Page 79 of Leila’s Legacy

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Leila and Brodie made their way into the village before Liddesdale Castle, disguised as Armstrong guards in gambesons and helms with heavy cloaks to further mask their identity, as well as protect them against the cold. The streets bustled with considerable activity, especially in light of such dangerous times. Certainly, not a good sign.

And then, there was the incessant banging. It rang out rhythmically, ominously. Every new alley they walked down. Bang, bang, bang.

Every cottage they rounded. Bang, bang, bang.

Leila and Brodie kept their steps confident as they followed the rush of people to the center of the village. Leila’s family remained in the surrounding forest while she scouted with Brodie.

Their steps were in time; even the puffs of white air exhaling from their cold lips fell into the same steady rhythm. No one seeing them would question if they were anything but guards.

They turned the corner and drew up short.

Bang, bang, bang.

And suddenly, Leila’s worst suspicion about the sounds was confirmed. There, being built in the center of the town, was a gallows.

“Brodie, is that ye?” a male voice asked.

Leila’s pulse tripled, but before she could dart away, Brodie put a hand out to stop her.

“Connell, ye’ll get us all killed, saying my name like that.” Brodie backed behind a cottage with Connell, dragging Leila with him.

“Are ye here to free the Lion?” Connell asked in a low voice.

Brodie nodded.

“He’s to be hanged after noon,” Connell provided. “Most likely as soon as the gallows are done being built.” His lips pressed grimly together. “There are many of us who dinna support his death. If ye mean to attack, ye’ll find our forces divided. He’d have had more men on his side had he no’ killed Alban, then tried to kill Lord Armstrong.”

Leila bit the inside of her cheek to keep from asking questions about what the guard said. Alban was dead? By Niall’s own hand?

“Niall tried to kill Lord Armstrong?” Brodie repeated.

Connell nodded solemnly. “Aye, threw a dagger at him. Would’ve landed right in his heart were it no’ for the psalter the earl was carrying. ’Twas quite a sight to behold.”

“Brodie, ye were with the lass, aye?” Connell lowered his voice further still. “The woman Niall had to drown. The men riding with Alban said they saw her alive.”

“Aye.” Brodie kept his tone and his demeanor casual, as though Leila wasn’t at his side.

Connell’s gaze slipped toward Leila in a contemplative, studying manner. She did her best not to shrink back from him. Would he accuse her of being a witch since she survived having been drowned?

“Mayhap ye can pass on a message for her,” Connell said. “Tell Lady Leila, the Lion says he will always love her.”

Brodie nodded. “Thank ye, Connell. I will.”

“Brodie?” Connell glanced around the corner where the gallows was being erected. “Did ye know Lord Armstrong had Niall’s da killed?”

Brodie nodded grimly.

“My da was killed too.” Connell sniffed, his nose red in the dismal gray daylight. “When I was a lad. He’d had a disagreement with Lord Armstrong before it happened. I wonder…”

Brodie nodded. “I dinna think Niall’s da is the only one of us to fall under Lord Armstrong’s blade.”

“At noon then, brother.” Connell clasped arms with Brodie and casually strode toward the village center once more.

Brodie said nothing but turned back to the direction they’d come and together they causally made their way back to the forest. Each step took them further from Liddesdale Castle where Niall was no doubt being held in the dungeon as he awaited his death. And all the while, the sound of hammering followed them, taunting them. Bang, bang, bang.

Brodie and Leila made their way through the village unnoticed. A rumble of thunder sounded overhead, and a fine sifting of wet snow filtered down on them. By the time they arrived on the outskirts where her family awaited news in the forest, they were all sodden with wet snow.