Why had he just said that? He hadn’t meant to, but the words had popped out before he could think about it.
Even after all this time he was still protective of Lorna. It was ridiculous.
He should go after Caitlin, apologize. But the stiff set of her shoulders as she stalked off warned him against that.
He blew out a breath. “Kai, ye are a bloody idiot,” he breathed to himself.
He thought over Caitlin’s words. He admired her courage in speaking to him about Lord Alasdair and Lorna, even if he hadn’t liked what she said.
And she was right, of course. His feelings for Lornawereclouding his judgment and that was dangerous. He needed to stay focused on the mission at hand, not sifting through memories of a relationship long gone.
Kai ran a hand through his hair, feeling a headache coming on. He needed to clear his head. Conall’s words about Lord Alasdair nagged at him.Ye should go speak to him, Kai. He would be pleased to see ye.
Trouble was, Kai wasn’t at all sure about howhewould feel on seeing the old man. After all, he was the one who had taken Lorna from him and given her to Tobias. If he hadn’t interfered, what would Kai’s life be like? Would he be happy? He certainly wouldn’t be the person he was now. He wouldn’t be a member of the Order of the Osprey, wouldn’t be leading a band of warriors and fighting missions all over the country.
And he would never have met Caitlin.
Aargh! It was all so damned confusing!
Gritting his teeth, Kai went in search of a servant who could tell him where Lord Alasdair might be found and was then directed to the lord’s study. Kai wound his way through the castle, up to a broad wooden door in one of the towers, and halted outside. He inhaled deeply, then knocked.
“I’m busy!” came a shout from inside. “Piss off!”
“It’s Kai Stewart, my lord,” Kai called through the wood.
There was silence. Then the voice snapped, “Ye’d better come in then.”
Kai pushed the door open, walked into the room, and glanced around at the familiar surroundings of Lord Alasdair’s study. Nothing had changed, not even the smell of sandalwood that filled the air. It was like stepping back into his past, a past he had fought so hard to leave behind.
Alasdair Douglas, however, had changed a great deal. The lord of the castle sat in a chair by the fire. He looked old and tired, far different from the imposing figure that Kai remembered from his youth. His eyes seemed to have lost their spark, and he sat with a blanket thrown over his knobby knees. A servant was busy cleaning up Alasdair’s plates and dishes. The blond man piled it all onto a tray, glanced at Kai, and then bowed to Lord Alasdair.
“I will be back later, my lord,” he said. “Ring the bell if ye need anything in the meantime.”
Lord Alasdair waved the man away irritably and fixed his gaze on Kai. “Ah, Kai Stewart,” he wheezed. “I was wondering when ye would show me the courtesy of paying me a visit.”
“My apologies, my lord,” Kai replied, giving him a stiff bow. “I only arrived yesterday and Lorna said ye were too ill for visitors.”
“Did she? That doesnae surprise me. My daughter thinks I’m too ill for anything other than being coddled like some drooling bairn.”
Kai smiled at the familiar spirit of defiance in Lord Alasdair’s voice. “Ye look well, my lord,” he said diplomatically.
The old man snorted. “That’s a lie, but I thank ye for telling it.” He sighed wearily and gestured for Kai to take a seat. “So what brings ye to Dun Cator? Ye didnae come all this way just to pay an old man some courtesy.”
Kai sat down and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I learned that Leif Snarlsson is planning an attack on Dun Cator and I came to warn ye.”
Lord Alasdair frowned. “Who did ye say?”
Kai blinked, taken aback. “Leif Snarlsson, my lord. Surely yer daughter and son-in-law have told ye about this?”
Lord Alasdair scowled. “My daughter and son-in-law tell me precisely nothing these days. They think I’m too old and infirm to be bothered with such trifling matters.”
Kai raised an eyebrow, surprised by the lack of communication between Lord Alasdair and his own family. Nor would he refer to an attacking fleet as a ‘trifling matter’. “Well, regardless, Snarlsson is a threat.”
“And what are ye and my son-in-law planning to do about this attack?”
Kai hesitated. “We’re still in the process of planning our response, my lord. But I assure ye, we willnae let Dun Cator fall.”
Kai quickly filled him in on what he knew, and Lord Alasdair listened intently, his eyes growing brighter. When Kai finished speaking, the old man leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
