Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Chapter 33

“A two-headed man?” Duncan stared at his wife, hoping he’d misheard her.

“Aye,” she confirmed, nodding. “A monster.”

Gasps came from the men standing near enough to have heard her, and Duncan swept the lot of them with a glare, silencing them.

His wife spoke nonsense, and he wouldn’t have his men plagued by worries of two-headed monsters while Kenneth merrily hacked his way through those MacKenzie kin not dwelling within the safety of Eilean Creag’s protective walls.

Gathering Linnet into his arms, he strode toward the spiral stair at the rear of the hall. His men fell back, making way for them, as he pushed his way through their midst.

“There is no such thing as two-headed men. I’ll hear no more of such foolery,” he thundered, purposely raising his voice so his men would hear. To them, he called, “Sharpen your blades, then get what sleep you can. It will be time to head out before you know it.”

“I wouldn’t discount the lady’s words,” Sir Marmaduke cautioned, stepping out of the throng to block Duncan’s way up the stairs. “You’d be well served to heed her warning.”

Duncan’s patience snapped. “Indeed?”

“Yes,” the Sassunach replied, crossing his arms. “She wouldn’t be so troubled without just cause.”

“Did you hear her warning? She spoke of a two-headed man.” Duncan heaved a great sigh. “Perhaps such blighted creatures roam England, but I swear I have ne’er seen one hereabouts. Furthermore, you’d be well served to get out of my way lest I am tempted to ask why my orders weren’t followed. I told you to post a guard on my lady’s door.”

He paused to narrow his eyes at his friend. “Is it possible you neglected to send a guard to the lad’s room as well?”

“Think you I’d shirk my duties?” Sir Marmaduke asked, a look of mock astonishment on his scarred face. “Never would I ignore your wishes. Red James was pulled from duty at the gatehouse and will be at your lady’s door any moment. I know you’ll prefer him on the battlements, so I’ve sent someone to fetch Dougie to replace him as soon as possible.

“All is as it should be,” he added, his calm annoying. “I am only a bit late in implementing your orders – with just reason, of course.”

“And what might that be?”

Rather than answer him, Sir Marmaduke nodded to someone in the crowd behind Duncan. Before he could turn around to see who it was, Thomas, the tongueless lad, pushed his way forward, Robbie perched high atop his broad shoulders, a child-sized wooden sword clutched tightly in the boy’s hand. Mauger, Robbie’s ancient hound, followed close on Thomas’s heels.

Duncan’s heart turned over in his chest. If e’er he’d doubted he possessed one, he knew it now. As with Linnet, for one sickening moment, he imagined the wee lad limp and lifeless, bloodied and bruised.

For a moment, he lost his footing on the loose rushes, slick as they were with ale spilled from his men’s tankards. He stumbled and would’ve dropped Linnet had she not clung to his neck. Truth to tell, he was nigh onto losing the last victuals he’d eaten, so wrenching was the thought of Robbie meeting the same fate as he knew had befallen his crofters’ poor bairns.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded of Sir Marmaduke, venting his rage on him rather than face the demons riding his back. “Why isn’t the lad in his chamber with a guard watching over him?”

“I dinnae need a guard,” Robbie piped up, brandishing his toy sword. “Uncle Marm’duke said I must protect the ladies.”

“And so you shall, little mite,” Sir Maraduke addressed the child, his good eye twinkling.

Duncan winced at the look of adoration Robbie gave his uncle. How long had it been since the lad had looked at him thusly?

Saints help him, he couldn’t remember, and admitting such was akin to having a white-hot blade thrust deep into his belly.

His lady wife twisted in his arms, turning toward Thomas and Robbie. “I vow there is no one I’d trust more to defend me,” she said warmly, her voice, for the moment at least, no longer shaky and frightened.

Stealing a glance at her, Duncan saw her gaze lovingly at the lad. Faith, she had the face of an angel when she smiled like that. It was a look she’d gifted him with, too.

Once or twice. Perhaps more often.

And each time he’d managed to banish it with the bitter utterance of his harsh and foolhardy words.

“I asked you a question, Strongbow,” he said tightly, tamping down the shame he felt at his own actions and aiming a heated glance at his Sassunach brother-in-law. “I would that you answer it.”

For a beat, Duncan thought the Englishman would try to outstare him, but he finally complied. “Is our intent not obvious? We were making haste to bring Robbie and your lady’s maid to your wife’s chamber.”

He paused, arching his one intact brow. “It was surely an oversight on your part to order two guards posted at separate doors when in truth it is wiser to have Lady Linnet, her woman, and Robbie, safely inside one securely guarded chamber?”

Heat crept up Duncan’s neck at the wisdom of his friend’s words and at his own neglect in seeing it himself. He’d meant to spend what few hours remained till he had to rouse his men, sleeping peacefully in his lady’s arms.

Right or wrong, little else had concerned him.

The saints knew he’d need his rest, and all his wits, before it was time to lead his men in pursuit of Kenneth. But now, no peace would be his with Elspeth and Robbie sharing the chamber.

“I-” Duncan snapped his mouth shut, swallowing the protest he’d been about to voice when he spotted Fergus and his lady at the edge of the circle of men gathered round them.

Although she tried to hide it, he could tell the old woman was frightened. It stood all over her face and in the way her gaze kept darting to the wicked-looking mace Fergus held in his gnarled hands.

“Aye, you are right,” Duncan conceded, watching Elspeth as he spoke. Sure enough, the taut lines around her mouth relaxed upon hearing his words.

Turning first to Sir Marmaduke, then young Thomas and Fergus, he continued, “Marmaduke, you help me escort the women abovestairs. Thomas, you’ll follow with the lad, then join the guard at my lady’s door. And you, Fergus, see the men stop quaffing ale. Send a few extra up on the wall walk and to the gatehouses and make certain the rest bed down to sleep. It will be a short night.”

His commands issued, he nodded briskly at his seneschal, then began the circular climb up the stone steps, Linnet cradled securely in his arms. The others followed close behind, the burning torch Sir Marmaduke held aloft casting eerie shadows on the wall as they went.

“I must speak with you,” Linnet whispered close to his ear, her warm breath sweet against his skin, and stirring more than his hair. “You misunderstand the portent of my vision. It was not a true two-headed man I glimpsed, but a veiled warning. My gift always works thusly, and I can do naught but guess the meaning of such messages.”

Curling her fingers around his neck, she tried to draw him closer. “I cannae speak louder lest the others hear, and I do not wish to frighten Robbie, but you must heed the warning. Please, I beg you.”

“Humph.” Without slowing his pace up the cold and damp-smelling stair tower, Duncan shifted her in his arms, pulling her tighter against his chest. He held her so close his heady male scent filled each breath she took, and the hard, unyielding links of his mail shirt pressed into her skin despite the thickness of her woolen mantle.

As if he hadn’t heard her plea, or chose to ignore it, he remained silent until they came to the door of their bedchamber. Halting before it, he ordered Sir Marmaduke to open the door, then, without releasing her, he stood back to allow the others to file inside.

Rather than follow them into the darkened chamber, he remained near the arched opening, saying nary a word as the Sassunach busied himself rekindling the fire and Elspeth bustled about like a mother hen, lighting candles with shaking hands while murmuring reassurances to Robbie. The boy sat by the hearth, his arms wrapped around the neck of his dog.

The strapping youth, Thomas, hovered just inside the door, his long arms hanging loose at his sides while he repeatedly nudged the floor rushes with the toe of his well-worn boot.

In the corridor, a tall and burly guard arrived and took position by the door, his hand already on his sword hilt. He was Red James, who mostly led patrols along the outer reaches of MacKenzie land.

“Dougie will be here shortly,” Red James told Duncan, answering his unasked question. “I’ll take my place on the battlements then.”

Nodding his thanks, Duncan moved away from the opened door and strode a few paces down the corridor, then stepped into the shadows of a wall embrasure.

“So, sweeting, we are alone here.” Duncan set Linnet on her feet and looked down at her. “What is this dire warning? What meaning do you see behind this two-headed man of flame?”

“He was not of flame,” she said, uncomfortable even recalling the frightening image. “The fire surrounded him. It was as if he stood at the gates of hell.”

“What do you make of that?” Duncan folded his arms across his broad chest. “Do you foresee a fire? Shall I have wet hides and buckets of water made ready?”

Linnet glanced at her tightly clasped hands. How could she tell him she didn’t know the vision’s meaning? Had he not listened when she’d explained she could but guess?

“Well?” He leaned back against the stone wall.

“I do not know.”

“Ah, well.” He gave her a penetrating look, the kind that made his deep blue eyes appear black, as dark as the hair sweeping back from his proud forehead. “Then what do you think the vision meant?”

Linnet inhaled. It was hard to concentrate, even difficult to breathe, when he stood so near and peered at her with such an intense look upon his handsome face.

“Well?” He reached out, smoothed her hair behind an ear. “What does your gut tell you?”

“That it was a warning.”

“So you’ve said.” He captured her face between his hands. “Now I would hear what you fear may happen.”

“I fear the flames mean the two-headed man is of the devil. Someone filled with evil,” she told him, voicing her dread. “And I believe the two heads speak of one who would betray you. A friend you dare not trust.”

“A friend?” Her husband looked doubtful, almost amused. He didn’t believe her.

She could tell.

“You doubt me,” she said the words as a statement, not a question.

Duncan dropped his hands from her face, catching her own with his larger ones, lacing his fingers with hers. “I want to believe you, lady, but a friend?”

She nodded. “So the message feels to me. I cannot say who would do you false, but of the two heads, one smiled while the other was vile. Evil.” She squeezed his hands, trying to make him understand. “Please, it is important. I know it. Someone you trust speaks with two tongues. You must beware.”

“And so I shall,” he said. “You surely saw Kenneth. He is a master of deceit who would seek to charm you while hiding a well-honed blade behind his back.

“He fooled my father thusly, ever playing on our sire’s good heart and generosity,” he went on. “When we were young, he had me deceived, too. For a time.”

“Nae, it was not Kenneth.” Linnet shook her head. She had to convince him. “I am certain. Whoever he was, he bodes ill and…” Her words trailed off when he slipped a hand beneath her hair and began caressing the back of her neck.

“Linnet.” He held her gaze. “It can be no other. Kenneth is a craven who would destroy any and all things that, in his twisted mind, stand in the way of what he wants.”

“Nae, please. You must-”

Duncan silenced her by placing two fingers against her lips. “I’m thinking the warning came because of this most recent terror he’s been unleashing along my borders. Never has he dared go so far and he will not get away with it. There isn’t a soul among my men who’ll rest until he’s breathed his last.”

“You mean to kill him?”

“There can be no other way. I cannot turn my back on such carnage as he’s allowed himself this time,” her husband vowed, his voice cold. “His vicious deeds cannot be undone, but we can claim retribution, and it will be swift and without mercy.”

Frustration welled inside Linnet’s chest. He still didn’t believe her. The saints knew her husband must take vengeance on his half brother, but she knew the two-headed man in her vision hadn’t been Kenneth.

The wretched creature foretold a danger yet to come.

A threat her husband refused to see.