The Key by Lynsay Sands

  The coughing fit slowing, Iliana raised a hand to ward off her mother and swallowed grimly. "Why would anyone drink that stuff? It tastes like liquid fire."

  "Aye." Lady Wildwood smiled wryly and brought the pitcher to her own lips, then shook her head with satisfaction as she swallowed. "I fear I've found a taste for it."

  Iliana snatched the pitcher from her with a scowl. "How is Angus?"

  Lady Wildwood sighed glumly. "He has not regained himself yet. He is resting. I left Gertie with him and came to see what was about up here. Your plan was very clever. You have earned the men's respect."

  Iliana waved the words away. She had no interest in discussing what she had just ordered to be done. She wanted no credit or praise for it. She opened her mouth to say as much, then whirled at a shout of pain from behind her. The stablemaster had fallen to the ground, clutching his arm. An arrow protruded from his shoulder.

  "I shall fetch the women," her mother gasped, whirling to hurry down the stairs.

  Mouth tightening, Iliana hurried to the man's side. Thankfully, this arrow had gone right through. This time there would be no having to push the arrow through. The end merely had to be broken off. Remembering the trouble she had had breaking the earlier arrow, Iliana glanced at Elgin as he knelt on the man's other side. "Are your hands strong, Elgin?"

  "What?" He glanced at her in confusion and she shook her head.

  "Never mind. Doubtless they are stronger than mine. Help me sit him up."

  "I don't need help."

  Iliana rolled her eyes as the stablemaster forced himself to a seated position. It seemed men's pride came before their good sense. Pressing her hands to either side of his shoulder, Iliana glanced at Elgin. "I need you to break the end off the arrow."

  Elgin and the stablemaster both winced, and Iliana nearly sighed aloud.

  "It must be broken to remove it, else we shall have to pull either the arrow or the flights through the wound. 'Twould cause more damage."

  Rabbie began cursing and Elgin quickly joined in, even as he reached for the shaft of the arrow. Their cursing reached a crescendo as he snapped the arrow in two; then they both fell silent.

  Casting a sympathetic glance at the stablemaster's pinched face, Iliana stood to replace Elgin as he got out of the way. Kneeling again, she glanced toward the stairs, relieved when she saw her mother hurrying toward her. Giorsal, Janna, and Gertie followed, bearing salves and bandages.

  Casting a reassuring smile at the man, Iliana quickly removed the arrow and grabbed for the bandages Janna rushed forward to hand her. She was pressing the bandages against the wound to staunch the flow of blood when another shout drew her attention. Even as she saw that another man had been hit, a third stumbled backward from the wall, an arrow in his chest.

  Crying out, Iliana jumped to her feet, hurrying forward to stop his backward movement. But she was too late; he tipped off the wall, tumbling backward into the bailey far below. Cursing, Iliana left Rabbie to Gertie's tender mercies and rushed to the second man, relieved to see that he still lived. She knew that the third man had not been so fortunate.

  She grimaced as Elgin knelt across the injured man from her, then glanced toward the stablemaster as he regained his feet. His injury had been tended and bound, and he was moving toward the wall again. "Nay, Rabbie! You should rest."

  "Rest'll not keep these bastards from our gate. And what good will rest do if it sees me dead later?" And with that, the man moved back to his post.

  Iliana sighed. It would be a long siege; she only hoped they could hold out.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "Iliana?"

  She raised her head slowly from where she was resting, her eyes slightly bleary as she peered at her mother.

  Lady Wildwood's gaze slid from her daughter's morose expression to Elgin and Rabbie, both of whom sat swaying on either side of her. The table before them was littered with empty pitchers that had once held whiskey. "Angus is awake."

  Rabbie straightened abruptly at that, as did Elgin.

  "Awake?" the cook murmured, his eyes suddenly bright. "He'll be wantin' to eat then. I'd best fetch something." Stumbling to his feet, he hurried toward the kitchen.

  Lady Wildwood frowned at Iliana's complete lack of reaction to the news, then moved forward, holding a hand out. "Come. Angus may not be able to stay awake long, and he seems to have something to tell you. You, too, Rabbie."

  The stablemaster was on his feet at once and following them toward the stairs.

  Angus was awake, but terribly pale and frail-looking when Iliana's mother led her into the room. He took one look at Iliana's glum expression and struggled to sit up. "What is it? Has the wall fallen?"

  "Nay, all is well," Lady Wildwood soothed, urging him to lay back on the bed.

  "All is better than well, me laird." Rabbie grinned as he hurried to the bedside to tell of what had been done. He waxed enthusiastic about Iliana's clever use of the rock to crush the barricade and her substitution of stew for the boiling pitch.

  Angus listened calmly, his gaze never leaving Iliana's face. When the man had finished, he asked, "Then what happened?"

  Rabbie glanced uncomfortably away. He was not eager to give the bad news and she could not blame him. The responsibility was hers anyway.

  Straightening her shoulders, she moved to the side of the bed. "They responded with volleys of arrows. Four of our men were killed, and three injured before I told them to withdraw from the wall."

  "You left the wall unguarded?" Angus looked horrified at the possibility and Iliana quickly shook her head.

  "Nay, I stayed to watch their activities." If he had looked horrified that the wall might have been left unmanned at all, he looked even more so that Iliana herself had insisted on staying there to watch alone. "The men were busy helping to move the dead and injured," she added quickly as he started to turn a furious gaze on the stablemaster. It was not Rabbie's fault. He had tried to argue with her, as had everyone else, but she had been stubborn and taken full advantage of the fact that she was now in charge by ordering them off the wall. "'Sides," she added now, "once I saw what they were up to, I called the men back."

  "Saw? Ye saw? Ye had the stupidity to look over the wall when they were shooting arrows?!"

  "Well, someone had to do it. Would you have me stand safely back and order another to risk his hide? You would not do that." Iliana grimaced at the cursing that followed her words.

  When Angus finally fell silent, Iliana thought it prudent to continue quickly. "They had been busy while they kept us pinned down with their arrows. The wounded and dead had all been removed, a second shield was already in place, they had repaired the damage to the causeway and were attempting to finish it."

  "Aye," Rabbie piped up now. "She ordered two more boulders brought up. Big ones this time. 'Twas a nasty business getting them up there, but once we had, we pushed one off the top again and put paid to the causeway--and a good many of their men as well. She had us leave the second one sitting on the wall as a warning. They gave up the causeway and have done naught since then."

  Angus glanced briefly at Iliana's unhappy expression before turning back to Rabbie. "Go back to the wall and keep an eye on things. But know this: Lady Iliana is in charge until I am recovered enough to take over. Report to her."

  "I do not think I should be in charge, my lord. I do not have the experience," Iliana said as Rabbie left the room and Elgin entered, a bowl of broth in hand.

  "'Tis not experience that will save us here. 'Tis intelligence, and you have that."

  "Nay, I am not nearly smart enough to manage Greenweld. I tried three times to escape him in England and failed all three times. I would not wish to fail you here."

  "Ye will not fail," Angus announced calmly.

  "Aye," Elgin agreed, moving to her side. "Yer very clever, me lady. Why, your plan with the rock and the stew were most clever.... Except for losing my vat," he added with a frown. "S'truth, that part could have been planned better, as
I've naught to cook in now, but--"

  "Elgin!" Angus snapped, managing some strength behind his words. "Leave us."

  The cook hesitated, then handed the broth to Iliana and hurried out. Angus then turned a frown on the female servants. They immediately moved toward the door. Within moments he, Iliana, and her mother were alone in the room.

  "I could tell by yer expression that ye feel responsible fer the deaths of Greenweld's men on the bridge," Angus commented as soon as the door closed.

  Iliana nodded her head silently.

  "Well, ye are. Yer as responsible as if ye had taken a sword to each of them yersel'," he announced firmly, nodding solemnly when she winced. "And ye'd do it again to save the people within these walls, so don't fret over it. 'Twas their choice to attack. Yer choice is whether to fight or surrender and walk out like lambs to a slaughter. Yer not a lamb, lass. Accept the guilt as the part of ye that makes ye human, but don't let it rule ye. Ye did right. I'm proud to call ye a Dunbar."

  "'Tis not just Greenweld's men who died this day," she pointed out miserably. "We lost four of our own."

  "They gave their lives for their loved ones. There are two hundred women and children within these walls. Any one of my men would give their life to keep them safe."

  "Men? Two of the dead were but boys!" Iliana protested with disgust.

  "Even boys have honor. Do not take it from them to salve your own conscience."

  Iliana stiffened at that, and Angus smiled gently, holding a trembling hand out to her.

  "There." He sighed when she slid her small smooth hand into his large, scarred one. "'Tis obvious ye don't understand our ways, but this is what 'tis all about. Meself and any one of my people would give our lives for ye. Me, because I am yer laird. Our people, because they swore an oath to protect ye with their lives on the day ye wed me son. 'Tis not so different from what ye did today, risking yer bonnie neck with that foolishness on the wall rather than ordering another to do it," he added with a glare. "There is nothing more honorable to a man than to die in defense of those he loves. As for those two ye claim were just boys, they were not. They were men. Leave them their honor and let go yer guilt. They will be remembered for their bravery this day."

  Iliana felt some of the tension in her ease and nodded solemnly.

  "Good." Angus managed a smile, then let his head drop wearily back on the bed. His eyes closed for a minute, then opened again. "We are in a spot of trouble."

  "Aye," Iliana agreed quietly. "It would seem either Greenweld's man lied when he claimed to be alone, or Greenweld changed his mind and was on his way here and the fellow did not know."

  "'Tis more like he lied. 'Twas just damn lucky for Greenweld that Duncan was called away. Too damned lucky."

  Iliana stilled at that. "Think you the message was a ruse to lure Duncan away?"

  "I do not know. From what he said, Allistair ne'er saw the message. He merely saw a rolled-up scroll, and that was gone by the time he arrived back."

  "The Englishman could have removed it on the ride back without his noticing. They were both on the same horse."

  "Where is the messenger now?"

  Her eyes widened. "I had forgotten all about him."

  "So had I. Check on him when ye leave me, and send someone back to tell me what is about. Ye might set a guard on him as well." Catching the worried frown on her face, he reached out to pat her hand reassuringly. "'Tis a spot o' trouble to be sure, but just a spot. So long as we keep them outside the wall, all will be well. Duncan will roust them when he returns."

  "How long do you think 'twill be ere he returns?" Lady Wildwood asked, speaking up for the first time.

  The way Angus hesitated over answering made Iliana a bit nervous. She understood why when he spoke. "'Tis four days' travel to reach Colquhoun."

  "Four days?" Her mother was openly horrified at that news.

  "Four days there, four days back, and however long his battle lasts," Iliana said morosely. "We have lost many of our men on the first day, my lord. I do not think--" She paused when she saw the exhaustion on the man's pale face. She could not burden him with her fears. Instead, she forced a smile and reassured him. "I do not think 'twill be a problem to fend them off for that long."

  "Yer a braugh lass. I like that," Angus muttered, then closed his eyes.

  Iliana peered at him silently for a moment, then glanced toward her mother when the woman murmured, "He'll rest now for a while."

  "Aye." She frowned at the dark smudges under her eyes. "You should do so as well. You have been up here the whole day helping Gertie with him."

  Lady Wildwood shrugged her worry away. "He would not have been harmed were it not for me."

  Iliana had been about to walk past her to go check on the messenger when those words stopped her. "'Tis not your fault, Mother."

  "Aye. 'Tis. Greenweld would not be here were it not for me."

  "Greenweld is a selfish, greedy bastard. If you wish to blame him, then do. But do not be so foolish as to blame yourself along with him."

  "We cannot withstand him for two weeks. We do not have enough men."

  "We will do well enough."

  An expression of despair crossed her mother's features. "I should never have come here. I knew he would follow. I came here and put my child and all of her people at risk," she muttered with self-disgust, then, "He would leave you in peace, did I but surrender to him."

  Iliana felt a chill run up her spine at those words and her eyes widened in horror.

  "You must see the truth of that, child?" she said pleadingly. "It is all he wants."

  "Do not talk like that. You are here now and we shall find a way out of this."

  "Even does it cause the death of every man, woman, and child within these walls?" she asked gently.

  "It will not come to that," Iliana said firmly. "Now go get some rest. You will be of little to use to anyone without it."

  Shaking her head unhappily, Lady Wildwood turned and left the room.

  "Ye must watch her," Angus said, drawing Iliana's gaze. "Despite the time she suffered under him, I don't believe yer mother kens the kind of man Greenweld is."

  "What kind of man do you think he is?" she asked curiously.

  "Greedy," he said simply. "Very, very greedy. Even were she to surrender, he would not stop."

  Iliana's shoulders sagged at that. "I hoped I was wrong in thinking that myself," she murmured on a sigh.

  "You will have to post a guard on her."

  "The men are too busy--"

  "Then use the women."

  Iliana nodded.

  "Arrange that, then check on the messenger."

  "Aye." When he closed his eyes again, Iliana left the room. She found Gertie, Ebba, Giorsal, and Janna in the hallway, trying to decide who should sit with Angus to watch for fever. When Iliana asked where her mother had gone, she was told she had retired to her room.

  "Good. While you are trying to decide your schedule for sitting with Angus, you might as well decide who will stay with my mother as well. I would ask at least two of you to sit with her at all times. I fear, if left alone, she will convince herself to flee and perform the supremely foolish and misguided act of surrendering for our sakes."

  While the other women looked stunned, Gertie nodded unhappily. "Aye. I feared she was thinking of something of the like."

  "She is. And because of that, she is never to be alone. Even when she sleeps at least two of you shall be in her presence. Set a guard on her, or tie her up if you must, but see that she does nothing foolish."

  She waited just long enough to see their nods of assent, then turned her attention to the matter of the messenger, asking where he had been put. She was told he was in one of the new rooms that had been built, and went to check on him. It was not a great surprise when she found the room empty, but it gave her something to think about. She returned to Angus to report the news but found him fast asleep. Leaving the message with Gertie, who sat with him, she returned to the wall to che
ck on the activities of Greenweld's men.

  She could hear the banging and crashing going on outside the wall as she ascended the stairs. Anxiety flooding her, she rushed to Rabbie's side. "What is it? What are they doing?"

  "Cutting down trees to build something," he announced as another crash filled the air.

  "What could it be?"

  Rabbie shrugged at that. "A mangonel, perhaps. Who can say? Ye should rest," Rabbie suggested. "If 'tis a mangonel they build, we'll need our wits about us on the morrow to deal with the blighters."

  Sighing, Iliana nodded. A mangonel; tomorrow they'd be able to hurl missiles over the wall. "Call me if anything happens," she murmured and turned to leave.

  Iliana was not sure at first what had awoken her. She opened her eyes to see the first faint streaks of dawn as they crossed the sky, glowing orange and yellow.... Those streaks were moving much too swiftly. 'Twas not dawn streaking the sky, she realized with sudden horror.

  "Fire!"

  That panicked shout brought her rolling onto her back to see a man standing over her. For a moment, in the half light, she thought her attacker had returned to finish the job he had started the night she was stabbed. But then she recognized the voice shouting at her as Elgin's.

  "Rabbie sent me to fetch ye, me lady! That English bastard is shooting fire over the wall!"

  Grateful that she had decided to remain fully clothed when she had retired, Iliana leapt from the bed and hurried toward the door. She had it open and was moving through it when she suddenly whirled toward the man following her.

  "A plaid!"

  Confusion covered Elgin's cherubic face. "Me lady?"

  "My attacker. The man who stabbed me," she explained. "I just realized that he wore a plaid."

  Elgin's eyebrows rose. "There was no plaid among his things, me lady. I was there when Laird Angus searched the body. He had naught but a few coins."

  Iliana frowned; then her gaze moved to the window as another fireball flew over the wall and a wave of screams rose from the bailey. "Damn!" she murmured, hurrying from the room.

  "What is it? What is about?" Drawn by the shouts and screams below, Lady Wildwood came rushing into the hall, Ebba and Janna on her heels. At the same moment, Gertie and Giorsal appeared in the door to Angus's room.