MacLeod lands were listed as well. Had the MacLeods claimed land from the Harts? She had no idea, but she would need to find out.
Her pulse quickened with excitement. A treasure hunt sounded fun.
The only problem was she would need to get onto MacLeod lands. She frowned. How could she manage that?
Then it came to her.
She would need to enlist Errol MacLeod’s help.
It wouldn’t be easy. He was just as stubborn as her brothers.
The realization that she would need his assistance had her pulse quickening. From fear or excitement, she wasn’t sure.
But she would find out soon.
Chapter Two
The clang ofmetal crashing together echoed in the air as men practiced their fighting skills in the yard. Errol MacLeod felt the force of the strike he’d just blocked reverberate down his arm.
He smiled. “Yer skill is improving, Angus,” he commended his young cousin, and the lad grinned broadly.
“I’ve the best tutor.”
At the age of ten and three, Angus was tall and well on his way to growing as big, if not bigger, than his father—Errol’s uncle.
“Go wash up. Ye did well today.”
Errol scanned the courtyard. His father’s men had been training hard all day. An exercise that was important to ensure the safety of their clan. Thankfully, they hadn’t needed to fight in recent months, though the harsh weather of winter was to thank for that. However, it was a nice break from the constant raids and battles of the past.
“Care for a spar?”
Errol turned to see his cousin Robbie waiting for him to accept the challenge. Being the same age, he and Robbie had grown up together and were close as brothers.
“I see ye had yer hands full with Angus,” he jested.
“Dinnae pick on yer brother. He works hard to prove himself.”
Robbie tapped him on the shoulder with the tip of his sword. Errol brought his own sword up and used it to put distance between the twoof them.
The men circled each other.
“He’ll make a fine warrior one day.” Errol said as Robbie lunged forward and he stepped to the side, swinging back around and catching his cousin on the upper left arm, careful to hit with the flat side of his blade.
“Lucky shot,” Robbie huffed.
Errol shrugged. “Angus is going to be of formidable size once he’s fully grown.”
Robbie beamed with pride, as if the lad was his own.
“Aye.” Robbie swung and Errol brought his sword up to defend the strike.
His cousin was strong, but he was stronger. Back and forth they went, until they were both spent and breathing hard.
A messenger entered, and Errol called him over. The young boy wore the colors of the Harts and Errol’s eyes narrowed. What the hell did they want now? The two clans had shared a tumultuous past. They weren’t in an outright war, but they also wouldn’t hesitate to attack if they felt one of them had been wronged in any way.
Beside him, Robbie crossed his arms and pierced the lad with a stern look.
“I bring a message for Miss Anna from Miss Moira.”
