“Nay,” Feiyan said.“’Tisn’tthesatchel.”
Dougal seemed disappointed.“Whereisyour famous satchel then?”
“’Tis…on loan at the moment.”
“On loan?”Feiyan didn’t miss a thing.“What does that mean?”
Dougal gave her a chiding smile.“Now, Feiyan, let’s not interrogate your poor brother.At least not yet,” he said with a wink.“Come in to the hall.We’ll have an ale.”
As Dougal requested, they kept the conversation light and friendly.Feiyan told Adam about the frustrations of sparring while pregnant.Dougal talked about the challenges of managing a keep.And Adam regaled them with some of his recent adventures.He omitted mentioning the enchanting shape-shifter he’d met on his travels.
Of course, it would come out eventually.Feiyan might not recognize him in disguise.But nothing else missed her notice.
After supper, she invited him to the solar, where she could look through the contents of the satchel.She immediately perceived what he’d neglected to mention.
“These are a woman’s things.”
He shrugged.“I told you I have no use for them.”
“I suppose ’twould do no good to ask how you came by them?”
“I’ll tell you…one day.”
“Fine.I’ll donate the clothing to the local convent.”
“Good.”
“Now will you tell me why you need battle gear?”
Swearing her to secrecy, he explained what he’d heard about the king planning an attack at Galloway.They both knew the moment the clan found out, all of Rivenloch would rush to defend the king.But Adam felt they needed better information before they charged in blindly.
Feiyan agreed, but he could tell she wanted to get involved.She was frustrated that her condition made it impossible.
Though Adam would never tell her so, he was glad she was incapacitated.Galloway was too close to Darragh for his comfort.The last thing his pregnant sister and her new laird of a husband needed was a war so soon after the battle for their castle.
He told her his plans.He meant to see if what the other lairds at Perth had said was true, that Fergus had been making raids on their lands.
“One more thing,” Feiyan said as he rose to bid her goodnight.
He turned at the door.
“I know you never go to tournaments,” she said.
That made him smile.He never missed a Rivenloch tournament.It was just that no one ever recognized him, and he always slipped away before they could.
“But we’re having one in late summer, here at Darragh,” she said, rubbing her round belly again.“Dougal has promised I can spar in the tournament after the bairn is born.And we’d be honored if you would attend.”
Adam knew that was Feiyan’s way of inviting him to meet his new niece or nephew.He wouldn’t miss that for the world.But he couldn’t resist teasing her.
He arched a brow.“You think you’re going to be fit to compete?”
She scowled, then arched a brow back at him.“You’ll have to return and find out.”
“I’lltryto make it.”
She sighed.“Fine.”
He winked and nodded as he left the solar.“Good night.”
