Part 18 (1/2)
Daron's eyes blazed, but in a remarkable show of discipline, he acquiesced. ”Then you know who she is.”
”Aye. Tell me, how did your lady come to be captured by Leod Macpherson in the first place?”
Daron s.h.i.+fted his weight again, and his gaze dropped momentarily. When he resumed eye contact, the pain reflected in his eyes revealed his despair at failing his kinswoman. ”We were set upona” my men were tired and hungry. 'Tis no excuse, but,” he touched his scar, ”when I was wounded, Gwenyth was taken before my men could rally behind my second in command.” He studied Adam. ”Your message said she is well. How fairs my lady, truly?”
”She is well, but . . .” Adam hated to say the words, but Daron must be made aware of the danger and come to see Adam as her best protection from the wrath of King Robert. ”She was violated and beaten.”
Daron swayed, clearly stunned. His face turned white, and he stumbled away from Adam. Adam fought the urge to tend the lad as the sounds of retching echoed in the foggy air. Best to let him regain his composure on his own.
Several minutes pa.s.sed. Adam could only imagine Daron's thoughts; how would he feel in the other man's place? Anger, frustration, a desire to strike back. Not unlike Adam's own feelings, only much more intense, for Daron would no doubt blame himself.
Daron returned, ashen-faced, his visage murderous. ”Who is the man?”
Adam made a note to remember this was a warrior, loyal to another king and heretofore an enemy. And a man who'd just learned that his kinswoman had been raped because he hadn't protected her.
”I have no proof, but when I do, he'll be punished, I promise.”
”If I don't find him first.” The young man clenched and unclenched his fists. The blaze in his eyes matched the fire of his hair, and Adam realized that a powerful force stood before him. Daron Comyn made a formidable enemy, and he might well make just as fierce an ally.
Their gazes met, and Adam said, ”How will you accomplish your revenge as a broken man, without the sanction of a laird?”
”I am sworn to Lady Gwenyth. Her welfare is my responsibility, and I will not rest until the man is dead.” His expression revealed his anguish at having failed his duty.
Adam shared Daron's determination to punish the rapist and to keep Gwenyth safe from further harm. Honor demanded it. Honor and emotions he didn't care to explore. ”I, too, am pledged to her. Lady Gwenyth is my wife.”
Daron visibly reeled at this second blow. ”Your wife?”
”Aye, she accused me of the a.s.sault, falsely, as she will readily admit, in order to escape Leod MacPherson's keep. We were forced to wed.”
Daron shook his head, as if he hadn't heard right. ”Forced to wed. This is all my fault.” Daron rubbed his forehead as if to ma.s.sage away pain. ”Why are you telling me these things, and not Gwenyth?”
”Because she would not have, in order to be gone.” Somehow, Gwenyth's rejection of him had lost its sting. Especially now that he understood her reasons. He didn't like her reasons; but loyalty, even when misplaced, he could admire.
”She would leave her wedded husband? What have you done to her to make her flee?”
”Nothing. We are handfasted, Daron. I would have set her free, planned to do so.”
Daron stroked his chin. ”Until you learned she is Gwenyth Comyn.”
”Aye.”
Again Daron grew thoughtful. ”Handfast or no, you accept her as wife?”
Did he? The truth was, until two days ago he'd been agreeable. More than agreeable. ”I might have, had she been willing.” And less deceitful.
”Ah. You have not . . . you haven't . . . but of course . . .”
”The handfast is not truly binding, Daron, if that's what's troubling you. She does not welcome me to her chamber.”
”And you've not been there, welcome or no.”
Adam had the feeling he'd pa.s.sed some sort of test as they gazed at each other in silent understanding.
Once again Daron spoke first. ”You have feelings for her.”
It was a statement, not a question.
”No more than for any creature in need of healing.” Lies.
Daron's face clearly marked his disbelief. ”I would not like to come between husband and wife.”
”But you are pledged to her.”
”Aye. But I would see her safe, and she is safer with you, Laird Mackintosh.”
”How so? A few minutes ago you were demanding I turn her over to you.”
”A few minutes ago I had no idea what she'd suffered already, or what was known. Think what might befall her once her ident.i.ty is discovered.”
”I have thought of it.”
”There are factions that want to use Gwenyth for their own purposes.” Daron brushed a hand wearily across his face and ended by touching the still healing wound at his temple. ”What you have told me about Gwenyth . . .” Daron's voice failed him, and it took a moment to regain control. ”Since Bruce's rampage through Buchan we have hidden and lived like criminals.”
”Aye, my king has been harsh with your clan.”
”That he has. Yet he has also united the highlands as no man has done before. He's even managed to subdue the earl of Ross. I don't believe there is a man alive who can wrest the throne from him.”
”But some would try.”
”Aye, they would. And they would use Gwenyth to further their cause. But all they will succeed in accomplis.h.i.+ng is to weaken Scotland and give the English reason to invade yet again. I have supported Gwenyth's desire to make a new life in England, if it would bring her the peace she craves. But it won't. She will live to see her children used as an excuse for further war and bloodshed.”
Adam began to see where Daron's thoughts were headed. ”Who is your enemy, Daron?”
Daron spoke quietly. ”A good question for every Scot to ask himself. Is it a Scottish king with the strength to keep us free, or the English who would deprive us of our right to self-government?”
Adam nodded. ”You would give your allegiance to Bruce?”
”My allegiance is first and always to Scotland. And I have my own doubts about Balliol's ability to wrest the throne from Bruce, even with my cousin as his wife. Gwenyth would lose; we all would lose.”
They studied each other. A man whose loyalty lay with his countrymen and not the figurehead who led them was a man to be trusted. Still, there was bad blood between Scotland's king and Daron Comyn's clan.
Adam scratched his head and decided to push again. ”So, you would serve Robert the Bruce?”
Daron hesitated then answered. ”Perhaps.” Daron turned and whistled. Three men as bedraggled-looking as Daron materialized out of the fog.
Adam inclined his head toward them and asked, ”Then will you all come willingly to Moy?”