," he said. "My lads kept track of you, and I set out early this morning to intercept you. When I saw Simon with you, and the Murray and Percy banners cheek by jowl, I feared he had decided against neutrality at last and had thrown his lot in with the wrong side."

"I am a Scotsman first, my lord," Simon said. "But I believe in peace and want us to do all we can to keep the present truce as long as it will hold."

"I agree," Cecil said firmly.

"Then we're of one mind, the five of us," Douglas said, including Buccleuch and Westruther with a gesture. "I'm thinking we need to do summat, though, to make it easier to stop mischief makers like this lot we've taken today."

"I'm agreeable, sir," Cecil said. "And I'd surmise that Northumberland would likewise agree. Have you aught in mind to accomplish that?"

"I do," the Douglas said. "I've thought on it for a time now. But I'm thinking we should discuss it more together. All of us," he added with a look at Cecil.

"We're together now," Simon said. "And Elishaw is nobbut an hour or so away. I suggest that we go there and talk more."

This being agreed to by everyone, the leaders collected their men and their prisoners and set out together without delay.

Although Sibylla doubted that Simon would fly into her amid such a host of men-at-arms, she remained wary as the long train of riders followed the river Rede through the hills toward Scotland. She and Simon led the cavalcade with Archie, Buccleuch, Percy, and Westruther. The others all followed them.

She wanted to talk with Simon, even to argue with him, but he rode silently, looking straight ahead. Douglas rode at his right, the other three lairds behind them, leaving the captains of their fighting tails to keep order among their men.

They were nearing the Carter Bar crossing when Garth eased his big bay next to hers, smiled, and said quietly, "Tired, my lady?"

"Not yet," she said, almost as wary of him as she was of Simon. "If you have aught to say to me, sir, just say it," she said, wishing she could say the same thing to Simon, albeit not in present company.

"Nay, I've no cause to take you through the boughs," Garth said in his normal tone. "Had you not meddled today, the Colvilles would doubtless have stirred more strife. To my mind, you did well . . . for a lass."

Shooting him a sour look, she said, "Do you say such things to Amalie, sir?"

Grinning, he said, "I wanted to see how tired you really are. Tell me more about this bairn at Elishaw. Might she be the lady Catherine?"

She glanced at Simon, sure he must be listening. But he continued to look straight ahead, his jaw set hard enough to reveal the dimple near his mouth.

Turning back to Garth, she said, "I think she may be

Catherine Gordon, but she will not admit it." Glancing at Simon again, she saw his jaw relax.

"I see," Garth said. "She might be keeping silent to protect herself. I'd wager that, with all the fuss and to-do, she must be terrified. But at least she won't have to worry any longer about marrying Thomas Colville."

"Don't depend on that," Sibylla warned, wishing she could be as sure that Alice need not marry Edward. "Fife will still have much to say about all this, and I have seen him at work, sir. So, too, have you."

"Aye, but if you think Archie will forgive the murder and attempted murder of two bairns, whoever they may be, you are mistaken. And now that the Percys are involved, Fife may find it impossible to protect the Colvilles."

At that, Simon said curtly, "If the Douglas does not hang them, I'll do it myself, Fife or no Fife."

"They are mine," Archie said flatly, showing that he, too, had been listening. "But you're in the right of it, Garth, lad," he added. "If Sibylla's young witness can say the Colvilles put them in that river and caused that lad's death, I'll hang them."

"She did say that," Sibylla assured him.

Simon remained silent, and when Westruther dropped back to ride again with Percy and Buccleuch, Sibylla had all she could do not to look at her husband again, to try to judge what he was thinking.

Simon could not decide what to say to her. One minute he wanted to shout at her for risking her life, the next he marveled at how self-possessed she was.

Even now, she rode with her head up, looking as regal as the princess Isabel ever had and as if she had not a care in the world, although she certainly knew he was furious with her. Considering how angry she had made him, she ought to be trembling, but he was strangely pleased that she was not.

He wished he had not invited all the others to Elishaw. They would be damnably in the way there.

As he imagined sundry unlikely methods for disposing of them, a rider appeared in the distance, approaching fast.

Simon recognized him as one of his lads from Elishaw and told the Douglas, who signaled a halt.

"Laird, the Governor has come," the rider said as they met. "We did see him coming, and Jed Hay said I should hie m'self off and tell ye, 'cause her ladyship did say we ought no to let him inside. But Jed said he dared not keep him out."

"How many are with the Governor?" Simon asked. "Dunamany, laird. I dinna ken how many, but it did look as if they would fill the bailey and more."

"How did you find us?" Douglas asked.

"I were on the Pike earlier, m'lord. We saw ye crossing into Redesdale, and we saw the laird head that way, too. So when I come down just as the Governor had come and Jed said I should find ye and tell ye, I rid here to find ye."

"Can you tell us aught else?" Simon asked.

"Nay, that be all Jed said to tell ye, save it looks as if he means to stay—the Governor. He told Jed to shut the gate and stand down as soon as his own lot was inside. Jed signed to me to take off then, so I did."

"Good lad," Simon said. He turned to see Douglas frowning heavily.

"How many men did you leave behind?" Archie asked.

"Not enough to prevent Fife from doing as he pleases, whatever it may be."

"Aye, well, I warrant we've enough here together to change his mind if he plans mischief," Douglas said, still frowning. "It may lead to trouble, though."

Glancing at Sibylla, Simon drew a breath and let it out. "With respect, my lord," he said. "I'm thinking we'd be wiser not to corner Fife inside Elishaw. He looks on you as a friend and ally, which is gey useful to us here in the Borders."

"You speaking as a Borderer, lad, or as a Murray?" "Both, my lord. I'll admit that I'd liefer Elishaw not find itself under siege. For one thing, that bairn is in there with Fife and his men, and my people are, too."

He saw Sibylla open her mouth and shut it. "What is it, lass?" he asked.

She looked at the others, still hesitating, until the Douglas said, "Don't be shy now, Sibylla. I'll listen to anyone with something to say."

"In troth, my lord, I believe the Governor's intent in all of this has been to seize Elishaw," she said. "Simon angered him months ago, when he refused to let Fife arrange Rosalie's marriage to his own man, and Fife has not forgotten. Nor does he ever forgive an injury." Her gaze met Simon's and held it. He knew she was reminding him that he and Fife had once shared that trait.

"So you believe he means to declare Elishaw forfeit to the Crown," Douglas said thoughtfully. "What grounds can he offer to accomplish that legally? Thanks to Colville, we ken fine what grounds he meant to offer—that Simon was threatening the truce by leading the raids—but that is now provably false."

"Fife does not know that yet," Simon said. "I would suggest a more subtle method of relaying that information to him if you will agree to it."

"Spit it out, lad. I cannot agree or disagree until I ken your reasoning."

"I think we should sit down with the man and seek his advice," Simon said. "I suggest we walk into the hall as if we'd been inside the wall all along. We'll tell him we've learned who is behind all the raids, that we have the villains by the heels, and that we've done it all with the Percys' aid—as a matter of strengthening the truce. I think he'll have to accept that appearance of things."

Archie grimaced. "That might work, aye. But if the gates are shut and the devious bastard has seized the castle, how do you propose we stroll in to see him?"

"There is a way, my lord." Simon turned to Sibylla, looked her in the eyes, and said, "Is there not, sweetheart?"

She gazed steadily back at him and said, "Perhaps so, my lord."

Turning back to Douglas, who looked bewildered—as well he might, Simon thought—he said quietly, "I mean to ride ahead with Sibylla for a time, my lord, and talk. But I swear, before we reach Elishaw, all will be in train to surprise Fife."