The Rose and The Warrior by Karyn Monk

attack again,” said Colin.
    â€œNot only from the MacTiers,” finished Melantha, “but from anyone else.”
    â€œThere is just one small problem.”
    The little group regarded Roarke in surprise.
    â€œLaird MacTier will never agree to your demands,” he informed them seriously. “Other than the issue of his pride, which is considerable, the man is exceptionally fond of his possessions—especially his gold. And as I have already explained to you,” he continued, regarding Melantha intently, “to pay a fee for our return would put all his warriors at risk of being ransomed.”
    Laird MacKillon looked troubled. “Have you considered this, Melantha?”
    â€œThese warriors were sent to capture the Falcon’s band and are most anxious that their laird not learn that they failed miserably in their mission and are suffering the indignity of being ransomed as well. This is why they would have us believe that there is no point in holding them prisoner.” She tossed Roarke a look of contempt. “Besides, how will it appear if MacTier fails to intervene on behalf of his own clansmen?”
    â€œThe lass is right,” Hagar concurred. “MacTier may be a greedy bastard, but he’s not likely to let four of his own be killed just to save a few coins. I say we keep these big chaps for a while and see what MacTier says when he gets our message.”
    â€œVery well,” said Laird MacKillon. “But what are we to do with them while we wait to hear from MacTier?”
    â€œThrow them in the dungeon and let the rats gnaw on their hot, stinking entrails!” blazed Thor. “A few weeks in the dark with nothing but mossy bread and dank water, and we’ll have them telling us what we want to know!”
    â€œYour pardon, Thor, but what is it we want to know?” wondered Laird MacKillon.
    â€œAll enemies have secrets,” Thor assured him. His face lit up. “If they won’t tell us, we shall have to torture them!”
    â€œWe don’t have a dungeon,” Beatrice objected firmly. “And we certainly don’t have rats.”
    Thor’s expression fell. “Couldn’t we get some?”
    â€œAll we have are the storage chambers,” reflected Edwina, “and they are a terrible mess. It will take several days to clear one of them out.”
    â€œAre there any spare chambers available?” Laird MacKillon asked.
    Beatrice shook her head. “Every room in the keep is occupied, I’m afraid, and many of the cottages are already housing two families. Someone will have to move out to make room for these gentlemen, or agree to share their chamber.”
    â€œShare a chamber with these thieving MacTier cutthroats?” Thor looked outraged by the suggestion.
“Never, I say, never!”
    â€œIf we don’t have a dungeon for them and there aren’t any spare chambers, where are we to keep them?” Hagar wondered.
    â€œWhy don’t we just keep them here?” suggested Magnus.
    Hagar regarded him in confusion. “In the great hall?”
    â€œSeems to me ye couldn’t find a better place to keep a steady eye on them,” Magnus reasoned. “After all, there’s always someone in here. Should they try to escape, the place would be swarming with men in no time.”
    Laird MacKillon’s expression brightened. “We can set up an area for them down at that end, with beds and a table and a washbasin—”
    â€œâ€”of course we’ll need to put up a screen, so they can have a little privacy when they need it—” added Hagar.
    â€œâ€”and a few chairs for sitting upon—” Magnus suggested.
    â€œâ€”they’ll be close to the kitchen, so it will be easy to bring them food—” pointed out Edwina.
    â€œâ€”and the fires will keep them warm at night—you know that storage room is rather chilly—” Beatrice