“Killing my family was nae enough for ye, Finn. Ye needed a scapegoat for yer actions and tried tae put the blame on Elaine.”
Once more, he began to chuckle. It was an evil and eerie sound that nearly made Duncan shiver.
“And still, ye dinnae see. God, yer a bigger fool than I thought ye were,” Finn sneered.
“Then explain it tae me ye bastard, instead of speaking with riddles.”
“Elaine was nae scapegoat, Duncan. Once ye killed her brother, or should I say, Keir killed her brother, I needed someone else tae get that ring from ye.”
Duncan worked through Finn’s words, taking a moment to process their meaning, until he suddenly thought of the portrait he had found in her room. The portrait of Elaine, the younger girl, and Angus McNally.
Angus McNally was Elaine’s older brother!
“Och, there ye go,” Finn snarled sarcastically.
Duncan had not realized his discovery had shown upon his face, yet clearly, it had. “That still doesnae make any sense, Finn,” Duncan shook his head. “ I dinnae ken how ye got Angus McNally tae break in, but Elaine…”
“Aye, I was the fool in that situation,” Finn cut across him. “I told the lad I would pay him, but I should have thought it through and saved my purse,” Finn chuckled once more. “So, ye see, Duncan. Ye only have yersel tae blame. If Keir hadnae killed Angus, Elaine wouldnae have been involved at all. But then, ye left me nae choice.”
The information was coming in almost too fast for Duncan to process. Angus had clearly been swayed by the money. And, based on what henow knew about their situation, their father beinga drunk, the family had most likely needed it. But he couldn't believe Elaine would do the same. It wasn't the person she was, or perhaps he didn't know her as well as he thought. Though his deductions were conflicting, he couldn't help but return to his disbelief that she would simply do as Finn asked.
“I dinnae believe ye, Finn. I ken Elaine and she wouldnae have done such a thing.”
“Och, where is yer imagination, Duncan?” Finn sniggered. “Anyone will dae anything for the right price. Elaine’s was her little sister’s life.”
“Ye blackmailed her!?” Duncan roared.
“Och, if ye could see yersel now, Duncan. I ken ye were a fool before, but the more ye discover, the more ye realize I’ve been yer puppeteer the entire time.” Finn’s eyes suddenly darkened, and a scowl danced across his brow. “Ye have done my bidding without any awareness, and I have enjoyed every minute o’ watching ye dance,” he growled. “Ye sent men across country because o’ a dagger I planted, ye battled men I hired tae attack the castle, and now, ye discover yer little trollop has been a spy all along.”
Duncan's rage overtook his thoughts once more, and launching himself toward Finn, he punched him square in the face.
He cried as his lip split, spurting blood across his mouth and chin. Duncan could hardly stop himself. Swinging his arms in all-consuming anger, he pummeled Finn’s body, strike after strike. His hands smashed into his stomach, his ribs, and his face repeatedly. Air expelled from Finn’s stomach, blood splattered from his mouth and cries and groans left him, until eventually, Duncan’s rage was spent. At least for now.
He turned awayand paced the cell, his mind racing with everything he had learned. Finn had played his part well. Duncan had never suspected he was capable of such heinous deception. Perhaps he was too preoccupied with his own grief over Cora and Eoin's deaths to think clearly. He knew it was more than that, though. Finn had called Elaine a spy. But the truth was that hehad infiltrated his castle a long time ago. Waiting silently in the shadows for his chance to strike.
“Ye deserve tae hang for everything ye’ve done,” he sneered. “Ye have much blood on yer hands, as well as all the pain ye have caused along the way.”
“Ye cannae hang me,” Finn barked wildly, spitting blood from his mouth. ‘I’m a laird’s son. The council will never allow it.”
“The council will never find out,” Duncan replied. “I can just leave ye here tae rot. The rats would gnaw ye tae the bone, and nae one would ken any the wiser. In fact,” Duncan said, moving toward the iron gates behind him. “I dae believe that is what I will dae.”
Finn suddenly glared at him. His smug and sneering expressions had vanished, and terror now danced in his widened eyes. “Ye cannae dae that,” he screamed. “Ye cannae leave me here tae be eaten alive, ye bastards.”
Duncan stared at him in disbelief. “What did ye think was going tae happen, Finn? Dae yer really think I or anyone else, for that matter, could ever forgive ye for what ye’ve done? Ye had nae mercy for my wife and child. Why would ye think ye deserve mine now?
“I can tell ye where Rhona is.”
Duncan frowned at the name, for he did not know it.
“Elaine’s sister,” Finn continued.
With everything he had heard since being in the cell, Duncan had hardly considered the whereabouts of the girl. It ought to have been his first question, but the wrath of Finn’s evil deception had practically taken him over. He could hardly imagine what it had been like for Elaine since all this began. But he did not have time to consider that right now.
“Where is she, Finn? Where is the lass?” Duncan demanded.
For a moment, he did not reply, as if reconsidering his desperate offer.
“Never mind,” Duncan said, turning toward the gate behind him. “I can figure it out and find her mysel. Enjoy the rats.”