“‘Tis I, sir.” He recognized the servant’s voice. “Sire calls for ye.”
Torcall knew to whom she referred.
“I will be with him immediately.”
Torcall sat on his bed, willing the evidence of his lust to disappear. Thoughts of Ceana would do him no good as there could ne’er be anything between them. He could not live his life forever in the clan. He would leave, and Ceana wouldn’t. She wouldn’t want to live the only life she had known to follow him to a place that even he didn’t know.
Finally, he didn’t feel his arousal anymore. He stood and began to make his way to his uncle’s office. There was nothing he could do. He and Ceana could never work out. His head realized that. It was time for his body to catch on.
“Torcall?” his uncle asked, turning back.
“Aye.”
“Sit.”
Dirk’s office was one that many didn’t understand. There seemed to be nothing in it except for the large table with a quill and few documents as well as a chair. There didn’t even seem to be a chest of drawers, and the large room with great windows seemed empty. However, Torcall knew that there hidden in the walls was a hidden cabinet. It held important documents.
“There has been another killing. A young woman was raped and murdered.”
“How was she found?”
“Apparently, a man on his way to his farm too early in the mornin’ saw her dead body. He called people around. There was a large gathering, and we had to disperse them with soldiers.”
“The farmer?”
“We are questionin’ him as we speak.”
“The Laird MacGregor is set to address the clan in the town hall soon. Every grown man and woman is expected to be present.”
Torcall nodded. He wondered why he had been summoned.
“I have spoken to Rannoch and Tam. Now I am speakin’ to ye. Ye are me, son. We so nae ken who this killer is. He may go after men too. Ye must be safe. Ye must be. Do ye hear me?”
Dirk’s face seemed to hold an unbothered expression, but Torcall knew better. “Aye,” he said.
“Good. Ye may leave.”
Torcall walked out of his uncle’s office and walked right into Tam. “Well, well, if it isn’t the golden lad.” There was a sneer on his face, and his lips were curled upwards.
“What do ye want, Tam? I have time enough for a whippin’.”
Tam glared. “Ye act so fresh for a man who cannae even cover his tracks well enough.”
Torcall remained impassive, and Tam laughed gleefully. “I saw ye and yer little friend at the play the order day.”
Torcall cursed inwardly.
“She was lookin’ rather fresh. I must say cousin, ye do ken how to pick them well.”
Torcall said nothing, and Tam went on.
“Ye best guard her, though,” Tam said. “There’re killers out there, and I do nae doubt that they would love to put their hands on yer little friend.” His grin was malicious. “Ye do nae want her dead, do ye?”
Torcall reached for Tam and grabbed him a headlock. “Ye should worry for yerself, Tam,” he growled in his ear. “If ye even as much as go near her, I will kill ye, and I will damn every consequence.” Ten, he pushed Tam from him at glared at him before walking out.
Chapter Thirteen
It wasnae often that Laird MacGregor made announcements. However, the situation demanded it, and so, the people sat in the town hall, anxious and waiting. There was news flying about a deadly killer. However, they knew that when their Laird addressed them, he would tell them all.
