His father uttered one word. “Who?”
Padraig looked at him over his shoulder. “Donald MacKinnie. He did the same to a lass on Black Isle. ’Tis why I left. He said if I didn’t leave, he’d beat more women. Clearly he doesn’t keep his word.”
The lass moaned again and curled into a ball, knees to chest, so they returned to the hall, moving over to the few still near the hearth.
“Did you recognize her?” Connor asked.
Padraig shook his head. “But I know the cause and the culprit.”
“Tell us, lad,” Uncle Alex ordered.
For the second time that day, he told the story of Gisela’s betrothal and Donald’s madness. He shook his head as he finished, finally conceding, “’Tis time to take action to stop him.”
“We should take three hundred warriors and attack Clan MacKinnie,” Connor said. “That will take care of the bastard.”
“But he’s no longer there. I visited the clan before I left to give him my own warning, but the chief said he had no idea where his son had gone, that he’d left the castle and not returned. He was acting on his own, not in the clan’s name.”
Alex moved over to the hearth, crossing his arms over his chest. “So we cannot attack Clan MacKinnie because he’s not acting on his clan’s behalf. If his sire isn’t defending him, it would be wrong to take the fight to Chief MacKinnie. We need to send patrols out in search of this fool and find him ourselves.”
“Padraig,” his father said, following his brother and taking a seat near the hearth, his voice dropping a wee bit as if to makesure they weren’t overheard. “You left Grant land with only two guards to go to Glen Lochy knowing all this was taking place? Over an unsigned missive? Did you leave all your senses back on Black Isle? MacKinnie could be out there waiting for you, especially if he knows you often travel alone.”
“What exactly did Ruari say when you told him everything?” Jake asked. “Had he heard anything on Cameron land? Heard of any lasses being found in other parts of the Highlands?”
Padraig sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He’d been hoping no one would ask him the same question that had been rolling through his mind. Had Donald been the one who tried to lure him out? Was he that conniving? “Ruari reacted to the missive from Papa. He hadn’t heard anything about any lasses, just came because he thought I was in trouble.”
“And he was right, nay, son?” His father jumped out of his chair and paced, something he only did when he was so angry he couldn’t speak. “Padraig, you better stand back because if you step near me, I’ll throttle you for sure.”
“Robbie, anger will not help,” Uncle Alex said. “Calm yourself so you can think more clearly.”
His sire glanced at his brother and took a deep breath. “You’re right, Alex. But this bastard could be anywhere, and it doesn’t sound like he has any distinguishing characteristics. Large and blond isn’t enough,” his father said. “I think Padraig should go into hiding. Mayhap travel to visit his brother.”
“Run away?” Padraig blurted out. “I don’t like to run from problems.”
Jamie stepped forward and said, “But if he can’t find you, he’ll not know who or where to attack next. He knows you as a Grant, I’m sure, so knew you’d come here. He probably is unaware of your brother’s castle in the Western Highlands, though he could learn of it easy enough. You’ll have to move quickly to be ahead of him, but he’ll probably findyou eventually. It will confuse him and make him rethink his strategy. And if you’re not here to witness the damage he does, it will deny him the pleasure he gets from putting your name on his victim’s lips. And he might return to Black Isle if he knows you to be all the way to the Western coastline. How daring and foolish is this man?”
While Padraig considered this advice, Uncle Alex said, “I agree with Jamie. I think you should go to the Western Highlands. To Roddy’s place, which is far from Black Isle. He’ll not find you there, at least not for a while. And if he does follow you there, he’ll be far away from any of his cronies.”
“If not Roddy’s then Muir Castle,” his father said. “One or the other. He probably doesn’t know your relationship with Braden. And your uncle Brodie can help. Muir Castle has many more trained warriors than Roddy. If you need guards, send word back to us. But I’d suggest you go at first light.”
“That soon?” Padraig asked, rubbing the scruff of his beard with his knuckles. The bastard just would not leave him be.
“Aye, before he hurts another. And we’ll send out heavy patrols in the area looking for the bastard. That will send him running or keep him in hiding for a wee bit. If we find him, we’ll turn him over to the sheriff,” Connor said.
“I’ll go, but Mama won’t be happy.”
“Mama wouldn’t be happy if you were the next one brought to her near death, either.”
Padraig couldn’t argue that point.
He was headed west.
HIGHLAND SWORDS
THE THIRD GENERATION
1304
The Scot’s Betrayal
