Free Knight Errant: A Highland Passage Novel by J.L. Jarvis Page A

For although he was honest, he withheld more than he shared. Perhaps that wasn’t such a horrible trait, except when it left her in the dark, wondering what she had done or should do—or how he felt about her. Violet paused beside the horse before mounting.
    She looked into his eyes. “Look, Robert, you’ve done everything right, and I’m grateful for it. I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you.”
    He began to protest.
    “No, now it’s my turn to talk.”
    He stopped and gave her his rapt attention.
    Violet inwardly smiled. “Thank you. Now, you’ve got to understand that you’re not the only one making decisions around here. Everything that I’ve done, I have chosen to do. So stop acting as though you’re the only one here making decisions—or making mistakes. We’re in this together. Well, for now anyway.”
    They exchanged a look that was rich with emotions neither gave voice to. While she assumed she hadn’t convinced him to stop beating himself up over how things had turned out, he looked almost appreciative. Well, at least he looked forgiven. So Violet mounted the horse and sank into Robert's arms as they rode away.
----
    A BOVE THE TREE branches and leaves, pale gray washed the sky over Roslin. As they rode through the mottled shade of the woods, a dark-stoned Rosslyn Castle seemed to rise out of the solid cliff to form an imposing presence overlooking the trees rising out of a gorge. Robert and Violet rode over the bridge and into the bailey. The castle was a crumbling ruin with only portions of outer wall left. Robert took in the sight with a troubled brow.
    Violet walked over to the only wall that remained of the keep and touched one of the vines twined into the stones. “How long has it been since anyone’s lived here?”
    Robert shook his head. “Not for a while, I imagine.”
    Violet looked about, shaking her head. “It would’ve been nice if someone had told us—to save us the trip.”
    “Aye, I was thinking the same. Well, I’ll have a look about, then we’ll inquire in the village as to where we might find William Sinclair.” He walked over to a door that led to the most sound-looking portion of the remaining structure.
    As he reached for the handle, a voice from behind him spoke with an English accent. “He’s away fighting border rebels.”
    Robert turned, expecting to see someone from the castle or village. Instead he found four men in black Jesuit cassocks, one holding Violet with his hand over her mouth.
    One of them stood in front of the others. “Sir Robert. ’Tis a pleasure to see you again.”
    He had black hair and a scar under his left eye, and Robert recognized him as the priest he had pushed off the Brig of Earn. Robert looked straight into the priest’s dark eyes. “Leave the lady out of this.”
    The priest smiled. “Oh, I wish that I could, but the lady is very much a part of it. But I will tell you this—if you give me the scroll, I’ll not kill her.”
    “Nor harm her.”
    With a sly smile, the priest nodded. “Nor harm her.”
    Robert said, “I’ll need more than your word.”
    “More than my word?” He assumed a wounded expression.
    Robert eyed him with mistrust. “Swear to God, and by your Jesuit oath.”
    “My what?” the priest scoffed.
    “You heard me. Swear that neither you nor your men will do harm to the lady.”
    With a light laugh, the priest said, “I swear before God and on my Jesuit oath that we’ll not harm her.”
    Robert pulled off the quiver containing the scroll. “First let her go.”
    “Seize him,” ordered the priest with a shrug. His companions forced the scroll from Robert’s hands and started to drag him away, but the priest told them to stop. “I don’t want him to miss this. I’ve never been defeated until I met you. Now you’ll pay for that privilege.”
    The priests led Violet and Robert to a hole in the ruined part of the castle.
    “We’re in luck. The oubliette is still here.” The leader smiled