Page 36 of Highland Flame

“I get the bed,” yelled Nash.

“Over my dead body,” shouted North.

“Dinna anyone get hurt,” Cam called out with a chuckle, taking the candle and heading out into the dark catacombs. Thoughts of food filled his head.

When Cam stepped foot out into the courtyard, he saw the beautiful sunrise that greeted him there. Pink and orange hues lit up the sky as the sun poked its head over the horizon in the start of a new day. The fresh breeze filled his lungs, feeling vibrant since there was limited airflow underground. He saw the monks and nuns heading to the church, but his stomach kept growling and all he could think about was food.

He was about to sneak off to the kitchen to find something to eat when he saw a nun heading down from the tower where Yvaine was staying. He did a double take when the early morning rays hit the woman’s face and he realized that it wasn’t just a nun – it was Yvaine.

“Blethers,” he mumbled as all his troubles came crashing back at once. Yvaine was now dressed in the robes of a nun and that only reminded him of how wrong it had been to kiss her. Even though he wanted to turn and head to the kitchen right now, he knew he owed the woman an apology. Again.

He hurried over to catch up with her, secretly glad that Avianca wasn’t with her. One problem at a time was more than he could cope with.

“Good mornin’,” he called out, coming up behind her. His greeting caused her to stop and turn around.

“Ah, it’s ye. I should have kent it was ye since no one else around here ever seems to speak.” She sounded as aggravated as he felt being here in this pious place.

“It’s unnervin’, isna it?” He came up beside her. “I am no’ used to so much silence.”

“Brathair Gillies has been askin’ for ye since yesterday. Tell me, Cam MacKeefe, where have ye been?”

“In the catacombs,” he said, getting an eyeroll from her. She turned and continued walking.

“Please, dinna try to humor me so early in the mornin’. I am no’ in a playful mood at all,” she told him.

“Nay, it’s true where I’ve been.” He hurried to catch up to her and they continued walking to the church as he talked. “Didna my friends tell ye that yer brathair is lettin’ us stay in Lord Rook’s secret chamber in the catacombs?”

“They did,” she said, not even looking at him as she continued to walk.

“Well, that should tell ye somethin’.”

“It does. It tells me that they are as big of liars as ye are.”

“I’m no’ lyin’,” he protested, but she wasn’t believing him at all. “Yvaine, wait. Please,” he begged, causing her to stop again and turn around.

“What is it? Prime is startin’ and Brathair Gillies will expect us both to be there, so we shouldna be late. He is already threatenin’ to tell yer chieftain, Storm MacKeefe, that ye are no’ keepin’ yer end of the bargain.”

“I am tryin’, but it isna easy,” he explained. “I would have been there, but I fell asleep last night. If no’, I swear I would have gone to martins and laids and all the rest of them.”

“It’s matins and lauds, and nay ye wouldna because ye only care about yerself.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked, not liking this quarrel so early in the morning.

She turned around and put her hands on her hips. “It means that ye are a selfish brute, Cam MacKeefe, who canna take responsibility for his actions.”

“Och, I see what this is all about now. Listen, I told ye I’m sorry I kissed ye. I promise, it willna happen again.”

Her face softened and she slowly dropped her hands to her sides. “Nay, it’s no’ about that,” she said, no longer sounding so angry. “I am talkin’ about yer daughter.”

“Avianca?” he asked, his mind still on the kiss.

“Of course, I mean Avianca, so why do ye even ask? Are there other bastards of yers that I am no’ aware of?”

“No’ that I’ve heard,” said Cam with a shrug. “Where is the wee lass anyway?”

“Avianca is sleepin’ and I decided I wouldna wake her.”

“Ye left her alone?” His eyes shot up to the tower. He wasn’t one to normally worry, but still, he didn’t think it was a good idea to leave a four-year-old girl alone in a strange place. Especially not at the top of the stairs!