Page 34 of Highland Dove

Mari thought of the leftover bottle of the hogweed poison in her room. If this worked out, she might be able to keep Eideard miserable and covered in blisters until Duncan returned. “I have medicine given to me by the old gypsy that healed me so quickly. But if ye dinna want the leftovers, then find somethin’ for yerself. But I warn ye, my husband will no’ be in a guid mood until that nasty itchin’ stops.”

“All right. Give it to me,” he said, holding out his hand.

“It’s in my room. But ye canna tell Eideard it is from me.”

“Why no’?”

“Ye heard him. He doesna trust me.”

“Then how do I ken I can trust ye?”

“I think this speaks for itself. Dinna ye agree?” She held out her arms to prove that her blisters had disappeared.

“Then let’s go get it.”

“I’ll only give it to ye if ye let me have free roam of the castle.”

“Ye heard Eideard. He told me to keep an eye on ye.”

“He thinks I’m goin’ to try to escape. So put extra guards at the gate and ye’ll ken I am no’ goin’ anywhere.”

“I suppose,” said Baldair. “Let’s go.”

A half-hour later, Mari entered the mews. She’d tried to sneak down to the dungeon to see Angus, but it was too heavily guarded. She’d just have to figure out his clue by herself.

She entered the mews and walked straight over to the turtle doves that Duncan had given her. They cooed on the perch, sitting close together. Her hand covered her locket. She couldn’t help but think how these doves symbolized her and Duncan. Or at least they used to – before she’d been forced to marry that ogre, Eideard.

“Hello, Lancelot and Guinevere,” she said, reaching up to run a finger over them. The falconer who tended to the mews was nowhere in sight. She noticed their food had run low. “I think ye’re hungry.” When she took the scoop over to the food barrel, it was empty. “Where would he keep extra seed?” she asked aloud. Spying a door at the far end of the mews, she walked over and tried to open it. It was locked. She was about to walk away when she thought she heard crying from inside the room.

Pushing her ear to the door, she heard it again. “Hello?” She knocked on the door. “Is someone in there?”

“M-Mari? Is that ye?” came a weak voice from within.

“Emmaline?” she asked, thinking her ears were playing tricks on her.

“Help me,” cried the woman.

Mari pulled on the door but it wouldn’t budge. “The door is locked and willna open.”

“The key is inside the bucket.”

“The bucket?” Mari looked around, only seeing one bucket but it was filled with water. She stuck her hand inside and felt around, pulling out a key. “I found it.”

Sticking the key in the lock, she opened the door to find Emmaline on the floor in the dark, stuffy room.

“Emmaline,” she cried, running to her and helping the woman to her feet. “We need to get ye out of here.”

“What are ye doin’?” They turned to see the falconer standing outside the door.

“Harris?” she asked, knowing the man. “Why are ye keepin’ Duncan’s mathair in here?”

“Och, Mari, I am so sorry,” said the man. “I swear I never wanted to do it. But Eideard threatened to hurt my wife and children if I didna do as he said.”

“I understand,” said Mari. “But now ye need to understand that I want ye to keep this a secret.”

“Eideard is goin’ to want me to tell him.”

“Eideard is goin’ to be laid up for a few days, possibly for the next week. I dinna think he’s goin’ to bother ye. I’ll take Emmaline back to my room. And if there is any trouble, ye can blame this on me.”