Ahead, Duncan spotted Bryce Campbell. It was for his clan that the Hays were in this field. Adjusting the sword tacked to his kilt, Bryce made his way over to them.
“What did the healer say?” he asked Duncan, nodding toward Craig. Craig aimed a withering glance at Bryce, likely for speaking as though he were invisible.
“She said I will be fine,” he snapped through clenched teeth. Beads of sweat were starting to form on his forehead. Duncan knew his right-hand man was in incredible pain. What the hell would it have taken for the fool to call for help?
“Ah,” Bryce breathed. “Thank the gods then. I was afraid we would lose a fine warrior.”
“Cannae happen,” Craig boasted, lifting his shoulders. Unfortunately, his other shoulder instantly revolted against the move and he gave a loud wince. Both men shot concerned glances at him. When Bryce met Duncan’s eyes, he nodded. From the other side, he helped move Craig.
Craig cursed and complained about the injustice all the way to his tent, until he was laid down. Duncan and Bryce sat back to watch him, after a stern warning not to sit up. When Craig relaxed, Bryce mentioned that Dankworth’s previous camp was unusually without activity.
“Scouts returned?” Duncan asked.
“Aye. All they found was news about the new commander’s weddin’. Apparently, he’s to be wed to Dankworth’s daughter.”
“Hmmm,” Duncan murmured. Bryce’s words called up the commander’s voice in his mind.Danger and Grace.“Good for him. How are the supplies?”
“Sufficient. Merchants arrived while you were with Craig. We replenished our stock and then some.”
“Good. Then a siege willnae backfire on us. Especially with this weddin’ nonsense, we should have them surrendered in no time.”
“Nonsense?” Bryce quipped. Duncan caught Craig rolling his eyes and squelched the urge to laugh. Bryce took offenceregarding Duncan’s indifference to love. In fact, it pained him because he was in love with sister, Sheena. He’d expressed a concern that Duncan’s attitude might rub off on his dearly beloved. Even Jaime, Duncan’s late brother, had believed in such silly endeavors. But fate had had other plans for him.
There was nothing to worry about, of course. Sheena had been crazy about Bryce for as long as he could remember. They were his proof that love existed, though out of reach for him. Duncan had other things to worry about. Like the laird’s declining health and leading his clan. But Bryce was an optimistic leech, had been so since they’d been boys. He had it all planned out. Duncan would marry his sister Emily and their brotherhood would come to a full related circle.
Only flaw in the plan was, although Emily cared for Duncan, to him she would only ever be the kid with a runny nose who he’d had to care for when Bryce was away.
He veered the conversation from the wedding before Bryce could launch into one of his speeches. “That man’s death plagues me.”
Craig gave him a look, “because ye dinnae dae it yerself?”
But Bryce’s face filled with understanding, “I ken. I worried ye would make the connection. Still, tis nae the same.”
“What is he talkin’ about?” Craig asked. He braced one elbow on the make-shift bed, attempting to rise. Duncan glowered at him, and he lay back with a curse.
“Dae ye nae ken how his brother died?” Bryce asked with surprise. Craig took offence. It was a sore spot that Bruce knew things he didn’t. He stewed in an obstinate silence. Then broke it in spite himself.
“I ken about it. But what does it have tae dae with the commander’s death?”
At the mention of his brother, Duncan’s heart grew cold. He cleared his throat and asked to take leave of their presence. He was weary and it had been a long day. Craig would rather he had stayed, but his stubbornness got the better part of him. “’Tis what I’ve been sayin’. Ye need tae rest.”
Duncan grinned and clapped Craig on the injured arm. Heralded by his curses, he bowed out of the tent. Bryce followed at his heels. His handsome face was shrouded in worry. “Pardon me, I spoke out of turn earlier.”
“Did ye just apologize tae me?” Duncan said, arching a surprised glance at his friend.
“Take it, ye will ne’er hear it again. In any case, how are ye?”
“I cannae stop thinkin’ about it, ‘tis one thing tae be killed yer enemy. But he was murdered by someone he trusted. Makes ye think.”
“As I said afore now, dinnae compare him with Jaime. Ye can trust yer men here. Have ye nae been through thick and thin together?”
Duncan looked at his friend, smiled and nodded. Without Bryce, he might not have survived to this day. He would always be grateful to his friend.However, Jaime, his older brother, had not been that lucky.
“Dinnae feel pity fer that English man. Remember he killed Caelan, just before ye arrived.”
“Aye,” Duncan acquiesced on the surface. “Ye’re right.” Because, in a sense, hewasright, after all. Despite the pity flooding his heart and the urge to find that betrayer, he was not entitled to those feelings. That was for the English to decipher and sort.
Nonetheless, although Jaime’s death had been avenged, the disloyalty still crawled through his guarded senses and shattered them. While Bryce continued to speak of their plans and the subsequent ambush, Duncan gaze landed on one warrior of his after another.
