Page 43 of Deceived by the Highlander (Daughters of the Isle #2)

C lyde entered the room. “It’s done. And I’ve dispatched one of our men to Edinburgh.”

Freyja released a relieved breath. “Good. Come, Morag, there’s no need for us to remain in here.”

They followed Clyde through the tavern to the small forecourt, where Colban’s men stood around, enjoying their wine. They nodded genially in her direction and raised their goblets, and she inclined her head and even managed a gracious smile.

It appeared the man she’d seen Colban with had left as soon as they’d spoken, since Clyde had only handed out five goblets of drugged wine.

But where was Colban now?

As she stroked the neck of her mare, a couple of the men staggered before slumping to the ground, still clutching their goblets, as the wine splashed over them. Their compatriots jeered and Freyja surreptitiously tried to see where Colban was lurking.

It was possible he’d passed out already, but unless she saw him herself, they couldn’t be sure. Anxiety twisted through her as another man slowly slid down the wall of the tavern, and then Colban strode through the door into the courtyard.

He surveyed the sight of his men, and Freyja’s heart lurched in her chest. He wasn’t affected by her potion.

He hadn’t drunk the wine.

Colban grabbed his cousin, Peter, who stood swaying as he gazed with bemusement at his fallen countrymen. Without a word, Clyde marched over and pulled Peter from Colban’s grasp. As Peter collapsed without his cousin’s support, Clyde smashed Colban to the ground with one mighty punch.

Colban didn’t move.

“Tie them all up,” Clyde ordered his men before turning to her. “I’ll inform the tavernkeeper these traitors are wanted by the Earl of Argyll. They won’t dare release them for fear of the earl’s retribution.”

“Shouldn’t we take them back to the castle?” Centuries ago, the Great Keep had been used for prisoners, and although those days had long passed, it was still the most secure part of the castle, and surely would suffice until such a time the earl decided what to do with them.

“My priority is yer safety. I’ll have one man remain here to ensure my orders are followed. Once ye’re back at Dunochty, I’ll dispatch a contingent to bring them back.”

“And send a messenger to Sgur, to discover if anything Colban said was true.” Although she doubted her grandmother was ill. It had simply been a ruse, to ensure she accompanied him.

As Clyde went to speak to the tavernkeeper, Freyja quickly scooped up Dubh and put him in his basket on the wagon. Within moments, Clyde, Morag, and the two remaining men were heading back to Dunochty.

The pace was painfully slow because of the wagon, and she couldn’t help frequently glancing over her shoulder to see if they were being followed.

They weren’t, of course. The threat of the earl’s displeasure would be enough to prevent anyone from freeing them. But she wouldn’t rest easy until they were safely within the castle, and Colban and his men had been rounded up and imprisoned in the keep.

And when Alasdair was safely returned from Edinburgh.

Her stomach churned. What if Colban’s mercenary got to Alasdair, despite everything?

Stop. She wouldn’t dwell on such an unlikely outcome. He would be fine. He had to be. Because she needed to tell him that even though she was hurt by his deception in Rum, she understood it. And didn’t condemn him for it.

In the end, it was better that she had her eyes open, instead of living in an imaginary bubble of her own making.

Just because theirs was a political alliance didn’t mean they were doomed to unhappiness.

Her marriage might not be the great love she craved, but the truth was she’d rather keep what they’d found together than leave him and have nothing at all.

Clyde rode ahead of the wagon, and two of the men flanked her and Morag, when Clyde suddenly raised his arm in warning. A rider was galloping towards them and even though it was nonsense, apprehension gripped her at the possibility it was bad news about Alasdair.

She narrowed her eyes against the glare of the sun.

God help her, she was seeing things now.

Because she’d swear on her life the rider was Alasdair.

No other man possessed such entrancing hair that glinted with hints of auburn, nor looked so magnificent astride his horse.

But Alasdair was on his way to Edinburgh, and it didn’t matter how desperately she wished he was here, wishing never made anything come true.

The rider pulled up alongside Clyde and there was no mistake.

He was Alasdair.

She spurred her mare on as the wagon halted and came to his side. There were a thousand turbulent thoughts colliding in her head but the only words that emerged were an incredulous, “Ye’re here.”

He gazed at her with those brown eyes that had captivated her from the day they’d met. She gripped the reins tighter in the vain hope that might steady her nerves. “Aye.” He sounded faintly unnerved. “I was told ye were on yer way to Eigg.”

“We were.” She shook her head, the events of the last few hours losing their terrifying significance in the face of seeing Alasdair, here in front of her, when he was supposed to be traveling to the other side of the country. “But why are ye here, Alasdair?”

“I had to see ye.”

She couldn’t fathom his mood. He glared with an intensity that made her heart lurch and yet there was a thread of uncertainty in his voice. Had he received bad news about his half-brother?

“What of the earl?’

“The earl can wait.”

Had she heard right? “He can wait?” she repeated. “Do ye mean to tell me he didn’t send word for ye not to travel to Edinburgh?”

“I made the decision this morning, Freyja. I couldn’t leave things the way they were between us. I couldn’t wait another three weeks before seeing ye.”

She understood his words. But she could scarcely believe what he was saying. He’d turned his back on his earl, because he needed to speak with her. “Ye came back to Dunochty to see me, instead of obeying the earl’s command?”

“I did.”

“But what of yer barony?” She knew it was his dearest wish. And she was certain the earl wouldn’t grant such an honor to a man who refused his word. Even if they were half-brothers.

“Freyja—”

“I don’t mean to intrude.” Clyde’s frown could’ve blocked out the sun if such a thing were possible, and she sucked in a ragged breath, swallowing her hasty words, but if only he had kept his peace for just a few moments longer.

What had Alasdair been about to say to her?

“We need to secure Lady Freyja at the castle, Alasdair. Colban MacDonald has betrayed his name, his family, and his clan.”

“What?” Alasdair sounded bemused and she pulled her scattered thoughts together.

Of course, Clyde was right. It was disgraceful she had forgotten their situation for even a moment.

But the most important thing was that Alasdair was here, he was safe, and the earl could pick up the men sent to assassinate him without her worrying that her husband was in danger.

Quickly, she gave him a brief account of what had occurred this morning, and his face grew dark with anger.

“He didn’t hurt ye?”

“No. I’ve told ye everything. We must make haste back to the castle and send men to bring them to justice.”

“We’ve a man watching them to ensure they don’t escape?” He directed his question to Clyde.

“We do.”

“They’re tied securely, Alasdair,” she was compelled to remind him.

He turned his gaze to her, and for a fleeting moment she fancied she saw raw agony gleam in those dark depths. Then he gave a sharp nod, and the moment vanished.

“Return to Dunochty,” he said to her. “I’ll go on to the tavern and wait for reinforcements.”

“No, ye must return to Dunochty with us.” How could he think otherwise? “Ye cannot go back alone, Alasdair.”

“A man will do many things if promised a reward, and Colban will promise anything for the chance to escape. I cannot risk yer safety, Freyja. I need to make sure no villager or passing traveler is tempted to listen to his lies. One man alone could be easily overcome.”

“But—”

“Freyja.” He leaned over his horse and took her hand, his gaze never leaving hers. “I wasn’t here when ye needed me. I must do this, at least, and I need to know ye’re safe.”

But I need to know ye’re safe too.

She looked down at his hand covering her own so he wouldn’t see how deeply she disagreed with him. But before she could wrap her fingers around his, he pulled back, as though he’d just realized what he was doing.

“I’ll see ye back at Dunochty,” he said, and then he urged his horse on, and she watched him disappear into the distance.

She expelled an exasperated breath as she glared at Clyde. “There was no need for him to go back, was there?”

“It’s true that two men are better than one should some villagers take it into their head to accept a bribe to free Colban.”

“Then we should have loaded the men onto the wagon and brought them back with us, as I first suggested.”

Clyde grunted.

“I’m going after him.”

“No, ye are not.”

“Morag, bring me my writing case.” She dismounted, ignoring Clyde’s infuriated glower, and when Morag found her things she quickly wrote a note to Seoc, explaining the situation and that men needed to be sent to arrest Colban and his cohorts.

After she sealed it, she handed it to the man driving the wagon.

She comforted Dubh, who gave her fingers a doleful lick, and then she turned back to Clyde. “I should be glad of yer company, Clyde.”

“Ye’re as willful as yer mother,” he growled, but it wasn’t said unkindly, and he motioned one of their men over before glaring at her once again. “Promise me ye won’t put yerself in any danger.”

She smiled and accepted his disgruntled help in mounting her mare. “I promise.”