Niall snorted. “Not at all, I’ve seen her charm even the most impenetrable heart. I just didn’t think you had one.”
Jamie’s mouth tugged. He studied the other man. “She told you the truth. I mean to do what I can to help you.”
“Why?”
“You need to ask?”
“But Auchinbreck is your brother.”
“Aye. If she’d confided in me earlier, I might have prevented this. I had no wish for your father to die. I can understand your anger, but my brother had cause to attack your castle.” At the look of outrage on Niall’s face, Jamie added, “I didn’t say I agreed with what happened, but it wasn’t wholly my brother’s fault. Had I been there, I might have been able to avoid a battle, but you know as well as I do that fighting is the way men settle disputes in the Highlands.”
“Aye,” Niall said reluctantly. “My father never backed down from a battle. But it wasn’t only my father’s and brother’s deaths that I was avenging.” Jamie watched as his face twisted with an emotion he could describe only as raw anguish. “He ordered the rape of an innocent woman.” Niall met his gaze, his eyes glowing with rage. “My woman.”
Jamie cursed. He didn’t want to think his brother capable of such a despicable act, but he did not doubt Niall’s word. “I’m sorry.”
The apology seemed to surprise the other man, and he nodded in acknowledgment. After a moment, he asked, “What do you intend to do with us?”
“What I can,” Jamie responded. “We’ll stay the night at Rothesay and then tomorrow depart for Dunoon.”
Niall’s jaw hardened. “It was as I thought, then. We won’t die by your hand, but by Argyll’s.”
“You won’t die by anyone’s hand. My cousin has promised to show you leniency.”
“I can imagine,” Niall said dryly. “Drawn, but not quartered?”
“I hope to have more influence than that,” Jamie said with a crooked smile. Just then, his men came out of the darkness carrying a makeshift pallet with an enormous dog tracking after it.
Niall’s demeanor changed in an instant. “Careful. He’s hurt.”
“Niall, what’s happening?” Brian asked, his voice weak and delirious.
“Shush,” Niall said. “We’re taking you to the castle.”
“But the Enforcer,” Brian protested. He tried to lift up his head, but Jamie knew he couldn’t see him.
He felt sick, hating the fear in the lad’s voice.
“Don’t worry, Brian. Caiti will keep you safe.” Niall met Jamie’s gaze as he spoke, and Jamie nodded.
At that, the boy seemed to relax and eased back down on the pallet as the men carried him out.
“I hope you won’t make me a liar,” Niall said.
“The lad will come to no harm. He was not involved in the attack on my brother, though when he is well enough to travel, he will have to account for the fighting with the MacGregors. I’ll pay whatever fines it takes to see him cleared.”
Niall nodded. With the cave cleared of Lamonts, Jamie led his prisoner out into the forest. Leaving them to his men, Jamie started toward the place where he’d left his horse.
“Campbell.”
Jamie looked back over his shoulder.
“I know I’ve no right to ask . . .”
Jamie moved his head, indicating for him to continue.
“If anything should happen to me, when he’s old enough you’ll see that Brian takes his place as chief?”
The odd request took Jamie aback. “ ’Tis the position that rightfully belongs to you. Would you not ask it for yourself?”
