“She is.”
“Then she belongs tae me. I told ye I would seek vengeance. I meant it.”
Drostan pointed to the bench on the opposite side of the table. “Cam,sit,” he said encouragingly. “Let us share a meal and discuss this. I want tae know about the time ye spent at the Ludus Caledonia. I want tae hear everything.”
“There is nothing tae tell. Ye told me tae go there tae learn tae fight so I could avenge the death of my grandfather. I learned well and now I’ve returned.”
Cam felt Isadora gasp at his statement, but she didn’t say anything. She kept quiet. Drostan sat down, motioning for Ternan to sit as well because the man looked coiled, like a viper ready to strike. As Ternan reluctantly planted himself on the bench, Drostan fixed on Cam.
“And so ye have,” he said. “But the question is why? Ye’ve been tae the Ludus Caledonia and it takes years tae properly train a warrior. Ye’ve been gone less than a year, so why have ye returned?”
Cam had thought that question might come and he was prepared for it, but his answer wasn’t exactly the truth. He had been concocting his plan on the ride from Auchnacree and thought it was a solid one, but what he hadn’t expected was to find the warrior known as The Beast in Drostan’s hall. A warrior who knew him from the Ludus Caledonia and quite possibly knew he’d left because he’d been made an offer—by the Keith.
That might pose a problem.
“I have my reasons,” he said after a moment. “If ye must know, I felt compelled tae return home. My time at The Cal was valuable, but my vengeance canna wait.”
“But I thought ye were going tae learn tae fight first?”
“Ihavelearned tae fight. Ask The Beast.”
All eyes turned toward The Beast, who was still standing over near the hearth. He was an obedient servant, not moving unless he was told to move, not acting unless he’d been given a command.
“Well?” Drostan said to The Beast. “It must be true that Cam learned tae fight if he bested ye.”
The Beast’s gaze moved to Cam. “He can fight.”
That was all the man said. Nothing about Cam’s departure from The Cal or whom it was with. Cam was relieved with the response because it validated what he’d told Drostan. But on his shoulder, Isadora grunted again, in obvious pain, and that had Cam’s attention.
He had to get her out of there.
“I can fight and I have what I’ve come for,” he said to Drostan. “I heard rumor that ye captured Keith women and I came tae see for myself. Now that I have this one, I’ll take her with me.”
Drostan shook his head. “Ye canna.”
“I can and I will.”
“Think, Cam.” Drostan tapped his skull. “Do ye even know who the lass is?”
“I know she’s a Keith. Ye told me so.”
“That’s Niall Keith’s daughter. I canna let ye take her.”
Cam frowned. “Why not? Ye promised I could have my vengeance and now that I have the daughter of the man who killed my grandfather, I’ll exact vengeance upon the Keith the likes of which they’ve never seen.”
Drostan stood up from the table. “Put her down,” he said firmly. “Ye canna take her with ye.”
Cam could see that the man was serious. Evidently, this wasn’t going to be simple thing. Not that he’d believed it would be, but he’d hoped for some ease in slipping Isadora from Kirkburn as he portrayed a man seeking vengeance.
Cam had to change tactics.
“Then I’ll pay ye for her,” he said. “I have money. If ye willna give her tae me, then sell her tae me.”
Drostan shook his head. “She’s too valuable.”
“She’s nothing tae ye, not like she is tae me. Will ye go back on yer word of helping me seek vengeance?”
“I’ve not gone back on my word.”
