Callum glanced over his shoulder, lifting his eyebrows.
“What business is it of yers, Lucas?”
Lucas lounged in the doorway to the stables, arms crossed. For the past half hour, Callum had enjoyed peace and quiet, concentrating on grooming Thunder. In his mind, he and Thunder galloped over the high hills outside the keep walls. He had gone outside before, hadn’t he? The expanse of sky hadn’t always filled him with such terror, had it?
Lucas’ voice brought him neatly back down to earth. Thunder huffed, pushing his nose against Callum’s shoulder.
“They’re makin’ arrangements to go into town for the festival,” Lucas explained. “Kat is goin’ with Melody, but Lady Sophie is too tired to go.”
“I would have felt better if Grandmother had gone. She kens the land, and she kens the people.”
As he spoke, Callum was aware of an uncertain sensation in the pit of his stomach. He imagined Melody and Kat venturing out of the Keep gates, alone, cloaked, and huddled against the encroaching darkness.
It wouldn’t beenough.
“They are takin’ guards, aye?”
“Of course,” Lucas responded. “But the men will likely disperse once they get to the festival. Ye ken how crowded these things can get. Ye ought to go.”
He stiffened. “I cannae. I have work to do here.”
“Ye could put off yer work.”
“Lucas, enough.”
“I am not tellin’ ye what to do, me Laird,” Lucas amended, almost apologetically. “And I daenae think that I am suggestin’anythin’ ye have nae already considered. But it would keep the lasses safer if ye were to go. Much safer.”
Callum bit his lip and said nothing.
“I did nae think she’d want to go after all,” he said at last. There was no need to specify whoshewas. “I assumed she’d realize that there would be many people wanting to talk to her, and she might regret it.”
“I think perhaps ye underestimated her.”
“Aye. It seems I do that a lot,” Callum murmured meditatively. “But ye ken I daenae go to places with people anymore. This is where I need to be.”
Lucas inclined his head. “Aye, but it would be good to get the council off yer back for a while. Goin’ to the festival will please them. Angus has been suggestin’ this for years. Besides, since yer bride is a sassenach, she willnae be used to how people act here. They willnae be used toher.”
“Nowyeare underestimatin’ her,” Callum observed. “Whatever comes her way, I am sure she can handle it.”
Lucas was quiet for a moment. He hated debates and disagreements of any kind, Callum knew well. Even so, Lucas would never shy away from speaking bluntly, not when he thought it was necessary.
Perhaps I’m makin’ a mistake, not listenin’ to him more carefully. Perhaps I should listen to Angus, too.
He stepped back, inspecting Thunder. The horse’s coat and mane shone glossily, all the knots combed free, perfumed and clean. He smoothed a palm over Thunder’s shoulder, and the horse nudged his shoulder in return.
“She will be fine,” he said aloud. “She doesnae need me help.”
“Are ye tryin’ to convince me, Thunder, or yerself?” Lucas responded.
Callum didn’t answer.
The festival began after sundown, Kat had said. They passed through the Keep gates just as evening began to draw in.
“There’s nay point takin’ the carriage,” Kat explained, tugging her plain cloak tighter around her shoulders. “Because it’s only about a mile’s walk, and ye cannae take the carriage through the trees.”
“I daenae ken where I’m goin’; I hope ye can guide me,” Melody confessed.
“Of course. Are ye excited?”
