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Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

" W ell?" Kaden asked as he looked between the council members. They sat at a long table in the back of the castle. Some were making notes as others stared straight back at Kaden, with equally lost looks in their eyes as to what he felt.

Kaden glanced pleadingly at Marcus who shrugged.

"I have heard nothing of this kind before," Marcus clearly took it upon himself to speak first. "But then again, if I was this supposed mercenary that was hired tae dae the job, I dinnae suppose the rumor would reach me ears, would it?"

"Aye, ye make a good point." Kaden nodded slowly. He leaned forward, uncomfortable in the chair that had once been his father's and was now his.

Tall, high backed, with their clan emblem emblazoned into the seat, he never felt as if he truly belonged in this chair. It had come to him far before it should have.

His father had been in perfect health. As laird, he would have held the position for many years. Kaden had had no longing for it, no wish at all to sit here.

Now, I must sit here.

He sighed and rubbed his chin uneasily.

"And nay one else at this council has heard any such rumor? Nae once?" Kaden asked, his voice a little sharper now in his desperation to discover something. Many shook their heads, none the wiser.

Down the bottom of the table was a younger council member. Son to a man who had sat on the council before him, it had not escaped Kaden's notice that this man was as uneasy at this table as he was, though he did a poorer job of hiding it. Young Master Maddox fidgeted constantly, his bright blue eyes on the table.

"Master Maddox?" Kaden said his name, watching as Maddox flinched and looked up. "Ye are deep in thought. Is there something ye wish tae share with us?"

Maddox sighed as many pairs of eyes turned to look at him.

"I never believed what I heard," he said eventually.

"God damn it," another council member cursed. It was Rufus, one of the eldest and most wizened men to sit at this table. "Maddox, why did ye nae say anything?"

"Because I didnae believe it." Maddox spoke hurriedly. "I had nay idea the rumor was pervasive. I just heard it in passing one day."

The cries of others in the council threatened to overwhelm the room and silence Maddox. Kaden raised a hand, urging for their silence.

"Please." Kaden looked straight at the young man. He was a fair few years younger than Kaden. Despite his youth and his nervousness, there was a sincerity in the man's face. "What exactly did ye hear?"

"I was traveling in the west a few months ago," Maddox explained, keeping his gaze fixed on Kaden. "I stopped at an inn for the night, where I overheard such a conversation. They said that Clan Lamont believed ye were tae blame, ye were responsible fer the deaths of the last laird and lady, and… and of yer own faither and stepmaither."

Many curses sounded around the table. Kaden's hands tightened into fists on top of the table though he didn't allow more curses to burst from him. He had to keep his head, had to discover who was spreading such whispers.

"Was any evidence discussed?" Kaden asked once the whispers had faded. "Or was it all just conjecture?"

"Conjecture," Maddox said hurriedly. "That is why I ignored it and gave the tale nay credence. I'd never heard it whispered within our own borders."

Others at the table nodded in agreement with these words.

Kaden rubbed the back of his neck, deep in thought. He remembered the last time he had seen his father. They had embraced as his father had wished him safe travels. He'd had no idea at the time it was the last he'd ever see of him. They had been smiling at one another, full of joy, no concept that this was their final goodbye. The fact he'd never properly had a chance to say goodbye made a firm lump form in his throat. He tried to swallow past it, as best as he could.

"We need tae find out where this rumor has come from," Kaden said eventually when he grew aware of the council's whispers dying as they all turned to stare at him. "If what this lass has tae say is true, then there is murder afoot. Me faither and stepmaither didnae die because of an accident. If this be the case… then they must be avenged."

His firm, unyielding words made a ripple go around the room. Marcus was the only one who offered a smile at this statement.

"Maddox, would ye arrange fer a spy tae be sent tae the place where ye heard this rumor? There's a chance the bar staff heard the same one. I want tae ken what they ken."

"Aye, of course." Maddox pulled out a slip of paper and made some notes at once.

"If we are tae discover what happened, then we need tae ken exactly why yer faither left this castle," Marcus said. "Dae we ken why they parted?"

"It was tae go tae a wedding," one of the elders offered up. "Liam was the one tae receive the invitation."

"Liam?" Kaden repeated in surprise. He was an old advisor of his father's, one that had been so ancient even when his father had died that the man had struggled to walk to this table. For some months now, Liam had retired to a house across the clan, to spend more time at peace, far away from political matters of the clan. "Then perhaps we need tae speak tae him."

"Here. This is where ye can find him." Maddox reached into a leather-bound volume on the table and pulled out a scrap of paper bearing Liam's address. He passed it down the table, where it was handed to Kaden.

"Thank ye."

"There's something worth suggesting here, me laird," one of the elders spoke again, stroking his white beard. "Ye are nae the only one who gained a lairdship in that fire. Laird Cassian Lamont did the same. How can we be certain that he didnae dae it?"

"Because his sister claims there have been multiple assassination attempts on his own life. A man who was looking tae clear his own name might set up one failed assassination attempt against himself, but tae continue tae dae it? Also, it seems that his faither was ill and that he had already taken over many of his duties while they were formalizing his new position. Nay, that makes little sense." Kaden shook his head. "Besides…" He glanced at Marcus. "Didnae Elara say that Cassian had been invited on that trip too?"

"We could ask her again."

Kaden nodded, deep in thought. There was much he needed to ask Elara about. The thought of being alone with her again to ask such questions made something burn in his gut, a sort of deep excitement, rumbling like thunder.

He could picture the spirited way she glowered at him, then that brief smile which had flashed across her face more than once in their conversations together.

I am done being attracted tae her. Nay good can come from wanting tae bed a woman who believes me capable of murder.

He tried to push all thoughts of Elara away. When he talked to her, it would be a matter of business, of discovering the truth. It would have nothing to do with that heated kiss.

"What is tae be done about this lass?" one of the council members asked. "Ye said she could have hurt ye. She managed tae get ye alone."

"She is nay threat tae me," Kaden said swiftly. "She is a woman distraught fer the loss of her parents. She had the time tae hurt me and chose nae tae dae it."

"I still see her as a threat," Marcus muttered sharply. Kaden shifted, raising his eyebrows at Marcus.

"Ye've seen her," Kaden reminded him with a short laugh. "She's a small lass. What capacity could she have tae hurt me?"

"I am nay doubting ye could defend yerself," Marcus added with a smile of his own, before it vanished. "I'm saying that I dinnae trust her, nor her sister. They wheedled their way intae this castle quite expertly. They are currently in a guest chamber, like any other visitor."

"Nae quite like any other visitor," Kaden added peevishly, thinking of the key that was now in his pocket. He had made sure to lock Elara and Lydia in. He'd given the spare key to a maid, Elspeth, who could deliver their clothes and food to them, but no one else had been given permission to enter.

"Ye ken what I mean," Marcus said in a deep tone. "I dinnae trust them."

"Then we should get them out of the castle. As soon as possible," one of the elders spoke up.

Many at the table nodded, though curiously, Kaden caught sight of Maddox, who did not nod. He was staring down at the table between them, deep in thought.

"And ye, Maddox? What are yer thoughts?" Kaden asked with interest. Startled to be spoken to again, Maddox looked up. He shifted in his seat, embarrassed, then cleared his throat.

"I think that it's sometimes better tae keep someone ye're unsure of close at hand tae watch them. Ye cannae ken what they're up tae if ye send them back tae Laird Lamont now. If ye keep them here until ye ken a little more, ye can observe them. Ye can discover what their true intentions are, and if indeed they aimed tae hurt ye or nae."

"Ye're wise beyond yer years, Maddox," Kaden said approvingly. Maddox managed the smallest of smiles. "Aye, I think ye're right. We'll nae send Elara and Lydia back tae their braither yet, but we must draft a letter tae him tae tell him of this mess. He should be informed."

"And what will ye dae with Elara and Lydia in the meantime?" Marcus asked uncertainly. "They cannae be allowed tae run loose in this castle."

"And they willnae be allowed that freedom. We will keep them close. We will observe them, until we can be certain they are trusted. They are our charges now, Marcus." Kaden stood from his seat, showing the meeting was at an end. "Our first task, ask them fer everything they ken about these assassination attempts against their braither. If these are being done by the same man who murdered our parents, then Elara or Lydia may ken of a clue that could help us identify them. This meeting is at an end."

The council broke off. Some stood and hurriedly started speaking to one another, as others loped off out of the room. Maddox walked away alone, quite isolated as the youngest, though Kaden's eyes lingered on him as he parted. The sight of Maddox was soon blocked out by Marcus who stepped in his way.

"Are ye certain about this?" Marcus asked.

"About which part?" Kaden asked. "About believing Elara ye mean? That I am nae so sure." His heart told him it had to be true, though there was a lingering doubt in his reasoned mind. Wouldn't he have heard something about arson if it was indeed murder? "Either way, I have tae investigate now, Marcus. I have tae ken what happened."

"That's nae what I meant." Marcus shook his head. "Ye're intending tae keep the sisters here fer a while."

"Aye. What of it?"

"Ye must have been rather taken with Elara last night. I just want tae check ye are keeping her here fer the right reasons." Marcus raised a single eyebrow.

"Of course I bloody am."

"Aye, and that was the response of a calm man, wasnae it?"

Kaden turned his back, choosing not to answer Marcus again.

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