“We’re not trained in such work, as I’m sure ye told her.”
Aldred was pushing for an argument now, and Lachlann glared at him. “Costly repairs. They’re needing some funds to pay for the work.”
“We’ve none of that either.” Aldred’s scowl returned.
“Oh, they have the funds.” He offered a crooked grin. “Or, leastwise, theybelievethey have the funds.”
Aldred frowned. “Good. Then they have no need of us.”
“And what do we have to do, but fight my uncle’s petty fights?” Niall shouted and shook his head at the shorter man before facing Lachlann. “I would be happy for any distraction about now.”
“Well, my friend, a distraction they have. They need us to retrieve their funds.”
“Hmm, from where?”
“The northeast coast.”
“Too bad.” The redhead rubbed down the side of his horse. “What did she say when ye told her my uncle was bent on sending us out to start a fight with yet another clan and would never give us leave to take such a long journey now?” He turned to him mid-swipe. “I assume ye didn’t tell her in quite that way.”
“I told her we’d do it.”
“What?” Aldred scrambled to his feet, ready for a fight.
Niall remained calm and came to stand beside Lachlann, the slightest tilt to his head as if searching for clarity. “Am I missing something? Why would ye agree to it without discussing it with us first?”
In the short walk from the chapel, Lachlann realized he’d become quite excited for this trip. It was the perfect solution to a bad situation.
“Niall, yer uncle is not just bent on starting another fight. His plans include sending ye to meet his wife's niece, Lily. That would be the same Lily who jumps in fear at the mere sound of a man’s voice, and I’m sure I dinna need to remind ye of winter last.
“At St. Stephen’s Day, she was telling everyone she’d be marrying ye. Apparently, all the maidens gather up the last of the crabapples and carve the initial of their favorite lads on them. She put anNinto hers.” He raised a single brow at Niall. “TheNcould be seen a month later, even as it rotted—a sure sign she and ye were meant to be together.”
Aldred beamed. “Aye, she’s mighty smitten with ye.”
Niall spit on the ground. “And I’ll not be used by my uncle in that way. Damn him! She is a child.”
“He does seem bent on it.” Aldred sounded more thoughtful than his usual blustery self.
“If he announces the betrothal,” Lachlann said, “ye have only outright refusal to save ye. Are ye willing to take the chance of getting on his bad side now that ye’re finally being acknowledged as his nephew?”
“Better I marry a woman who canna accept a man’s touch?”
“And that is my point.” Lachlann understood Niall’s frustrations. It had not been so very long ago that his entire family had been banished for his father’s failings as clan leader. “Yer uncle is now acknowledging ye, but he doesn’t appreciate yer worth. He’d rather bow down to the southern tribes that cater to the landed lords inEngland, usingyeas his prized warrior.”
“No doubt he’s hoping for a title of his own and riches to go with it.” Aldred’s tone hardened in his outrage at Niall’s treatment.
Niall's face had turned a blotchy red. “I shouldn’t have to prostrate myself for respect rightly earned.”
Months of groveling to Garnait, of proving Niall was not like his father, yet being treated as little more than a slave to order about, had worn thin…for all of them. Both Lachlann and Aldred always saw Niall as their rightful leader and Garnait used that to his advantage time and again.
“That’s why we need to take this journey for the nuns. Do ye not see? An act for the church? Even yer uncle wouldn’t detain ye from such a noble trek.”
Niall blew a gusty breath, his ire seeming to dissipate with the action.
Lachlann breathed a sigh of his own and pressed his advantage. “’Tis why I agreed to go retrieve their treasure.”
“A treasure?” Niall’s surprised tone brought a smile to Lachlann’s lips. “What kind of treasure would that be?”
“Silver.”
