Page 59 of The Cursed Highland Bride

Dunn shook his head. “I dinnae ken. Katarina seemed tae believe that they were nae being held in the castle.”

“We need tae send out spies tae search their lands, but Alistair Morgan will be prepared for that.”

“Whoever goes needs tae understand the risks. They may nae return. Men without families would be best.”

“I will speak with them.”

“Give them the choice. It is nae a command. If nae man steps forward, there will be nae shame or blame placed upon them.”

Tor nodded. “I will go myself.”

“I need ye with me when we attack the Morgan stronghold. If I fall, ye must lead the men. We dinnae ken that she is nae being held within its walls. I will never rest until we ken for certain. But whether she is or is nae within the walls, Morgan needs tae be brought low. He cannae be allowed tae rise up and do this again. Our people need tae be protected.”

“And the crown?”

Dunn sighed, running his hand over his face. “I dinnae ken. We cannae fight against the crown. We dinnae have the resources.”

“If they retaliate?”

Dunn shook his head. “I must protect our family. We will confront the consequences if and when they come.”

Tor stood and laid a hand on Dunn’s shoulder. “Try tae sleep.”

Dunn could not stop the words that had been burning a hole through his mind the entire night from coming out of his mouth. “If she dies, she will never ken that I loved her. She will never ken the truth o’ our life together. If she dies, the blame will lie with me.”

“If she dies, the blame is Alistair Morgan’s alone, but she will nae die. We will find her. Never lose hope, brother. Ye will hold yer love in yer arms once more.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Come morning, the beach had been cleared and the spies selected. They were to go over first and see what was going on with the returned invading force. One spy would then report back to Dunn and Tor on Orkney, while the others would separate and scour the land for any sign of Katarina and her sisters, including what was being done at the Morgan stronghold. As Bran had not returned, Dunn and Tor would be attacking blind.

“If Bran could have returned, he would have,” Ewan warned as he stood with the brothers to watch the first boats push off. “Either he has found them and is attempting to free them, or he has been captured himself and is dead.”

“Bran would nae die without a fight,” Tor answered, his tone clearly showing his hope that such an end had not met their fellow clansman. “If he can, he will come tae us.”

“Now, we wait.” Dunn was tired of waiting, but prudence dictated that they allow the spies to do their job and report back before he risked the lives of the rest of his men. Once they reached the mainland, Alistair Morgan would have the advantage.

Dunn and Tor stood to watch as their men prepared for war. “If a choice must be made between ending Morgan and saving the lassies…”

Tor did not even need to finish the question. Dunn was already answering. “Save my wife above all else.”

Tor nodded in agreement. “And what o’ the Lady Katherine, the true Lady Katherine Morgan?”

Dunn had not given the woman that he was supposed to have married a single thought. “I dinnae ken. I had nae thought.”

“Do ye think that she kenned the truth o’ what her faither was doing?”

Dunn shook his head. “I dinnae ken how she could nae have kenned at least some o’ the lie.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I cannae believe that she is blameless in all o’ this.”

“I doubt her faither gave her any choice, just as he did nae give Katarina a choice.”

“I doubt that he threatened his own daughter with death if she did nae obey.”

“I would nae doubt anything that Morgan might be capable o’.”

Dunn nodded in agreement. “We will discover the truth o’ the matter at the first opportunity.”

“Do ye believe that the crown kenned the deception?”