His Lady of Castlemora(21)

'Has there not been enough killing?' she demanded.                       
       
           



       

'The Neils are thieves. They will return what they stole or pay the price for it.'

'The price is too high. Forget about the gold.'

'I shall not forget, nor will I allow them to forget.'

'It doesn't matter now.'

'I think it does.'

Her stomach churned. She had never particularly liked the Neils but she could not sanction this. It could only end one way.

'Is there nothing you wouldn't do to achieve your ambition?'

'Nothing, Isabelle.' He paused. 'Now it is almost done. Only one obstacle remains.'

She felt suddenly cold as another implication dawned. 'If you kill Lord Ban you will draw down the wrath of Glengarron.'

'Castlemora is strong enough to take on Glengarron at need. However, the Saxon thane is no threat to me now.'

'Then you will let him and his men leave unharmed?'

'They can have their lives for all I care.'

The relief occasioned by these words was partially obscured by the  knowledge that Murdo might well be lying. She had to hope that he would  see the good political sense of leaving Ban and his men alive. If  anything happened to them on her account she could never forgive  herself. At the back of her mind was the thought that, once free, they  could get help.

'Glengarron is no stay to me and by the time Lord Ban gets back there my  position will be fully consolidated, because by then we shall be  married.'

Her stomach churned. 'I'll never agree to wed you. I'd rather be dead than marry a traitorous upstart.'

His expression was chilling. 'Perhaps so, but the upstart will take you  to his bed tomorrow anyway. In the meantime you will remain in here.  Don't try any tricks, Isabelle. Your destiny is to be my wife. The  sooner you accept that the better.'

'I will never accept it.'

'You have no choice, my lady.' He came closer, looking into her face.  She tried to look away but a hand under her chin prevented it. 'You  belong to me.'

Isabelle made no move though her cheeks were ashen. Tears welled in her eyes. Murdo saw them and his smile grew mocking.

'Ah, there now; you have no need to weep. Submit to me and your life  will not be unpleasant.' The smile faded and his gaze bored into hers.  'Do anything else and I'll teach you the meaning of fear.'

* * *

That evening Ban and his men were taken from their prison under guard  and escorted to the courtyard. Their horses were saddled and waiting.  Hard by a dozen armed men were mounted and ready to ride. Murdo waited,  looking on as the prisoners crossed the intervening space. They halted a  few feet away.

'Planning to take us somewhere quiet and slit our throats?' said Ban.

Murdo smiled. 'A tempting prospect, but no, on the contrary; I'm letting you go.'

The Glengarron retainers exchanged glances, their expression suggestive of deep scepticism. It didn't pass unnoticed.

'I meant it. I'll even provide you with some food for the journey. Then  you will be escorted off Castlemora land, and your weapons will be  returned. After that you are free to go where you will.'

'We'll return with an armed force.'

'To what end? You cannot get back in time to prevent my marriage to Lady  Isabelle, and when that is done my claim to Castlemora is complete.  Nothing can change it and Black Iain will not waste time and men on what  cannot be altered.'

At the mention of Isabelle's name, Ban's anger surged, along with dread  for what might happen to her now. He controlled it with an effort,  although the image of Hugh's body loomed large in his memory.

'If you harm her there won't be a corner of hell for you to hide in.'

'The lady will come to no harm,' replied Murdo, 'provided that you ride  out of here and never return. Any attempt to wrest her from me by force  might have unfortunate consequences.'

Ban's eyes blazed but he was powerless and knew it. In fuming silence he  and his men mounted their horses. Murdo raised his hand in a mock  salute.

'Farewell, my lord. I hope we never meet again.'

The escort closed around its prisoners and the whole cavalcade moved forwards.                       
       
           



       

Isabelle stood at her casement and, with a sinking heart, watched them go.

* * *

When the cavalcade reached the borders of the Castlemora lands, it  halted. Ban exchanged glances with his men and then watched impassively  while their weapons were tossed in a heap on the ground. The leader of  the mercenary escort turned towards him.

'You're free to go.' His lip curled. 'If you'll take my advice you won't come back.'

With that he turned his horse's head and spoke to his companions. They  smiled in derision at the Glengarron retainers and then spurred away.  For a moment or two Ban watched them leave. Then he dismounted and  retrieved his sword and dagger. The others followed suit in angry  silence. When at length they were armed once more Jock looked at Ban.

'So what next, my lord?'

'I'm going back.'

'Right now? You're no serious?'

'Never more so. I'll not leave my w-er, Lady Isabelle to Murdo's tender  mercies. I've seen what he's capable of. Besides, Glengarron is sworn to  protect her.'

Jock nodded. 'Fair enough, but we need more men. Should we no go for reinforcements first?'

'We couldn't get there and back in time. Murdo was right. It's why he let us go. He thinks we're no threat.'

'Aye, and he's likely right about that too.'

'I don't ask you to come with me,' replied Ban.

'You'll no go back alone to that nest of vipers.'

'I must.'

Jock folded his arms across his chest. 'If you go, we all go.'

Ewan and Davy nodded. The younger man was pale with anger and he met Ban's eye in a level gaze.

'No one tosses me my sword and dirk and then commands me to run.'

'Damned right,' said Ewan.

Their resolution was unmistakable and Ban knew that further argument  would be a waste of time. 'Very well then,' he replied. 'We all go.'

* * *

They took a circuitous route back and, unwilling to advertise their  presence, tethered the horses among the trees on the hillside above  Castlemora. From their vantage point Ban studied the fortified manor  house. It seemed quiet with little evidence of life. Once he would have  found the stillness peaceful: now it seemed ominous. He had to hope that  Murdo hadn't harmed Isabelle. On balance he suspected not. The  bastard's intentions there had seemed plain enough but if he thought to  keep her he was much mistaken. Ban's jaw tightened.

He turned back to his men. 'I'm going down there.'

Jock raised an eyebrow. 'I? Don't you mean we?'

'It's going to be dangerous.'

'Is it really? In that case ye'll be needing someone tae cover your back, won't ye?'

'I would not ask you to risk your lives in this cause.'

'Your cause is our cause,' replied Jock. 'Besides, why should we let youse have all the fun?'

The other two murmured agreement, their faces assuming expressions that  Ban had come to recognise very well. He made a last-ditch attempt.

'Think of the odds, man.'

'I'd rather not,' said Jock, 'so if we're done arguing we'll just go and  fetch Lady Isabelle out of there, shall we? Then we can be on our way.'

More murmurs of agreement followed this. Ban threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

'All right, you win. Jock, you and Ewan will come with me. Davy, be  ready here with the horses. We may need to make a quick escape.'

No one remarked on the fact that one of the animals would have to carry a double burden because the lady would have no mount.

'If we're not back within the hour it'll likely mean something's gone  wrong,' said Ban. 'You must get away, Davy, and see that word reaches  Glengarron.'

'Aye, my lord.'

Ban clapped the lad on the shoulder and then, followed by Jock and Ewan,  he made his way to the edge of the trees and thence across a space of  open ground to vault the orchard wall. Once they were across it the  fruit trees screened their movements and they came unopposed to the edge  of the courtyard. From the direction of the hall they could hear voices  and raucous laughter.                       
       
           



       

'They're at table,' murmured Ban. 'Come on.'

They ran to the rear of the women's bower, concealing themselves in the  shadows by the wall. A glance round the corner revealed a guard by the  door. Ewan put his head round the corner.

'Psst!'

The guard looked round at once, frowning. Ewan beckoned frantically. The  man put a hand on his sword hilt and came to investigate. As he rounded  the end of the building there was a stifled exclamation followed by a  thud. Ban surveyed the body in grim satisfaction and then looked at his  companions. Together they headed for the door.

He opened it an inch and peered inside. In the passageway beyond he made  out two more men. Clearly the element of surprise was going to be  short-lived. After that everything depended on being able to overpower  the guards before they were able to raise the alarm.