The guard glared at him, but Malcolm was already stepping out into the clearing, the armor tight on his form. He had never been one to wear this sort of armor, but with the Belshes colors, he would not be as easily recognizable.
Taking some of the mud from the moors, Malcolm slid it through his hair to darken the color. All he needed was to find Edna and explain to her what had happened between him and James, as well as figure out a way to get her safely away from the Belshes.
Sticking to the shadows, Malcolm made his way to the keep. The gates were flung open, which surprised Malcolm, and he strode right into the keep as night was falling on the village.
What Malcolm found was a revelry, the McGregor clan filling the great hall with mugs of ale and whiskey in their hands. There were quite a few Belshes guards amongst them, so Malcolm tried to blend in with the crowd as he made his way to the front.
Someone grabbed his shoulder, and he felt himself being pulled to the hallway that led to the study, finding himself face-to-face with Erik.
“Ye’re here for mah daughter,” he stated, his expression drawn.
“Aye,” Malcolm replied. “I cannae let her wed him.”
Erik blew out a breath. “Ye’re too late, son. She has tae, or he will throw her intae the dungeons. They are going tae wed in two days.”
So he still had two days to save her. “I need tae speak tae her,” he stated, desperation welling in his bones. “I need tae.” He had to explain everything and hope that at the end of his words, she would forgive him for what he did.
Erik’s mouth worked. “She will be down soon. I will direct her tae the study after she has her toast with him.”
Malcolm nodded, and Erik squeezed his shoulder. “I’m glad ye are here for her,” the older Scot said softly.
He thought about telling Erik what he had done, but that would only delay his chances of getting to Edna. “I will wait for her then.”
Erik walked off, and Malcolm headed into the study, finding the elder laird standing before the fire.
“Malcolm,” Kaiden said, his eyes widening as he saw his attire. “Wot are ye doing here? Where is Irvine?”
“He’s home,” Malcolm said, pulling off the chest armor in disgust. It had done its job in getting him this far, and there would have to be another plan for escape.
“Good,” Kaiden breathed. “I trust ye know wot is happening?”
“I’m not going tae let her wed him,” Malcolm growled, adjusting his sword at his back. “I wilnae let Neacal take this clan.”
“Then I wish ye the best,” Kaiden replied as he strode past him to the door. “Stay low and out of sight. Ye may be our only hope.”
Malcolm thought about the laird’s words long after he had departed. Things were bad then, and the clan was in danger somehow. The warriors here were strong but wouldn’t be able to handle the mass of army that Malcolm had seen. In a few moments, there would be blood that would run through the village, not victory.
His only thought was to kill Neacal. Perhaps if he could get Edna away safely, the laird would follow, and with the plans that Irvine had been making, there would be an army to greet him on an even battlefield.
But he would have to draw him away from this clan first.
Malcolm didn’t know how long he waited, but when the door opened again, Edna swept in, and for a moment, he was struck by her beauty. She was dressed in a gown of deep blue, her long hair down her back in soft curls that were decorated with sprigs of thistle. She looked like a future laird’s wife.
He quickly shut the door behind her, and she whirled around, her eyes widening at first. “Malcolm!”
“Edna,” he replied, leaning against the door so she couldn’t escape or that they couldn’t be barged in on. “Och, lass, ye are bonny.”
Her gaze narrowed instead. “I have nothing tae say tae ye.”
He grasped her by the shoulders, and she tried to twist away from his touch. “Please,” he said urgently. “We dinnae have much time. I need tae explain tae ye.”
“Ye killed James!” she shouted, her face panicked but also full of anger. “There’s nothing else for ye tae say!”
Malcolm gritted his teeth but kept a strong hold on her shoulders. “I killed him because he asked me tae.” That was the shame he had carried around for a long time, something that he had struggled to move on from for many years.
Edna’s mouth fell open, and she quit fighting him. “Wot?”
Malcolm swallowed. He knew he had to tell her, but the words didn’t come as easily as he thought they would. “Will ye listen tae mah story?”
