Duncan Graham had already been sent south to the
abbey.
"How happens it, Aasta, that you went not to St. Blane's as you were
advised?" Kenric asked, when he met her in one of the lower corridors.
"My lord," said she, "I went but to the hill of Kilbride to watch the
ships in their passage through the Kyles, and I judge that they will be
here in the space of another hour. As I came backward through Glen More
I saw a band of men with Sweyn of Colonsay ravaging the farmsteads and
setting them in flames. Twelve cottages did I pass that had been razed
to the ground. The saints be praised, all our people are safe! But oh,
my lord, Lulach, Lulach is slain! He was the first to fall."
"Lulach?"
"Yes, and more. Know ye who slew him? It was even the man of whom we
heard speech in Gigha, Rudri the Rover."
"Since Lulach is dead, what boots it who slew him, Aasta? 'Tis but the
misfortune of war," said Kenric, turning away.
"Wait, my lord," said she, holding him back. "Methinks you do not know
this Rudri. But Elspeth Blackfell took little time to discover that
much. The man Rudri is none other than he who so basely slew your father
and overcame my lord Alpin in combat. Rudri the Rover is none other than
Roderic MacAlpin!"
Kenric drew back amazed. "Roderic MacAlpin!" he exclaimed. "The saints
protect us! Ah, simpleton that I have been to have faith that that
villain ever meant to keep to his vows! And this is how he went on the
pilgrimage! and all these months, while we have fondly believed that he
was serving the Cross, he has but been serving his own ambitious ends!
It was he, then, who led the Norsemen to Gigha! It was he who besought
King Hakon to let him make the invasion of Bute, that he might murder
our children and lay waste our lands -- that he might claim the dominion
he covets! But by my father's soul he shall yet fail!"
Then Kenric unsheathed his sword, and solemnly swore upon the cross of
its hilt that never should that weapon leave him until either himself or
Roderic the Outlaw lay dead.
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