“When do you wish to take our leave?”
Victor looked longingly at Catriona, buteventually capitulated. “As soon as possible,” he said, lookingmiserable.
Lachlan grunted, though he understoodVictor’s reticence. He would not want separated from his wife sosoon either. Leastways, Veronica would be trekking to the Campbellswith them so he dinna have to be. “Get ready,” he ordered. “Weleave within the hour.”
*****
Veronica wore herMatrixhellionattire under her blue gown and black cloak, the satchel slung overher left shoulder. Lachlan hoisted her up onto his stallion beforemounting it himself. She shivered, the first gigantic snowflakes ofwinter cascading down from the heavens and covering the ground.“Will the snow slow us down considerably?” she asked, alreadydreading the long ride.
“Nay,” Lachlan returned. “’Tis still verralight. Leastways, let us hope it stays that way.”
Thiswas considered light here? Ifthat was the case she could only wonder what Highlanders considereda heavy snowfall to be. She supposed she’d find out soon enough forwinter had absolutely arrived. Truthfully, she felt like a figurineinside of a frosty snow globe.
She glanced at Victor as their party of fiveset out. He was waving goodbye to Catriona who stood misty-eyed onthe castle’s steps waving back at him. She saw Finn roll his eyesat the melodramatic scene, which caused Ramsay to chuckle.
“We shan’t be gone o’er long,” Finn said toVictor. “You will survive the wee separation from your ladywife.”
“Or mayhap he willna,” Ramsay grinned. “Hehas the look of a condemned mon.”
Victor frowned at everyone’s amusement,making the group laugh. Even Lachlan snorted. Her brother sighedand shook his amber-curled hair so much the color ofVeronica’s.
It only took roughly three hours to get tothe Campbell stronghold despite the worsening weather. Euan andJames came out of the keep to greet their party, both men wearingthe Campbells’ signature red and green kilts. The Gunns werequickly ushered in and taken to the great hall. After maids servedmead, bread, and stew, Euan shouted at them to leave the room withall speed. It was apparent the old laird wanted no ears to overheartheir upcoming conversation. Lachlan got right down tobusiness.
“Have there been any changes?” her husbandinquired. “Anything Victor should ken?”
“Nay, not really,” Euan answered. Hegrunted. “Though in truth I worry as I’ve heard naught else abootanother with the icy fever.”
“We’ve burned down three huts. Our clan hascaught onto the fact that when the icy fever comes, we burn downthe stricken and their homes alike.” This from James. “Mayhap ‘tisbeing hidden from us now.”
“Dinna you tell your people to ken that theicy fever will kill them too if they grow sick with it?” Lachlanasked.
“Aye, of course,” Euan returned. “I’ve beenas honest with my clan as I can without giving away o’er much.”
“What did you burn down the huts with?”Victor questioned.
James looked at him as though he wasn’tright in the mind. “With fire.”
“I know that,” Victor frowned. He wasuncharacteristically impatient, which Veronica presumed was due toCatriona’s absence. “I mean, was it just fire or did you useanything to fuel it?”
“Fuel it?”
“Something that would make the fire burnfaster. Like pig fat.”
“Oh.” James waved that away. “Nay. The snowshadna started yet when we burned them down. ‘Twas fire to thethatched roofs and no more.”
Victor inclined his head. “And now that thesnow has come? How will you burn the next home if someone elsecomes down with the icy fever?”
James shrugged. He absently ran a hand overhis blond hair. “With pig fat I suppose.”
“Don’t,” Victor told him. “Not until I candetermine if it’s safe to use.”
Veronica expected Euan and James to questionher brother, but they didn’t. She hid a smile. Obviously, from thethree days he’d stayed here before, the men had grown accustomed toVictor’s longwinded scientific explanations that just left a personfeeling more confused.
Both men held up their hands before Victorcould speak again. “Okay,” Euan and James said quickly andsimultaneously.
“What are we to use then?” Euan hesitantlyqueried.
“Tar,” Victor announced. “Tar actuallypossesses highly flammable—”
