When the man stumbled, Ciaran helped him back up, wrapping his arm about his shoulder in an effort to support him.
Lachlann stroked the mare to soothe it. “Was that a burn on his face?”
“Something recent. Fiercely painful,” Niall said. “It will leave a nasty scar. Probably the entire length of his face.”
“And how have ye fared? Well enough I think.” Lachlann ran his hand down the mare’s side. “I think we arrived before any harm befell Amica.”
They headed across the field in the hope of locating Aldred. “Surely he’d not just disobey my orders.”
A loud voice could be heard from the direction the drunken man had taken. An affray, by the sounds of it.
“Is that—” Niall asked.
Lachlann nodded.
Niall smiled. “Shall we have a little entertainment?”
After safely tethering the horse with the others, he and Niall rushed toward the sound coming from just beyond the last booth near the musicians. The music continued, but the voices grew louder. The older man, whom Cull had identified as one of the cave dwellers, stood with arms crossed and two younger men on each side of him, confronting the drunken would-be thief.
“Ye asked for it!” The old man’s voice was surprisingly forceful for someone of his age. “Now be on yer way, and we’ll not make a fuss.”
The drunkard seemed oblivious to the gathering crowds and sneered, reaching for him. The younger men blocked his advance.
“Those men with him may be from the cave.” Lachlann kept his voice quiet. “They’re willing to fight for him.”
They guarded the older gentleman well. He hadn’t needed to move a step. “I told ye to be off.”
“Be off, Olaf.” The taller of the two protectors took a step forward. “Ye dinna want to be pushing him too far. Ye’ll not like the results.”
Ciaran interceded. “Ye called us friends, Malcolm.Wedid nothing to betray that title.”
Olaf bellowed. “Where is the bitch? I’ll have her now whether ye say aye or nay.”
Malcolm didn’t seem repelled by the grotesque sores even when he got up in Olaf’s face. “Move. Along.”
The older man kept the same firm tone. “Move on now, and we’ll forget it. Dinna believe we won’t alert the guards.”
Malcolm and the other protector’s darting gazes showed their concern. They’d prefer not to call attention to any of this. Cull had said they always started trouble, but this did not appear to be their doing.
Ciaran reacted to the threat as well, yanking at his friend’s shoulder as he spoke quietly to him. If he was attempting to console Olaf, he failed miserably.
“Shall we offer aid?” Niall asked without taking his eyes from the men.
“If it gets violent, surely we have no choice.” Olaf was huge and even soused, could easily do damage to these men. “It may be only a petty quarrel, blowing smoke.”
A third man approached and assisted in leading Olaf away toward the ale.
Lachlann sighed, a bit disappointed. “It could well have been our introduction to the cave dwellers.”
“Aye, and in their appreciation, they would welcome us into their caves.” Niall looked away long enough to wink at Lachlann.
Olaf stopped abruptly to confront the two leading him away. “But I dinna want to let it go.”
Tension gripped Lachlann’s shoulders. Mayhap he’d be offering aid after all.
Olaf swung at the old man before anyone could react. He knocked him right on his arse.
“What th—” A man with thinning hair rushed at Olaf with a lowered shoulder and tight fists but was easily knocked aside.
