Draco A Medieval Scottish Roma - Jayne Castel Page 0,31
Lady?” Wallace’s gaze was narrowed when it met hers. “What did Longshanks have to say?”
XIII
BLOOD WILL BE SPILLED HERE
“I’M NOT LEAVING Dunnottar.” William Wallace’s voice thundered across the laird’s solar. “Especially with Longshanks within my grasp!”
Gavina took a sip of wine from the cup she clasped, welcoming its comforting heat. After her meeting with Edward, she felt in need of something to steady her frayed nerves. “He knows ye are here, William,” she replied. The calmness of her voice belied her rapidly beating heart. “And he’ll not stop till he captures ye.”
“Let him come!” Wallace snarled. He started to pace the solar, his long legs eating up the space. The chamber was a spacious one, but the man’s presence suddenly made it confined. “Let him beat on the walls. I’ll happily put my dirk through his throat if he dares face me!”
They weren’t alone in the solar. Elizabeth sat beside Gavina by the hearth, and Donnan stood next to her. Draco, Maximus, and Cassian had also joined them. The three friends stood by the window, their faces grim.
“William, please listen to me,” Gavina said, making another attempt to penetrate the cloak of rage that shrouded the Wallace this evening. Outdoors, the light had faded, and the English army now crouched upon the cliff-top, waiting to strike with the coming dawn. “This isn’t just about ye. The lives of everyone within these walls are at stake now. If ye leave Dunnottar, then maybe I can allow Edward to enter the castle and check that we aren’t sheltering ye. Just maybe, he will spare us. I shall to do everything in my power to avoid bloodshed.”
The Wallace wheeled around, his dark gaze spearing her. Despite that he wore a thick beard, she could see the muscles of his jaw working. “Do ye really think he’ll spare Dunnottar, Gavina?” he asked roughly. “Longshanks already had his sights upon this fortress, long before he discovered my presence. Whether or not ye wish it, blood will be spilled here.”
Gavina’s belly dropped at these words. “William, I—”
“I’m not going,” Wallace cut in, his voice lowering to a growl. “Besides, how would ye expect me to get past Edward’s army?”
“I can’t believe Galbraith betrayed us,” Donnan spoke up, his grey-green eyes smoldering with anger.
“I can,” Cassian cut in, his voice tight. “The man is bitter to the core. This is his way of taking his reckoning upon us all.”
Gavina drew in a deep breath, focusing her thoughts. She was shocked and angered by the smith’s treachery, but Galbraith couldn’t be their focus right now. Instead, she wasn’t finished trying to convince the Wallace to leave. She wouldn’t give up hope of ending this peacefully—not yet.
“Stirling isn’t the only castle with a secret exit,” she said, her gaze seeking the outlaw’s. “There is a boat below the cliff … accessible via a rope ladder beneath the dungeon entrance. David may have been hot-headed, but he was no fool. He insisted Cassian ready the boat for him … should the need ever arise for him to leave in a hurry.” She paused there, letting her words sink in. “I suggest ye take it … while ye can.”
The Wallace’s eyes widened further. “That craven,” he muttered. “Why aren’t I surprised that he’d give himself a way out, while the rest of ye burned?”
By the hearth, Elizabeth’s mouth thinned. “Robert would never have sanctioned such a thing,” she assured him. Next to her, the steward was scowling. David hadn’t told Donnan of his boat. A few yards away, Cassian wore an uncomfortable expression.
Frustration spiraled up within Gavina. She understood their anger, yet once again the conversation was veering off course. Ignoring Elizabeth and Donnan’s responses, she focused on the Wallace once more. His scowl was fierce enough to frighten bairns, yet she pressed on. “Whatever the reason for David’s actions, the fact remains that wee boat is sitting there, William … ready for ye.”
A heavy silence fell in the solar then. Gavina waited patiently for the outlaw’s response, and as she did so, the banner that hung on the wall opposite caught her eye. It was the De Keith motto. Veritas Vincit—Truth conquers. She hoped her directness would be victorious in this instance, although judging from the thunderous look on Wallace’s face, she feared it wouldn’t.
“No man of honor would slink away at a moment like this,” he finally growled.
Gavina swallowed hard. “Not even to save the rest of us?”
His mouth twisted. “I repeat, Edward of England won’t show anyone here