Page 29 of Highland Spirit

“Diarmad will be back soon, so they’d better no’ stay too long,” warned Kirstine.

“I’m sure they willna,” Alana answered, her eyes still fastened to Ethan’s back. “Kirstine, I think I want to tell Ethan everythin’.”

“Do ye think it’s wise?”

“If he understands what happened, then mayhap he willna hate me so much.”

“But Faither willna be happy. Mayhap ye’d better clear it with him first. He’ll ken what to do.”

“Mayhap,” she said. “Then again, mayhap Faither is the last person I want to listen to right now.”

Chapter 7

“Caleb,” said Ethan, joining his friend at the table a little while later.

“Have some food, Ethan. It’s guid,” answered Caleb, stuffing his mouth full of braised cabbage and roasted meat. He picked up his trencher and offered it to Ethan.

“Nay, I dinna want that,” Ethan grumbled, his eyes scanning the room.

“All right, then mayhap Slink will want some instead.” He held out a piece of cold duck to his pet that eagerly took it and dove under the table.

“Somethin’s no’ right here,” said Ethan under his breath.

“I ken.” Caleb licked off his fingers. “They really need to warm up the meat and add a sauce to it. But it’s still guid this way, too. I dinna mind.”

“No’ that ye fool,” snapped Ethan leaning closer to talk to Caleb so no one would hear them. “I pretended to take a walk to the garderobe, but I really checked out the rest of the castle. It seems this broken down place is nearly deserted just like I thought. I didna find another soul anywhere but in the great hall. Dinna ye think it is odd that a laird would take most of his men and leave the women and servants only protected by two guards?”

“No’ really. After all, no one ever comes to this isle. Take us for instance – we didna even ken anyone lived here. I’d say that’s the best protection,” laughed Caleb, picking up his tankard and taking a swig of ale.

“Aye. But why do they want their presence here to be a secret?”

“They are probably in hidin’ after Alana’s faither wronged so many people. Mayhap we should turn them in. I ken a lot of clans that would be happy to get their hands on Gil Chisholm.” Caleb continued eating. “Do ye think there is a reward?”

“I dinna like it. I feel as if Alana and the others fear somethin’ or someone.”

“Well, ye have been a little gruff with them, Ethan.”

“No’ me. I mean . . . I dinna ken, but somethin’ is off. I’m goin’ to sneak out of here again and check the rooms on the opposite side of the castle. I have a feelin’ I might just find that coward, Gil Chisholm, hidin’ somewhere. If I do, he’s goin’ to be a sorry man. I have a feelin’ Alana is tryin’ to protect him and that is why she is no’ tellin’ me things.”

“Ye think Gil is hidin’ from us?” Caleb asked a little too loudly.

“Keep yer voice down,” warned Ethan. “I dinna believe for one minute he’s no’ watchin’ us right now, plannin’ on stealin’ our boat or whatever he can get his hands on.”

“Our boat?” Caleb looked up in concern. “If that happens, we’ll be stranded here and have no way back to camp.”

“Then I suggest we leave soon before he has a chance to plan anythin’.”

“So what do ye want me to do?”

“I need ye to cause a distraction so I can slip away and look in the last few rooms outside the great hall before we go. I want to ken if her faither is here or no’ before we leave. I’ve been told he is ill and restin’, but I havena yet found him.”

“If so, are ye goin’ to turn him in for what he’s done?”

“I think it’s our duty, dinna ye?”

“But he’s Alana’s faither. Doesna that mean anythin’ to ye?”

“Nay. No’ anymore. Alana is nothin’ to me but a traitor, just like her auld man. Now, hurry up and cause a distraction. I’ve got work to do.”