Page 64 of Rescued By the Highland Warrior
Roderick marched over to the head of the long table. He took his goblet in his hand and thrust it against the wooden surface, the loud clang echoing through the hall.
The chattering stopped and the musicians faltered, the fiddle letting out a discordant screech as the music came abruptly to a halt.
“Hear me now,” Roderick’s voice boomed through the halls. “There has been great treachery within these castle walls, an evil so vile that it stains the very stones we stand upon.”
Around Roderick, the guests broke out into uneasy murmurs.
“Cameron,” he said, his gaze directed toward his friend. “Assemble a band o’ men immediately. We will ride out as soon as possible.”
“Aye, me laird” Cameron responded, hurriedly exiting the hall.
As Roderick moved to follow him, he once again bumped into Malcolm on his path. His gaze narrowed, eyeing him with deep suspicion.
“Me laird,” Malcolm said, his tone the most animated Roderick had heard it. “What is happenin’?”
“Dinnae act as though ye are unaware, Malcolm,” Roderick snarled, his voice low and simmering with anger.
The man’s brow furrowed. “I swear, I ken naught o’ what ye speak.”
Roderick’s rage took over, and he grasped his dagger, holding it to Malcolm’s gut.
“Lennox poisoned me faither,” he spat, through gritted teeth, “fer nae agreeing wi’ his proposed betrothal between yer daughter an’ me. All o’ this time he planned tae find a way tae force the union so that he could ensure his family line remains tied tae Fraser lands. Ye’re really tellin’ me ye have naething tae dae wi’ this?”
Malcolm’s face reddened. Silent and still as a statue, he glanced down at Roderick’s blade.
“I didnae ken all o’ that, I swear it!” He said, his voice shaky. “When Lennox approached me tae start a fire in the southern lands, I just thought it was a means o’ pushing ye tae dae the right thing by marryin’ me daughter. I dinnae think I’m the one ye should be blamin’.”
Roderick’s eyes burned with fury. It took everything inside him not to raise his dagger to Malcolm’s throat. “Ye purposefully started the fire? Dae ye truly have nae regard fer innocent lives?”
“Look,” Malcolm said. “I just wanted me daughter tae have what we raised her fer. If ye had just chosen tae marry Fiona, none o’ this would have had tae happen.”
“An’ what o’ me faither?” Roderick snarled. “It was just easier tae kill him, wasnae it? Nae tae mention the attack on Moira this morn’… we found yer arrow in the grass…”
“I didnae ken anytin’ o’ murder, lad,” Malcolm said. “Yer faither an’ I were close, like braithers, ye ken that well. I would never have brought him any harm. And I ken nae of what arrow ye speak…”
Roderick eyed him suspiciously, and although he still saw Malcolm as a traitor, he could tell from his expression that he was telling the truth. Malcolm, although wrong, was not the murderer here—Lennox was.
“Then ride wi’ us,” Roderick finally said, releasing his dagger from Malcolm’s stomach. “If ye ever cared about me faither, then ye’ll ride wi’ us tae find Lennox. Ye’ll make up fer what ye have done.”
Malcolm nodded. Though he hadn’t let his guard down yet, Roderick could detect the faintest hint of remorse. He knew that Malcolm felt guilt to an extent, though it did little to ease the bitter taste in his mouth.
Malcolm followed behind Roderick and his men and they set out at once. As they moved through the night, the moon hung low over the hills. Roderick’s stomach churned with tense expectation as Lennox’s estate came into view. As they approached the entrance, they were met with armed guards.
“We’re here tae see Lennox,” Roderick announced. “Official Council business.”
The guards exchanged wary glances before one of them, an older man with an uncertain look in his eyes, nodded toward the others. Without a word, they stepped aside, allowing the group to pass through.
As they reached the stone building, Roderick and his men dismounted from their horses. Roderick instructed them to conceal their weapons. Caution was necessary, he did not want to start a fight too soon and warn Lennox of their presence.
Another guard greeted them at the door.
“I’m here tae see Lennox,” he said. “There’s been an emergency at the castle.”
The guard nodded. “Mr. Lennox is in the main chamber wi’ his men, would ye like me tae send word.”
“Nay,” Roderick said abruptly passing by him. “We can go tae him ourselves.”
As Roderick led his men through the dark hallways, he instructed them to draw their weapons.
