“Be blunt then, laddie,” MacNear snarled. “And be quick about it.”
“We seek our sister,” Jacob said, stepping forward. “Lady Laila Willby. I sent her here to hide, but her pursuers have come, and we will not stand by and watch her fall into their hands.”
“Laila?” Kyle said, shocked. He nearly fell backward but held fast on the edge of the table, flexing his forearm to keep himself steady. The two brothers seemed surprised by his reaction, and he bit down on his tongue. Everything was becoming intensely complicated at a rapid pace.
“So, she’s not a spy?” Domnal asked.
“A spy?!” Matthew balked.
“I told ye she was not a liar,” Ella said suddenly, entering from the kitchen door.
“Ella—” Gavin protested.
“I’m here now; shut up about it,” she said dismissively. The Willby brothers exchanged another surprised glance.
“Where is she?” Jacob asked, stepping forward. “She is pursued by Lord Hamilton, a most vile and cruel man. His henchman, Sir Simon Blackmarch, is a day ahead, and they are both ahead of us.”
“Hold a moment,” Gavin said, planting his hands on the table. “D’ye mean tae tell me that without me consent, ye have dragged our house intae yer own trials? This Blackmarch was here, nay a day ago, I know nothing o’ this Lord Hamilton, and yer sister has left.”
“Left?” Matthew gawked, nearly doubling over. “What do you mean left?”
“Just that,” Kyle growled. “She departed this afternoon, in secret.”
“Then we are too late,” Matthew said, his face falling.
“No!” Jacob insisted. “We must go after her!”
“Who is this Lord Hamilton?” Kyle asked. “He is her betrothed?”
“Against her will,” Jacob spat. “He is a cruel man who holds our father in his debt. He has demanded Laila as payment, but he is a true villain, a man corrupted by his own power and wealth. We will not stand for it!”
“I pity ye, gentlemen, truly,” Gavin said with a sigh, “but this is nay me problem. We have rebels tae deal with, and I will nay break the truce.”
“It is me problem,” Kyle said, seeming to grow taller as he made the statement, gripping the edge of the table with all his might, channeling his anger into his iron grip.
“Nay!” Gavin cried.
“Aye!” Kyle challenged.
“So, she’s not a spy,” Domnal said, mostly to himself, as if he had finally arrived at his final conclusion.
“Rebels?” Matthew asked, “Scottish rebels?”
“The MacLeans,” MacNear spat, “an outlaw clan.”
“That explains the brigands,” Matthew said, turning to Jacob.
“Brigands?” Ella asked, coming to a rest beside Gavin.
“On the road,” Jacob said. “We had a bit of trouble.”
“The lone rider,” Gavin muttered, rubbing his brow. “The one that rode north from the camp.”
“No,” Kyle said. “They would nay work with the English.”
“They did it once before!” MacNear shouted. “The MacLeans are treacherous dogs! Now it all makes sense!”
“We have enough men tae deal with the MacLeans,” Gavin said coldly. “Nay with both them and the English.”
