Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Brack stood off to his right, arms folded, his posture stiff.
“Gavin has escaped,” Torrance announced, his voice carrying sharp and clear through the stillness. “He did not fly, nor disappear by witchery. Someone helped him.”
Not a word stirred the air.
Torrance took a slow step forward, his gaze moving over each man. “The guards posted at the prisoner’s hut were called off to tend to another matter—briefly. When they returned, Gavin was no longer there.”
Still, none of the men spoke. Their eyes were careful, downcast or fixed on a distant point behind him. No one wanted to be the first.
“You all know what happens to traitors,” Brack added, his voice colder than the wind. “And you know Lord Torrance does not suffer fools or liars.”
One man shifted, his boot scraping the snow. Another adjusted the hilt of his sword with fidgeting fingers.
Torrance let the silence stretch painfully long before speaking again.
“I will ask once more and only once more. If any of you heard or saw something, anything, you will speak up now. If not, every one of you will suffer.”
It took a moment before a voice broke the tension. “There was talk about...”
Torrance’s stare froze the man in place and when the warrior remained silent, he demanded, “Finish what you will say.”
“Lady Esme,” the warrior said carefully, “was seen near the prisoner’s hut, so says wagging tongues.”
Another cleared his throat but did not step forward. “Aye, I heard the same.”
Brack glanced at Torrance, then stepped forward. “Lady Esme has already been punished for whatever, if any, roll she may have played in this. She is confined to her dwelling with only bread and water until otherwise ordered by Lord Torrance. That matter is settled.”
Torrance said nothing, letting that pronouncement sink in.
But then, from the edge of the gathering, someone spoke up. “Forgive me, my lord, but with respect… what if it was more than curiosity? What if someone convinced her to help him? Surely, the escape was planned, not something done on the spur of the moment.”
The men were quiet again, some nodding subtly, others pretending not to hear.
“She was seen,” the warrior pressed.
“And yet none of those who supposedly saw her has stepped forward here to say so,” Brack said, his voice edged with warning.
The warrior offered a slight shrug. “Perhaps they fear being punished for speaking the truth.”
Torrance’s gaze stayed fixed on the warrior, unmoving. He wasn’t young, more seasoned with a defined scar along his jaw to prove it.
“I will not have my warriors gossiping like women,” Torrance threatened. “If any man has something worth hearing, he will say it with a name attached, not from shadows.”
Not a single man moved.
“You will all be watched,” Brack snapped. “Until we know who turned traitor.”
Torrance scanned the line of warriors once more, his eyes lingering briefly, intentionally, on the seasoned warrior. Not accusing, simply watching.
“Go,” Torrance ordered, and the men began to break off, some faster than others, boots disturbing the freshly fallen snow until there was barely any on the ground.
Torrance waited until the last of them disappeared from sight, then turned to Brack, “I didn’t recognize the one who had the most to say… the seasoned warrior.”
“A mercenary, Galen is his name, asked to join the clan after the battle with Clan MacLeish, pledged his allegiance to you and has caused no problems, up until now. He spoke boldly for one so new to the clan,” Brack said. “Perhaps he wants us looking elsewhere.”
“I thought the same,” Torrance said. “If he is the culprit, he’ll give himself away thinking he fooled us. We’ll catch him when he thinks no one is looking.” He turned and walked toward the meetinghouse, Brack following alongside him. “Has any word been heard from Hakon?”
“Nothing yet, but he’s like a beast when a bone is dangled in front of it. He won’t stop until he gets the reward.”
“Una,” Torrance acknowledged.
“He has his eyes and mind set on her. There will be no changing it. Una can be a troublesome lass. She won’t be missed.”
“So, you have made the decision for me?” Torrance snapped sharply.
“Nay, my lord, I simply see the obvious,” Brack said. “And I believe you do as well, unless…”
Torrance stopped abruptly when he reached the meeting house door. “Why hold your tongue now? It never stopped you before. Say what you intended.”
“You seem to be more tolerant of Lady Esme when before you believed her to be a poor wife and asked me to search for woman who would better suit you.”
“It took time for her to realize her duties, but now that she has, and that there is a good chance she is with child, I intend to keep her. Perhaps, like my father, a mistress or two will suit me. But not until I can put this betrayal matter to rest.”