Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (75 page)

“I am certain ye are weary,” the Bruce said. “I will have a man show ye tae yer quarters and bring a meal tae ye. But I should like tae speak with ye again upon the morrow, young MacGrigor.”

Again Aidan gritted his teeth, but he worked his jaw loose and inclined his head. “I thank ye, Yer Majesty.” He rose, pulling Kenna with him. The group paused only long enough to retrieve their weapons from the guards at the door. A man-at-arms, bearing their packs and supplies from the horses, joined them and led them out of the bailey.

“Our mounts?” Aidan asked.

“They will be kept in the stables and returned tae ye when His Majesty sees fit,” the man said.

Aidan nodded, hoping the animals wouldn’t be conscripted into the king’s army right along with him. And he feared that’s what awaited him upon the morrow.

The man took them to the outskirts of the village to a small hut a bit larger than what Raven and Kenna had called home. Aidan shook his head. It was cold and drafty with only two cots, a table, and a couple of rickety chairs, but at least it had a small hearth. He hoped it wouldn’t rain, as no doubt the roof leaked like a sieve. But he dare not complain. The only reason the Bruce had granted them a hut was because of the lassies. If it had been Aidan and Connell alone, not only would they both have been conscripted, they would be sleeping in the weather with the other men. He glanced at Kenna and sighed softly. No doubt he would be sleeping on the floor before the hearth fire, but at least he had something of a roof over his head.

A
short time later, the man-at-arms returned with a large kettle of stew, two loaves of freshly baked bread, a small cask of ale, and to Kenna’s shock, clothing for her. He gave everything to Aidan. “I heard ye say ye lost supplies,” the man said. “I found some clothing in the village for ye and yer kinsman and dresses for the lassies.”

“Thank ye,” Kenna told the man, taking the clothing from Aidan gratefully.

The men stepped outside while Kenna changed into a chemise and warm woolen overdress. She was happy to note a second chemise and dress along with a heavy plaid she could use for a cloak. When she finished changing, she allowed Aidan and Connell back into the hut. Aidan looked at her and frowned in disapproval.

“What’s wrong?” she asked in dismay. She had just freed her hair from its tattered braid and was brushing it but stopped when she saw the look on Aidan’s face.

He stepped to his own pack and pulled out his second plaid and a cloak pin. He returned to her, and before she could say anything, he removed the plaid from her shoulders and replaced it with his own. “This be the only cloak ye need tae be wearing,” he growled as he affixed the pin.

She blinked at him in shock. Possessiveness? From Aidan, of all people? But she couldn’t deny that his actions warmed her heart.

A warm fire burning in the hearth, they sat at the small table eating the meal the man-at-arms had brought. Kenna desperately wished someone would speak. She wished Aidan and Connell would discuss their plans to escape this madness. But no one said a word, and the tense silence nearly drove her mad.

Finally, Aidan pushed his plate away and rubbed his eyes, sighing heavily.

All looked to him and waited, but he still did not speak; he simply stared at the floor.

Kenna summoned her courage and gripped his hand. “Aidan, what’s wrong?”

“Many things,” he said, but his fingers tightened on hers. “Ye saw the man speaking tae the Bruce when we entered?”

“Aye,” Kenna said. “A spy, but I expected the Bruce tae have his own. As ye said, he has his own ways of gathering intelligence.”

Aidan nodded. “His name is Munro, and it was I who taught him spy craft.”

“Ye?”

He nodded again. “I met him roughly around the same time I met Gordy. The three of us became great friends.” He paused, his throat muscles working, and Kenna saw pain and anger in the depths of his pale blue eyes. “The three of us began tae set up the first of what would eventually become my nests of birds.”

Kenna didn’t like his grim expression and how his shoulders seemed to bow as if under a great weight. “Did something happen?”

“Aye. Munro betrayed me.”

“Betrayed ye?”

“Forgive me, ’tis a bit of a tale, but I had seen barely twenty seasons when I personally witnessed Balliol’s abdication and public humiliation at Longshanks’s hands. Because of what the Bruce’s father had done, Clan MacGrigor supported Balliol during the Great Cause, although we were concerned over his abilities tae be king. Since I wasna laird, I could afford tae be an idealistic young man. I saw Balliol’s humiliation as an insult tae our country and tae every man, woman, and child of Scottish blood. When William Wallace won the battle of Stirling Bridge, he ignited the patriotic fervor in many, and I was one of them.”

Kenna’s eyes widened. “Ye supported Wallace?”

“Aye. It wasna long after Stirling Bridge that I met Gordy, then a bit later, Munro. We worked hard tae plan and build the nests, and I saw it all coming tae fruition.” He squeezed her fingers. “Much like ye did working with Raven.”

She nodded, her throat suddenly tight.

“Nine years ago, Longshanks had been warring in Flanders. Those in charge of the English armies in Scotland struggled with provisions, and men deserted in droves. Longshanks returned tae a mess. He tried tae salvage it, but lack of provisions kept him on his heels. Munro, Gordy, and I worked hard tae keep our eyes on Longshanks. We learned because of the lack of provisions it was likely he would be forced tae fall back tae Edinburgh.

“I traveled with Wallace and his army, relaying the information Gordy and Munro told me tae Wallace himself. The plan was for Wallace’s troops tae shadow the English until they retreated, then harass them as they withdrew. I sent Gordy and Munro out tae observe and report back on the English position. But only Gordy returned, and he told me a frightful tale. Munro had gone straight into the English camp with nary a worry. Gordy didna get too close, but he feared the worst, and so did I. I immediately gave this information tae Wallace—that we feared Munro had turned and told Longshanks of our location. That’s exactly what happened, and Longshanks launched his forces tae attack. Instead of falling back, Wallace chose tae hold the high ground.”

Kenna squeezed her eyes closed. “The Battle of Falkirk,” she whispered.

“Aye. Falkirk.”

“That defeat ruined Wallace as a military leader. The English caught and executed him two years ago.”

“Aye, Sparrowhawk. Munro was the first and only spy of rank who has ever betrayed me. After Munro, Gordy and I set measures in place that only Gordy or I would have the power tae do anything that devastating again. The betrayal did have one boon. It proved I could trust Gordy implicitly, and I have ever since.”

“That’s why Raven said it was important that no single person have too much information,” Kenna said. She had understood the reasoning behind the rules, but knowing this story made it all so clear. “There is only one within the nest we built that received a portion of our monthly pay. The others we only pay as they bring us the information or if we set them tae a task.”

Aidan nodded. “I vowed I’d end Munro’s miserable life. Our paths have crossed only a couple of times since, but always our encounters have ended in a stalemate, neither of us gaining the advantage.”

Connell, his expression as black as a thundercloud, leaned forward. “Now he be allied tae the Bruce? That doesna make sense.”

“It doesna until ye remember the Bruce was also allied with Longshanks at one point during the war.”

“Is the bastard truly allied with the Bruce, or will he shove a dagger in the king’s back at Longshanks’s behest?” Connell asked.

“I dinna ken, except that I think if Munro was Longshanks’s man, he would have slain the Bruce by now. But in the world of intrigue, there are many gambits. I wouldna be surprised if Munro has found a way tae play both sides.”

“Aye,” Connell replied. Kenna didn’t think it was possible, but his expression turned even darker. “Munro deserves tae die a traitor’s death.”

Aidan finally mustered a smile. “I agree, my friend, but I am more worried about what he told the king upon our arrival.”

“Ye didna see the words he spoke?”

“Pardon?” Kenna asked in confusion. “How can one see words?”

Aidan’s smile turned genuine, and he winked at her, quickly explaining his unusual talent. “It takes a bit of practice, but it isna overly difficult tae learn.” He looked back to Connell, his smile fading. “Unfortunately, Munro kens of that talent and many others, just as I ken of his.”

“Surely ye have learned new ones since ye parted,” Connell said.

“I have, but so has he.”

Kenna thought for a moment. “Ye fear Munro has told the Bruce ye are the Hawk.”

“Aye. I also worried that he might ken ye be MacLean’s daughter or that he has learned about Mairi and her bairn, but now that I think about it, I surely would have spotted him if he had been lurking nearby. We both may have learned new tricks, but there be many we canna abandon, and those are the ones I taught him.”

“What do we do, Aidan?” Kenna asked.

“The Bruce wishes tae speak with me upon the morrow. The only thing I can do is hear his words and hopefully determine a plan from there.”

This time it was Kenna who sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes.

“It be late,” Connell said, “and the day was long. We should rest.”

“Aye,” Aidan said and rose. He stretched, his joints popping. He stepped away from the table and started to throw his bedroll before the hearth.

“Aidan, wait,” Kenna said softly.

“Aye?”

She took his hand and tugged him with her as she sat on the cot.

He gazed at her curiously, and suddenly Kenna could only stare at the floor. Damnation, there was no privacy here, and she couldn’t say the words that needed to be said.

Connell, speaking quietly with Mairi, abruptly glanced up at her then looked at Aidan. “One moment,” he said to Mairi and rose. “Aidan, if ye could help me with this.”

“Aye?” Aidan asked.

Connell pulled a rope from his pack and tossed one end to Aidan. He deftly caught it then looked at Connell in confusion.

“Secure that end by the hearth,” Connell said.

His expression puzzled, Aidan rose and tied the rope to a rafter near the hearth.

Connell stretched the rope tight and tied it to another rafter at the far end of the hut. Then he proceeded to hang the plaid Aidan had discarded along with his own over the rope. Stretching the wool out, the plaids were large enough to create a makeshift barrier across the hut.

“’Tisna much,” Connell said with a hint of a smile, “and we’ll have tae keep our voices low, but at least ye and I willna have tae step outside if one of the lassies wishes tae change again.”

Aidan grinned and slapped his shoulder. “Good thinking.” He returned to Kenna. “Now, lassie,” he whispered as he once again sat next to her. “What be amiss?”

She ducked her head, the blush rising in her cheeks. She was grateful for Connell’s makeshift wall, but she still found it difficult to speak.

Aidan combed his fingers through her loose hair, waiting patiently.

“Ye should ken by now that ye dinna have tae sleep on the floor,” she said, her voice barely audible.

He arched an eyebrow at her, started to say something, but abruptly clamped his jaw shut and gazed at her thoughtfully. “Kenna, I dinna like the expression on yer face.”

“What about it?”

“Ye have the look of a trapped animal, and it’s been growing worse since we arrived.”

She sighed softly and shrugged. “I feel like a prisoner, Aidan. Dinna ask me why, but that’s how I feel.”

He gazed at her a long moment then took her hand in his. “The Good Lord kens I dinna wish tae see the English win this war,” he said, keeping his voice low. “But I dinna have a mind tae help the Bruce, nor will my brother easily bend a knee tae him. The Bruce kens this. As king, he can force my cooperation, and keeping ye and my kinsmen in custody guarantees my obedience. Perhaps he will try tae leverage my brother into terms he doesna wish. But it was his father who crossed mine in handing a good portion of our lands tae Campbell. It is possible the son wishes tae make some sort of recompense. This war proves tae be a double-edged sword. The Bruce will need the support of his lairds and nobles if he is tae defeat Longshanks. He would do well in making the Demon Laird an ally rather than deepen the rift between them. All we can do is wait for the morrow.”

“If he kens ye be the Hawk, he will send ye tae spy on Longshanks. Aidan, what if something happens? What if the English catch ye? What if—”

He lightly touched his finger to her lips. “Hush,” he whispered. “Surely ye have more faith in me than that.”

She ducked her head. She did have faith in him, but that wasn’t enough to stop her fear. Especially after seeing Hurstal today. The fear had seized her heart then and refused to let go. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

Aidan pulled her close and held her tightly. “My sweet little sparrow,” he murmured.

She closed her eyes, fighting back sudden tears. “What if they slay ye?” she choked.

“Ye be shaking.” He reached out and plucked his blanket from his bedroll, settling it over her.

Despite her best effort, her tears leaked down her face, dampening his tunic. Aidan continued to hold her and murmured soft reassurances, but the cold knot of fear in her gut did not fade, it only grew worse.

He kicked off his boots and reclined on the cot, pulling her with him and moving so he curled around her. He gazed down at her, gently caressed her face, then lifted her chin. Her heart raced as he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers.

The riot of sensation she had experienced before returned and increased in strength. His mouth claimed hers fully, and her fear vanished with the warmth of his touch and his kiss. Kenna knew she might lose him forever upon the dawn and threw caution to the wind. She pulled him closer and returned his kiss with all that was within her.

HHH

Dear God have mercy,
Aidan thought. If he didn’t stop he was going to make love to her. But he couldn’t stop kissing her. Kenna ignited a fire within him he had never experienced before, and it threatened to sear his soul. He could not stop his hands as they traveled over her body, reveling in the feel of her soft curves and sweet form. But he viciously reined himself in. They had no privacy. Nay, he couldn’t make love to her here, even though he longed to do just that. Fighting his desire with every ounce of strength he possessed, he slowly ended the kiss and lifted his head.

She gazed up at him, her green eyes dark with desire, her lips reddened from his kiss, and he had to renew his savage hold on his desire.

“Aidan?” she asked in confusion, her fingers weaving through his hair at the back of his neck. Gently, she tried to pull him back down.

“I want ye tae get some sleep,” he said firmly.

She studied him a long moment. “As long as ye stay right here.”

He swallowed hard, knowing he was only torturing himself, but he nodded.

Kenna turned on her side and settled in the cot, and Aidan did his best to get comfortable, but the desire raging within him nearly drove him mad.

Aidan only dozed, painfully aware of the bonny lass sleeping in his arms. Dawn arrived all too quickly, and Aidan was loath to release Kenna and crawl out of bed. But as he heard the camp come to life around them, he knew he had to rise. He changed his clothes while Kenna slept. He rubbed his chin, noting the rough stubble. He needed a shave and a hot bath. Well, there was no help for it. As he sat in a chair and pulled on his boots, Kenna stirred and abruptly sat up. Her eyes were wide and fearful. Aidan gritted his teeth. She had overcome so much; he hated seeing the fear in her eyes. But Aidan knew his only choice was to see this through.