“Aye, I did and I was.” Malcolm made no other explanation.
He didn’t want to tell his brother he had gone along with Angus to retaliate for the razed village because he didn’t want to endure his wrath for the second time.
“And?”
“Och, brother, do ye no see he doesna want to tell ye?” This from Jamie who chuckled as he said it.
Malcolm shot him a look that he hoped conveyed to him to shut his mouth.
“Ye wanted me to scout the area. That’s what I was doing. Angus and his son came along. That’s when we saw it. Like a rip in time,” Malcolm said, hoping that would give his brother the answer he needed. “The lass fell through it along with the man.”
“The man she named Bruce,” Callum said.
“Are ye daft? That’s what I said.”
“Don’t be cheeky,” Callum chastised. He ran a hand over his chin as he started to pace. “Who is he?”
“I dinnae ken,” Malcolm said. “But she came through with the piece of the keystone and he seemed to want it. He tried to get it from her. She said he attacked her.”
“Where is he now?”
Malcolm shrugged. “He ran off. Said it wasn’t over but by my reckoning, if he tries to harm her, he will have me to deal with.”
That stopped Callum’s pacing. He gave him a sideways glance. His brows raised as he looked at him, a weak smirk on his face. “Aye, then? Are ye smitten with the lass?”
Malcolm scoffed. The last thing he needed was to be smitten with the lass. Aye, she was lovely with a sharp tongue. Aye, he had enjoyed the feel of her in his arms as they rode to the Sinclair stronghold. That didn’t mean he was smitten with her.
Jamie smirked when he remained silent.
“I think that’s obvious, isn’t it, brother? He wanted to rip my hands off for touching her,” Jamie said. He dropped his feet from the table and unfolded his tall frame from his chair. “Malcolm has his eye on her, to be sure.”
Malcolm scowled at his brother. “Why don’t ye go to bed, ye scallywag.”
Jamie held up his hands in surrender. “I ken when I’m no wanted.”
He sauntered away toward the curved stairs to head off to bed. When he was gone, Callum eyed him again.
“Did ye ken she was Evie’s sister?”
“I didn’t at first,” he said. “I dinnae tell her the lass was here. Thought she’d like to find out on her own.”
He had to admit, he’d delighted seeing the surprise reunion between the two sisters and how they embraced. There was a real bond between them that was obvious. A bond he had once shared with his brothers.
Since Jamie had spurned the MacDonald lass, their father passed unexpectedly, and Callum learned of his crime when he burned down the village, things were tense between all three of them. They were not as carefree as they were when they were children. They had faced their own troubles when their mother died and then their sister. But nothing compared to the strife that was between them now.
And now with this prophecy hanging over their heads, he wasn’t sure if things would ever be back to the way they were.
“It’s late. I best be on my way.” Malcolm rose from the chair and headed for the door.
“Where do ye think yer going?”
That stopped him. Surprise flickered through him as he turned to face Callum. “I dinnae think ye wanted me here since ye banished me. I made my report and brought the lass back to her sister.”
Callum pressed his lips together as he gazed at him, his mind working as he came to a decision. He heaved a heavy sigh. “I dinnae want ye to go. Stay and fight with us.”
Malcolm lifted a brow. “Ye say that as if ye expect more fighting to come.”
“If the prophecy is any indication, then aye. And now that there are two pieces of the keystone under my roof, they will double their efforts to get them,” Callum said.
