"Did you have to stick your dirk in his back to make certain that he is dead?"
"Jamie, listen to me."
With a cry of rage he closed his hands about her throat and squeezed.
"I heard Brice say he had never meant to kidnap you. He vowed to see that no harm came to you. And this is how you repay him. How could you? How could you?"
Though the lad was young, he was bigger than Meredith. And surprisingly strong.
"Step away from her, Jamie." Angus staggered across the room and bent a hand to the lad"s shoulder.
"You"ve no stomach for killing. Least of all a woman. I"ll see to it."
"You do not understand." As Jamie was pulled from her, Meredith gingerly touched a hand to her bruised throat and took in long, choking breaths.
"Brice is not dead. I was cleansing his wounds when I discovered the dirk."
"Oh, aye. And you thought you could bury it in his back rather than toss it away." With his sword lifted, Angus hovered over her, prepared to aim for her heart.
Jamie glanced at the still form of Brice, hesitated, then turned back to her. His look of fury had turned to one of question.
"Could it be that she speaks the truth?"
"She would say anything to save her life." Angus sneered.
"Perhaps. But see for yourself if you do not believe me."
As Angus brought his sword higher to strike, Jamie fell to his knees beside Brice. He ran a finger over the clean dressings at Brice"s shoulder and side. Surely no one but Meredith could have applied them.
And then he saw the river of blood that gushed from the wound in Brice"s back.
"She speaks the truth," he whispered.
"What?" Lowering his sword Angus fell to his knees beside the still form of his friend. In a glance he took in the clean dressings, the kettle of water.
"This cannot be. I heard Gareth MacKenzie tell his men that Brice Campbell was dead."
"Aye. He thought so. As did I." Meredith sighed.
"But there is a pulse. Feeble, but a sign that life still flows within him."
Angus brought his fingers to Brice"s throat and held them there for several seconds. Then he turned back to Meredith, who still knelt where he had left her. In her hand was the b.l.o.o.d.y knife she had pulled from Brice"s back.
"Forgive me, my lady," Angus sputtered.
"I thought..."
"It matters not," Meredith interrupted.
"We must stem the flow of blood at once, or it will be as Gareth MacKenzie has said. Brice Campbell will be dead."
"Tell me what to do."
Angus offered a hand to her and helped her to her feet.
She shot him a look of grat.i.tude.
"Fetch some servants. I learned from my mother how to prepare potions for healing. But we must work quickly."
"Aye."
"You"re not strong enough, Angus," Jamie said.
"I"ll go."
The lad seemed relieved to be able to be of some use.
While Angus dropped to his knees beside Meredith and stared helplessly at his old friend, Jamie rushed from the room.
Within minutes he was back, followed by several smoke- darkened figures.
Though she had not allowed herself to dwell upon the fate of the others, Meredith was so relieved to see Cara and Mistress Snow alive, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She blinked them away.
"Were the women and children harmed?"
"Nay, my lady," Cara said softly. Soot smudged her face and hands.
"Gareth MacKenzie flew into a rage when you were not found among us.
He seemed intent upon finding you. He and his men were more than happy to be done with us so that they could scour the forests for a sign of you. But what of my lord Campbell?" The young serving girl glanced across the room and fell silent at the sight of Brice"s still form.
"Jamie has explained what has happened here. Tell me what you desire,"
Mistress Snow said gravely.
"And it will be yours."
Meredith noted the charred hem of the woman"s gown and the raw, blistered flesh where she had battled the flames.
"Has the fire been contained?"
"Aye, my lady."
Meredith gave a sigh of relief, then spoke quickly, listing tubers, spices and fermented malt. After that she ordered Cara to fetch more clean linens.
"Should we not move him to his bed?" Angus asked.
"I fear it would only cause his wounds to bleed more freely. For now he will have to sleep here, before the fire. Bring me a pallet and several furs," she ordered Jamie.
When Mistress Snow had dispatched servants to find everything Meredith had requested, she returned. Though she struggled to keep her gaze averted from the man who knelt beside Meredith, she could not resist a quick glance at Angus"s drawn features.