Free Set in Stone by Frank Morin

it out soon."
    Connor breathed his own sigh of relief. If the fire weren't contained soon, it could easily threaten the rest of the manor. He and Hamish were in enough trouble already.
    Lord Gavin reached them, panting from the unaccustomed exertion. "What happened in there, lad?"
    "The Heatstone oven sort of broke," Connor said cautiously. One did not lie to the lord, but if he handled this carefully, perhaps Lord Gavin would not question them too closely, and assume things were not their fault.
    That thin hope died a gruesome death as Lady Isobel staggered around the corner of the manor, leaning heavily on her daughter, Moira.
    Lady Isobel looked like some wraith from one of Bruce's stories. Her frilly dress was charred and ragged. Her eyebrows had burned completely away, along with most of her hair. Her eyes stood out against her blackened, furious face.
    Lord Gavin followed Connor's gaze and, at the sight of her obvious rage, he slipped a pace behind Bruce.
    "Seize that miscreant," Lady Isobel shouted from twenty paces away, pointing one claw-like hand at Connor.
    Bruce took Connor's arm and whispered, "Stones boy, what have you done?"
    Connor only shook his head. He had to think his way out of this. There had to be a way to explain it. Lady Isobel hadn't really seen what happened.
    "Murderer," Lady Isobel shrieked as she drew closer.
    "Mother, no one is dead. He can't be a murderer," said Moira.
    Connor willed a silent thank you to her. As much as he hated Lady Isobel, he felt the opposite for Moira. She might not possess the same heart-pounding beauty as Jean, but she was a good friend.
    Where Jean was slender and supple, with a long, graceful neck and heart-shaped face, Moira's figure was fuller, with an honest, oval-shaped face. Her dark hair and hazel eyes attracted Connor as powerfully as her quick mind and adventurous spirit.
    Lady Isobel waved a dismissive hand toward her daughter, "Don't interrupt. That boy tried to kill me."
    "I did not," Connor blurted out as Lord Gavin turned a steely glare on him.
    "Don't you lie to me, you worthless Linn," Lady Isobel shouted. She advanced on him, and only Bruce's strong grip on his shoulder kept him from bolting.
    For a second, he thought she meant to strike him, but instead she only thrust an angry finger under his nose. "You spiteful, deceitful boy. You destroyed my beautiful oven and burned my kitchen after all I've done for you."
    Connor blinked a couple of times at her audacity. The rage he'd felt for the past hour at the theft of the oven had largely dissipated, but now ignited afresh. He wished he could shout back at her, but that would just seal his fate.
    "Now Isobel," Lord Gavin said placatingly. "Let's learn the details . . ."
    "Don't you 'now Isobel' me," she snapped. "I will see justice done here today."
    She spun back to Connor and said in a ringing tone, "For your crimes, I name you Connor Daor-Linn Gavin."
    Moira gasped, Lord Gavin blanched, and Bruce's hand shook on Connor's shoulder. For Connor, the words drove into him like daggers and he staggered back a step. She named him slave, Daor to Lord Gavin or, more precisely, to her.
    No, it wasn't impossible. Tomorrow he would reveal his Curse, gain Patronage. Tomorrow his life would change.
    He could not help but blurt out, "But, tomorrow is the Sogail."
    She snorted. "Not for you. Tomorrow my husband rescinds Teagair for you, and you will serve me to pay for your crimes."
    The world seemed to tilt under Connor's feet, and he swayed. Would they really break him away from his family and make him slave? This could not be happening. He glanced to Lord Gavin for help, but the weak-willed man looked completely cowed by his wife and ready to lay blame on Connor.
    Lord Gavin waved a hand. "Bruce, lock him in the turnip room until after the Sogail."
    As Bruce started pulling Connor toward the far corner of the manor, he couldn't help crying out, "Please, don't do this! It was an accident."
    Lady Isobel snorted in