Choosing to ignore the comment, Katherine said, “Elspet, I need to speak to Laird Matheson as soon as possible. Please, can you ask if he will see me?”
She looked at Katherine and observed bluntly, “My lady, ye don’t look ‘quite well.” Ye didn’t eat a thing and I’m guessing ye haven’t eaten since sometime yesterday afternoon. What’s more, ye look even more pallid and drawn than ye did last night.”
“Please, I need to speak with your laird.”
“Laird Matheson will be livid if he sees ye looking as ye do, and finds out ye haven’t eaten. I think it would be a very good idea for ye to break your fast before I tell him ye wish to see him.”
Katherine sighed and shook her head with an air of defeat. “You are right, I don’t feel well and I cannot eat right now. I will eat something later, I promise. However, I must speak with Laird Matheson. Please, will you ask if he’ll see me?”
Elspet stared at her for a moment. Shaking her head in frustration, she responded, “I will give your message to my laird, but please, lass, ye need to eat something. I’ll check back in on ye soon. Is there anything else ye need before I go?”
“Nay, thank you, Elspet.” Elspet left, taking Katherine’s uneaten dinner, and once again locked her in.
Twenty Three
Niall spent the day preparing for the siege after Katherine left with Malcolm and Eithne. He sent messages to outlying farms so as many people and as much livestock as possible could be moved to Duncurra for safety. He did everything possible to fortify his stronghold, driving himself well into the night until Diarmad finally convinced him to rest briefly. When he lay down, he fell into an exhausted sleep, but the image of Katherine’s face as she begged him to let her stay haunted his dreams. When he woke after only a few hours, he rose and continued preparing for the imminent seige. Even though he believed sending Katherine to Brathanead was the right thing to do, after his few restless hours of sleep, he couldn’t shake the feeling he had failed her.
That evening one of his men-at-arms approached, saying “Laird, the watch reports there is a MacLennan messenger riding hard toward Duncurra.”
This could not be good news. Perhaps Malcolm had learned additional information about Matheson’s movements. He called for Diarmad, Alan, and Cairbre to join him in the great hall, where preparations were well underway for the evening meal. When the messenger arrived, Niall received him immediately. The messenger’s news stunned everyone.
“My wife was kidnapped by Matheson?” Niall roared. “Tell me now the men guarding her were killed, because I swear they will die at my hand if they weren’t.”
“Laird MacLennan said Matheson attacked with an overwhelming force. Most of the MacLennan soldiers fell under the sword or were gravely injured. Laird MacLennan himself was seriously injured. He begs your forgiveness and swears he will help ye seek vengeance. MacLennan soldiers will be arriving to support ye tomorrow.”
“Did Matheson also take Lady Eithne?” Diarmad asked.
“My laird said Laird Matheson only took Lady Katherine. Apparently she was bound, gagged, and thrown across Matheson’s lap.” The messenger began to look very uncomfortable.
“Does he intend to ransom her?” Niall asked, his panic over Katherine rising.
“The laird said Matheson didn’t mention a ransom, but—”
“But what? What else is there?”
“I’m sorry, Laird. Apparently, Laird Matheson said to tell ye—if ye still wanted your wife when he was done with her—ye could come to Cnocreidh and beg for her.”
The message had its desired effect. Niall exploded in rage. “I will raze Cnocreidh!” he roared. “We leave at first light.” Turning back to the messenger, he said, “Matheson has never attacked the MacLennans, he must have known Katherine was with them.”
“Aye, he did. He told Laird MacLennan he had ‘received an invitation’ from Duncurra.”
This statement confirmed Niall’s suspicions. Consumed with fury, in a deadly calm voice he said to Cairbre, “Bring Fingal to me now.”
“Aye, Laird,” answered Cairbre, but before he left, he said, “Laird, I cannot believe Fingal would betray ye.”
“I don’t care what ye believe. It can only be him. He would not only need to see me dead, he would need to eliminate Katherine and the bairn as well to inherit Duncurra. Get him now!” Cairbre nodded and left.
Niall had never felt this kind of rage. He saw the concerned glances passed between Alan and Diarmad. “What?” he demanded.
Just as Cairbre had, Alan tried to reason with him, pleading for caution, “Laird, he is your brother, at least hear him.”