Magnus and Conall shifted and Caitlin glanced in their direction. If she hadn’t known better, she would have said they were as tense as Kai, but perhaps for a different reason. Their attention was fixed on Kai rather than on the lord and lady who’d they come to warn, and both of them looked uneasy. Conall’s jaw clenched and Magnus kept shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Caitlin’s frown deepened. What was going on here? Why had Magnus and Conall offered to come here in Kai’s stead? What were they so worried about?
Kai finished his tale and Lady Lorna’s hands went to her mouth. “But...but... that’s horrible! Oh, those poor, poor, people!” Tears gathered in her eyes. “Rannoch!” she called and the guard captain stepped forward. “Take as many men as ye deem fit and ride south to the fair immediately. Take the healers with ye and whatever supplies ye need—we have to help those people.”
“No. Dinna do that,” Kai said quickly. When Lorna gave him an enquiring look, he continued. “That is exactly what Snarlsson intended with attacking the fair. He wants to draw everyone’s attention there: Laird MacDonald, whose lands the fair is on, the Order of the Osprey, even the king. And while we are all busy looking south, he will come north and attack ye from behind. So no, my lady, as much as it pains me, ye mustnae send any men south. Dun Cator needs to be at full strength if ye hope to fend off this attack.”
“But...but—” Lady Lorna stammered.
“He’s right,” Lord Tobias cut in. “As much as it galls me, we have to remain here. If what we are told about Snarlsson is true and he attacks us here—”
“How can he attack us?” Lorna cried. “How would he dare? We have a royal charter! We are beholden to no lord save the king! How would he dare violate that and bring down the king’s wrath on his head?”
“If what we hear about this man is true, he willnae give two shits about any royal charter,” Tobias replied, stroking his beard. “I heard that when Northolt wouldn’t surrender, he burned the place to the ground and that had a royal charter too.”
Lorna paled. “Then what are we going to do? We’re merchants, traders, not warriors! We dinna have enough ships or men to keep out a fleet!” Her voice rose at the end as though she was on the verge of hysteria.
Kai stepped forward and laid a hand on her arm. “It’s all right,” he said in a gentle voice. “Ye aren’t alone. As we speak, the Order of the Osprey rides to Dun Cator.”
Lorna’s eyes widened. “The Order of the Osprey? Coming here?”
“Aye. They will protect ye.Iwill protect ye.”
Lorna stared at Kai and Caitlin felt something ugly unfold inside her. Jealousy.
Lady Lorna gave a grateful smile. “Thank ye, Kai. And thank the Order. Their protection means the world to us. But I worry for my people.”
“I know it,” Kai replied. “And I know how much yer people mean to ye. But the Order will come. They will stand with ye.”
Lorna shared a quick look with her husband. She smiled at Kai, but it was a weak sort of smile, all thin and stretched. After a moment, she squared her shoulders and stepped back. Taking a deep breath, she looked beyond Kai to where Caitlin and the others were standing.
“I’ve forgotten my manners and kept guests waiting. Be welcome at Dun Cator, all of ye. I will have someone show ye to our guestrooms where ye can wash and rest before dinner.”
She waved a hand and three young women who Caitlin guessed must be servants stepped forward. One of them approached Caitlin.
“If ye will follow me, mistress?”
Caitlin glanced at Kai but he was watching Lorna and it was Conall who nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. Caitlin followed her from the room.
Built into the side of the cliff as it was, Caitlin soon discovered that Dun Cator was a place of stairs. Many stairs. All steep enough to make Caitlin’s legs ache and her breath to come in gasps. By the time the servant halted outside a door Caitlin was puffing like a bellows. The young woman gave a curtsey and opened the door, indicating for Caitlin to go inside.
“If ye need aught, just ring the bell,” she said. “I’ll bring ye some wash water.”
With that she gave another curtsey and left, leaving Caitlin to look around the room she had been given. It was not large but like every room she’d seen in Dun Cator so far, it had a spectacular view of the sea.
Caitlin strode over to the window and looked out. The sun had broken through the clouds and was dipping towards the horizon, turning the waves into a sheet of beaten gold. It looked tranquil, peaceful. Who would believe that soon the sea would be dark with ships?
And here she was, trapped right in their path.
So be it. She would do whatever she could to stop the same fate befalling the people of Dun Cator as those at the fair.
The maid returned a short while later with a steaming bowl of water, a cloth, and a bar of lavender-scented soap. Caitlin thanked her profusely then set to with a vengeance, washing herself as thoroughly as she could. It felt amazing to wash away the grime and dust of their long ride and the only thing that could have topped it would have been a steaming hot shower followed by a hair dryer and straighteners. Still, she couldn’t have everything.
When she’d washed, she set the bowl on the dressing table and strode over to the window again. She knew she ought to take this opportunity to rest but she was restless. Nervous energy zinged through her veins. Where was Kai right now? What was he doing? Was he thinking about her?
Or Lorna?
That ugly feeling unfolded inside her again. She squashed it mercilessly.
