The Merchant's Mark by Pat McIntosh

Author:Pat McIntosh
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

Chapter Eight

‘It must have been terrifying,’ said Alys, her brown eyes round. Not, Kate noted, You must have been terrified, but, It must have been terrifying.

‘I’d not have forgiven myself,’ said Augie Morison earnestly, ‘if you’d come to any harm, Lady Kate. Whatever he was after, it could never have been worth that.’

‘It’s one thing about a life of pilgrimage,’ Kate said lightly. ‘You meet soon or late with every ragabash in Scotland. Babb and I have trapped pilferers before now — though never so redhand,’ she admitted.

They were seated in the castle courtyard on a bench, which two of the Provost’s men had carried out for Kate rather than have Babb heave her up and back down several turns of the tower stair to Maister Morison’s lodging. About them, members of the castle household scurried back and forth carrying furniture and rolled-up tapestries, readying the Archbishop’s lodging for the arrival of the King’s party the next day.

‘But what was he after?’ Alys asked.

‘The second half of the treasure. He seemed quite certain it should be there.’

Morison shook his head, biting his lip.

‘I took him for an honest man,’ he said sadly. ‘Well, as honest as any of them.’

‘Most of us are honest till we’re tempted,’ said Kate. ‘I think maybe Billy was tempted beyond his limits.’

‘By the man with the axe,’ said Alys, nodding.

‘Axe? What man with an axe?’

‘We saw him in Hog’s tavern,’ Alys explained.

Morison looked from one to the other of them in horror.

‘What have you lassies been up to?’ he demanded, and then, ‘I’m sorry, Lady Kate, that slipped out. But what your brother will say when he hears this I just don’t know.’

‘Maybe we shouldn’t tell you, then,’ said Kate.

‘I’ve heard this much,’ he said. ‘I’d better hear the rest.’

‘Oh, it gets worse,’ said Kate. She recounted the episode in the Gallowgait, while Morison’s mobile face reflected amazement, anxiety, concern, and finally a stern determination.

‘Lady Kate,’ he said when she had finished, ‘I can’t accept any more help if it brings you into sic danger. You could have been badly hurt there in the tavern, and as for Billy Walker breaking into the chamber where you lay sleeping, well! I can’t bear to think of it. I must ask you to leave my house, my lady, and go back to your uncle’s in Rottenrow.’

‘What, and leave your bairns alone?’ said Kate. He paused, open-mouthed. ‘I’m not finished, Maister Morison.’

‘Aye you are. I’ll send the bairns to our Con out at Bothwell,’ he said, recovering himself. ‘Andy can take them. Con’s got an altar at St Bride’s, you know that, he can surely find a woman in the town to mind them till I can bring them home again. The Provost’s men will question Billy and learn what he knows, and you can stay out of it in safety, Lady Kate. And yoursel, Mistress Mason,’ he added belatedly.

Kate exchanged a glance with Alys past Morison’s shoulder.

‘I’m still not finished, maister,’ she said. ‘There’s more to tell you yet.

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