Page 44 of Savage Kilted Highlander

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Bane saw no reason to leave the intimacy of their room before lunchtime the following day, which dawned foggy and cold. He stoked up the fire and they luxuriated in bed, making love and eating breakfast naked, scattering crumbs from toasted bannocks heedlessly among the sheets between kisses. Neither mentioned what lay ahead of them that day, but it lay between them, a heavy weight that they shared.

“I wish we did not have to leave this place. I wish we could stay here forever,” Constance said at last, when they were putting on their cloaks, about to leave. She put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. Feeling as though his heart would burst with love for her, Bane enfolded her protectively in is arms and rested his chin on to top of her head.

“I wish it too,” he murmured, “but we have tae go and find Tav. I need tae find out what’s really been goin’ on with him. And ye havetae meet with yer faither. And ye’ll see Agnes too at last. Are ye nae excited about that?” He shouldered their packs and opened the door. They stepped out into the real world.

“Yes, of course. I have waited a lifetime to see her, even though I did not know of her existence. But I am nervous too.” He could see she was making an effort to brighten as they went down the stairs. “But the most important thing is that you are reunited with your brother.”

“Aye, I’ve waited a long time tae find him. I need tae hear what he has tae say. I want him tae come home with me, back tae the forge. But seein’ him ridin’ with yer faither’s soldiers makes me wonder if that’s what he wants. I must keep me eyes open for him and try tae speak tae him alone.”

“Of course. It must be very confusing for you. I pray it all goes well, Bane, I really do.”

Their horses had been brought round to the front of the inn for them and they mounted up.

“The village seems awfully quiet this morning. I think everyone must be sleeping off all the ale they drank last night,” Constance remarked as they rode out of it and back to the forest track, heading for the castle again. They followed the trail but saw no sign of the men from the day before or of Tav. But when they came to the outskirts of the castle complex, Bane’s eyes swept over the scene before them and caught sight of a group of soldiers riding slowly along to road back towards the castle gates.

“Those are the same men from yesterday,” he told Constance, instantly alert. He searched among them for Tav’s familiar figure. “There he is.” The conflicting emotions he had felt the day before on seeing Tav rose up inside him again. He pushed them down. Constance had said he should not make any assumptions before he had spoken to Tav and heard his explanation for his long, unexplained absence, and he chose to heed her suggestion.

“How shall we get close enough to attract his attention?” she asked him now.

He slipped from his saddle. “Like this.” He put two fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill, distinctive whistle. As he knew it would, Tav’s head swung in his direction immediately. It was the whistle he had taught Bane at a young age, when his younger brother would act as look out for him when they were stealing food. It was risky, Bane knew it. But he was lucky because Tav raised his hand and saw his brother’s gaze fix on him. He broke away from the other riders, telling them something and walked his horse slowly over towards them. It felt like ages while he was approaching them, the other riders not even sparing him a glance.

“Bane?” he whispered questioningly when he got close enough for Bane to make out his features.

Bane stepped forward from the tree line, his heart racing to see his brother after so long. “Aye, braither, ’tis me.”

Tav’s face split into wide grin as he dismounted and strode over to meet him. “Why, man, what are ye daein’ here?” He held his arms open, and the two brothers embraced.

“I came tae find ye,” Bane told him when they broke apart, thinking his brother’s expression had something shifty about it.

“But how did ye find me?” Tav asked, glancing behind him at his fellow soldiers.

“I searched fer ye, that’s how. When ye disappeared so suddenly, I asked about, and witnesses told me they’ seen ye abducted by some of Laird Kerr’s men.” Tav rubbed his jaw, looking distinctly uncomfortable, which made Bane very suspicious. “I thought he must be keepin’ ye captive in the castle. I would have come before, but I had tae wait fer Fia tae be safe before I could leave the forge.”

“Fia? Is she all right?” Tav asked, concern in his eyes.

“Aye, she’s married now. She married laird Stewart a couple of months back. She’s the lady of the castle now.”

“Ye’re jokin’? She’s wed tae the laird himsel’? Well, well, who’d have thought it. But that girl always had a lot of spirit,” Tav said, clearly surprised but smiling at the thought of their sister. “Where have ye been stayin’?”

“Here and there,” Bane replied, his need to know what was going on increasing. “We need tae talk, Tav. Are ye well? Are ye safe? When can we meet, somewhere safe?”

His brother rubbed his chin again as he considered the question. It was then that Bane saw Tav’s expression change from one of thoughtfulness to one of utter shock, quickly followed by acute dismay.

“Jaysus, Bane!” he hissed, stepping back, away from his brother and staring over his shoulder into the tree line. “What have ye done?!”

Bane glanced behind him and realized that Tav had spotted Constance, who was peering out from behind the trunk of a large oak tree. Her hood had fallen back, exposing her bright auburn hair.

“What are ye daein’, abductin’ the laird’s daughter?!” Tav demanded, his tone turning as angry and worried.

Bane hastened to explain himself. “That’s nae Lady Agnes, that’s—” he began, but Tav cut him off.

“Are ye tellin’ me I cannae trust me own eyes? I ken well who she is. That’s Laird Kerr’s daughter!” Bane was taken aback at the naked alarm on his brother’s face as he looked alternately between him and Constance.

Before Bane had the chance to explain further, he saw with horror that the men Tav was riding with had grown impatient and were quickly approaching, to see what was delaying him.

“Christ all mighty!” Tav exclaimed fearfully, glancing over his shoulder. “There’ll be trouble now, Braither, and I dinnae think I can save ye from it.”