Page 100 of The Hawk Laird
“Your lady is much put upon of late. She would be further distressed by news of your death.”
“She is not my lady,” James said harshly.
“Is she not? She gave me that impression. And I am sorry you had to see her wed another.”
James gave him a wary look. “Why take a risk in talking to me, sir? Though you have the chary look of a fine knight, not one to follow a man like Leslie.”
“I am assigned and will fulfill my obligation. But I know Leslie, and do not trust him. I also admire what I know about the Scots. And I have heard of the bravery and cunning of the Hawk Laird.”
“Good to hear, sir. But those are old triumphs. Few trust me now.”
“Many still do. I was part of the guard the night Wallace was taken—and I saw what Leslie and the others, Menteith and such, did. I saw what you did too. That arrowshot was uncommon bravery.”
“To no avail.”
“Aye. I confess I felt fouled to be in their company that night. I have heard since how men trust and respect you. Inside Wildshaw there are Scottish soldiers who have given their pledges to Edward. But they know where their loyalty belongs.” His eyes were a rich, sincere brown. “Many regret what happened to Wallace—and to you. Not all of us condone betrayal and injustice.”
James stared in astonishment, then nodded to himself, deciding to take a chance. “Would those men—would you—step forward for the rightful laird of Wildshaw if he wished to reclaim his castle?”
The knight narrowed his eyes. “Possibly.”
“Your name, sir?”
“Gawain of Avenel in Northumberland.”
James huffed, amused. So this was the fellow. And weeks ago, Isobel knew somehow that the name was significant when she gave it to the hawk. A sign to trust the knight, then. “I am pleased to know you, Sir Gawain. Should you ever be dissatisfied with your king and his deeds in Scotland, you are welcome to find me in the Ettrick Forest.”
“I will consider it. One last thing. On the morrow, Sir Ralph will escort his bride south to Carlisle to see King Edward. They will pass through forestland—should you want to bid your lady adieu.”
“I might.”
Gawain pulled a dagger from his belt and tossed it away to land in the grass. “I dropped that. You might find it when I leave.”
“We are sincerely in your debt, sir,” James said, glancing at the two who had stood by and now nodded agreement. As Sir Gawain strode across the drawbridge, James turned to go with them.
His step had lightened with the chains removed. But as he shoved the dagger into his belt, he carried a leaden weight in the region of his heart.
“That hawk isgetting fat,” James said. He stretched out on the floor beside Alice’s blazing hearth, leaned his head on his elbow, and looked up at Ragnell. The hawk perched on Alice’s chair, herfalse silver foot shining in the firelight. She glared at him with a royal, reddish eye.
“She is fat because I overfeed her,” Alice said. “I do not want her to fly away. And you, my lad, are drunk.”
“Not yet,” James said, as he took another sip of dark Rhenish wine from a leather flask.
Alice sighed and frowned at him. James cocked an eyebrow in response and took yet another swallow. His aunt turned her frown on all of them, one by one: his men, now including Sir Eustace, Sir John Seton, and Janet Crawford, who curled beside Alice’s chair. The small room was crowded, dim, warm, a familiar and comfortable place that was yet tense and silent.
“What is to be done with him?” Alice asked the others.
“Leave him be,” Patrick said. “He is heartbroke.”
“If he wants to dive into his cups, let him,” Henry Rose said.
“This is not like him,” she told them.
“After what he went through this day,” John Seton said, “who can blame him. We could all be dead inside Wildshaw even now. Leave him be. We witnessed an accursed marriage today. Pass that wine, lad, before you take it all down. I need some too.”
James ignored them and sipped from the leather flask again. He disliked the stuff and had not intended to get drunk. But the more they discussed him and his state, the better the idea seemed.
“Heartbroken he may be,” Janet said. “But he can do something about it.”
