“Wot?” Ian shot back. “Is mah almost dying not enough for ye?”
Stephan laughed and touched his forehead to Ian’s carefully. “I’m glad tae have ye back brother. Donna scare mah like that again.”
Ian clasped the back of his brother’s neck with his hand, realizing that he had given them all a fright. Stephan was never one to be frightened of anything.
Remy was next when Stephan stepped back, shaking his head with a rueful smile on his face. “Ye just used up one of yer many lives graced by the gods,” he stated. “Donna do that again.”
“Tell mah ye found the arsehole who put mah in that situation tae begin with,” Ian stated instead, wanting to know who was responsible for the near loss of three lives.
Remy’s smile slid off his face and he swallowed hard. “Tis was Dalziel.”
Ian reared back as if Remy had hit him. “Wot?”
He nodded, clearing his throat. “Dalziel admitted tae setting the fire. He wanted, he thought that if he eliminated those that were driving ye for peace, then things would go back as they were.”
Ian was dumbfounded. It wasn’t just Ida pushing him for peace. It was what he felt in his bones, what was right for his clanand even if she hadn’t supported him in his cause, Ian would have pushed for peace regardless.
“We found him holed up in the forest,” Remy continued. "He didn’t put up much of a fight after he realized that we didna believe the same way as he did.”
Ian imagined not. “Where is he?” he asked hoarsely, anger sliding through his veins. “I want tae speak tae him.”
“He’s in mah dungeon,” a new voice echoed through the room. “Welcome back Laird Wallace.”
Ian watched as the laird joined the group, a smirk on his face. “I tell ye if ye want mah attention, ye donna have tae try and kill yerself tae get it.”
“Aye, but wot better way than saving yer niece and brother?” Ian countered lightly, not looking at Ida right then. His time with her would come soon enough.
The laird chuckled, clasping his hands behind his back. “Since it was an attack on mah land, on mah clan, I will beseech ye tae allow mah tae dole out the punishment on yer former captain.” He cocked his head slightly. “Unless ye agree with him?”
“Nay,” Ian said roughly. “Ye know I donna wish tae have nothing but peace between our clans.”
The laird nodded. “And now that yer men and mine have caught the culprit, I’m willing tae sit down with ye once more tae make that happen.”
Ian couldn’t believe his ears. “Truly?”
“Aye,” the older man stated. “Tis time for us tae think aboot the future, just like ye told mah before.” He cleared his throat. “I wasna ready tae hear ye then but I am now.”
“I would like that,” Ian said honestly, hope flaring once more.
The laird nodded before looking at the others in the room. “Get this Scot tae a more comfortable lodging.”
There was a flurry of activity as the healer came in and clucked her tongue as she checked him out. “Ye shouldna be moving around,” she scolded him, pressing on his side. Ian winced at the pain. “Ye heard the laird.”
“The laird isna a healer,” she shot back before giving a heavy sigh. “Yer ribs are broken in four places mah laird. Ye have a deep cut on yer leg and ye have hit yer head. Ye need rest but I canna disagree that a more accommodating place would be more appropriate.”
In the end, that was exactly what Ian was given. It took both Remy and Stephan to help him up the stairs, carrying him more than Ian could walk. By the time they walked through the chamber door, Ian was sweating.
“A bath,” the healer demanded as they maneuvered him into a chair that was slightly more comfortable than the one downstairs. “To aid in the healing.”
Ian glanced at Stephan, who sighed loudly. “Fine, I will help.”
Ian noticed that Ida was hovering around the doorway, watching his every move and as much as he wanted her to stay, he knew it was highly improper for her to be attending to him now. “Iris,” he barked out, calling his sister forward. “See that Ida gets a proper bath and some food in her stomach.”
Iris looked at her friend, lifting her chin. “Aye, she looks a bit peaked.” Before Ida could protest, Iris was taking her arm and leading her out of the chamber to do exactly that.
Ian then found James, who was watching the proceedings quietly. “I want tae speak tae mah former captain before his punishment is doled out,” he told the advisor. “Can ye see that it is done?”
James clenched his jaw, likely remembering the events that Ian had yet to look back on. “Aye that willna be a problem.”
