Hugh didn't bother hiding his impatience when he saw Callum trotting after them. There was a tightness in Callum's eyes that Hugh had come to learn meant trouble. However, with Callum, trouble had a broad definition.
"There better be a good reason ye're tryin' to delay us," Hugh said as he took a step forward, putting himself between Callum and Anna. "We're losin' daylight. I'd like to get back to the castle before dark."
"Aye," Callum agreed, his voice sounding grave. "We cannae let ye leave without guards. It will take us a few moments to get them gathered."
"We daenae have the time for that," Hugh said, motioning for Anna to go to their horse. "If we want to get to all of our stops and get back before dark, we need to leave now."
"If ye have guards with ye, nay one will dare approach ye if ye return after dark," Callum said. "The council insists?—"
"Wouldn't having so many guards with us send the wrong message to the villagers?" Anna said, now at Hugh's elbow.
"She's nae wrong," Hugh said as Callum opened his mouth. "Many of them have already met her. We daenae have anythin'more than our two horses. If we come to them again with so many men, they'll ask questions. It'll cause panic."
Callum sighed, a long-suffering sound. "Ye think I daenae ken? It's the rest of the council that wants ye to be protected on the ride."
Hugh scoffed and said, "They daenae want us protected, they want us to be monitored."
"Bein' monitored is the same thing as bein' protected," Callum replied, seeming to get antsier with each push against the council's wishes. He stepped in, dropping his voice just low enough for Hugh to hear. "Ye ken I told ye I cannae cover yer arse if ye daenae listen to their advice. Ye must let some sort of guard go with ye. Even if it's just one or two."
"Nay, Callum," Hugh said, towering over the other man. "We daenae have the time for this. We're leavin'. Now. Our horses are ready. Ye're the only thing delayin' us."
"It could be as simple as me comin' along," Callum offered. "I could catch up with ye, bring me sword along. Then I could watch out for ye, and ye daenae have to worry about bein' flanked by a mess of guards."
"I said nay, Callum," Hugh practically spat, no longer having the patience for this kind of behavior. "We will be quite fine on our own. And ye can tell the rest of the council that as well."
When Hugh had taken over as Laird, Callum's guidance had been appreciated. The man had grown up in the castle and made himself invaluable to the Laird before Hugh. His focused concern had made his transition so easy. Now, though, it felt suffocating. Hugh no longer needed to be watched over by Callum. He could make his own decisions and handle whatever chastising he got for stepping out of line without Callum's intervention.
"Ye can go now," Hugh said, definitively dismissing the other man.
Callum hovered for another moment, the proper mask dropping just long enough for Hugh to glimpse the frustration beneath. It felt almost paternal, if Hugh had to guess. Callum wasn't much older than him, but he seemed to take his role in looking out for Hugh seriously. Still, that look wasn't enough to wash away Hugh's irritation at Callum's constant meddling.
Finally, Callum turned away, but not before saying, "I do hope ye're careful, Hugh. Ye've been gettin' sloppy and reckless with yer behavior. I wouldnae want the council gettin' upset with me if I were ye."
Hugh stayed where he was, his eyes tracking the path Callum took back to the castle. He wasn't going to move until he was sure the three of them wouldn't be followed unknowingly. Something about the interaction sat wrong on Hugh's shoulders.
There was something about the council that Callum wasn't telling him. For whatever reason, they were demandingsupervision. Even though he understood their reaction to his marriage to Anna, they continued to push further. Their reasons for this must run much deeper than the marriage; Hugh was almost positive about that.
I'll have to investigate when we return.
"Ach, what the hell is his problem?" Marcus asked as he climbed onto his horse's saddle. "Why would the council think ye needed guards? Nae only are ye ridin', I'm comin' along as well. Even if they daenae like me, they ken I'm capable of?—"
"There's nay point in tryin' to figure out what they're doin'," Hugh said. "Nae right now, at least. We'll get to the village today, and when we get back, I'll look into it."
Marcus laughed, reaching forward to stroke his stallion's neck. "Ye must be insane if ye think I'm nae goin' to help ye."
That drew a chuckle that resonated in Hugh's chest. Even though his little brother was clearly angry with him, he was still fiercely loyal. It made Hugh feel a bit foolish for entertaining Callum's suggestion.
I still havenae gotten a report of what happened when I was away. That's another thing I'll have to look into when we return.
Anna stepped closer to him, her presence acting as an anchor. The confidence from before was back. She didn't have to say aword for Hugh to understand that she'd just committed herself to helping as well.
"It's time for us to go now," Hugh grunted, finally grabbing their horse and dismissing the groom. "We've spent far too long talkin'."
"It seems you're always displeased with the pace at which others are going," Anna said, allowing herself to be guided to the saddle.
Instead of dignifying her observation with a response, Hugh took the situation into his own hands. Without giving her a warning, he grabbed hold of her waist. Then, in one effortless movement, he hoisted her onto the horse.
"Hugh!" she squeaked, looking down at him as her cheeks bloomed bright pink. When she spoke, it was with a stutter that made his chest warm. "You can't… I didn't say… Why would you?—"
