Page 55 of Highland Steel

“Dinna lie to me, Bug. Ye ken I lost a great deal to the Drummonds and I am only askin’ because this is important.”

Rhoswen stepped out of the hospice to see Logan talking to a merchant who she didn’t know. They were speaking in low tones and looking around as if they didn’t want anyone to hear them. With her sword on her hip and her travel bag over her shoulder, she slipped out into the shadows, trying to get closer without them knowing she was there. She needed to hear their conversation.

“All right, Logan, I’ll tell ye. I did see the Drummonds on the road a few days ago, although I havena been to their clan with my wares yet this month. They are my next stop.”

“Did they have the sword?” asked Logan softly, looking back over his shoulder.

“Speak up, Logan, ye ken I’m almost deaf,” snapped Bug. “If ye dinna look right at me, I canna read yer lips. Now, try again.”

Logan faced the man this time. “Did they have the sword I described to ye? Tell me, did ye see it?”

“I did,” admitted Bug, talking loudly. “It sure was a beauty with a wooden hilt. A carved snake wrapped around it and its mouth was opened wide with fangs. There were several colored jewels in the hilt that caught my eyes winkin’ in the sun. I tried to get them to trade it to me but they seemed to be in a hurry. They said they needed to get back to their chieftain.”

“So they do have it!” said Logan, his hands balling up into fists. “That is my sword. Our clan’s lucky sword. I need to get it back.”

“Blethers, Logan, ye arena plannin’ to go get it from them, are ye? Because if ye are, I will be sure no’ to be anywhere near when the swords start clashin’ and the bluid starts to flow.”

“Quiet down,” said Logan, looking back over his shoulder again before turning back to talk to the man. “Nay, dinna worry. Ye’re in no danger, Bug. Thank ye for tellin’ me.”

“My pleasure. Are ye sure ye dinna want anythin’ else on trade? These are some fine pieces ye’ve whittled here.”

When they started to walk to the back of the wagon, Rhoswen could no longer hear or see them. So staying hidden, she crept along the side of a hay wagon, trying to get even closer.

“Logan, did ye see this?” asked Bug. The plump, bald man was on the other side of his merchant’s cart with Logan now and Rhoswen had no idea what they were looking at.

Logan whistled. “That’s a beaut. Where did ye get it?”

“I found it along the road on my way from Glasgow. I have a feelin’ whoever owned it didna make out so well since there was bluid on it when I picked it up.”

“So it must be stolen,” said Logan.

“I didna steal it,” Bug protested. “Ye ken I run a clean business.”

“How much do ye want for it?” asked Logan.

“I’ll give it to ye in trade for this box of goods,” said Bug.

Rhoswen was dying to know what they were talking about, and crept a little closer. But she still couldn’t see a thing.

“Nay, that’s no’ a fair trade for ye,” said Logan.

“What did ye say?” asked the nearly-deaf man.

“I said, this is worth so much more than what I gave ye,” Logan told him.

“Ye’d be doin’ me a favor by takin’ it off my hands,” said Bug. “Ye ken I am superstitious about things like this. I dinna want it to bring me bad luck. I get a bad feelin’ about it and dinna want it in my possession anymore. If it is stolen and the owner finds out and thinks I took it, I’ll wind up dead.”

“Ye always did worry too much, Bug. But I’m glad ye’re an honest man,” said Logan. “All right, I’ll take it off yer hands for ye. But I’m goin’ to need to ken a few more things first.”

“About the Drummonds,” said Bug, knowing what he meant.

“Aye. Tell me, do they have a secret entrance to get inside their fortress?”

“Ye ken I shouldna tell ye that.”

“Bug, we’ve been friends for a long time now,” said Logan. “Please dinna let me down.”

“All right, I’ll tell ye. Come closer, because I dinna want anyone to overhear this.”