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“What do you know that you dinnae before?”

“That the healer knows of the boy for certain. Which means she is not the only one. I will discover the truth without revealing my own.”

He certainly convinced her of his words.

“But first, you must return to your inn.”

“Indeed,” she said. “But I would break my fast first.”

“Of course. And while we do so, perhaps we can discuss a different matter.”

“Such as?”

His eyes narrowed. “Such as last eve.”

14

Chapter

Mayhap it was just as well they never did discuss the night before.

As Kieran and Maisie walked into the Red Stag Inn, he watched as she immediately went to work. She seemed to be everywhere at once, flitting through the hall of the inn as if she owned it. Which, of course, she did.

Capable.

It was the word he thought of most when watching Maisie work. Some others came to mind as well, especially after the evening they’d shared—the one, courtesy of a fight just outside the alehouse and their quick departure, they never did discuss.

Sitting in his usual spot, Alice immediately serving him ale, Kieran considered their ride back. More than once he thought to speak with her about last eve, but Maisie’s clear reluctance to do so held him back.

“Kieran,” said a familiar voice.

He’d been so intent on Maisie, watching her work, Kieran had not seen his brother approach. It was a problem, being taken unaware.

“You are not my brother.”

He could see the hurt on Niall’s face at his words, but Kieran would not take them back. Niall knew and did not tell him. For that, Kieran could not forgive him.

“I am as much your brother now as I’ve always been.”

Without asking, Niall sat across from him. Looked toward Alice, lifting his arm. The serving maid immediately brought him ale, Kieran saying nothing. Like their father—or the chief of Duncraig, rather—Niall was a stubborn man. He listened to few people, and asking him to leave would be futile.

“How did you find me?”

“It was not as easy as I expected. But a man such as you does not go unnoticed, Kieran. As you well know.”

He’d wondered if Niall might come looking for him. Kieran had always known if he did, Niall would find him. He did not know a better tracker than his brother.

“Brother,” he spat, unable to consider the word without bile rising in his throat. “If you were my brother, in truth, you’d have told me, Niall.”

“If you had not left without speaking to me, I might have explained that I planned to.”

Kieran had traveled to Glenhaven to visit his brother and his new wife, the sister of the chief of Clan MacKinlay, when he’d overheard that conversation, changing everything.

“I dinnae intend to listen,” he said, oddly not wanting Niall to think it was intentional, the conversation he heard. “The solar door was ajar when I came to see you.”

Maisie had just noticed them. She clearly wondered who the man was that sat with him, but with a gentle shake of his head, he asked her to wait. She understood and moved away, toward the kitchens.

“I realized immediately what had happened when you were nowhere to be found. That you would think I’d keep such a thing from you. To say we are not brothers.” Niall leaned forward. “Kieran. You know me. Better than anyone alive. Look at me.”