Page 96 of The Guardian's Bride
“This is not what you think it is,” she said.
“She still denies it! Give it to me. Better yet, agree to be my wife and you will be pardoned. I will see to it. We will both reap reward.”
“Nay, and nay.” She held the stone against her. Another thought came clear then. “And you want me to treat Edward with the stone, so you will get the praise for that too. Even more, you want him cured. If he dies, you lose the advantage you crave.”
He sucked in a breath; she had hit on a truth. “We cannot let the king die. You are here to help him.”
“If he were to die, you would have no more protection for your past deeds and ill intentions. If Edward is gone and Bruce wins the day, you, a disloyal Scot, would suffer.”
“I believe,” he said, “the king would be very interested to know who your betrothed is. He trusts you, or did—so that would be a betrayal. Edward does not tolerate betrayal well.” He cocked a brow.
She quailed, knowing that was true. If Edward heard she would marry Aedan, he would be enraged. And if Aedan walked into the trap Malise had set, she feared the consequences.
The guard pulled back the tent flap. “The king will see you now.”
“Word was, daysago,” Patrick Wemyss said, “that Edward decided he must show sovereign strength and lead troops to attack Scotland with the dragon banner flying. He means to terrorize the Scots and crumble their resistance.”
“He has enough temper and mania to believe that would work,” Aedan said. He reined in his horse on a hilltop besidePatrick, Brian, and the few guards with them. The red sandstone walls of Carlisle Castle were bright against the summer green of the surrounding hills. Yet something was not right, he thought. He did not see the king’s personal banner flying on the parapet.
“A pack of damned Scots will not be welcome down there,” Brian said, gesturing toward the castle. “We would be arrested—or slaughtered.”
“The king may have ridden out already if he means to try to invade Scotland. If so, they have made camp somewhere. Malise will go there. But where?”
“There must be a war camp within several miles, likely along the Scottish border,” Patrick agreed. “We could ride north and see what we find.”
“Wait. Something may happen. Patrols have been going in and out of the castle all morning,” Aedan said.
The sun climbed as they remained on the hillside behind a screen of scrub and trees. Looking out over the long meadow and a vast woodland beyond, he noticed men riding along a track that cut a winding path through the meadowland. They were heading for Carlisle.
Aedan shaded his eyes against the sun. The men were English soldiers by their gear and shields. Just another patrol. One of the knights paused on the road to look around, shading his eyes as Aedan did. For an instant, Aedan felt their gazes connect.
“We have been seen,” Brian said.
The lone rider cut away from the patrol to head across the meadow toward the hill where the Scots sheltered behind some trees. Sir Patrick swore low and set a hand to the sword at his back.
“Hold.” Aedan recognized the design of a shield he had not seen for a while—a white field with a band of red and gold vertical stripes.Keith.As the knight rode, he pushed back hischainmail hood, revealing a gleam of golden hair in the summer sunshine.
Aedan guided his horse to the hilltop and lifted a hand.
“What are you doing, sir?” Patrick hissed. Aedan rode past him and down the slope to the meadow, his horse loping through the grasses toward the advancing rider.
He rode closer, lifting a hand in a sign of peace. “Henry Keith!”
“Identify yourself!” Henry reined in, hand on the sword hilt beside his saddle.
“I know your shield. Sir Henry Keith, I trust? It has been years.”
“Do I know you? Think before you answer, Scotsman. I am deputy sheriff in Selkirkshire, and here under King Edward. Who are you?”
“MacDuff. Sir Aedan MacDuff of Castle Black in Fife.”
Henry startled visibly, his horse echoing that in a sidestep. “Aedan MacDuff! I did not recognize you.”
“I shaved.” Aedan touched his chin.
“Where is Rowena?”
“I came here to find her, so I have the same question.” He guided his horse closer.
