“Right thing?”
“By leaving Aberfeldy. If we had stayed, we would only have brought down more trouble on the village. Best for everyone if Leif Snarlsson doesnae know who we are.”
Kai snorted softly. “Tell that to Oskar.”
“Oskar lets his arse do the talking most of the time. If he engages his brain once in a while, he’d realize ye had no choice.”
Kai knew he’d made the right decision but still it rankled. He’d never been one to back down from a fight or leave innocent people unprotected. But he wasn’t the head-strong young warrior he’d once been, free to make his own choices and to hell with the consequences. He was a leader now. A member of the Order of the Osprey. He had the lives of his men and the needs of the Order to think about.
And then there was Caitlin. He would not risk putting her in further danger.
His eyes strayed to the tent. He couldn’t hear anything from within. Was she awake? Was she thinking about him the way he seemed to always be thinking about her?
He growled softly under his breath. No. No more of this. As a rule, he never got emotionally entangled. If other men wanted to bare their hearts, that was their business. Not him. He’d learned the hard way not to expose himself like that. It led only to ruin and despair.
Following the line of his gaze, Conall said softly. “She’s a bonny lass, all right.”
Kai pulled his gaze away from the tent and glared at his friend. “Aye, she is. What of it?”
Conall held up his hands and laughed softly. “Naught, my friend. Naught at all if that’s the way ye want to play it.”
Kai looked away, staring out into the darkness, but he could feel Conall watching him.
“Not all women are like Lorna, ye know,” Conall said softly.
Kai’s head whipped around and he opened his mouth for an angry retort but a sound suddenly came out of the darkness. Both men froze. It came again, so soft Kai could almost imagine he’d dreamt it: the soft tread of footsteps.
He jumped to his feet, Conall only a heartbeat behind. He gave a long, low whistle, the signal for danger, and both Oskar and Emeric came awake in an instant. They scrambled out of their blankets quickly.
“Guard Caitlin,” Kai commanded in a low voice.
Wordlessly they spread out, circling Caitlin’s tent and drawing weapons. None of them said a word, just dropped into the practiced routine they’d done countless times before. They formed a rough circle, the tent in the center, staring out into the night. Kai and Oskar held swords, Emeric had his bow drawn and nocked an arrow, and Conall held twin throwing daggers. Whoever was out there, they’d have a rude awakening if they thought to catch his band unprepared.
Kai felt a wave of gratitude. He’d trust each and every one of these men with his life. They were more than just companions. They were his brothers. Maybe not by blood as Rory was, but brothers nonetheless.
The sound came again, nearer this time, and Kai caught sight of a large shape lumbering towards them through the gloom. His fingers tightened on the hilt of his sword, muscles tensing for a fight.
Then a voice called, “I’m not coming out until ye put yer damned tooth-picks away, boys. I dinna fancy being skewered tonight!”
Kai let out his breath in a whoosh and his shoulders relaxed. “If ye dinna fancy being skewered mayhap ye shouldnae sneak up on people in the middle of the damned night!” he called back.
The undergrowth rustled and Magnus stepped out into the starlight, grinning from ear to ear. “How else am I supposed to keep ye sorry lot on yer toes?”
“One of these days, Magnus, ye are gonna push yer luck too far,” Kai growled.
Magnus laughed and clapped him on the back. “But not today, eh?”
Kai couldn’t help the grin that tugged at the corners of his lips. He sheathed his sword and they all clustered around Magnus, shaking his hand and clapping him on the back.
Kai gestured for them to sit and they settled around the fire. He handed Magnus the whisky flask and the big man drank deeply, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.
“Ah, but that hits the spot. It feels like I’ve been traveling an age.”
“How did ye find us?” Kai asked.
“With difficulty,” Magnus replied with a scowl. “Why did ye leave the road?”
“We suspected an ambush,” Kai answered. “We ran into some...trouble...at Aberfeldy.”
