Page 17 of Sins of a Scot
His food would have to wait. The tunnels were hardly a place for such interrogation, and thus, he had no choice but to turn back the way he had come, dragging her with him.
“I cannae believe it,” he muttered as he continued. “Ye were locked in that cell. I ken ye were. I saw Kendal lock that gate with me own eyes.”
The lass said nothing as he continued to drag her all the way back to the door he had entered. When they finally ventured out into the corridor, Owen slipped the torch back into its frame, looked left and right to ensure no other was about, and then hurriedly pulled her up the grand staircase.
Good fortune continued to shine upon him, for they met no one in the corridor of the upper floor either, and when he reached his bedchamber door, he slipped inside, pulling her with him, before quickly closing and locking it behind him.
Now that they were secure, he released her. She hurriedly took a few steps back, and once again, looked terrified.
“I’m nae going tae hurt ye,” he said, suddenly realizing what she might be imagining. “I just want answers.”
There was an imperceptible change in her expression, but still, it was clear the woman was shrouded in fear.
“How did ye escape? Tell me? How did ye get out o’ that cell?”
She shook her head. “Ye have tae ken that it wasnae the guard’s fault. Dinnae punish him.”
Her words completely astonished Owen. He had captured her, taken her against her will, locked her in a cell, and all she was concerned about was the guard?
“What?” he blurted.
“It wasnae his fault,” she repeated. “He had tae dae it.”
The conviction in her voice jolted a consideration that Owen had been playing with earlier.
Taking two steps toward her, he said, “So, ye are nae a witch?”
“I already told ye I’m nae,” she retorted.
“Then there can only be one other explanation. Ye are in possession o’ powers, are ye nae?”
Her eyes flew wide at his remark.
“It’s the only way ye could possibly have escaped. It’s the only way ye could have made Daire go and get another drink when he had a full tankard beside him.”
Iseabail continued to look at him, but this time, she appeared conflicted. The fear was still present, but it was evident she was struggling to make a decision.
“Is it true?” he pressed.
“How dae ye ken about powers?” she came back. “Is that why ye wear that crystal around yer neck?”
Owen furrowed his brow, and shook his head. “Ye answer me questions first, and then I will gladly answer yers.”
CHAPTER SIX
Iseabail could only stare at him, as he was standing there, waiting, expectation dancing all over Owen Sinclair’s face. Clearly, she had taken a wrong turn somewhere in those tunnels, for by now, she ought to be free of this castle and journeying on. Instead, she was standing in this man’s bedchamber, being interrogated. Again!
I am back where I started. Well, nae quite. But soon enough, I will be. Perhaps with more stringent restrictions upon me. But dae I tell him the truth?
Well, ye really have naething tae lose. Clearly, he has figured out yer secret. Besides, he has offered tae answer yer questions if ye answer his. Maybe, by telling him the truth, ye might get somewhere. Like discovering where he managed tae find that crystal that hangs around his neck. ‘Tis the first clue ye have found, after all.
Iseabail listened to her common sense, and could not disagree with it. It was indeed, the first clue. She had been searchingfor anything related to the stone for several weeks now, and had found nothing. Maybe her meeting Owen had been fate, or divine providence, or both. She needed to divulge her secrets, for only after doing so would he divulge his. She could think of escape later. For now, she needed to find its source.
With a sigh of resignation, she said, “Fine. Me name is Lady Iseabail Mackay, daughter o’ Laird Hamilton Mackay, sister of Keane Mackay.”
Owen’s jaw dropped as he gawked at her. “Ye are Laird Mackay’s daughter?”
Iseabail was surprised. “Ye ken him?”
