Page 47 of A Constant Blaze

Halla brushed that aside. “More to the point, why would a traveling nobleman and a crusader stay here when Kingowan is only a few miles farther along the road? And on the main coast road, too.”

Astrid shrugged. “The crusader is probably a holy kind of a man who likes to feel closer to God. Or perhaps he’s dying of some wound or disease contracted in the Holy Land.”

“Perhaps.” It was something else to be considered as she thought over their hastily developed plan to free Mairead. Halla lay down on the bed to think, while Astrid pottered with their few possessions and then went off exploring.

Halla thought about the man in the darkness who had helped her last night. Kingowan itself had looked very quiet, while the places that should have been quiet, like the woods at night, and this hardly huge or wealthy priory, seemed unusually busy.

Astrid bustled back in high excitement. “Lady, come and speak to the man!”

“What man?” Halla asked, sitting up.

“Behind the tapestry. He asked to speak to my lady.”

Halla frowned. “Is it one of our men? Muiredach?”

Astrid shook her head impatiently. “Of course not. Come, lady, it must be important.”

Uneasily, Halla rose to her feet and followed Astrid from the room and along the passage to the tapestry at the far end. It stretched from the low ceiling to the stone balustrade that ran some five or six yards. Close-to, she could see the short pillars and arches that had been built upon it were now blocked off by the tapestry. The spars of the balustrade itself had been covered by a wooden board at the other side. At this hour, the refectory beyond it should be quiet, the monks busy with their work.

Halla stood facing the tapestry, feeling somewhat foolish as well as alarmed.

Astrid said, “Sir?”

“I’m here.” Low and deep, the voice reverberated in Halla’s memory with a swirl of excitement. The man from last night?

“I brought the lady,” Astrid said.

Halla rested her hands on the balustrade. “You may speak.”

There was a faint pause, then the same voice said, “Forgive the unorthodox communication. Since we both appear to value our privacy, this seemed the best way to warn you.”

“Warn me of what?”

“That the Lord of Galloway is staying in this house.”

Halla stared at Astrid in consternation. The one man in Scotland, practically, who would know her and betray her. Aloud, she said, “Why should you imagine the Lord of Galloway is of any interest to me?”

A faint breath of laughter was the only reply to that. She gave him a moment, but when he said no more, she prompted, “Sir?”

There was no response.

“He’s gone,” Astrid said. “What a strange man. He must be the crusader if Fergus is the nobleman.”

“Hush,” Halla commanded, dragging her woman with her back to their chamber, where she closed the door. “I think he is someone who helped me last night, so I’m prepared to believe his heart is good. Although how he can know Fergus is a threat to usdoesworry me. I’m not sure now we shouldn’t flee back to Ross as soon as we can extract Mairead.”

“It’s a long way back to Ross. Do you really think we can outride men who know this country better than we do?”

They were her own words thrown back at her. “I trust no one anymore,” Halla said ruefully. “On the other hand, Fergus being here, now that we know it, might just help us.”

“How?” Astrid demanded.

“We need a distraction,” Halla reminded her. “What better a distraction than the Lady of Ross?”

*

Malcolm resaddled hisown horse and rode out of the monastery gates. He wore a brimmed hat pulled over his face and carried his helmet tied to the saddle. His sword was at his back, and his daggers at his belt, although for the moment, his cloak covered them.

He was fairly sure he understood Halla’s plan—to hide out in the priory for a few days while the Kingowan men pursued phantoms. She had to be warned of Fergus’s presence, even if she used it, as he suspected she would, to supply the phantom. He would spare her that danger if he could.

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