“What is it, Connell?” asked Brann, his tone nervous and drawing Connell’s thoughts away from the group. “Have we been followed?”
“Nae,” said Connell while shaking his head. He winced, not knowing if what he was about to say was the right thing. They had spent so much time planning for this moment. They had paid off servants, hired scouts, spied on guards within the McCormick clan. Now, all of that, within a few moments, would all be for naught.
Brann fidgeted from foot to foot, glancing between Connell and the group of men. “Then what is it?”
Connell sighed and ran a hand through his hair, biding time as he tried to think of the correct words to say. “When we arrive, I want ye to take Lady McCormick up to the east wing.”
Brann couldn’t hide the shock on his face. He was the easiest of his men to read, which Connell was thankful for. The boy’s eyes widened for a moment, before turning back to the others, glancing between them quickly.
“Why are ye asking me?” he asked while pointing at himself.
A smile tugged at Connell’s lips, which he quickly swallowed. “Because I trust ye, Brann.”
“But what of the plan? We were supposed to--” Brann made a face, the words getting caught in his throat. “We were supposed to…” he said lowly, his gaze dipping to the ground.
“I’ve changed my mind,” said Connell while placing a hand on the boy’s shoulders. “We can’t go forward with our original intentions.”
“But the others--”
“I will explain everything when we return, but until then I would like for ye to ensure Lady McCormick’s comfort. Just for tonight,” Connell added quickly.
Brann’s gaze met Connell’s, a question in those eyes that he wasn’t ready to answer. He needed time to come up with a reason for not sending Elsy to the dungeons and torturing her for answers. A reason the others would accept. He doubted love would be enough to assuage their blood thirst.Love solved naething,Connell thought as he crouched low and pushed his water skin into the river. He watched it fill with liquid, his brows tenting as another memory of Elsy—running in the fields, glancing over her shoulder with a bright smile on her face—surfaced within him. There had been a time he’d thought all he needed was her love in his life. But there was more to life than love.
There was vengeance.
