in time, but Lambert had seen that trick before. He swiveled, ready to strike the death blow.
Aidan ducked, coming up under Lambert’s arm and plunging the stump of his blade into the man’s side.
It happened so quickly, it took everyone a moment to realize what had transpired.
Aidan stepped back, a look of horror crossed his face. “Lambert, I didn’t—” His voice broke off. He drew out his blade. Blood poured from the major’s wound.
The officer stared at the puncture as if surprised he’d been injured. Slowly, he tilted his head to Aidan. “You have beat me.”
“Lambert—” Aidan started, but the officer’s knees buckled. Aidan caught him before he hit the ground. Lambert tried to push him away, but Aidan would have none of it. He lay his adversary on the cold, hard stones and removed his own shirt to attempt to staunch the flow of blood.
Fang released Anne’s arms. She ran to her husband to see what she could do to help.
Aidan whispered to Lambert, “I didn’t mean to kill you,” he whispered.
“I wanted to see you bloody dead,” the major sneered.
The unbridled hate shook Anne, as it apparently did her husband. “Why?” he asked. “What did I ever do to you?”
Lambert coughed and blood ran in a rivulet from the corner of his mouth. “I know you are a traitor,” he said with difficulty.
“It wasn’t worth your life,” Aidan answered sadly.
The major’s eyes met his. “Tell me…I was right…I knew…” He coughed again and added, “Honor.”
He died.
Anne placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder. He released his breath with a shudder. “I didn’t want to kill him, Anne.”
She nodded. She knew. “It could not have ended any other way,” she said softly.
Aidan lowered the body to the ground. He started to rake his hand through his hair and then stopped when he saw the blood staining his palm, his fingers. He rose to his feet. “He was right, you know.”
“I know.” She put her arms around him, resting her head against his shoulder. “But I am glad he is the one on the ground and not you.”
“Aye, Anne, but his death is on my conscience.”
“Aidan—”
“Bloody good fight!” Deacon’s voice echoed off the stone walls in the silence of the duel’s aftermath. He stood on the path leading to the stables. Now, he made his way to them. The sun chose that moment to come out from behind a cloud, highlighting his brash red hair. “You bested him, Tiebauld. It wasn’t pretty, but God, man, it was neatly done.”
“What are you doing out here?” Aidan asked. “You are supposed to be in hiding.”
“I had to watch the fight.” He kicked the bottom of Lambert’s boot with his toe. “One Englishman dead. Soon there will be others,” he vowed to the clansman crowded in the courtyard.
“Do you want to know of your brother?” Aidan asked coldly.
Deacon grinned with his customary cocksureness. “I assumed because you were here and Lambert was deadly angry with you, Robbie is free. Am I right?”
Aidan’s hand found Anne’s. He clasped it tightly. “Yes.”
“Where is he?” Deacon asked. “We have plans to make. The time has come to strike.”
“The English think Robbie is dead,” Aidan answered.
The news startled Deacon as it did the others. The men moved closer to hear the tale.
Deacon burst out laughing. “Dead? How did you manage that, Tiebauld? It must be quite a story.”
A frown formed between Aidan’s eyes. “It is.” He paused and scrutinized the people around him. Anne tried to see what he saw. There were all the familiar faces of those who had become like family to her. The children had come outside. They hovered close to their parents, occasionally sneaking a brave peek at the major’s body. They would never forget this day as long as memory served.
Aidan had become a legend.
Anne could see it in his people’s expressions. They expected him to make everything right, to protect and guide them.
She felt the weight he carried upon his shoulders. It had become her burden, too.
“I’ll tell you everything,” Aidan said. “But what I say must not leave these walls. Robbie Gunn is alive. However, he’s in bad shape. When it grows dark, Hugh and Thomas will fetch him.”
Fang spoke up. “Tell us the tale.”
“I will,” Aidan promised. “But first, come into the hall and help yourself to ale. There is something I must do.” He nodded to two of the shepherd lads. “Take the major’s body to the chapel. We shall send word to the English he is here.”
“Why