Chapter 120

Màiri's family arrived around 1:30, the priest a half hour later. Ailene sent Muiríol to waken Teárlag after the priest arrived. Muiríol found Teárlag sitting in a chair by the ashes of the cold fireplace.

"Lady Ailene said the funeral's to start soon. Sent me to fetch you."

"Thank you, Muiríol. I'll be down shortly. I'm afraid I don't have a mourning dress."

"I doubt the dead care, Lady. Your most somber one will do fine, I'm sure."

"I'm sure you're right. The dead don't care. Please send my maid to help me dress."

"Yes, ma'am."

Teárlag came down about fifteen minutes later and was directed to the family cemetery, just outside the Keep. Forty men at least must have been standing guard nearby. Isobel and Frang had no mourning clothes either. Stuart, Ailene, Thorburn and Bjarkë were all attired in their Sunday best. Thorburn must have dressed after leaving lunch, she hadn't seen him in his room. He looked so splendid in his dress kilt, tall, big and manly, but so mournful, Teárlag wanted to go and comfort him, but realized he'd take no comfort from her. Màiri's family was beside the grave, staring down at her pine box. Someone had arranged chairs for them and they all sat in stunned silence, silent tears running down their faces. The priest checked to be sure no one else would be coming.

"Before beginning, Laird Cameron would like to say a few words."

Thorburn nodded to the priest and turned to the family.

"I failed you in my duty to keep your family safe. You entrusted me with your daughter, expecting me to return her to you as you left her with me. I failed my duties to you and her. I'm deeply sorry, Rupert, Bess and Rob, I cannot return your daughter, your sister, to you, bright and shiny and happy. All I can offer in return is a box, a place to rest, and my sincerest apologies for my failure with this promise. I will hold the man responsible for her death accountable for what happened to your beloved girl and seek God's own vengeance on the unholy soul who took her life. If you want for anything, don't hesitate to ask. I owe it to you and more. You're welcome to move here to look after her grave, but even if you choose not to, rest assured, it will be cared for as if it were my father's."

"Thank you, Lord Cameron," Rupert said.

The priest conducted the Rites and there were few dry eyes as he spoke the words. No mention was made of her many injuries, the horrible condition her body was discovered in, but all who were present knew. Those who'd not witnessed it first hand, were informed in gruesome detail of the mutilation of her body. No one believed the poor girl had deserved the fate she'd been given. Teárlag was particularly distressed, having known the suffering of the poor child in Blackthorne's hands. The family had met all the Camerons by now and were surprised a stranger to them was so distraught over their daughter's death. They remained mystified as no one explained her connection to their daughter.

The service ended and flowers were cast on the casket, then Stuart, Frang, Thorburn and Bjarkë started filling the grave as Isobel and Ailene comforted the family. When she was finally laid to rest, Thorburn invited them into the Keep for food and to share stories of their daughter when she was younger. Everyone started moving into the Keep, but Frang took Thorburn's arm and bid him delay a second.

When no one stood near, Frang said, "We had to put Teárlag into your room, Thorburn."

"I want nothing to do with her, Frang. You know that. She betrayed us all. I detest the very ground she walks on."

"I know, brother. I'd feel no different if it was me. But if she's not in your room, Blackthorne will hear of it. Things have to remain the same or he'll know something's wrong. If we're not careful, we may end up burying another who's been tortured worse than Màiri. As much as you hate Teárlag, I know you don't wish that upon her."

"No," Thorburn admitted. "I just wish to never see her again. Isn't there anything else we can do?"

"If you'd been more discrete when she was here before and snuck into her bedroom at night instead of moving her into your room, I'm sure we could do something else, but any sudden change will arouse suspicion; suspicion which can't fall on Teárlag until we know what we're going to do. I'm sorry, brother. You can sleep on the floor or you can make her sleep on the floor, but it's your room she must be in."

"Fine," Thorburn grunted. "Fuck."

They went inside the Keep, twenty guards surrounding them as they moved. They ate and listened to tales of Màiri as a baby, a little girl, a young woman. They talked about a daughter and a sister. Ailene told them she knew Màiri was working to help her family, and especially how she wanted to get a doctor for Rob. She didn't say how she knew; how Màiri pleaded to be paddled instead of discharged so she could continue supporting them, only that she knew, and it was kind and unselfish of her to care so much for her family. Ailene cried quietly as she spoke, wishing now she would have listened to Màiri's pleading.

Around four, Rupert explained they needed to head home, it was a long ride. They thanked the Camerons for their hospitality. When Rupert reached Ailene, he whispered, "I don't blame you for what happened. Many's the people would have done worse than you did. I put blame where blame is due, and it's not with you."

"I'm so sorry for you loss, Rupert. You'll never know."

"I know Lady. You've tried to atone a hundred times over. Some folks think I have the second sight. I've been known to be right about a few things. I know somehow you're going to help me get justice for my Màiri. I feel it in my bones. Good evening to you and thank you."

Ailene hugged him, then Bess, and lastly, Rob. "If you need help, Rob, you know where to find it. I mean to step in since Màiri can't help anymore."

"Thank you ma'am...I mean Lady."

"Why don't you call me Ailene. I shall be your sister now and I don't expect my brother to call me Lady." She kissed him on the forehead.

"Yes, Lady...I mean Ailene."

"Good lad. Take care of your folks now. They need you more than ever."

"I will...Ailene. You can depend on me." She hugged him again.

After all guests were gone and things back to normal again, Frang said to Teárlag, "We're having a family meeting. Would you like to attend?"

"Thank you, I'd enjoy that."

"Come along then." He escorted her towards the basement again. The women waited while the men searched the basement, then they all went into the strapping room while Bjarkë stood guard at the top of the stairs again. Thorburn was back in the room, though still staying far from Teárlag. They invited her to sit again on the strapping table.

Sitting down, Teárlag said, "What more do you wish to know?"

"Everything," Frang said.

"I don't know everything. I'm not even sure if I know enough to help you," she responded.

"Since we just buried Màiri, I'd like to know more about her and what you knew," Ailene said.

"She'd been there a few weeks, never speaking to me, a pitiful creature if I ever saw one. I knew she was in pain, she groaned almost continuously. Finally, she spoke to me, asking me to end her life. I told her I couldn't, it would be murder, she had to find a way to end it herself. She said she couldn't commit suicide; it was a mortal sin. She said I'd put down a horse if it was suffering, why not her. I told her I didn't find it in my best interests to do things contrary to Blackthorne's will. I'd find myself in the cage instead if I killed her.

"It was the first time I asked Blackthorne who she was. He said only that she was a servant girl and he was getting information from her. I said I was sure she'd told him everything she could possibly know within the first week and what was the point of more. He said different questions asked in a slightly different way get different answers and he must ask over and over to see if until the answers remained the same. He also said he might want to keep her around a little to see how long he could make her last. He wondered why I cared about a lowly servant girl, so I shut up. That was the first time I saw him with McTavish. McTavish said he'd leave a couple spies on the property to get even with you, if Blackthorne would forgive his debt, over a thousand pounds. Blackthorne agreed only if his spies provided the help he needed to bring you down. McTavish saw me standing naked in his office and asked to use me. Blackthorne gave me to him for the first time. McTavish was so long without sex at that time, he climaxed in both my ass and my mouth within fifteen minutes. Of course, I was doing everything in my power to get it over with."

They heard a loud crack and looked over to Thorburn who stood with the back brace of a chair broken in his hands.