"My daughters?" Catherin asked, wiping the tears off her cheeks with the hem of her skirt.
"We have not yet found Rachel, but we will. My men will search every house until they find her." He stood up, patted her arm and smiled. "Anna is fine."
"He beat her, I heard him."
"I know, but she is healing."
*
Kevin knew he wasn't going to get Rachel's location from the scunner, so he let Stoneham stand there, threatening and insulting everyone and everything he could think of. Kevin wasn't even listening. He could still hear Anna's words -- If I moved my head too far, he would cut my throat. -- The thought of how frightened she must have been made Kevin's blood boil. Then he forced himself to remember the feel of her head on his chest so he could calm down.
Stoneham seemed to be convinced he could handle all three men without breaking a sweat. Kevin would have liked proving him wrong, but he promised the king he wouldn't kill the man -- at least not yet.
"Stoneham," the voice behind him boomed.
Stoneham spun around. "Your Majesty?" He started to bow, but the king shoved him aside and walked into the dining room. Behind Stoneham, ten of the king's well-armed men stood with swords drawn glaring at him and the color began to drain out of Stoneham's arrogant face.
The king walked to the Highlanders and turned to face Stoneham. Had he realized how puny he looked next to the giants, he would have reconsidered. "Something quite remarkable has happened," the king began, "I seem to have misplaced two full count of men and do you know where I found them? Right here surrounding your property. They were under the mistaken belief I had ordered them to protect you from an expected MacGreagor attack."
Stoneham was starting to get nervous and the king was glad of it when he walked around the Highlanders to the window, looked out and then turned back to face him. "I sent them away. Would you like to see for yourself?" Stoneham didn't move. "I thought not. Thank God, I will not have that worry. A war with the Highlands is not something I would enjoy just now. When you are dead, I must remember to give this property to a more sensible man."
The king retraced his steps, noticed the glare Stoneham was giving Kevin and the one Kevin was returning. "Should I let the MacGreagor have you? I hear his father let you live, but I doubt the son will be so generous. By the way, you have committed bigamy. The church frowns on bigamy, you know. I met your first wife a few days ago and she has impressed me greatly.