by Maya Banks
“You’re mad,” she said incredulously. “At least I only pretended madness. You are truly afflicted in the mind.”
He backhanded her with his free hand, knocking her head back. But he held her in place with the hand he still had twisted in her hair so she had nowhere to go.
He turned her head forcefully back so she had to look him in the eye again. “And you, Eveline, will be thought dead when no one is able to discover your whereabouts. No one will hear your screams. No one will ever find you. You’ll be mine to play with when I need amusement. In time you’ll be grateful for any attention I bestow upon you.”
“Never,” she lashed out.
He forced her face even closer to his, and then he kissed her. It was a bruising, punishing force that so repulsed her, she gagged. She tried to insert her hands between them, but fell short when the chains prevented her from reaching that far.
When he deepened the kiss and she felt the brush of his tongue over hers, she bit down, determined to put an end to the forced intimacy.
He thrust her away, rage in his eyes. He wiped at his mouth, and his hand came away stained with blood. This time when he struck her, he let her fall away, releasing her hair.
She fell to the floor, pain jolting through her limbs when the chains went taut, nearly yanking her arms from their sockets.
“Don’t touch me again,” she yelled with all the bravado she had left.
He stood over her, his mouth twisted into a sneer. “I’ll do a whole lot more than touch, Eveline. You belong to me now. Be a good lass and I’ll come visit you often. I’ll even try to remember to bring you food and drink on occasion.”
Then he reached over, took the torch from the sconce, and stalked away, taking the light with him.
Darkness settled over the small, airless room, and with it, despair so thick she choked. It overwhelmed her, seeping into her very soul.
Nay, she wouldn’t allow herself to lose hope. Graeme would find her. She had every faith in her husband. She would remain strong until he came for her.
CHAPTER 42
Dawn crept over the horizon and Graeme stood before his assembled clan, fury, impatience, and worry vying for control. They’d searched the keep, the river, and the surrounding lands. They’d left no stone unturned and there was still no sign of Eveline.
He wouldn’t accept that no one in his clan had seen Eveline or knew of what happened to her. There were no missing horses, and there was no way Eveline could have made it away on foot in her condition. Which meant that someone had to have taken her or aided her in some way.
He couldn’t dwell on the latter thought, because then he’d have to accept that she’d gone willingly. She’d given him no cause to believe that she would have left so abruptly. After standing by his side and protecting him so fiercely, why would she have left him the moment he was recovering?
Nay, it didn’t make sense, which meant that someone had her. Someone had taken her against her will and could be harming her even now. He had to push away the image of her frightened and hurt or he would lose all semblance of control.
“ ’Tis everyone, Graeme,” Bowen said grimly. “Every last woman and child.”
“Keep your eyes open,” Graeme said in a low voice. “I cannot judge them all. Someone is telling an untruth. We must find out who before it’s too late for Eveline.”
Bowen’s expression grew fiercer. He nodded and then motioned for Teague to go in one direction as he headed in the other, so they could better survey their gathered clansmen.
“Someone is not telling the truth,” Graeme said loud enough that his voice carried over the quiet courtyard.
His soldiers, those he considered among his most trustworthy, were spread in a wide circle, their arms crossed menacingly over their chests. They watched just as Bowen and Teague watched, their gazes sweeping the crowd.
“Eveline was last seen by Mary in the kitchens last eve. Eveline disappeared just after and yet none of you witnessed anything.”
“Maybe she went back to her own clan,” someone called loudly from the midst of the assembled gathering.
“Hush your idiocy!” Nora yelled, her face mottled and red with anger. “The lass did not desert our laird. ’Tis disloyal of you to say such a thing.”
“All I’m interested in hearing is who saw Eveline and if any of you have information on her current whereabouts. It will go far easier if you admit to such knowledge now. If ’tis found out later that you knew and something happens to Eveline as a result of your refusal to speak, the penalty will be death.”
As Graeme said the last, his gaze drifted over the group of women who’d made things so difficult for Eveline. Most of them looked genuinely worried, but it was Kierstan’s expression that drew further scrutiny.
She was pale, visibly nervous, and she kept glancing away and to the distance, as if she wanted to be as far from this place as possible. She wiped her hands down her skirts and tried to blend further into the crowd.
“And I promise, your death will not be quick,” Graeme said, pointedly speaking toward Kierstan, hoping for a further reaction. “For every hurt heaped upon my wife, I’ll exact equal measure from the person responsible. You’ll pray for death before I am done.”
Kierstan looked near to fainting. Desperation simmered in her eyes to the point Graeme was sure she must know more than she’d let on.
“You are dismissed,” Graeme called out, surprising his brothers. “Think on all that I’ve said. I’ll be willing to consider a more merciful punishment if you come to me now.”
Bowen strode toward him, clear question in his eyes. “What are you doing, Graeme? You did not even press them.”
Graeme held up his hand. “Bring Kierstan to me at once. Do not allow her out of the courtyard.”
Bowen’s eyes widened, and he glanced in the direction of the group of women who were moving with the crowd as they made to exit the courtyard. Without another word, he beckoned to Teague and they stalked quickly in Kierstan’s direction.
A moment later, Bowen grasped Kierstan’s arm, and she turned in alarm, fear radiating from her in waves. She didn’t fight Bowen, however, and she allowed him to lead her over to where Graeme stood.
Bowen and Teague flanked her, looming over her, their scowls enough to frighten the toughest warrior.
“Y-you wanted to s-see me, Laird?” she stammered out.
“I’ll only give you one opportunity to tell me the truth,” Graeme bit out. “If you do not tell me what you know, your sentence will be death.”
She went so white that Graeme feared she’d faint and be utterly useless.
“If I tell you what I know, do you vow to allow me to live?” she asked in a hoarse voice that cracked with fear.
“You do not bargain with me,” Graeme roared. “I make you no promises, but you had better pray Eveline is returned safely to me or you’ll sorely regret the mischief you’ve wrought.”
“I already do,” she said shakily.
She closed her eyes and swallowed deeply. When she opened them again, tears shone brightly.
“Ian McHugh has her.”
“What?” Graeme bellowed. “What have you done?”
“Please,” Kierstan begged. “I did not realize …”
“Do not lie,” Teague spat. “You realized exactly what would happen to Eveline. You bargained with the devil. ’Tis time to pay the price. Tell him all or I swear I’ll make you sorry.”
She looked away, tears shining on her cheeks. “I had help from three Montgomery warriors. They were angry, as was I, that we were being forced to accept an Armstrong into our clan. One of them brought word of a bargain he’d struck with Ian McHugh. I met with Ian and told him that Eveline had played the simpleton to avoid marriage to him. He wanted to take her away so that you would be blamed by Eveline’s kin. He intends to start war between you and the Armstrongs.”
Fear and rage knotted Graeme’s gut until he wanted to lay waste to an entire garrison of warriors. In th
at moment he had the strength and fury to be an unstoppable force.
Eveline, his precious, loving wife, was now in the hands of her worst tormentor. A man who’d described in exacting detail all that he’d make her suffer. His very blood froze in his veins, and suffocating dread made rational thought impossible for the space of several moments. All he could think was that he had to go to her. He had to save her.
“Laird! Laird! The Armstrongs approach!”
Graeme swiveled and looked up to the guard tower where his watchman was yelling out over the courtyard.
“They bear the entire might of their army!”
Graeme swore long and hard. Not now. Not when Eveline needed his complete attention. He turned the entire force of his rage on Kierstan.
“See what you have wrought? You’ll be the death of us all.”
Kierstan swayed unsteadily, her face completely devoid of blood.
“Don’t you dare faint,” Bowen hissed. “You’ll tell us what is left and I’ll have the names of the warriors who betrayed us.”
“Ian took her,” she blurted hastily. “I led her around the side of the keep where Ian waited. Shamus, Gregory, and Paul assisted Ian in leaving undetected.”
Graeme swore. Gregory and Paul were two of the men responsible for border patrol. It explained why Ian McHugh could have come and gone on Montgomery land without being apprehended.
“Have them imprisoned immediately,” Graeme said to Silas, who stood next to Graeme.
“ ’Tis my fault, Laird,” Silas said, his head bowed. “I should have known what was happening. They are under my command.”
“ ’Tis no one’s fault save their own,” Graeme snarled. “Find them. Imprison them. And her,” he said, gesturing toward Kierstan.
“Nay!” she cried out. “I told you all!”
“And think you that speaking freely of your betrayal pardons you from responsibility for your actions? You’ve betrayed us all, Kierstan. Not just Eveline. Not just me. You’ve betrayed all of your kin. If so much as one man, woman, or child loses their life in battle with the Armstrongs, it will be a mark on your soul.”
Kierstan burst into tears. “I did not know! I swear it, I did not know what would happen.”
“Save the tears,” Teague growled as he herded her toward one of the soldiers standing by Silas.
Graeme shouted up to the watchman. “How close?”
“They’re coming over the rise!”
“Come,” Graeme directed his brothers. “We’ll ride out to meet them.”
“Are you mad?” Bowen demanded. “We cannot ride alone to meet the might of their entire army.”
“I cannot ride with the whole of my army,” Graeme ground out. “It will be seen as an act of war. I can only hope I’m granted enough time to explain. Alert the others. Have them standing by to defend the keep. Let’s hope that Armstrong is a reasonable man and will listen to all we have to say.”
CHAPTER 43
Graeme rode out of the courtyard with his brothers at his sides and as directed, the gate was shut behind them while Silas rallied the men inside the keep. Tension was thick, and there was a sense of expectancy that permeated the air.
Everyone expected war. Most even wanted it. It was the chance to avenge the Montgomery losses to the Armstrong clan.
Graeme knew that if the slightest thing went wrong, his clan would swarm in like avenging angels and the entire valley would drip with blood.
He rode slightly ahead of his brothers, carrying a wide, white bedsheet as a sign of truce and that he planned no attack on the approaching army.
They swooped over the hill and down the other side to meet the Armstrong laird at the bottom.
Looking ahead, Graeme saw Tavis pause, then hold up his arm to halt the mass of soldiers behind him. ’Twas an impressive sight that forced Graeme to respect the might of the Armstrong fighting force.
Helmets and armor glistened in the sun. Shields reflected the light, sending blinding reflections from the well-honed metal. Crossbows and swords were held at the ready. It was an army that had come prepared to fight.
Tavis rode slightly ahead of his troops with his two sons at his sides. As he neared where Graeme and his brothers had stopped, he pulled away his helmet and pierced Graeme with the full weight of his stare.
“Where is my daughter?” he demanded.
“Ian McHugh has her,” Graeme returned.
Tavis reared back in surprise and then frowned. Brodie and Aiden scowled, and then Brodie spit out, “Liar.”
Graeme forced himself to keep his temper in check. It would be so easy to give the order to fight. His men were ready. They were itching to shed Armstrong blood. Everything Graeme had dreamed about was here, right in front of him. The chance to avenge his father’s death and end the decades of strife caused by the blood feud between the two clans.
But Eveline was more important. For Eveline, he’d do whatever was necessary, even if meant crawling to her father on his hands and knees and humbling himself before the other chieftain.
“Why say you something so outlandish?” Tavis barked.
“We do not have time to stand here arguing,” Graeme said in an even voice. “Eveline is what’s important. If you love your daughter, have your men stand down so that we can talk over this matter between us and then form a plan to bring her back safely.”
Tavis’s eyes glittered with rage. “You dare question my affection for my daughter?”
“You’re wasting time,” Graeme pointed out. “Look at me, Armstrong. No army behind me. I rode here in good faith with only my brothers at my side. You could kill me now. I’ve raised no arms to you. I want my wife back and I’ll have her if it’s the last thing I do.”
Tavis stared at Graeme for a long time, his brow furrowed in deep thought. “Speak your piece, Montgomery. I’ll hear what you have to say and then render judgment on the matter.”
“The man thinks he’s God,” Bowen muttered.
Graeme held up a hand to silence his brother.
“Did you know that Eveline is not daft at all? That she’s a highly intelligent, cunning lass with a quick wit and a heart as big as the highlands?”
Tavis’s jaw went slack, as though it were the very last thing he’d expected to hear Graeme say.
“She’s deaf, Armstrong. Not simple. Not touched. Not mad. She merely cannot hear and yet she can read the lips of others and can understand what it is they say.”
“How do you know all of this?” Armstrong asked hoarsely.
“She told me.”
“You lie!” Aiden roared. “She cannot speak. She has not spoken since her accident.”
Teague drew his sword in a flash. “You’ll cease calling into question the honor of my brother. He speaks the truth. I’ve heard her myself.”
Tavis bit out a rebuke to Aiden and ordered him to be silent. Then he turned back to Graeme. “She spoke to you? Is it true she cannot hear?”
Graeme nodded.
“Then why?”
The older man’s hands shook and bewilderment was heavy in his eyes. He looked suddenly much older than his years. It was obvious what Graeme had said hurt him.
“Why would she perpetuate such a deception?” Tavis asked hoarsely.
“Because she feared she would be forced into marriage to Ian McHugh,” Graeme said quietly. “She saw an opportunity to be able to cry off the marriage and so she allowed you and the rest of her clan to believe she was daft because it saved her from the one thing she feared the most. Ian terrorized her from the moment talks began of marriage. He spelled out in precise detail exactly how she’d suffer at his hands. She saw a way to escape and she seized it. Before long the lie took on a life of its own and she saw no way out.”
Tavis whitened and then put a hand to his nape as he stared aghast at Graeme. “She told me … Sweet mother Mary, she came to me. She said … Oh God, I didn’t believe her. I thought she was expressing normal maidenly fears. I had no idea.…”
“
You left her no choice,” Graeme bit out.
“And now? You say he has her? How did this happen? Did you not protect her as you should?” Tavis demanded.
“Nay, ’tis true enough that I did not do all I should do. ’Tis my fault she is even now in that bastard’s hands.”
“Nay!” Bowen cried out, his face red with anger. “I will not allow you to take blame for this. He was shot by an arrow less than a fortnight ago by a man wearing the scabbard that the Armstrong soldiers wear.”
Tavis’s head came up, his eyes sparking in anger. “I did not order an attack on my daughter’s husband. I would have never endangered her in that manner. Furthermore, I would not dishonor a blood oath sworn before God and my king.”
“I know you did not,” Graeme said calmly. “I did not know it at the time, and it caused Eveline much grief, for she witnessed the entire thing, and it was she who told us of the scabbard and how they came to be made.”
Tavis closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring. “My own daughter believes that I would betray her this way?”
“Eveline was betrayed by four members of my clan acting in conjunction with Ian McHugh. Last eve, Eveline was taken by McHugh and his escape was aided by men I trusted. I have no desire to engage you in battle, Armstrong. All I want is for my wife to be returned safely to my side.”
Tavis stared at him for a long moment, his gaze burning into Graeme, peeling him back, layer by layer. Then his eyes widened in surprise.
“You care for my daughter.”
“My love for her is stronger than my hatred of you. ’Tis why I’ll not raise arms against you today. Instead I ask your aid in the battle against the McHughs.”
Tavis, Brodie, and Aiden all stared at Graeme in astonishment. Then they looked at one another and then back to Graeme and his brothers.
Respect glimmered in Tavis’s eyes as he met Graeme’s gaze once more.
“Summon your men,” Tavis said in a brisk tone. “The McHugh Keep is half a day’s ride. We leave at once.”