Chapter 14

14

A sudden shout interrupted their kiss, the sound of a search party calling out for them.

"I daenae want the others to know," Braden whispered, and Roselyn nodded. They would keep his speech a secret, as Calder and Kenna now came into view, accompanied by a band of clansmen.

"There ye are, Braden – we've been lookin' for ye both. A prisoner's escaped from the dungeons, it's nae safe, and… oh," Kenna said, seeing the body of the man himself lying dead further away in the woods.

Roselyn shook her head. "If Braden hadn't found me…" she shuddered, glancing at the dead man. She was still shaken by the attack, but Braden's voice and kisses had been…a pleasant distraction, to say the least.

"Oh, how terrible." Kenna's voice brought her back to reality. "Tis' a wicked thing – he overpowered Uncle Donald in the dungeon. He's a bandit, a sheep rustler," Kenna said, as Calder rolled the lifeless body of the man onto his front.

"Tis' all right, men, we've found him. Take the body back to the castle and bury it in the common grave. He deserves nae prayers," Calder said, and several of the clansmen came to take up the body and carry it away.

Braden was now using signs with his sister, even as Roselyn wondered why he did not want to speak as he had spoken to her. She had been shocked to hear him speak, as happy as she may be to finally hear his voice. And even more shocked that he didn't want to share it with his family.

It was Kenna's wish to hear him speak – she would be overjoyed, and surely the rest of the clan would be, too. But Roselyn had no intention of breaking her promise to the laird. It could be their secret, for now, and she would allow Braden to make up his own mind when to speak again. Part of her feared it was just a passing moment, that without the imminent threat of danger, Braden would again be silenced.

"Let's get back to the castle. Ye must be exhausted, Roselyn," Kenna said, taking Roselyn's arm in hers.

But Braden stopped them, pointing into the trees, raising his hand to his eyes, as though looking for something.

"Apollo," Roselyn said, and now the others began to call out.

Roselyn had thrown a stick for him just before she was attacked, but there had been no sign of him since then; he had not come running at the sound of Braden's voice, though there was no reason why he should. He had never heard it before, and perhaps the sound had even scared him away.

"Apollo?" Calder called out, and the others repeated the cry.

But a moment later, a yelp was heard in the distance, and Braden hurried forward, pushing through the undergrowth as the others followed behind. They found Apollo with his leg caught in a root, struggling to free himself. Roselyn bent down, stroking the dog's mane, as Braden pulled up the root, sending up a shower of earth as he did so. Apollo leaped free, yelping at the pain in his paw.

"The poor creature," Kenna exclaimed, and Braden now lifted Apollo into his arms, nodding as he led the way back through the trees.

The others followed, and it was not long before they emerged onto the path, where the sunlight streaming through the canopy brought a welcome relief.

"How did the man escape? Did you say he was a prisoner in the dungeons?" Roselyn asked.

"Aye, that's' right – he overpowered Donald. The jailer was elsewhere, and somehow, he escaped without anyone else seein' him," Calder replied, shaking his head.

Roselyn glanced at Braden, who was still carrying Apollo over his shoulders. The laird looked angry, and it seemed he did not believe the explanation. Roselyn remembered his words about the man …

There's more to it than this. He can't have just been a sheep rustler or a bandit. Braden said he murdered his father, Roselyn thought to herself, astonished that a man like that had so easily escaped.

They had come in sight of the castle walls now, and Roselyn was glad to think she would soon be safely inside. She had been terrified in the forest, and had it not been for Braden's bravery, Roselyn knew she would now be dead, or in the hands of that wicked man. She shuddered to think of his intentions, for if he had been capable of murdering the laird's father, he would have been capable of murdering Roselyn, too.

"Ye should go and rest, Roselyn. I'll send Elena up with hot water for ye to bathe in. Rest now, and then have somethin' to eat," Kenna said, and Roselyn nodded.

Braden had set Apollo down now, and the dog was limping across the courtyard, whining as it went.

"The poor creature – we should bandage his leg," Roselyn said, glancing at Braden, who nodded, and made a sign as though to say he would do so soon.

But as he caught Roselyn's eye, he winked at her, a look of understanding passing between them. It seemed Braden had every intention of speaking again, though he would not do so in front of his sister and the others.

Roselyn thought back to the kisses they had shared, and the passion of their embrace. He had told her he was in love with her and had proved as much by his actions in rescuing her. They exchanged a further glance, and he nodded, smiling at her, before she followed Kenna into the keep.

"I'm so sorry about what happened to ye, Roselyn. We were supposed to take care of ye. If yer father discovers what's happened…" Kenna said, looking anxiously at Roselyn, who smiled.

"It's quite all right – there's no harm done." she said, even as Kenna continued to look at her with a worried expression.

"Still, we can only apologize. Ye will nae want to leave, will ye? My brother… he's still got so much to learn," Kenna said, but Roselyn shook her head.

Even as she knew the truth about Braden, she was not about to leave the castle behind. The laird could speak, but for now, he would speak only to Roselyn, and she was keen to hear more of what he had to say.

Apollo barked, and Braden cursed under his breath, trying to hold the dog's paw at the same time as bandaging it.

Why cannae ye keep still, Apollo .

Braden had brought Apollo to his chambers. Calder had wanted to discuss the dangers of sheep rustlers and bandits, but Braden had dismissed him, wanting only to be alone. He was sitting on the floor by the hearth, holding Apollo in his arms, and now he wrapped the bandage around the dog's leg, as Apollo let out a loud yelp.

"I'm tryin' to help ye," Braden said, catching himself as he spoke.

Again, he had not meant to do so, even as the words had come naturally to him. Apollo, too, looked at Braden in surprise. He did not recognize his master's voice, and Braden smiled at the expression on the dog's face – a look of confusion, despite him having been Braden's constant companion since he found him.

"Aye, ye didnae expect that, did ye?" Braden said, smiling, as he ruffled Apollo's ears.

Apollo barked again, struggling free of Braden's grip, as footsteps on the corridor announced a visitor. Apollo's hackles rose, and Braden knew what was to come. The door now opened without the visitor knocking, and Braden's uncle stood before him.

"I heard about what happened in the forest with the bandit. I'm sorry, Braden, but it seems justice was served," he said.

Braden rose to his feet, pointing to the wound on his arm, now dressed by the castle's healer. His uncle shook his head.

"A flesh wound for a life – tis' a fair exchange, considerin' the crime the man committed. He killed yer father, Braden," Donald said, but Braden shook his head.

Despite the man's wickedness in attacking Roselyn, Braden still did not believe he was the one responsible for the murder of his father. The bandit was not the man in his dream – the man with his back turned, waiting to reveal himself. Braden did not know who he was – it was a question he would go on asking himself. But he knew it was not that man.

Tis' nae him. I know it, he said to himself, even as his uncle looked angry.

"Do ye doubt me, Braden? Tis' him. I know it. I tracked him over many miles. I discovered he was a murderer. When he overpowered me in the dungeons, it was like…. Well, he might've killed me, just as he killed yer father – my brother. I saw the murderous look in his eyes. I knew he was capable of it," Donald said.

But again, Braden shook his head.

"Listen to me, Braden, ye have to accept the truth," Donald said.

Braden had heard enough. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts. The claim about the bandit, the rediscovery of his speech, his growing feelings for Roselyn – he signed to his uncle, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.

"Ye're a fool, Braden. And daenae think that Englishwoman can be yer savior. She'll nae teach ye to talk," he said, and turning on his heels, he marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Braden sighed, lying back on the rug in front of the hearth and staring up at the ceiling. Apollo came to lick his face, and Braden ruffled the dog's ears, smiling at him, as he recalled Roselyn's kisses.

"But she did save me."