Page 36 of Reviving Her Highland Spirit

“I see. They must trust ye.”

“I don’t know about that. I have been able tae help her ride again, though.”

Rufus’ eye twitched. It was barely a flicker, and Callum thought he might have imagined it.

“I heard about Lady Margaret’s accident, and how she no longer could ride a horse. Ye have done well tae help her. Aye, I can see how this could be useful tae us. Very, very useful.”

A nasty cold feeling crept over Callum. He didn’t know why, but a heavy feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach.

“What do ye mean?”

“I mean that ye have the ear of Lady Margaret, do ye not? Ye might overhear something useful, or she might choose tae confide in ye. Can ye not see the value in that?”

Callum did, but it sickened him in a way that surprised him. Shouldn’t he be willing to make sacrifices and do things that made him uncomfortable to help Rufus’ cause? Why was he suddenly conscience-stricken now?

“Keep her close,” Rufus said suddenly, leaning back as if it were all decided. “Try and find out how many warriors Laird McAlister has at hand. Now, I know he hates the idea of mercenaries, but I wouldn’t put it past him tae hire some if he was desperate. Estimate what he could afford, and how many warriors he could summon. Footmen, pikemen, cavalry, and so on. An estimate of how many swords, pikes, shields, horses, and so on. Now is the time tae gather information, Callum. Ye are in a prime position, with the ear of Lady Margaret and inside the McAlister family circle. Oh, yes, this is a fine opportunity for us.”

Rufus twisted his long, dirty hands together, and for the first time, a shiver of revulsion ran down Callum’s spine. He never remembered feeling that way around Rufus before. Was it his imagination, or did Rufus look hungry and greedy, eyes alight with the prospect of revenge?

Callum suddenly found himself wanting to get up and leave. He didn’t, of course. Instead, he lifted the tankard to his lips and drained it. Rufus still hadn’t touched his.

“Aye, I think that will do very well,” Rufus murmured, almost to himself. “Ye have your orders, Callum,” he moved to stand up, and Callum simply had to speak.

“Wait,” Callum said impulsively.

Rufus lowered himself back down to his seat, fire-red brows knitting together.

“What is it, Callum? What more is there to discuss? I do wish ye wouldn’t be so desperate for cheap small-talk and chat. Both of us are busy men. We have things tae do.”

Callum swallowed back the familiar pang of rejection.

“Are we sure that there needs tae be a war at all, Rufus?”

There was another awful silence. Then Rufus’ hand shot out of the folds of his cloak, long fingers gripping Callum’s wrist. HIs long nails dug into Callum’s skin, and he bit back a wince.

“What do ye mean by that?” Rufus hissed. “No war? Have I not always told ye that great things are not achieved without blood? Kingdoms and thrones are not lost and gained without great sacrifice. The only way there will not be a war is if the McAlisters choose to give up their ill-gotten throne and admit their false claim – which they will not. What sort of foolish dream are ye thinking of? Ye knew all along that this would be a long and hard road. Long and hard but necessary,” Rufus added with a whisper, relaxing his grip on Callum’s arm.

Callum’s arm tingled where Rufus’ nails had dug in. He drew his arm back to his chest, rubbing at the vivid, red crescents left on his skin.

Usually, Rufus was not a violent man. He had a terrible temper – Callum had seen it often enough. But he never exploded with his fists and feet, kicking and punching, like some fathers Callum saw. Rufus usually didn’t need to. Callum worked hard to please him, never failing in a task.

When had pleasing Rufus stopped being at the top of Callum’s priorities?

“I was just concerned about Lady Margaret,” Callum whispered. “She’s no threat tae us, Rufus, really. We don’t need tae kill her.”

Rufus’ lip curled. “What, then? We spare her?”

Callum colored. “Well…”

“So long as a McAlister serpent breathes, we are not safe,” Rufus said flatly. “Go back tae the keep, Callum. Do your duty. Stay close tae the family and learn what ye can. It’s best if I don’t keep ye abreast of our alliances, just in case ye are caught. Ye cannot betray what ye don’t know.”

Callum swallowed. “Ye think I’ll be caught, then.”

“I don’t know,” Rufus said smoothly. “That is up tae ye, I suppose.”

Without a goodbye, he got to his feet and swept away, the tattered hem of his cloak flapping behind him like a banner.

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