“Malcolm, dinnae trouble yourself with playing that game. It willnae work. Where is my wife? I want the truth.”
“Weel, ye willnae like it.”
“That much I have discerned for myself.”
“She isnae here.”
“Aye? So, where is she?”
“I fear no one is too sure. She isnae alone. Artair is with her,” Malcolm hurried to say when Parlan’s anger reflected in his face. “No one would ever let her go off on her own.”
“She isnae within Dubhglenn?”
“Nay.” Malcolm cringed slightly as Parlan hissed out a stream of vicious curses. “She is out riding with Artair.”
“Out riding?” Parlan’s bellow made several men nearby jump nervously. “The fool lass is overdue upon her childbed and she goes out riding? How could ye let her do such a fool thing? How could Artair? Is there not an ounce of wit left within the walls of Dubhglenn?”
“Calm yourself, laddie.” Lachlan placed a hand on Parlan’s arm. “I am as worried as ye are but be fair. Ye ken as weel as I do that Aimil can be verra clever in getting her way. Why should they watch for such a thing? As ye said, the lass is overdue to take to her childbed. No one would ever think she would get upon Elfking and go for a ride now.”
With much effort, Parlan reined in his fury. “Has anyone gone to look for that pair of fools?”
“Nay. We decided to give them another hour to return. Even if the lass has had some difficulties, Artair would soon come for help.”
“If he was able to. Malcolm, ’tisnae just that she has gone riding when she should be carefully awaiting the birth. Aye, I can even understand what might have driven her to such a rash act. She has been kept much fettered. We have strong proof that Rory and his hellhound, Geordie, are lurking near. Catarine Dunmore has been found.”
“Dead?”
“Quite dead. He did to Catarine as he did to my cousin and Lachlan’s wife. Aye, and as he tried to do to Aimil. That is why I am back so soon. Old Simon Broth was the one called when Catarine was found. I left as soon as the man told the tale.”
Malcolm grasped him by the arm when Parlan made to re-mount. “’Tis still wisest to wait. No one even kens which way the pair rode when they left here.”
“He is right.”
“Lachlan,” Parlan protested even as he stopped trying to mount.
“Aye, he is. When ye dinnae ken whether they be south, east, north or west, ye can do naught more than run about blind. We only ken that Rory lurks at the border. Give it a wee bit more time. They could yet return on their own and safely.”
Although he hated doing it, Parlan had to agree with Lachlan. It would be a fool’s errand to charge out to search when no one even knew where to begin looking, an errand that should not be made use of unless all else had failed. Cursing, he turned from his mount toward the gates, and stared blindly out at the empty landscape.
“I will wait one more hour.”
“That is what we thought to do,” murmured Malcolm. “Then t’will be too long she and Artair have been gone, considering that she, weel, she isnae really fit for a long ride.”
“She isnae really fit for a short one either.” He strode to the gates and halted inside of them. “I could use some ale to wash the dust from my throat, Malcolm. I mean to wait here until she returns so that I may beat her or until the search begins.”
As Malcolm hurried to fetch some drink and the others dispersed, Leith moved to Parlan’s side. “She isnae a helpless lass.”
“Nay, not for the most part but she is now, and ye ken it as weel as I do. She cannae even rise from her bed in the morn without aid she has grown so full. Artair is all that would stand between her and Rory if the man set upon them.”
“Artair isnae without skill. Nay, in truth, he has a fine skill with a sword and his fists.”
“Aye, I meant him no slur. I mean that he would be one against twa and with a helpless Aimil to protect as he could. Those arenae odds I feel good about. For all they are but murdering cowards, Geordie and Rory possess a fine skill, too.”
“And Rory wouldnae hesitate to harm Aimil just because she is large with child,” Leith said softly, voicing their fears.
“Nay, God’s beard. He could easily see it as but another reason to do her harm.”
“Come, let us not weary ourselves thinking of all the worst that can happen. Aye, there is a chance that Rory could have come upon the pair but there is also a verra good chance that she and Artair will soon come riding back, safe and untouched.”
