“What dae ye mean, ye couldnae get it?” he bellowed.
“The whole castle was in uproar,” Elaine defended, her heart frantic in her chest. “When ye said ye were going tae cause a distraction, I couldnae have imagined that was what ye meant.”
“That was none o’ yer concern,” he barked. “Ye only had one task. How hard could it be?” he demanded.
“I’m sorry,” Elaine pleaded. “I did try but…”
“I dinnae want tae hear yer excuses,” he spat. “Ye’re in nae use tae me if ye cannae dae what I ask, and neither is yer sister,” he said, turning away from her.
“Nae, wait, please,” Elaine called. It was hard to believe that she actually wanted him to stay, but his words did not need any explaining. If she let him go now, she knew that Rhona would likely not be alive by the morning. “I’ll dae anything ye ask. Please. Just dinnae hurt Rhona.”
He halted in his tracks, his back to her. And he seemed to pause for a moment to consider her request. Elaine knew his concern was less about Rhona's life and more about the fact that she was likely his only hope of obtaining what he desired. Clearly, he came to the same conclusion, because he turned back to her and took something from his coat pocket.
Taking another step closer, he handed her a small bottle. “I want that ring and ye are going tae get it for me. But I want something else now too.”
Elaine looked down at the small bottle in her hand. “What? What is this?”
“That in yer hand, is arsenic. “I want the laird dead,” he spat. “Put it in his drink. It has no smell; he won’t ken it’s in there.”
“Dead? Ye want me to kill the laird?” Elaine blurted. “I-I cannae dae it.”
This is madness.Stealing a ring was one thing. Murdering a man was something entirely different. Murdering a man she loved, while no better or worse, just did not seem possible.How could she take a life, any life?
“Then yer sister dies. It’s that simple. Which would ye prefer? The laird, or Rhona?”
Elaine's rambling thoughts were cut short by his words. His threat was all the more terrifying because she knew he was capable of carrying it out. She didn't know how, given that she hadn't yet discovered his identity, but a sense of definitenesssat deep in her gut, as certain as anything she had ever known.
“All right,” she said hurriedly. “I’ll dae it.”
That was all he needed to hear right now. She would just agree and figure out what she would do afterwards. Besides, she wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible. Something he seemed to pick up on immediately.
Quickly stepping forward, he grabbed her upper arm, holding it so tightly in his grip that it pained her. He ignored the cry that escaped from her lips and bringing his face dangerously close to hers, he said, “Dinnae think for a minute that I trust yer word. If ye lie tae me, I swear,” he growled, his strange voice now more menacing that it had ever been before. “I will mak’ yer sister pay. It will be slow, and it will be painful. I will mak’ her scream yer name…”
“I will dae it!” Elaine blurted, panting in the fear of the moment and the terror he evoked from her with his horrible words. “I will dae it,” she said again, trying not to sob at the trap he had her imprisoned.
“Good,” he barked, shoving her so hard that she had to take several steps backward to ensure she did not fall. “I’ll contact ye again when it’s over.”
He turned on his heels, the great cloak swishing behind him as he hurriedly returned to the dense forest. Elaine could only stand there, shaking from head to toe, clutching the bottle he had given her. The uncontrollable tremors took over, and when she realized she was completely alone on the edge of the forest, she couldn't fight the building pain in her throat any longer and burst into tears. Fear, pain, and the snare she was caught in all poured out of her like a burst dam. With her breast desperate for air, her shoulders spasmed uncontrollably, yet still, remembering the guard at the walls of the castle, she silenced her wails to a muted sob.
After some time, she eventually calmed, and roughly wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand. She took in deep breaths to soothe herself and alleviate the trembling that seemed to slowly stop. At that very moment, she had no idea what she was going to do. But as darkness encroached upon her and the swaying branches of the trees played with her imagination, her first action was to get herself back behind the safety of the castle walls. The forest was eerie enough in the daylight. At night, the trees became monsters, ready to snatch her at any moment with their long and spindly branches.
Keeping her head low when she entered the gate at the castle walls, she nodded quickly to the guard and carried on toward the castle, giving him no time to speak to her or see her swollen eyes. The last thing she needed was a nosy guard asking questions to which she could give no answers. After her ordeal with the masked man, she simply did not have the emotional resilience to think up a story on the spot. It would be better if she could make her way back to her chamber undetected. Alone with her own thoughts, Elaine could figure out what on earth she was going to do.
It was after she had left the tunnels and was hurrying down the dimly lit corridors, her head down to avoid being seen, that she suddenly stormed right into someone coming the other way.
“Oh, my good heavens,” she blurted, swiftly lifting her eyes up apologetically.
Elaine’s contrite expression suddenly turned to surprise when she noticed a bewildered Finn looking at her, goblet in hand, and a rather stunned expression on his face. His own appearance swiftly changed when he regarded her more closely, and suddenly frowning with concern said, “My God, Elaine. Ye’ve been crying. Are ye all right?”
“Truly, Finn. I’m fine. I just need tae get back tae my chamber.”
Clearly, Finn was not convinced. Taking her gently by the shoulders, he stood in front of her to block her way. “I cannae let ye go in such a state, Elaine. Ye must let me help ye. Please, tell me who was it who upset ye? Give me a name and I’ll mak’ sure he never speaks tae ye again.”
By his expression, Finn, who ordinarily liked to tease and joke about, on this occasion, appeared deadly serious. Clearly, whatever alcohol he had consumed that evening had not fogged up his brain, or if it had, the sight of her had done a swift job of clearing it.
“I cannae tell ye, Finn,” Elaine said, before realizing her mistake. “I mean, it’s nae one. I’m fine.”
‘Ye are nae being truthful, Elaine, and I cannae imagine why. Why ye would want tae protect someone who has got ye so upset is beyond me. Come on,” he said, taking her by the elbow. “Let’s go somewhere a little more private, so ye dinnae have tae face any other of the guests that are meandering around. I’ll fetch ye a drink too. Ye look like ye need one.”