At some point, Isadora stopped cheering simply because the noise around her was deafening. She had eyes only for Cam as he responded to the crowd, drinking in adoration and worship usually reserved for the mighty and the strong.
Isadora had to smile at the smithy from Netherton who had become a champion today, a moment he would surely remember for the rest of his life. Turning to look at her father, she could see that he was cheering Cam on, too, and an offer for the man would soon be forthcoming.
The Lion of Caledonia had finally roared.
An hour later, Cam Netherton was presented with a symbolicgladiuswith a red ribbon tied on it, which meant an offer for his services and fealty had been made—and accepted.
PART THREE
THE LION OF CALEDONIA
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Although Cam hadonly been at the Ludus Caledonia a short while, leaving it felt oddly bittersweet.
He’d come to The Cal with absolutely nothing—no self-confidence, no friends, and no future. But he was leaving with all those things and more. He stood in his cottage, packing items he’d accumulated over the past couple of months and thinking on the life he was about to embark on. It hardly seemed real. He was just tying up the last of his possessions with a hemp binding when the door to his cottage opened.
“You are leaving us?” Galan said as he entered. “How is that possible? You have been here even less time than I.”
Cam smiled at the man, his one real friend. “I’m going back tae my village,” he said. “Well, not exactly my village, but near it. I’m going tae help a clan in need.”
Galan was bruised after his bout the day before, his left eye black and his lips swollen, but his injuries didn’t diminish the smile on his face. “I have heard,” he said, but his smile quickly faded. “But what about the men you wanted to exact revenge upon for your grandfather’s murder, Cam? That was why you were here, to learn to fight so that you could punish them. And now you are leaving so soon?”
Cam looked at Galan, wondering if he should tell him the truth—that he was going to destroy the clan responsible for his grandfather’s death from within. They thought that they’d bought a man to defend them, but they’d really bought their own destruction.
Even if it was the clan of the woman he loved.
In looking at Galan, he realized he couldn’t tell the man any of that. He couldn’t risk letting Galan in on his plans. At the Ludus Caledonia, everything was honor bound, and Cam had accepted an honorable offer of fealty even if he had accepted it with an ulterior motive.
Cam wouldn’t touch Galan with the stain of dishonor that he’d assumed himself. He respected Galan, and everyone else at The Cal, too much to confess that his reasons for accepting the Keith offer were subversive.
Wicked.
“It feels right,” he finally said. “The clan that offered for me is from the Highlands. That is where I’m from and where I will return. But I willna forget ye, Galan de Lara. Ye were a friend when I needed one.”
Galan’s smile returned as he reached out, taking Cam’s big hand. “I will miss you, Highlander,” he said. “Or, should I call you The Lion of Caledonia? That is all anyone can speak of today. You nearly destroyed The Beast.”
Cam lifted his eyebrows as if he, too, was surprised at his victory. “It was out of sheer terror,” he said. “But the techniques Milo has been teaching us helped. Milo is a good teacher.”
Galan nodded. “He is,” he said, letting go of Cam’s hand. “I will not keep you any longer, for I know you must depart, but I wanted to wish you well. I am not sure where I will be in the future, but you can always send a missive to Trelystan Castle on the Welsh Marches. They will know where to find me.”
Cam was feeling sadness at leaving Galan. “I’ll be in a village called Auchnacree, so if ye ever have need of me, send word. I will come.”
Galan smiled, patted Cam on the cheek, and left the cottage. Cam grabbed his meager belongings and followed him out into a cold morning that had clouded over. It was December, after all, and the weather had been mild up until now.
Leaving the village, Cam walked over to the great walls of Caelian Hill where Isadora and her family were gathering with their horses. Cam could see Isadora’s red hair in the distance. He could also see Axel standing there along with Clegg, who had a servant standing behind him with a large, tentlike apparatus, holding it over Clegg to shield him from the elements. They were joined by a third man leading a big, brown horse who, upon closer inspection, was Wendell.
Cam was curious why Wendell should be present when he’d not seen the man since he’d been removed from his troop, but his attention shifted when Isadora came around her horse, smiling at him as he approached.
“Da wants tae leave as soon as possible,” she said, pointing to the clouds above. “He fears the weather willna hold.”
Cam glanced up. “’Tis possible,” he said. “The weather has been remarkable since I arrived here. I suppose it couldna hold out forever.”
Isadora’s smile grew. “I am glad ye impressed my father,” she said, for his ears only. “I dinna have the chance tae tell ye yesterday when he made the offer tae ye. It was quite a day. I was proud of ye, sweetheart.”
Cam simply nodded, loving the sweet sentiment out of her mouth but unable to show it. “It was indeed a day of days,” he said. “I am glad I survived it, tae be truthful. Speaking of surviving, it seems that yer attacker was found. There were rumors of it.”
Isadora’s smile faded as she realized what he was talking about. “I heard this morning,” she admitted, glancing at her brothers before continuing. “Ewan and Ossian were talking tae one of the guards this morning. The guard mentioned a murder and my brothers are anxious tae leave, fearful there are murderers on the loose.”
