The Devil’s Laird by Brenda Jernigan

Chapter 7

Siena dressed in a cream-colored gown with a light blue bliaut. She wore a braided belt of the same material draped on her hips. It felt good to be dressed in something other than the drab gray she’d worn today.

“Please do something special with my hair,” Siena said.

“I take it you want to look your best tonight, milady?”

“Yes. I’m not sure why, but I feel nervous as if I’m seeing everyone for the first time.”

Agatha laughed. “How about the first time you have actually been awake?”

Siena smiled. “Well, that is true.” She wasn’t sure why it was so important for her to look her best, but she did want to make a good impression on Roderick’s family. So far, he’d been kind to her, however, she wasn’t a relative; therefore, she wasn’t sure what that meant for her future.

After getting final approval from Agatha, the two of them made their way downstairs. Once they were on the steps leading to the great hall, they stopped and looked at all the long tables that were already filled with brawny soldiers. Black Dawn’s great hall was so much larger than the one back home. She supposed Roderick did have more men to feed. There were four long, wooden tables plus the high table.

The high table stood upon a wooden platform to one side of a massive stone fireplace, which was ablaze with a roaring fire. Roderick was seated at the table with his back to a stone wall. The candles held in loops on the wall brackets bathed the room in light along with the tripod candlesticks on the tables.

Roderick glanced up and motioned for her and Agatha to join him. Carefully, they made their way among the tables, listening to the grumbles as some of the bigger men had to lean in, so she could pass by them. She noticed that the rushes were clean and smelled of fresh mint, which was very nice and much different from home. Her brother’s men had been pigs when it came to eating. She’d usually eaten in her room to avoid them.

“Where shall I sit, milord?”

“Why don’t you and Agatha sit here. He pointed to the chairs on his right.”

“But, sire,” Agatha protested. “Should I sit at the high table?”

“If I commanded it,” Roderick replied. “We are not that formal here. Ye are my guest, so please have a seat.”

Siena noticed the chair to his left was also empty. Tonight, she would meet his wife. She couldn’t remember the woman’s name, but she did remember that she had been very pretty, and lucky to have someone strong like Roderick to protect her.

“’Tis good to finally have ye dining with us,” Roderick said. “How are ye feelin’? You are not as pale as ye were this afternoon.” He couldn’t believe how beautiful Siena appeared tonight. There was still a little discoloring under one of her eyes, but other than that she had healed nicely. Where her hair had been dull before, now it was a glossy color that was as black as a raven’s wing, and when she turned his way, he noticed her eyes appeared silver as if they glowed.

“I’m much better, thank you,” she said. “I’d probably be dead if not for you.”

It took Roderick a few minutes before he remembered he’d asked her a question. The woman made his mind meander and that was never a good thing for a warrior. Warriors should not feel anything, and to let their minds wander could get them killed. He would have to work on that problem and remember his discipline. But Siena’s eyes seemed to capture him as they changed from silver to clear blue.

“Did yer patient give ye any more trouble?” he asked, breaking the spell.

“Nay.” She shook her head. “Helen was as docile as a kitten; however, I was wise enough not to turn my back on her until I was sure she didn’t want to kill me anymore.”

He nodded his approval. “’Twas probably a wise thing. My clan has hated yer brother for a long time.”

Siena saw Duncan approaching the table. She smiled. There was something about Duncan that she really liked. Perhaps, he reminded her of the kind of father she wished she’d had, and she found it comforting to have him near.

“I see we have lovely ladies with us tonight,” Duncan said. “’Tis better than seeing all these grumpy old faces all the time.” He motioned toward the tables in front of him. “’Twill make the food twice as good tonight, I’d wager,” he finished as he sat down next to Agatha.

“You have a sly tongue.” Agatha laughed, as did Roderick.

“Ye have the measure of him, Agatha,” Roderick leaned forward so he could see Duncan. “How did the lads do wi’ training?”

“They still prefer the swords and spears.” He shrugged and added, “The bows and arrows are no to their liking.”

“Siena is excellent with a bow and arrow,” Agatha boasted.

Roderick looked down at Siena. “Is that so?”

Siena felt her cheeks burn. “Aye.”

“Then ye’ll have to show me one day.”

A horn blew to signal the time for ‘washing hands’ immediately followed by the servants with ewers, basins, and towels for everyone to wash their hands. Next, trenchers were passed out. They were made from large loaves of stale bread with the middle taken out so there would be someplace to hold the food. Then came the platters of meat that were set in several places down the long table, followed by plates of cheese and vegetables. Then their cups were filled with ale.

Siena pulled her knife from her belt and began to sample the food. She had eaten some of the mutton and found everything very tasty. The fact that Roderick’s family had not joined them still bothered her. Siena felt as though she was sitting on pins and needles waiting to meet his wife again. When she could stand it no longer, she asked in a soft voice so only Roderick could hear, “Is your wife not joining us?”

Roderick froze. She could see a muscle twitching in his jaw as he turned to her, and the fury she saw in his eyes frightened her. She leaned back afraid he might strike her. “D--did I say something wrong?”

“I have no family.”

“But—”

“Do ye no remember me telling you that yer brother attacked my castle?”

“Aye, but--”

“And yet ye dare to ask about my family! How do ye ken my wife?”

“I—”

Roderick stood, then reached down and grabbed Siena’s arm. “Come with me.”

Siena didn’t have much of a choice as she followed Roderick. She knew everyone in the hall was watching them. They marched straight up the stairs to one of the solars before Roderick turned on her and said, “How do ye know Gillian?”

Siena rubbed her arm where he’d grabbed her. “I will tell you what you want to know when you quit shouting. I assure you there is nothing wrong with my hearing.”

“I’m no shoutin’!” Roderick shouted.

Siena crossed her arms and waited and without thinking said, “My brother always shouted at me, too. You saw what happened to him.”

Roderick blew out his breath and waited until he’d calmed down. He should hate this woman, but he didn’t. However, it was difficult to hold his temper when his wife was mentioned. He took a deep breath and said, “Go ahead.”

“I had heard my brother talk about attacking White Dawn a week before he did so. I had a dream about your family, so I went to find them.” She held up her hand when Roderick started to speak. “Do not ask me how I made the distance on my own. It is one of those things I cannot explain … just like when I saw your attack … I can’t explain some of the things I do or see. But, somehow, I made it to your castle. I spoke with your wife and I told her of the coming attack. I thought, perhaps, she could hide and warn the others.”

“She knew?” Roderick whispered, feeling he’d been slammed in the gut. His wife knew and yet she died.

“Aye. I told her, and she asked me to take your son to the small cave and hide him. She said she would follow as soon as she warned everyone. That is why I haven’t understood why I’ve not seen your family.”

“My wife was raped and killed by yer brother,” he bit out. “It wasna a pretty sight.”

Siena gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth. “Why didn’t she run and hide?”

“I dinna ken.” Roderick shut his eyes for a moment, seeing the horrors of that day. He shook his head, feeling dead inside. “My son, Michael.”

Tears sprung to Siena’s eyes. “Did he survive?”

“We’ve never found him or his body.”

Siena dashed the tears from her eyes. “I--I took him to the cave as your wife requested. I wrapped him up and gave him his stuffed bunny. I told him his mother would be along shortly and stressed he should be quiet because it was dangerous. He nodded that he understood and hugged his toy close.”

“We searched everywhere, but found nothing,” Roderick said. “Can ye show me the cave? I think I ken the one, but I want to make sure.”

“I can show you.” Siena dabbed at her tears, then her head jerked up. “But if you found no body then Michael could still be alive.”

Roderick rubbed the back of his neck. Would he ever find peace? “I dinna see how he could have survived.”

“I wish I could tell you what happened, but it’s been over a year. I went back home not wanting to be caught by my brother’s men. Perhaps I should have stayed . . . I’m sorry.”

They both grew quiet.

“It was all my fault,” Roderick admitted in a dull and troubled voice.

“How so?”

“I was arrogant enough to believe that my castle would never fall. I dinna leave enough men to protect it. That will never happen again. I’ve worked hard to double my army since that time.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “You cannot blame yourself for my evil brother’s doings. Now I wish my vision had been about you, then I could have warned you.”

Siena’s heart went out to Roderick. For once he’d let his guard down, and she could see the hurt he was experiencing. She wanted to wrap her arms around him to give comfort, but she knew for now he fed off his loss and that is what drove him. She let her arm drop back to her side.

“Perhaps if I really concentrate, I can see what happened to Michael. Maybe he was taken. I would have seen him if he’d been brought to Berwick, so I know he isn’t there. I’ll need Elen’s help, but I promise I will try.”

“I’ll hope for the best, lass. Ye are dismissed for now,” Roderick said, turning his back on her, wanting to be alone.