The Devil of Kilmartin by Laurin Wittig

Author:Laurin Wittig [Wittig, Laurin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780515134216
Publisher: Jove
Published: 2001-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

chapter 10

“Poison? Impossible.” Symon pushed her away and strode across to the window, where the first rosy tinges of dawn were washing the sky. “Poison would not cause madness. I’d be dead.”

“That depends on what poison was used, and what the poisoner wished to accomplish.”

“Who would poison me?” He turned to face her, and found her before the fire, warming her hands. “And why?” He reached for her, spinning her to face him. “Why steal my sanity? It would be so much simpler just to do away with me.”

“I do not know. I should have seen the truth much sooner, but you were so sure ’twas madness, I did not question what I felt.”

“And what did you feel?” he asked, unable to keep the disbelief from his voice.

She shook her head. “You do not believe me.”

“You ask me to deny my own experience, trust in a Lamont”—the name was like a curse—“believe that one of my own kinsmen, one of Clan Lachlan, would stoop so low as to poison his chief?”

“You are the one who bade me heal you, Devil.”

Her words smacked him as hard as any hand could. “Aye. And you did. For that I am grateful. But this . . .” He could not even begin to imagine the consequences of such a thing.

“You should be relieved,” she said, as if trying to soften the blow.

He glared at her. Relieved? When someone he had trusted, served, was poisoning him?

“Think, Symon. If ’tis poison, then all you need do is find the source and you will solve your problem. You do not even need me.”

Something in her words caused his stomach to clench, but he could not focus on feelings right now; he had to think, and think clearly.

“Is there no one here who wishes you harm?”

Symon shook his head once. “Nay.”

“You are universally loved by everyone?” Her voice held a note of derision.

He glared at her and began to pace the length of the room. “ ’Twould have to be someone who wished me ill before the madness—before my afflict—” He cast about for a new way of describing what had happened to him. “Before all this happened. There are plenty who would see me gone from these walls now, but not when this first came upon me.”

Elena moved to the stool and sat, facing him, the light of the fire behind her turning her already vivid hair fiery-colored. The prophecy came back to him. When flame and madness mingle . . . Is this how they would mingle, in common cause to find his poisoner? Would she leave him—them—if they did solve this mystery? Of course he had already promised to find a new home for her within a fortnight. But that was only to get her to agree to stay, give him longer to convince her that Kilmartin was where she belonged.

“When did the feigned madness start?”

“I do not speak of that time.”

“Then how can I help you?” She rose to leave.

Symon noted the determined look

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