Page 112 of The Forest Bride
“I am Brother Gideon. I have come from Holyoak in Selkirkshire with a message for either Sir Duncan or Malcolm Lennox.”
“You have us both, Brother.” Duncan looked closely at the tall man with the blond tonsure. There was something familiar in the face and about the eyes.
“From the king,” Gideon said, opening the satchel to withdraw a sealed parchment, which he handed to Duncan.
Accepting it, he broke the seal, read it quickly, and handed it to Lennox, who read it and nodded understanding. “So, we have our orders to bring the lass to her father, and the bishop as well. We must move quickly if we are to get them to the Firth to meet the king’s birlinn tomorrow,” Duncan said. Lennox nodded.
“Thank you, Brother,” Duncan went on. “Will you and the others accept our hospitality and stay here? We will take you down the loch with us when we leave.”
“Thank you. May I ask if Dame Agatha is here? I heard she traveled this way.”
“She is. And her brother is here as well. Do you know them?”
“Very well.” Gideon broke into a smile that Duncan then recognized. He had the same wide, handsome grin, good teeth and a hint of a dimple as Liam Seton and his sister Agatha shared. Gideon looked past Duncan and waved. “There they are!”
“Gideon!” Dame Agatha picked up her skirts and ran like a young girl to embrace the monk and kiss his cheek. She stepped back, her smile puckered in a deep dimple that only brightened her eyes. “Liam! Gideon is here!”
Seton hurried through the bailey to clap the monk’s shoulder, grinning. Henry Keith came just behind him, greeting them as well.
“Gideon is our brother,” Liam told Duncan and Lennox.
“Excellent! I did not realize. You are more than welcome. Lennox, if you will, take the good monks to the hall and ask Effie to see they are fed and refreshed. And we need to inform Liam and Henry and the rest, now that we have the king’s orders.”
“Aye. I will let them know and we can all discuss it later. Come this way. Good Dame Agatha, if you will,” he addedpolitely, stepping back to let her precede him as he guided them across the bailey to the keep.
Duncan turned to look for Margaret. He had come out earlier with that mission in mind but had been waylaid. Brechlinn Castle was indeed a busy place. But now he wanted to find her and let her know that they would take Lilias to meet Bruce soon.
Then he saw her hair, a bright banner, just beyond a cart filled with ale kegs brought by the brewer. She was practicing at the archery butts. He strode that way.
Just as she was readying to draw the bow, aiming at a target, she stopped and saw him. A bright smile lit her face. He savored that smile, secret and loving, and his heart warmed as he returned it. “My lady,” he said, “there is some news.”
“Tell me!” She set down the bow as he came near. With carts blocking part of the bailey, the practice area had become a private little corner. No wonder she had escaped here. “Someone just came in the gate, I saw. Monks to see the bishop?”
“Brothers from Holyoak, carrying a letter from Bruce. He uses that monastery often to channel messages outward. Brother Gideon and two others.”
“Gideon!” She looked delighted. “Agatha and Liam’s brother. There is another brother, Gideon’s twin, Gilchrist. A knight. Will the monks stay here? They have come a long way.”
“They will, but some of us must leave tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” She arranged her arrows in the quiver, and looked up. “Has Bruce decided what is to be done with Sir John and Sir William?”
“He approves what we have arranged so far. He read the charges I wrote, some serious offenses for Menteith and a tentative charge of conspiracy for De Soulis. And he approves Constantine taking them down the loch to Dunbarton to detain them in Menteith’s own dungeon, guarded by Stirlingshiresoldiers. It will take time, but they will face a justiciary court. Not mine, of course.”
“And Menteith? What of his claim on the Lennox?”
“Bruce may forfeit him for this. Either way, it will heighten the tension over the claims on the Lennox. Malcolm has a struggle ahead of him. Menteith will keep Roskie, as that is his. And there could be a tussle of authority between Edward and Bruce over it, if Edward even has the strength. They say he is very ill again.” He drew a breath. “Bruce also sent orders to be carried out immediately.”
“Who will leave tomorrow?” She tipped her head, and came toward him.
“Lennox and I are ordered to accompany Lady Lilias down the loch and take her to the Firth to meet another of Bruce’s ships. The bishop will go with her out to the Isles, and then Ireland. But we must leave in the morning.” He reached out, drew her closer. “We must leave before first light so as not to be seen. The message took time to reach us, so we must hasten.”
“Before dawn!” She set a hand to her chest. “How long will you be gone? I did not think to say farewell to Lilias so soon. Am I to go with her to Ireland, as planned before all this happened?”
He shook his head. “Bruce knows the situation here. Lennox detailed much in the letter he sent a fortnight ago. The king knows we are to be married, so he asks that Dame Agatha accompany her until the party meets two of Bruce’s kinswomen who will then care for Lilias. Lennox will go with us, and Bruce’s men who are here. Once the girl is off to Ireland and the bishop is seen to, I will return. Lennox will take Dame Agatha back to Lincluden. But I do not know how long we will be gone. I am sorry. I know you are planning our wedding.”
She took his hands in hers. “I understand. You have a good deal of work to do for Bruce with your secret guests and covert journeys. And you have justiciary cases to tend to as well. I knowthat. I will wait. I have waited since I was a child, Duncan Dhu. I can wait a little longer.”
With a rueful smile, he lifted her hands and kissed them. “Thank you. Everything is coming together at last for us, my love.”
