“Nay. I didna ken there was a messenger,” Davey answered.
“Me neither,” Alec chimed in.
“I want you both outside my chamber door until I return. Targes and swords drawn the entire time. Do not let anyone in that chamber with Lady Emelie unless it’s Lady Laurel or the laird himself. No one. And absolutely under no circumstances is she to receive aught to eat or drink. Aggie and Berta already know.”
“Aye, Dom.”
“I don’t know how long I will be away, but I expect to find you outside my chamber door. If you aren’t there, I will kill you. If aught happens to my wife, I will kill you.” Dominic narrowed his eyes, and the men saw a side of him they’d only seen on the battlefield. There was none of the competitiveness or jesting they were used to in the lists. They were looking at a warrior ready to fight.
“Ye have our word, Dom. We’ll be waiting outside yer door when ye return,” Alec swore. Dominic nodded and stopped by the armory to fetch his targe before he left the barracks. His horse was already moving toward the gate as he swung into the saddle. He set a grueling pace as he and the five warriors barreled south. The men didn’t speak, but they exchanged confused glances. It took nearly an hour, but eventually they spied a lone rider in the distance. The horse moved at a canter, but the rider must have heard them because he nudged his horse into a gallop. Dominic prayed the Campbell horses would keep gaining on the messenger despite being lathered and winded.
“Stop or I will put an arrow through your neck,” Dominic bellowed. He reached out and took a bow and arrow from the man who rode beside him. He placed his reins between his teeth and took aim.
“I would stop if I were ye,” Garrett called out. “He will do it. He’s a fine shot when he isnae moving, but he’s astonishing on a horse.”
The messenger looked back over his shoulder and noticed Dominic aimed for him. As the Campbell men approached, they recognized the rider’s MacLaren plaid. Like most clans, the MacLarens were small compared to the Campbells. The only clan that rivaled them in size was the MacDonalds, and that was only because there were so many branches and septs.
“You delivered a message to Kilchurn.” Dominic reined in, his words a statement, not a question.
“Aye,” the man nodded.
“If it was from your laird, why didn’t he sign it?”
“It wasna from ma laird,” the stranger hedged.
“What’s your name, MacLaren?” Dominic demanded.
“Ye ken ma clan, so ye ken ma name.”
“At this point, ye’re going to die if ye dinna answer ma questions, so ye can choose whether it’s quick or agonizing,” Dominic growled. He fought not to clench his fist around his horse’s reins. He would only make the steed aware of his emotions, and he didn’t want the animal sidling away. He was too furious to notice his brogue. “Answer me honestly, and there is a chance ye will ride away still sitting on yer horse, nay lying across it on yer belly. What’s yer name?”
“Hammond MacLaren.”
“Who gave ye this missive if it isnae from yer laird?” Dominic pressed.
“I dinna ken the mon. I was out hunting, and I came across a mon who needed a missive delivered. He said foul weather delayed him, and he needed to return home. He paid me well, he did.”
“What clan was he from?” Dominic struggled not to explode.
“I dinna ken,” Hammond responded.
“His plaid. What clan was he from? I dinna believe ye dinna ken.”
“He wasna wearing one,” Hammond replied.
“Lowlander?” Dominic asked.
“Mayhap. He didna speak that much, and he kept his voice low. I couldnae tell for certain.”
“And ye just go riding onto other clans’ lands with nay idea of what ye carry or who ye carry it for?” Dominic scoffed.
“He paid me well enough. All I had to do was get the missive to the Campbells at Kilchurn. The mon didna say who was to receive it but a Campbell.”
“A Campbell or the Campbell?” Dominic pressed.
“He didna say it had to be the laird. I ken ye arenae him. Ye’re only the tánaiste, so I suppose it didna matter, did it?”
“Och, aye. It matters.” Dominic raised the bow he still held. “Ma brother has a steadier temper than I do. Tell me aught more ye ken or saw aboot this mon. His hair color, his eyes, his size, his horse, his clothes.”
