Page 15 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
“I expect you’ll not be confused when you learn that Laird MacFearann did not partake of the meal.”
“No, that information is equally confounding.”
“I suppose you are confounded because I did not mention that the stew was made from the bodies of the abbey monks whom my ancestor ordered his clansmen to capture and kill in the days before the dinner.”
Seona’s skin went clammy, and her stomach clenched.She put a hand over her mouth to keep from vomiting.
Rhuad waited patiently while she recovered herself.
“That Laird MacFearann forced cannibalism on that bishop,” uncertain which disgusted her more the laird or the prelate.
“An unforgiveable sin, as you know.”
“I’m uncertain that God would not forgive a cannibal who did not know what he was eating.”
“Possibly, however, my ancestor’s personal papers state that whether for the cannibalism or the cruelty of the threatened wrongful excommunication, he believed the bishop would be condemned along with himself.”
Sir Dougal interrupted momentarily to inform them that the men were ready to continue on to the castle.
“We’d best start riding then.The fog has thickened, and while I know the way, I wish to take care so that no one gets lost.”
“Very well.”She gave her mount the office to walk.“Your story is truly horrifying.”
“Aye, and those events earned Clan MacFearann the hatred of all who had benefited from the kindness of the monks in the abbey.”
“And now, hundreds of years later, your clan is still hated?”
“Aye, every laird since the one who disputed with the bishop has sought to clear the clan of that guilt.However, every laird has failed.Some trouble always befalls them and causes them to renew the disgust of every other Scot.”
“That’s what happened with your brother, isn’t it?”
“Yes, he spied for the English in order to gain the release of our mother and sister.He and the clan are hated for that.Worse, though, he failed to gain their release.”
“He must have many regrets.”Now that she understood the reasons, she empathized with both Rhuad and his brother.
“Ranulf told me he did, before he was banished, and begged me to succeed where he had failed.”
“Do you think you can restore Clan MacFearann’s honor in the eyes of the people?”
“No, I think that will have to wait for a different laird and a different time.My aim is to succeed in rescuing my mother and sister.”
“I and the MacKai men at arms will help in any way we can.’Tis wrong for your womenfolk to suffer because Edward of England is greedy to own Scotland.”
“I agree with that.”
“Perhaps, if the story of your family’s suffering at the hands of the English is told, the common folk will forgive Clan MacFearann.”
“Perhaps.However, I beg you to say nothing as well as order your men to keep silent.Great harm could come from telling the truth of the MacFearanns’ current difficulties.”
“How so?Your womenfolk have been in a convent all this time, have they not?”
“To the best of my knowledge.However, anyone hearing that they were captured by the English will assume that both mother and daughter were ruined at the hands of the Sassenachs.”
“I see your point.”
Perhaps it was the inability to see the castle clearly as they approached that made entering the inner bailey feel more like arriving at a home than the huge pile of stone she’d seen from the other side of the valley.Her growing regard for her husband, and the hope that he returned that regard, may have added to the sensation.
Rhuad helped her dismount.Sir Dougal performed the same office for Mistress Auchmuty.
