His instincts kicked in at once. Leaning back, he feinted right then dropped down an instant later, the sword left hanging in empty air. On his back, he lashed out with his feet, bringing his attacker down to the ground with a grunt.
The other two were running at him from behind a tree to his left. He braced himself for their arrival, springing back to his feet, sword in hand. His hood fell back from his face.
“Come on then,” he snapped. “I’ll have your heeds on a platter.” At once his assailants stopped dead.
“Tavish?” one said. “Is that ye?”
He squinted, examining the two men closely as the third got slowly to his feet.
“Tavish,” the fallen man said, slapping his arm. “Good tae see you again.”
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Do you nae recognize us now we’re grown and wi’ beard?”
The voice rang a bell. He scrutinised them further before speaking. “Billy? Jock? And is that wee Matthew?”
“Aye. Wit are ye deein’ so close to Castle MacIntyre? Have you got the stone? If any could get it, ah’ve no doubt it’d be you.”
“Nae but ah’m on me way tae fetch it. Have ye news of me father?”
“Aye. He lives still. Quinn tends to him daily. The druid’s the only one the laird dare not cross.”
Tavish’s breath caught in his throat. He coughed to clear it. “Good.” With the druid looking after his father, he could be sure of his safety.
“We’ll tell him you’re alive. He’ll be awfa glad.”
“Tell him ah will see him again soon.”
There was a noise from the road, a horse riding by at speed. Matthew peered out from the trees. “We must go. We cannae be seen talking to ye.”
“You’re old enough to patrol? Ah remember when none of ye would leave the castle for fear o’ the English.”
“Aye, well,” Jock said, blushing behind his beard. “That were long ago.”
Billy smiled. “And we have you to thank for keeping us alive this long. You were the best swordmaster a boy could wish for. Trained us to be silent as the crypt. Did ye really no hear us creeping up on ye?”
“Ye have learned well, the three of ye.”
“Always with the same start to every bout,” Matthew said. “Come on then.”
They all said at once, “I’ll have your heeds on a platter.”
The group laughed and Tavish found himself laughing with them. It was a strange sound, his chest rumbling with it.
Billy was the first to turn serious. “It’s because of your training that we survived going to war. They were fools to send you away. It was an awfa shame wit they deed to ye. We tried to make the laird see reason, but he wouldnae listen.”
“Let’s no talk of that,” Tavish said. “Ahm glad ye are all well. Get gone. Ah’ve no wish tae cause ye bother.”
“Listen, Tavish. Be careful. The MacIntyres would be awfa glad of an excuse to besiege the Sinclairs. Ah hope ye have a good plan for getting the stone.”
Tavish nodded. “Ah do.”
The three of them were gone without another sound. It was as if they’d never been there. They had learned well.
“Who was that?”
He almost jumped. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t noticed the horse making its way back to him, Lindsey still sitting on its back.
