Chapter 96

Dipping the cloth in the cold bath water, Frang washed the remnants of their passion from himself and Isobel. When done, he held her briefly, kissing her, feeling stirrings in his cock even now. Isobel felt it too, and they both looked down at his rising member.

"To be continued, my wife."

"I'm looking forward to it, husband," Isobel said. "It's the first time I've ever said that and wanted it to be true. My husband. Please, Frang; never do anything to make me regret those words."

"I shall endeavor to always be the person you're proud to call husband, my Lady."

They swiftly dressed and descended down the stairs, Isobel holding Frang's hand as they went. Bjarkê was waiting for them at the bottom of the steps and directed them into the parlor, posting guards at the door after they entered with orders they weren't to be disturbed for anything less than an emergency. Isobel immediately left Frang's arm to hug Stuart, then Ailene.

Ailene whispered, "You're positively glowing, Isobel. Is it the baby or something else?"

"I dare say it's something else," Isobel responded. "I took your advice and it has exceeded my expectations in unexpected ways."

"I'm happy for you," Ailene said, kissing her on the cheek. "You truly are my sister now."

Aloud, Isobel said, "Welcome to Lady Luck Farms. Bjarkë said you come bearing news. It must be important to bring you so quickly after our last parting."

"We're sorry, but yes," Ailene answered. "Bad news. Frang, we now know your father, Jamison, was poisoned, by the man who brought him his warm milk each evening, at Blackthorne's instigation."

They saw how quickly Frang's face grew red and he said, "The man won't be alive for long, if you haven't already killed him."

"Blackthorne killed him after the deed was done and he'd left the Keep," Stuart said. "He didn't want any witnesses to his part in it. We also found Màiri."

"Where was she?" Isobel asked. "Is she well or had she turned to prostitution as you feared?"

"Worse," Ailene said. "She's dead. Tortured near to death. She said before her death she was tortured by Blackthorne. What he'd done to her was the most horrible thing I'd ever witnessed. She'd been horribly disfigured, almost all of her was covered in cuts, bruises or burns. Broken bones unset, dislocated joints, breasts and nose removed, raped by some object I can't even begin to describe it did so much damage to her."

With the beginning of Ailene's description, Isobel's hand went to her mouth and with every additional word, tears began to flow down her cheeks, amazed so monstrous a thing could have been done to a poor innocent girl. Ailene was crying too, by the time she finished, reliving again what she'd seen and had indelibly printed on her mind. When she finished, they were hugging, sobbing aloud, both of them imagining the horror of it.

"It was that bad?" Frang softly asked Stuart.

"I've never seen a body so mangled and hurt before," Stuart replied. "Near everyone who saw her immediately vomited. Most could not look on her. She was subjected to the torments of the damned."

"Christ!" Frang exclaimed.

"The worst of it is not what was done to her," Stuart told him, "it's what was threatened to every female we hold dear. Màiri said he hated the Cameron women even more than the men and they could all expect worse if taken by Blackthorne. I don't know what our wives ever did to earn such enmity, but we must absolutely protect our women or we will find them forced to suffer a worse fate than Màiri did. You must constantly be on your guard, now we know the lengths Blackthorne's prepared to go. Tis the reason I came with Ailene. She wants to finish her training with you. She vows she'll make sure she's killed before she ever allows herself to be captured. Thorburn agreed with her. Said it would be better she died in combat than ever taken alive. Brother, I'm depending on you to make her the deadliest woman in Scotland. I'll not see her turned into a piece of meat like Màiri."

"Aye, we'll start tomorrow. In a month, you'll not be able to best her. I'll start doing Isobel more intensely as well. I wish now she wasn't pregnant. It will be harder to do."

"I hope so. I hate to leave Ailene here, but Bjarkë's been told to increase training as well and we're leaving five more men here we trust with high skills. You may want to use them as a personal guard around our wives; them and whoever else you trust with the task. Thorburn's sent for others he trusts. Bjarkë will do the same; perhaps family we haven't seen in years. Blackthorne's already shown an ability to poison our father with a trusted servant. I imagine he's got some here and more in the Keep. We're trying to stick with those men who've fought with Thorburn and Bjarkë, or those who've been with us for many years. If I were you, I'd send everyone you're suspicious of packing. I no longer think it's safe trying to ply Blackthorne with trickery and false information. We didn't know to what extent he'd go. We do now. If you think someone's spying on you, they probably are and you need to get rid of them."

"Wise words, Stuart. I'll do as you suggest. I'll meet with Mr. Craig, McTeague, and Isobel and start to weed some out."

"I can't believe this. Our father dead because of that man; a wee maid who never harmed anyone tortured to death. There's something wrong with him. Why? Is all this because he wants our lands? If so, why does he hate the women so much? None of this makes much sense."

"What are you two talking all serious about?" Ailene asked, coming up to them with Isobel, her eyes still red from crying.

"There seems to be no purpose to what Blackthorne's doing," Frang said. "We don't understand why he hates you women so."

Isobel came up and put her arms around Frang's arm, hugging him to her.

"I'm glad to see you two are doing okay," Stuart said. "You're going to need each other."

Isobel looked up at Frang and kissed his cheek. "I was surprised as well. I did not anticipate my happiness."

"I thought Frang would be a good match for you," Ailene said. "He's unusually kind and quite the joker. He always managed to put a smile on my face. You needed someone lighthearted and funny after dour McTavish. Did Stuart explain why I've come?"

"He said you wanted to finish your training," Frang said. "I will be working very hard with both you and Isobel to perfect your blade skills. Tis the only reason I wish Isobel was not pregnant now as I won't be able to push her as hard. One point in her advantage is she retreats better than anyone I know. It's hard for anyone to get behind her."

"I'd best be going," Stuart said. "Thorburn is away to inform Màiri's parents of her death. I should get back to the Keep. Take care of my wife, Frang, as well as your own. Mind what I said. Be careful who you trust."

"I'll protect them both with my life," Frang replied. "I'd not let the least thing happen to either."

Ailene threw her arms around Stuart and gave him the biggest kiss she could. "I'll miss you, husband. Be careful and follow your own advice. Be careful who you trust. Muiríol, Jinny and the cook are the only ones I'm certain of from the household staff. Most of the others joined us since our troubles with Blackthorne began. Most are probably trustworthy since we care for them well, but maybe not all."

"We'll be looking for any signs of deceit or spying. Good bye, dear heart."

Stuart squeezed her hard, then Isobel and Frang. He went outside with the others trailing behind and mounted his horse. The others returning to the Keep mounted and they took off down the road. Stuart left the road as soon as they were out of sight, returning home by a different route than the one they came on.