‘Aye. Bring him here. You ken how to do it.’
‘And if he’s in a bad way?’ Rob seemed to be asking all the difficult questions this night.
‘Do what you can. Do what you must.’
The silence allowed them to realise once again that this was a war and not the usual way of things. Brodie wanted it to be different. And he wanted it soon.
‘Rob, tell Grigor I am out of time.’ At Rob’s questioning gaze, he nodded. ‘He will understand.’
The others took their leave and Brodie was left alone with Rob. It took no time at all for his questions to begin. He thought mayhap it had been a mistake to allow him to spend time with Arabella, a woman who was made of questions.
‘What do you need from Grigor, Brodie?’ he asked. ‘You have not told me.’
‘The fewer people who know, the better for all.’ Rob pushed his chest, forcing him a pace back.
‘You can say that to me? I have risked much for you. I deserve to know.’
Brodie had kept crucial information and documents to himself, for fear of betrayal or the need to rush this and strike too soon without adequate preparation. He’d let no one too close to all of the proof he’d collected to stop Caelan’s path of destruction.
And if anything happened to him, all hope would be lost for those who lived here. With the evidence, they could forge their own path and gain protection from one of the clans allied with the Mackintoshes. For Caelan’s plans were as huge as his ego and did not stop with dominating just the Camerons; they extended to their allies in the Chattan Confederation. Allies who would not be happy and step aside for the young, untried, headstrong, power-hungry chieftain.
Brodie nodded his assent and returned to the cave to retrieve the strongbox holding their evidence. Arabella startled as he entered but did not speak. She yet stood in the place where he’d left her, looking lost. He moved his trunk and lifted the cover from the hole he’d dug. The strongbox was locked and chained so that only he could open it. Carrying it under his arm, he stopped before her.
‘Is aught wrong?’ he asked. He studied her face for a moment, waiting for her to speak. A slight shake of her head was all the answer she gave him. ‘I will return later. Speak to one of the guards if you have need of anything.’
They walked to Margaret’s tent where they would have some measure of privacy and he explained everything to his friend. Some information he’d held back from the others, he now shared with Rob. And Rob’s reaction to the scope of his cousin’s perfidy was the same as his had been when he’d realised the patterns and methods—first complete shock and then anger. Then utter determination to stop him from destroying their clan with his plans.
* * *
They had talked late into the night and then he had secured the strongbox in another place. With Rob at his side, they walked the perimeter, checking the guards and looking for signs of trouble. Then, as dawn’s light crept over the horizon, Rob left with Duncan and a few warriors to help as they could to retrieve Magnus from Drumlui Keep. For the first time since discovering the first of Caelan’s secrets and in spite of the odds they yet faced, Brodie felt a burden lifted just knowing his friend would be there for him.
He strode towards the cave, wondering how he should deal with his lady prisoner. The cave was more easily watched and harder to escape from. Though, knowing Arabella, he had no doubt she would try again. Crouching down, he slipped into the cave in silence, hoping to avoid waking her and to get an hour or two of sleep before the camp roused.
Arabella lay on her side, facing the wall. He knew not if she was awake or asleep, so he tossed a blanket on the floor where he’d sat earlier, hours ago, and leaned against the cool stone surface. He dozed but never found the sleep he wanted, not with her being so close and the memories of the touch and taste of her fresh.
* * *
His name being called roused Brodie quickly and he left the cave, an order to the guard to see to her being the only time he would be able to think of her for the rest of the day. Some sort of warning deep in his blood told him the situation with Magnus was a trap. Though Rob had about an hour’s start over him, he knew he could catch up with them...and would. Something was wrong. Some danger lay waiting for them. The last time he’d had this kind of warrior’s warning, it had been a near thing for Caelan’s minions had almost caught one of the small groups of men he’d sent to watch over Drumlui.
This time? He knew not what lay ahead, only that it did. He saddled the black, gathered another few men and was on his way before the full light of morning was on them.
* * *
Margaret visited her at what seemed to be midday, bringing food. And, bless her, she brought something for her to do. Sitting or pacing here in his place gave her time to think about things—too much time to think as it proved. The sack of clothing would give her a task to keep her hands busy.
‘Will you be planning another escape with these?’ Margaret asked her, without a note of censure in her voice.
‘I had thought to attempt it in a different way next time,’ she replied as she fell back into the companionable way of things between the two of them.
‘Wise.’ Margaret nodded. Handing her the shears and needles and thread, Rob’s sister laughed. ‘He’ll be counting the pairs of breeches and shirts from now on.’
‘I do ask your pardon if I caused you harm,’ she offered. Others would pay for her mistakes, they always did, but she had not meant for this woman who’d shown her kindness in her captivity to bear it.
‘Harm, my lady? What do you mean?’
‘Brodie. Did he punish you for allowing me to escape?’ she asked, hoping the consequences had not been too grave. Her father would not brook such disobedience. Her father had not...
Margaret put her mending down on her lap and stared at Arabella for a long minute before speaking.
