Page 78 of The Forest Bride
“He had been in the forest all along, where he and the archer—your Lady Margaret—had made a small camp. We combed the forest looking for the lad. He was clever and elusive, but at last we found him in a downpour, hungry and tired. He refused to talk about his archer friend, but I had heard from Lennox by then, so I told him that I knew who she was and suspected who he was. He knew I was his uncle then, though he does not remember me. I have not seen the lad since he was small. He strongly resembles his father—he has his eyes and his mop of hair.”
“He is surely glad to be among kin now.” Duncan turned to the bishop seated to his other side. David Murray, Bishop of Moray, was Constantine’s uncle, and so great-uncle to young Andrew.
“Fortuitous,” the bishop agreed. “I rode to meet Constantine once I had a message from Bruce to seek sanctuary at Brechlinn Castle. When Constantine told me about Bruce’s missing daughter, it was a blessing to find young Andrew safe. Now seeing that Lady Margaret Keith is safe with you as well, I will sleep better than I have lately.”
“All is well for now,” Duncan said. “But we must decide how best to bring Bruce’s daughter here too.”
Constantine nodded. “Andrew is determined to avenge Lilias. I shall have to hold him back. And he is very protective of Lady Margaret as well. The pair of them have been through an ordeal together.” He nodded toward Margaret and Andrew, still quietly talking. “My reverend uncle agreed it was best to bring Andrew here too.”
Duncan nodded. He wanted Brechlinn Castle to provide safety for all of them. Yet the problem of the missing Brucegirl bothered him more deeply each day. Like Margaret, he was anxious to act.
And there was the matter of the ill-behaved clergyman as well. The Bishop of Moray had been outspoken in addressing crowds of Scots to convince them to stand against the English and lend their loyalty, their weaponry, and their fighting strength as needed toward Bruce and Scotland.
“Reverend Father,” he said to the bishop, “we will make a plan to move you to safety.”
“All I need, Sir Duncan, is to stay clear of the English. They would have my head for speaking out against their king.”
“Aye, we heard that a certain outspoken bishop went about addressing gatherings of Scots, at first talking about the King of Heaven and then the King of Scots, and how that earthly king needs full support to save our homeland. Bold and admirable, Reverend Father. That took courage.”
“A heart full of righteous anger, sir. Perhaps a touch of madness too.” The bishop smiled. “And bless Robert Bruce for giving me protection, a place to hide, and the promise of transport to the west. The English king is calling for my capture and execution.” He touched his collar.
“We will take care of you,” Duncan said.
“I prayed for resolution, and here you are. Heaven sent.” The bishop smiled. “But you must see to the more important matter of Bruce’s missing child.”
“About the escort that was attacked…” Constantine said, turning to Duncan. “Andrew is convinced the rogues were Menteith’s men. He saw enough to know, I think.”
“There is more proof. Lady Margaret and Andrew can help piece it together.”
“We must act soon. Bruce knows of it and is greatly troubled. If Menteith does have his daughter, there will be hell to pay, unless we can get her back quickly.”
“Lennox,” Duncan said, motioning toward Malcolm a few seats away. “A few of us will meet in the library room. Lady Margaret, Andrew…” he added. “Come with us.”
At last, aplan was forming on behalf of Lilias. Margaret felt a lift of hope as she stood in the doorway of the library as the men pulled chairs around the stout table there. Certain now that Duncan and the rest had the girl’s welfare, and that of the missing knights, in mind, she gave a sigh of relief. The help she needed was at last here, and gathering strength.
“Will you sit, my lady?” Duncan still stood. “Your voice is important here. Andrew, bring the lady a chair.”
When the lad drew out a leather chair, she sat. “I am here to answer your questions. Though I know what I would do.”
“Go after Menteith with bows and swords,” Duncan said.
“Wherever he is, Lady Lilias will be there. He must be taken down.”
“It may come to that, but taking down a sheriff is a predicament,” Constantine said. “Best we determine where the girl is and get her back without direct attack.”
“We will do whatever is necessary,” Duncan said.
Margaret looked around the table at those gathered—Duncan, Lennox, Constantine, the bishop, Bran. Two Brechlinn guards stood by as well, and Andrew sat apart by the window, where a cool breeze drifted through open shutters.
Bran went to a cupboard in the corner to pour ale from a jug into several wooden cups and hand them around. Margaret accepted a cup, as did Andrew, taking one eagerly, pleased to be included. Then Bran took the last seat at the table.
Margaret glanced around the room at shelves filled with leather-bound books secured by chains. The shelves held wooden boxes too; some open, filled with parchment rolls, flatsheets, pens, ink, wax, seals, more. Duncan conducted a good deal of his legal business here, she could see.
But as she glanced at him now, she saw his intense focus. The matter of Lilias was proven to him, and just as he had promised, he was moving swiftly to solve it.
“We can be sure that Menteith will have Bruce’s daughter near him. He is likely still incapacitated from that arrowshot,” Duncan said. “And I am grateful for that.”
He did not look at her then, but if he had, he would have seen her little smile. He rose and went to one of the boxes, removed a rolled parchment, and spread it open on the table. It was a map, she saw, as he moved a candle nearer.
