Page 76 of Warrior’s Lady

Camden would be furious. But Camden's anger he could handle. The pain and agony that the bishop continued to cause all of them, he had no tolerance for.

Orrin withdrew from his sporran the letter that had prompted his rash actions. The missive was addressed to Camden, but Orrin had broken the bishop's seal and read its contents. He closed his eyes. It was the bishop's threat, come true. The bold writing blazed across his mind.

An accusation of witchcraft. Lady Violet would be taken by him. Tried as a witch. Hanged.

"Orrin."

Orrin opened his eyes to see Camden striding toward him. He clutched the missive in his hand. He would put the very foundation of his friendship with Camden to the test this day.

He had done what he knew Camden would never do. His friend was more likely to fight those who challenged him. But even the mighty Lord Camden Lockhart could not take on the entire Church and win.

Orrin straightened grimly.

"Where have you been?" Camden asked. Relief filled his blue eyes.

The relief would fade in a heartbeat. "I've been to see Bishop Berwick."

"Whatever for?"

Orrin swallowed his fear and thrust the letter into Camden's hand. "Because the man threatened to hang your niece as a witch."

Camden stared at him, his eyes wild in his white face.

"I knew you would never allow Lady Violet to hang, so I offered the bishop a compromise."

Camden's eyes darkened. "What kind of compromise?"

Orrin felt his blood run cold beneath Camden's sharp appraisal. "I gave him the Charm Stone."

Camden's gaze shifted to disbelief. "The Stone is gone?"

"Aye." Orrin couldn't stand to see the hurt, the betrayal so clearly stamped upon his friend's features. "And now that he has the Stone, we must hurry to get Lady Violet away from here before he discovers that the Stone needs a Lockhart to release its magic."

"I expected loyalty from you, Orrin." Camden's voice was low and sharp as steel. "Above everyone else, I had expected you to stand by me."

"I wanted to help you. Without the Stone there was no further reason for the bishop to press his accusations. I did not want Lady Violet to die like her mother. The bishop promised to leave you and Lady Violet alone."

Camden frowned. "You expect honesty from the man who hanged an innocent woman?"

Orrin's eyes widened with horror. "What have I done?" he said mostly to himself.

"Without that Stone, we are doomed." Camden's harsh words echoed in the chamber, bringing all eyes to the two of them.

"Why? What has happened in my absence?"

Camden grasped Orrin by the arm and dragged him off to a less public corner. "The plague has spread to Lee Castle. It is only a matter of time before it consumes us all unless we use the Stone to heal ourselves."

"Plague." Fear tightened Orrin's gut. "Are you certain?"

"Aye."

Disgust at his rash action pulsed through Orrin. "I'll get the Stone back. I will go back to the bishop’s house and retrieve the Stone if it's the last thing I do."

"Nay, Orrin," Camden said fiercely. "We are in this together, as we always have been."

Orrin looked at his friend with a spiraling despair. "I really did think I was helping you."

A flicker of deep pain crossed Camden's face. "I know that, you fool."

"Can you ever forgive me?"

"We have yet another battle to fight to get back what rightfully belongs to the Lockharts. Are you with me?"

Orrin's nod was fierce. "To the end."

"Let's hope it doesn't go that far. But we must retrieve the Stone, and soon."

Orrin straightened. "I can have the men ready for battle in under an hour."

Camden nodded. "I will join you then."