“We daenae ken that for sure,” Dearg was unconvinced.
“And ye think they’d send letters like this for their own amusement?” To Erskine’s question, Dearg had no reply. “Faither, listen to me,” Erskine pleaded. “Send the army to these villages, we get these people to safety, bring them back here if they’re wounded and have lost their livelihoods. We look after them.”
“Aye, it is a good plan,” the Laird nodded. “Take half the moveable men with ye. Dearg, ye take a group to the next villages along, blockade them and stop anyone from comin’ further into the clan. Understood?”
“Aye,” the two said together, though Erskine agreed through gritted teeth, certain that they could cut off the brigands in the villages they were attacking if they just sent all their men to the problem areas.
“Go to it,” their father stood and ushered them out of the door, “I’ll send word to the steward.”
Erskine left quickly, marching down the corridor with Dearg hot on his heels.
“Why is it whenever ye have an idea, we have to jump to do what ye say, hmm?” Dearg’s voice was full of resentment, forcing Erskine to stop walking and turn back.
“It’s called military discipline, Dearg,” Erskine said with darkness.
“Nae because ye’re the Laird-to-be then?”
“So what if it were?” Erskine asked, scoffing and turning away, walking down the corridor again. “If I live to become Laird, tell me, will ye deny me orders then as well?” He glanced back over his shoulder to see Dearg frozen in the center, watching him. “Well?”
Dearg said nothing, but his expression darkened, and he walked off in the other direction.
What just happened?
* * *
Erskine had gathered most of the men, but Tam was still not there, meaning he couldn’t have been home to receive word from the messenger or the army squire. As the men prepared to leave, lining up outside the castle on horses, Erskine saw it as a good opportunity.
I daenae want to leave here without sayin’ goodbye to Laura.
“I’ll find Tam,” he said to Dearg, turning as he mounted his own horse. “I willnae be long.”
“Make sure ye only visit Tam, brother,” Dearg’s voice prompted Erskine to look back, his glower growing darker. “I wouldnae want ye to waste yer time visitin’ yer new friend now.”
“Calm yerself, ye bampot,” Erskine said sharply and gestured to the lines of horses behind him, “finish preparin’ the men while I’m gone.”
With that order, he turned the horse and flicked the reins, charging quickly through the streets. When he reached Tam’s house, predictably, he found it empty, so he went onto the next best location: Lennox’s house.
Outside he found Tam’s horse hitched up. At the door, Erskine jumped down and knocked on the door loudly. When there was no reply, he knocked even loud, making the wood shake in its frame.
“Tam! Are ye in there!?” There was a kerfuffle on the other side of the door. “Tam? This is an emergency!”
“Aye, I’m comin’!” Tam’s voice called back.
Erskine was surprised when the door opened, and once again, it was not just Tam there, but Lennox too. The two of them looked ruffled, with Lennox’s fair hair particularly wild and her cheeks pink. Tam even had to straighten his clothes.
Erskine’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief, feeling the humor of the moment pull at his lips.
Ah — has Tam finally accepted this is more than just a friendship?
“Tam, are ye—”
“Daenae say a word,” Tam pleaded, closing his eyes.
“Very well,” Erskine nodded. “Ye’re needed, brigands on the mountain side of the clan. We need to go and help the villagers. Now.”
“Aye, I’ll come at once,” Tam nodded, then looked back to Lennox. Her dark eyes turned up to him, wide with fear in them as something seemed to pass between them unspoken in the silence. Erskine couldn’t help but notice it. There was a part of him that hoped Laura would worry about him too in that same way. “I’ll be back soon,” Tam said as he stepped out the door.
“I hope so, we dinnae finish this conversation,” she said with a smile, leaning on the doorframe and watching him go.
