He arched a brow at her.“Would anyone know if I had?”
She exhaled in disgust and frustration.It annoyed her immensely that she could never recognize her own brother in disguise.
“So why have you come?”she asked.
He frowned, disappointed.“Do I need a reason?”
“Nay, but there’s always a reason.”
That much was true.Protecting a large clan like Rivenloch, spread from coast to coast across Scotland, kept him occupied.It was rare he had time for leisurely visits.
“Well, first, I’ve brought you something for trade.”
He held up the satchel.
Her eyes widened.“Your satchel?”
“’Tis mostly clothing and motley bits I have no use for.”
“You’re giving up the contents of your infamous satchel?Are you sure there’s room in the courtyard to empty it?”
He smirked.“The satchel isn’t mine.It belonged to…someone who doesn’t need it anymore.”
She nodded.“Someone you killed.”
“Killed?”he exclaimed.“Why is that the first thing you think, sister?I hardly ever kill people.You, on the other hand…”
Feiyan waved his words away.“So what do you want in trade?”
“A gambeson.A coat of mail.Weapons.Oh, but,” he said, digging in the satchel to retrieve the purse of silver.“I’ll keep this.”
She raised her brows at the clink of coins.“Indeed?Nowwho’s the outlaw?”
“I earned this,” he assured her.
From across the courtyard came a friendly call.“Is that Adam?”
Adam’s brother-in-law Dougal came striding toward him.Since his tenure as Laird of Darragh, Dougal appeared even more self-assured and responsible.He carried their firstborn daughter, and his eyes shone with pride and the spark of imminent fatherhood again.
“Dougal, good day,” Adam said.He winked and waggled his fingers at his wee niece, who shyly buried her face in her father’s gambeson.
“Sweetheart,” Feiyan said by way of greeting her husband, “Adam’s decided to go to war.”
“What?”Dougal said, putting down the three-year-old, who ran off across the courtyard.
“What?”Adam echoed.“I didn’t say that.”
“Why else would you ask for weapons and armor?”Feiyan asked.
“’Tisn’t that simple,” Adam said.
Dougal gripped his shoulder in a brotherly fashion.“If ’tis armor ye need, then armor ye shall have.I remember all ye did for us in the battle for Darragh.”
“I appreciate that, but I’m not going to war.”Then he furrowed his brows.“At least, I don’t think so.And I’m not asking for charity.I’ve brought something in exchange.”
Adam handed the satchel to Dougal.
Dougal narrowed his eyes at the satchel.“This isn’t—”
