“Aye, but we don’t need you yet. In about a sennight. We’re gathering forces now.”
“Against whom?”
“You don’t need to know. You just have to show up and fight. Bring a good sword.”
“Where?”
“Not certain yet. You can get word back here in two days. I’ll let the man behind the bar know where you will meet us.”
Drew said, “Suits me fine. I love a good battle.” He noticed the man had a scar on his right cheek, not recent. He also had recent scratches as though he fell into a pile of nettles. “What’s your name? So I know who to ask about.”
“You don’t need to know. Just ask the man about the force. He’ll know.”
Drew took a swig of his ale, waiting with the hope that he would say more. The man didn’t move, taking a swig of his own drink. Finally, the scarred man asked, “Know you much about the Grants?”
“Not much. A little.”
“How many guards at Duart? And how many fighting Grants are there?”
Drew shrugged and said, “I heard someone on the ferry say he was a Grant. He was bragging to everyone about the force they had. And that there were a few Grants here.”
“Alex’s sons here?”
“Just one. Mayhap some grandsons.”
“How many total?”
“He said they had four score, and that two score more were coming in a sennight. Don’t know if he was being honest or bragging. Didn’t know the man.”
The man turned to take his leave, but the man behind the bar said, “You need to pay, Sholto.”
Drew hid his smile. Now he knew the man’s name, and when he walked away, he noticed something else.
Sholto walked with a limp, and his hand went to his thigh when he stopped.
Probably rubbing the same spot where Brynja hit him with her dagger.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Connor
The next day, Connor sat in the solar with Drew, Alaric, and Maitland. Drew had shared what he learned at the tavern last night. It seemed they were about to be attacked again. But why?
“I need to know what they’re after. Did he give you any idea about that, Drew?”
“Nay. Naught. Just that it would be happening within a sennight.”
A knock interrupted them. Connor said, “Enter.”
Hagen stepped in, someone behind him that he couldn’t see.
“What is it, Hagen? We’re busy.”
“Brynja has some information for you. She heard the two men talking when they were in the boat.”
Connor nodded. “Please, escort her in.”
Hagen ushered her inside, and the four men all stood. By the shock on Brynja’s face, he knew that she’d never been treated like this before. The expression on his father’s face told him he thought the same.
