“Nae,” Connell breathed. “It was them.”
Donald bristled. “What do ye mean?”
Connell sighed as he faced Donald. “Scotty is a lass.”
Brann and Donald’s eyes widened. “What?” Donald breathed.
“A lass?” Brann asked.
Connell nodded.
“How long have ye known?” Donald asked, his tone accusatory.
Connell sighed. “We can discuss this at a better time. Now, we must find both Elsy and Scotty.”
Donald didn’t say anything, his gaze set in a deep scowl as he turned toward the elder man.
“What did the men look like?” Brann asked.
The man shook his head. “I do not know. Their faces were covered. They went to the inn over there.” He pointed to a large cottage on the other side of the rode. Its windows were dark. All, except for one, had a candle inside. No noise wafted toward Connell from the inn, making his frown deepen.
“Usually, the inn is open, but odd tis closed today,” continued the elderly man. “A man came days before and bought all the rooms. The innkeeper has been complaining. He was given a large bag of coin to keep the inn for the man’s own devices, but now the tavern has taken all the innkeeper’s regulars.” The elder chuckled. “Tis a shame, really.”
“Do ye know who bought the rooms?” Connell asked. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it in his bones. Why would a man buy all the rooms? And who had the coin to make such a large purchase?
The elder shook his head. “I do not know any more than what I have told. But--” He paused, his nose wrinkling in distaste. “I did not like the look of the man. He was well dressed, cleanly, but somehow dirty. I cannot explain the feeling I got from him. But he’s dangerous. That much, I know.”
Connell nodded, his gaze directed toward the dark and quiet inn. “Thank ye,” he whispered while stepping forward.
The elder chuckled. “Nae. Thank ye for the coin.”
Connell didn’t wait. He stalked toward the inn, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Elsy was in there. He knew it. He only feared what he would find inside. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ian and Grant approaching. Ian looked perturbed. Grant appeared more concerned than before.
“The villagers know naething,” Grant said, his tone tinged with irritation.
“Absolute waste of our time,” Ian muttered.
Connell nodded toward the inn, his hand tightening around his sword. “She’s in there,” he breathed. “I know it.”
“Connell,” he heard Brann say, felt his hand on his shoulder. “This could be a trap we’re walking into.”
“Aye, ye heard the man,” said Donald.
“A man?” Grant asked while looking between them. “Someone saw her?”
Connell nodded. “Aye. She was taken to the inn.” He shook Brann’s hand off his shoulder. “I’m going inside.”
Donald sighed and shook his head. “We should wait, Connell. Devise a plan. Ye don’t know what could be waiting for us inside. Or who.”
“We’ve waited long enough!” Connell shouted. “Elsy is there.”
“Ye don’t know that,” said Ian. “For all ye know, the man only told ye what ye wanted to hear. We should turn back and wait for Glenton and Logan. They will surely help us.”
“Nae,” Connell said harshly. “We cannot turn back now. The longer we wait, the more danger Elsy could be in.”
The men exchanged a look and Connell scoffed, turning on his heel and stalking toward the inn. He withdrew his sword, holding it tightly in his grasp. “Ye can scheme all ye want. Ye can go back for Glenton and Logan, but I will carry on. I’ve already let go of Elsy twice. There will not be a third time.”
He heard Donald’s sharp sigh and Ian’s irritated groan. Then came the ring of swords being drawn, and Connell’s lips tugged into a smirk as he heard the soft footsteps of his men following behind him toward the inn.
“She better be inside,” Ian said darkly. “And ye better not be getting us all killed.”
Connell chuckled. “I don’t make promises I cannot keep.”
The dark building loomed over them. The silence deafened him. He didn’t know what to expect inside. He only hoped that both Elsy and Scott were alive, and no harm had come to them. His hand reached for the door, his fingers gripping the metal as he pushed it open.
