“Gaelic? Well, it doesn’t matter.” Alethia shook her head. “It’s not the words I listen to.”
“’Tis settled. I will expect you in the great hall at first light.”
“There is one more thing, Laird.” She gripped the back of the chair she’d been sitting in. “The young deaf boy who stays in the great hall at night—who does he belong to?”
“The lad is an orphan.” William continued to study her map. “His mother married outside our clan. Her husband disappeared while she was with child, and she returned to live here with her widowed mother. A few years past, both mother and child took ill. The lad’s mother died, and the fever took his hearing. He lived with his grandmother until she passed, and now he stays in the great hall.”
Her heart broke for the little boy. He’d already suffered so much loss, and he couldn’t be more than four or five years old. “I would like to take care of him, if it would be all right. I can teach him to communicate. My people have a language for the deaf.”
“I have no objections to your caring for the lad.” William rolled her map up and set it aside. “Will you play for us this eve, lass?”
“Of course.”
“One more thing, Alethia.” Malcolm glanced from his father to her. “For the time being, you are to remain within the curtain wall.”
“Why?” Her heart leaped to her throat. Did they intend to imprison her? How would she find her way home if she couldn’t leave the island?
“Until we are certain Hugh has no allies here to cause you harm, ’twould be wise to remain where there are guards we trust close at hand. Hugh is a vengeful man.”
“Oh.” Relief washed through her. “OK.”
After she’d closed the door behind her, Malcolm began to pace. “She is the daughter of a king.”
“So it would seem, and likely the victim of treachery many times over.” His father leaned back in his chair. “’Tis possible her parents were murdered in their beds and their keep burned down around them to hide the evidence. Lady Alethia’s guardians may have sent her away to keep her safe. We did the same with our King James after his uncle murdered his older brother. ’Tis just as likely an enemy banished her. She is of age. Mayhap a marriage had been arranged that displeased one faction or the other.”
“Aye, ’tis possible.” Malcolm continued to pace. “But—”
“Sit, Malcolm.” His father gestured toward the chair. “You’re wearing a groove into my floor with your pacing.”
“There’s something odd about all of this.” Malcolm took a seat and looked to his father. “The fortune-teller she spoke of, I know her.”
“You believe Alethia was sent here to us specifically?”
“Aye.”
“For what purpose, Malcolm?”
“That I canna say, but I intend to find out.”
CHAPTER FIVE
For as long as he could remember, Malcolm had taken his place by his father’s side as disputes between their clansmen were heard and settled. Neither needed a truth-sayer to judge fairly. Alethia’s talents would be of use when dealing with outsiders, aye. But he saw no need of her talents now, other than indulging her need to prove herself. He shifted his stance to stand behind her as each of the men presented their side.
She leaned toward his father and whispered what they both already knew. “Both believe they are telling the truth, Laird.”
Keeping half an ear on the proceedings, the better part of Malcolm’s thoughts dwelt upon the revelations from the day before. What once he thought a flight of fancy no longer seemed fanciful at all. Alethia had been left by the side of the road for him to find. How else to explain her presence on their path the very day they passed? How else to explain Giselle’s hand in sending her to him?
It hardly seemed credible. Madame Giselle had been ancient a decade ago. Was it possible she still lived? The words the old woman had spoken bounced around in his head. Truth will save you. Keep her close by your side. Was Alethia’s presence the harbinger of some coming danger? Mayhap her life was in danger as well.
One thing was certain—he could not allow her to place herself in harm’s way for his sake. He’d take extra measures to ensure her safety and his. He’d train harder in the lists and assign himself extra guards in battle, should the need arise. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she graced him with a shy smile. Every protective instinct within him surged. Aye, no matter the cost, he’d keep her safe.
A single horn blast sounded from the village on the mainland. Court came to an unexpected end. More curious to see who had arrived than in having their disputes settled, his people followed the lure of the horn, eager to hear any news the visitors might bring.