Chapter 20

Sky expected to be dismissed upon entering the Great Hall with her husband and was pleased, though surprised when informed otherwise.

"You may join me at the dais while I question the man, but you will remain silent," Slayer said and with a light touch of his hand on her lower back guided her around the dais to sit. "Not a word," he reminded and only after she sat, did he settle himself in the chair beside her.

Jugs of cider and ale were brought to the table and tankards filled while bowls of food were sat in front of them. Sky's stomach gurgled reminding her that she had yet to eat this morning.

"Eat," Slayer ordered. "The morning meal has been delayed long enough."

Sky did not hesitate. She reached for a quail egg and a piece of bread just as Reed entered with the prisoner. She was reaching for another quail egg by the time the man reached the dais, his wounded leg leaving him with a slow gait and a visible limp.

"Your name?" Slayer demanded when Reed forced the man to a stop a few steps away from the dais.

"Lester, sir," the man said, staring at the food with hunger in his eyes.

"Tell me of the man who snuck in and out of the prisoners' circle."

"I did not see him sneak in. I did not even give it any thought until you asked about him and I looked around and did not see him there."

Sky now understood why Slayer had handled the situation as he did. He knew someone would think to look around and see who might be missing.

"He looked no different from us, though talked more with a grunt of sorts. He was about my height, though younger than me. Common enough features, at least from what I could see through the dirt and sweat worn on his face. He hadn't been injured. He sat beside me, worried over our fate and if more mercenaries would attempt to kill the woman." Lester went to nod at Sky and stopped when she raised her head. He stared, not able to look away.

"Take your eyes off her," Slayer ordered.

Lester turned his head away and shifted his injured leg with a grimace.

"What else did this man say to you?" Slayer demanded.

"He told me the coin was not worth it and blamed a friend for talking him into joining the mercenary group for this mission alone."

"So, you're a motley crew that was hastily thrown together for this mission," Slayer said, having realized that upon first seeing them and learning that his two dead warriors had managed to kill twelve more of them before losing their lives. If the fools had planned well and worked in unity, the outcome could have been vastly different.

"When you're hungry, sir, you'll do just about anything for food," Lester said. "I have nothing left, no family, no home?—"

"No clan?" Slayer asked.

"Nay, sir. It was swallowed up in a quick battle and the new chieftain made it clear that if you could not do your share, you were no longer welcome in the clan. My leg had been damaged in a previous battle and never healed right." He glanced down at the bloody cloth around his leg. "It's probably worse now."

"What else did this man say to you?"

"He said women weren't worth the trouble they caused, especially the beautiful ones."

Lester barely shook his head, but Slayer caught it and demanded, "What have you not said?"

"The man said something odd but now getting a closer look at one of the Murdock sisters his words make sense."

"What words?" Slayer asked, the annoyance in his voice warning that he was losing his patience.

Lester hurried to respond. "He said, "‘Beauty or not, it is good the woman with the strange affliction dies.'" He shook his head in a way that questioned. "No mention was ever made about a Murdock sister with an affliction. So, how was he aware of it?"

Sky placed her tankard back on the table without taking a swallow and contemplated the question. How could that single mercenary know about her affliction when none of the others did? A quick glance at Slayer caught deep wrinkles at the corner of his eyes and told her that he questioned it himself.

"You did not see this man leave?" Slayer asked.

"Nay, sir. I was exhausted from the battle and the pain from my wounds. I closed my eyes and when next I opened them, he was gone."

"What were you told of this mission?" Slayer asked.

"That there was a large bounty for the death of the two Murdock sisters with the light-colored hair."

"Do you know who offers this bounty?"

"Nay, the men answer to the fellow who leads us, and he answers to someone else from what I could tell. I did not care as long as I got some of the coins. Those who were wise enough to have fled when your men descended on us probably joined the small band of mercenaries that waited for news and, no doubt, they have already fled."

"Where would they go?" Slayer asked, though the answer did not matter to him. He would send warriors to track them down.

"Somewhere they believed safe for a few days at least. Men joined us along the way and talked of being moved around to different mercenary groups. Some talked about men leaving to try the mission on their own so they could keep the coins for themselves. Others mentioned some mercenary leaders killing those who attempted to go off on their own. It is chaos out there and all for the sake of generous coins."

"The top mercenary leader would keep the majority of the coins for himself and share little, if any, coins with his men," Slayer said.

Lester tilted his head slightly and squinted in question. "Are you saying the men will get no coins for their help as promised?"

"Why do you think the Gallowglass was founded?" Slayer asked of the gullible man. "Nobles were searching for warriors who could be trusted, honorable warriors who would fight for honorable issues, and who would keep their word and not steal from or lie to the nobles."

"There is no honor among the men I fought alongside," Lester said, sadly.

"Then you were a wise man to speak up."

"Your word was that I am a free man, my lord," Lester reminded.

"Free to remain here at Clan Ravinsher," Slayer said, tapping the table hard with his finger. "When I can confirm what you say is the truth, then you are free to leave."

Lester's eyes showed worry. "That might be difficult to do, my lord."

"Not as difficult as you may believe, Lester. I have eyes and ears everywhere in the Highlands. I will know soon enough if you speak the truth or lie to me. The truth will bring you freedom. Lies will bring you death." Slayer turned to Reed. "Have his wounds tended to and see that he is fed. House him with the warriors so they can keep an eye on him and make certain he does not go outside the castle walls."

"Should I assign him a chore, my lord?" Reed asked.

"Not yet, and make sure he is watched closely," Slayer ordered and returned his attention to Lester. "A warning. If I find you lied to me or you try to escape before I set you free, I will find you no matter how long it takes and when I am done with you, you will beg for death, but it will not be forthcoming."

Sky shuddered along with Lester, who also paled when hearing Slayer's ominous warning.

Lester bobbed his head and turned away as quickly as his injury would allow and followed slowly behind Reed.

With his eyes still on Lester, Slayer waited. Once the door closed behind the two men, he turned to his wife. "What do you think of Lester's story?"

"I cannot say for sure if he speaks truthfully or not," she admitted, a bit perplexed. "It is difficult to tell when a person lies, and Lester has good reason to lie… freedom. So, you are wise to keep him around until you can find out the truth. However, I agree with Lester's question of how the man knew about my affliction when Lester did not know anything about it until he saw me. And another thing that gave me pause was that the man asked if Lester thought more mercenaries would pursue the hunt for the woman, not two women since no one knows whether it is Leora or me who is the true target? And why would this man even care if he claimed it wasn't worth it?"

Once again, his wife impressed him. She had a sharp mind and listened well. He had found issue with the same things Lester had told them as she did. Issues he intended to pursue as they searched for the truth.

"What are your thoughts," she asked, more relieved than pleased that he continued to think of her differently than others. Most people not only thought her two different colored eyes evil, but many thought it also left her brain lacking, not able to comprehend like normal people.

"It makes me wonder if two different people search for you and your sisters and for different reasons."

"I did not think of that, but you could be right." Instinct had her reaching out to lay her hand on his arm when she realized what she was doing and dropped her hand in her lap. "That might make it more difficult to keep me safe."

Slayer slipped his hand beneath the table to grip her hand that lay in her lap. "Nothing will stop me from keeping you safe."

The voices of servants not far off reminded them that they were not alone, but Slayer kept his hand gripped on hers beneath the table, not willing to let go, not just yet.

"I must go talk with my warriors," he whispered, and his hand slowly fell off hers and he gave her leg a gentle squeeze before standing. "Stay close to the keep," he ordered gruffly.

Sky smiled softly at his gruff manner, knowing it was for the benefit of others there and her reputation. "As you say, my lord." She saw in his eyes what she felt that he wanted to kiss her as much as she wanted him to.

"With me, Fane," Slayer ordered, and the hound followed his rushed steps out of the keep.

She hurried to her feet. Time to keep herself busy and rid herself of thoughts of her husband, not a likely endeavor. He invaded her thoughts constantly in ways that made her smile and ways that stirred her desire. There were far more important matters for her to dwell on. She smiled. What could be more important than her husband? She shook her head again.

"Many things," she scolded herself and hurried to find Angel and take her with her to the garden.

It didn't take long to find the kitten sound asleep in a makeshift bed by one of the two hearths in the kitchen. She looked far too comfortable to disturb her and feeling a lovely breeze drifting in from the open door, she eagerly sought the outdoors.

"Join me," a voice said.

A bit startled, after only taking a few steps outside, she turned her head.

"I did not mean to frighten you, but the day has turned lovely, the sun peeking out from behind the clouds now and again," Lester said, sitting on the long bench, which sat against the outside wall of the kitchen, holding a wood bowl, the food in it almost gone. "I love the sun and we don't get enough of it."

She was going to refuse his invitation not sure she would be safe with him. But with two Gallowglass warriors nearby keeping watch on him, what was there for her to worry about? Talking with him could help determine if it were truth or lies, he had told.

She joined him on the bench, though kept a good space between them.

"You are safe with me. Freedom is more important to me than coins," Lester said with a smile then gave a nod at the bowl in his hand. "Your cook is not only a good one but generous with her portions."

"That she is, but you should have had your leg tended to before you ate," Sky said with a nod at the bloody cloth.

"The wound can wait. It has been too long since I have eaten."

Being this close to the man, she noticed he appeared far fitter for an older man. But there were some older men fitter than most so she could not be sure about his age. There were also some men whose hair turned gray when young. So how old was he actually?

"You are Lord Slayer's wife?" he asked.

"Nay," she said, wondering why he would ask.

"But you sat at the dais with him."

"I am a friend, no more than that," she said, keeping their marriage secret as Slayer had warned. She decided to be blunt, having no intention of lingering there with him. "Did you lie to Lord Slayer, Lester?"

"Why would you think that?" he asked, surprised by her question.

"The better question is,+ why wouldn't I question the word of a stranger?"

He nodded slowly. "A wise assumption."

Sky looked and saw the two warriors whispering among themselves. She wondered if they were just as suspicious of her as they were of Lester.

"You are in more danger than you know, Sky," Lester whispered with a quick glance at the warriors. "I hoped I would have time to explain, but I don't. You are not who you think you are. Trust no one. The truth will reveal itself soon enough."

His words stunned her, and she quickly asked, "Who are you?"

"A friend, please trust that I am a friend," he said and suddenly dropped the bowl, yanked her to her feet and with a strong hold on her pulled her along with him toward the garden.

Sky did not waste a minute. She screamed out for her husband, "SLAYER!"

The two warriors were rushing toward them and when they got close, Lester shoved her at them, sending her crashing into them and tumbling to the ground.

Fane came running around the corner of the keep moments before Slayer. The hound rushed to Sky, snarling and snapping, ready to attack the stranger. Fury sparked in Slayer's eyes when he saw one of his warriors helping Sky to her feet and the other one chasing Lester who had managed to climb the large tree on the other side of the vegetable garden and was disappearing up in its branches.

"Silent, Fane," he ordered when he reached the tree and the hound stopped barking and stood beside him, his eyes, like Slayer's, looking up from where they stood under the tree branches.

"You won't get away," Slayer yelled.

"You will not find me," Lester called back, sounding a distance away.

Slayer's face turned red with fury. "I will find you and make you pay."

"Save your strength, Slayer. He will come for her. Save her."