"Never say never, cousin," MacSorley said. "Your problem was marrying the wrong woman. One of these days the right one will come along." He paused and gave him a sly look. "If she hasn't already."
Arthur suspected MacSorley was referring to Bella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan. She'd taken an immediate dislike to the infamous cateran pirate. Arthur thought the dislike was mutual, but he hadn't been around enough to know whether MacSorley spoke true.
But if he were MacSorley, he'd watch his back for the next few days. MacRuairi looked as if he wanted to kill him. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about."
MacSorley only grinned. "Such crude language. Could I possibly have hit a nerve, cousin?"
Not a few days. Arthur would watch his back for a week. MacRuairi looked ready to strike. "I'm just damned sick and tired of hearing about it. You're like a priest trying to convert the pagans. Spread your poison about the joys of marriage somewhere else; I'm not interested."
MacSorley's wide grin only seemed to make his kinsman angrier.
Arthur couldn't believe he was hearing the swaggering seafarer exalt the virtues of marriage and "the right woman." MacSorley's bigger-than-life personality and bold charm drew almost as many women as MacGregor's pretty face. Hawk loved women and they loved him. Hard to think of him settling down with one. She had to be a stunner. The big Viking always had a bevy of bold beauties with lush figures at his command.
Knowing MacSorley wouldn't stop needling his kinsman until they came to blows, Arthur changed the subject. "Why did you need to see me? I assume it must be important to risk meeting like this."
To preserve Arthur's cover, the king had taken great precautions. Meetings were arranged only on an as needed basis, by leaving coded messages at one of the numerous stone monuments that littered the countryside, such as the stone circle where they'd gathered tonight. King Robert relished the connection with Scotland's ancient past, and the mystical stones seemed a fitting allusion for his secret guard of the greatest warriors in Scotland.
Most communications were by messenger--only rarely did Arthur risk meeting with his fellow guardsmen. After infiltrating the MacDougalls, it had become even more difficult. He'd lost much of the freedom of movement he'd enjoyed working on his own. Tonight, he'd had to sneak out of Duntrune Castle in the middle of the night and hope to hell no one discovered he'd gone.
MacSorley sobered. "Aye, we received word last week that you'd come south. I'm glad you saw our message."
Arthur tried to check the monuments as often as he could. When he'd seen the three smaller stones arranged in a triangle in the center, he'd known: it was the code to come as soon as possible. It was the same message he'd left at the cave north of Dunollie Castle before he'd gone south. With its access to the sea, the cave was the safest place for Bruce's men to venture and only a few miles south of Dunstaffnage. "I assume since you knew where to leave it that you received mine?"
MacSorley nodded. "We were surprised to hear you'd left Dunstaffnage."
Arthur schooled his features, not betraying the hint of guilt that crept up his consciousness. He hadn't forgotten his mission, damn it. He'd just needed to get away.
"It couldn't be avoided," he said, offering no further explanation. "Lorn fears that Angus Og is up to something. I've accompanied his son Ewen to see what we can find out."
"My cousin is always up to something," MacSorley said about the powerful MacDonald chief. "He's mobilizing his fleet for the battle against the MacDougalls."
"I thought as much." The attack against the MacDougalls from the sea would be every bit as important as the attack from land. Bruce would press Lorn from both directions. It was one of the reasons that MacSorley's skills were so valued. He would be the one to lead the attack by sea.
"Lorn is well informed," MacRuairi said.
Arthur grimaced. "Aye, he is. But I've been unable to find out how he's doing it. There have been no strange churchmen about, nor have I seen any messengers."
MacSorley smiled. "That's why we sent for you. I intercepted one of Edward's messengers on his way north with a message for Lorn. It's one Lorn has been waiting for, though not the news he hoped for." He grinned. "King Edward has declined Lorn's request to send additional men north. And thanks to my cousin here, we know where the messenger was heading."
Arthur didn't need to ask how MacRuairi had got him to talk. MacRuairi always got them to talk.
"Ardchattan Priory," MacRuairi said.
Arthur felt a tingle of excitement. The priory was close to Dunstaffnage, right in the heart of Lorn. This was it: the chance they'd been waiting for.
"So they are using churchmen," Arthur said. It was as he'd suspected.
"So it seems," MacSorley agreed. "All you need to do is keep an eye on the church and see who comes to pick it up. As one of Lorn's knights, your presence, should you be discovered, won't be remarked upon. How soon will you be able to get away?"
"I'll leave in the morning."
"You will be able to explain your sudden need to return to the castle?" MacRuairi asked.
"Someone needs to report back to Lorn. I'll volunteer to go."
With his mission clear, Arthur was anxious to be on his way, but he took a few minutes to catch up on the other guardsmen.
MacSorley and MacRuairi were the only two members of the Highland Guard in the west, watching the seas. MacKay, Gordon, and MacGregor were in the north, keeping the roads clear of messengers and wreaking havoc on Ross for what he'd done to the women, and the rest of the team were in the east with the king.
