‘Did you put this to Huntsekker?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He said that life was always more interesting while mystery prevailed. He then asked me if I intended to report my suspicions to the Moidart. In turn I asked him what his thoughts were on the subject. He walked across the room and returned with a curious weapon, a hand scythe, with a heavy crescent blade. He laid it on the table. Then he said: “Do you believe in magic, captain?” I told him I didn’t know whether supernatural powers existed, but that it would not surprise me if they did. He sat down and hefted the weapon. The man is large, his hands are huge. He said: “I believe in magic. This scythe has killed men. It has taken the heads of murderers and thieves. It has – only once – claimed the life of the innocent. And even then the man wasn’t so innocent.” “You believe the scythe is magical?” I asked him. “No, not the scythe,” he told me. “This is an old land, with old magic. I have studied it. There are certain men who feed the land, men unaware of their own greatness. I will not kill such men, regardless of who orders it. I thought I could. I thought my own strength was such that I could overpower the will of the land. I was wrong. Chain Shada deserved to walk free. There is no doubt of that. The men who helped him deserved to walk free. I know this too.” I sat silently for a moment. Then I said: “Despite the fact that they killed your man Seeton?” “They killed no-one,” he said. “Seeton died because he was an oath-breaker. A man should stand by his promises.” It was then that I realized Seeton had been killed by the scythe. Huntsekker had slain him.’
‘By the Sacrifice!’ said Gaise Macon. ‘Why? What else did he say?’
‘He said nothing, sir. He replaced the scythe in a black sheath and asked me if I would join him for dinner. After that we spoke of many things, but did not again touch upon the events by the river. After the meal he walked me to my horse and asked me what my report would say. I told him there would be no report, since it was likely I would be leaving Eldacre for the capital in the next few days. He wished me well on my journey.’
‘So why did Huntsekker kill the man – Seeton?’
Mulgrave shrugged. ‘My guess would be that Huntsekker promised the highlanders he would not reveal their identities. Seeton must have made the same promise. Huntsekker did not believe he would keep it.’
Gaise was mystified. ‘Why would the highlanders trust Huntsekker?’
‘Why indeed? And yet they could.’
‘So how did all this lead you to the identity of the man who killed Bindoe?’
‘Bear in mind, sir, that I already had my suspicions, based on the conversation the night the girl was killed. I followed the tracks from the river. The younger, smaller man headed off back towards Old Hills. The larger man cut away north. His tracks led to a small settlement, and an unsavoury tavern. I spoke to the tavern keeper, asking him who had been drinking there the night before. I told him I was interested only in one person, a large man standing over six feet tall. He said he couldn’t remember. I offered him two choices, a silver chailling or a visit from Captain Galliott. He accepted the chailling, and gave me the name. Once I had the name I knew the identity of the young man who had been with him.’
‘And you chose not to divulge it to the Moidart. Why?’
‘I truly cannot say, sir. There is little doubt in my mind that Bindoe was warned to run, probably by Galliott. The young man was, in all likelihood, correct in his assumption that Varlish justice would not have prevailed. As to Chain Shada, I have to agree with Huntsekker. The man deserved to escape. All in all nothing would be served by seeing two more highlanders swinging from the gibbet.’
‘My father would not agree with you, my friend.’