Part 29 (1/2)

The whiskered jaw clenched as Alex pulled his arm away.

”That hurts, aye?” Skelley examined Alex's flushed skin and red eyes. ”She might be mending, but you're getting worse. We must have a look at that shoulder afore we leave. Have you been tending it?”

”How could I?”

”What good will ye be to her or Gealach-or us, for that matter, if ye're dead?”

That seemed to give Alex pause. He looked again at Davie, where he leaned over the woman. Skelley had never seen Alex like this. True, he'd been acting odd ever since the Annancreag raid, but since Fayth Graham had shot him he'd been deeply preoccupied. It was unlike Alex to lose his wits over a woman. But Skelley couldn't say he was unhappy about the situation. It was about time the lad became witless with something besides anger. However, Skelley feared Alex would lose more than his wits over a woman like Fayth Graham.

”You're right,” Alex said, returning to Davie's side to watch over the la.s.s. ”We'll head out as soon as my shoulder is tended.”

Eliot was dragged to a camp several miles from where they'd been caught. It had been a highly uncomfortable journey. Since Laine had two arms, their captors had bound his wrists to drag him behind a horse. The b.o.o.bs had puzzled over Eliot's one-armed state for a good ten minutes before looping the rope around his neck and dragging him that way. Most distressing when he stumbled.

By the time their captors had thrown down the ropes-not bothering to remove their bindings-Eliot was on his knees in the mud, the rope having cut a raw furrow in his neck. Laine's hands were in much the same condition, but the lad still came over and yanked the rope over Eliot's head. The boy looked positively indignant. Eliot felt an uncommon surge of wry humor and genuine affection for the boy. This was his first kidnapping, where he was the abductee, that is. Eliot had done this before. Since Eliot was a common outlaw, he'd be treated like rubbish. Laine, however, would warrant softer confinement if he revealed his parentage.

”Tell 'em who ye are,” Eliot said, his voice a broken rasp. ”They'll treat ye fine.”

”Unless they're naught but a pack of broken men.”

”Like us?”

Eliot scanned the clearing, a.s.sessing the enemy. He knew they were Grahams, but he knew not what grayne. He suspected it was the Eden grayne, as they were the ones Alex had most recently offended in his attempt to kidnap Fayth Graham. He grew still as he surveyed the encampment. It went far back into the trees, past the clearing. There were at least one hundred men, all with horse. His gaze came to rest on a large green silk tent, indicating a lord of some standing and wealth, and half a dozen smaller canvas tents.

The flap of the green silk opened and a man emerged, his gaze seeking them out immediately. Wesley Graham. Wesley strode across the clearing, sizing them up the whole way.

”I know you. Armless Eliot, they call you. You're Red Alex's man.” He leaned to the side, viewing the empty sleeve belted to Eliot's side. ”Don't look completely armless to me.”

”Aye, and it's as good as two of yers.”

Wesley turned to inspect Laine. ”And who are you, little girl?”

Laine's face turned nearly purple with rage. ”I am Laine. I'm also Red Alex's man.”

Wesley was unimpressed. ”Have you a surname?”

Eliot waited for him to reveal his father's name, but instead, he said, ”I am a Maxwell, now.”

”Oh are ye, ye little b.a.s.t.a.r.d?”

Even Eliot jumped when the man came out of nowhere and clouted Laine alongside the head. The boy fell over, clutching his face and rolling in the mud. Ashton Carlisle, Laine's father.

”Who is this?” Wesley asked Carlisle.

”I'm sorry to say this t.u.r.d is me son. I gave him to the monks at Rees, but he disgraced me by running away.” Laine was still writhing on the ground, trying to stand up. Carlisle grabbed the boy's hair, yanking him up to look into his face. ”I been looking for you, laddie.”

”That's enough,” Wesley said.

Carlisle turned on him. ”Don't you tell me what's enough, or I'll kick yer-”

”He's a prisoner,” Wesley said loudly and with a note of boredom. ”And therefore I want him fit for questioning. When we're finished, you may do with him as you will.” Wesley gripped Laine's biceps and helped him to his feet. ”Until then, stay away from him.”