Page 22 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“As long as possible,” Ryder answered. “I just need them out of my way long enough to get a few men I can trust here. How long can ye give me?”
“Two days… at most,” Angus said, keeping his voice low. “But that’s with yer permission.”
The idea of keeping the councilmen in the dungeons indefinitely made Ryder smile.
At least half of the councilmen were traitors, in his eyes. If they hadn’t thrown him out of his home and banished him for doing the things he loved, things might have been different. But as it stood, he was surrounded by his enemies.
“Do what ye can and give me as much time as ye can. I dinnae need them in my business,” Ryder pressed. He noticed Orella lingering in the corner. Her presence was a bit disturbing to him. “Orella, what is it that I can do for ye? Where is yer husband?”
“My Laird… well, Cohen has gone to fetch some herbs from the forest. We’ve been tryin’ to restock the storeroom since the fire,” she answered, craning her neck to look around him. “Where is Morgana? She was right behind me.”
Ryder’s heart flipped, and his ears perked up. Every hair on his arms and neck stood on end as if zapped by some mystical force. For a split second, he had thought Morgana was right behind him. But when he turned around, he only saw an empty hallway.
“Well, she was right there,” Orella murmured.
“I’m sure she’ll come around,” he forced out, stifling the hope rising within him.
“Aye, she will.” Orella smirked as she gave him a once-over.
Ryder glared at her for a moment before stepping back.
“Ye ken, she was talkin’ about hostin’ a dinner. Did ye ken anythin’ about it?”
“Is that so? Nay, she never mentioned a word to me,” Ryder grumbled as he wondered what was going through Morgana’s head. She knew they were to have dinner together, so why was she trying to invite more people? The notion of his wife not fully trusting him flickered across his thoughts. He rolled his shoulders back and arched an eyebrow. “But I’m confident that Lady McKenzie will have nay issues with hostin’ ye and yer husband.”
“She’ll be very disappointed to hear that ye willnae attend,” Orella said, wincing. “She’s puttin’ much thought into the meal. I think it’ll be somethin’ ye will like very much.”
“Woman, I have other matters to attend to,” Ryder snapped,
“Well, I have never,” Orella gasped the moment he released her.
He rolled his eyes and stormed down the hall. His time was short, and every second was precious. Morgana’s little dinner could wait.
Ryder was far more concerned about the lack of men he could trust in this castle. Getting the council rounded up was far harder than it should have been.
What he needed was good, loyal men, and there was only one place he could go to find such men.
* * *
A genuine smile spread across Ryder’s lips as he stepped into the tavern. The heat of the pit warmed his face as he pulled in a deep breath. It was the salty air mingling with rosemary and burnt fat that soothed him the most.
Stepping further into the tavern, he scanned the room. His towering height drew the attention of several patrons. It was there in the corner, masked by smoke and shadow, that he spotted a familiar face.
Felix’s green eyes narrowed as Ryder walked over to his table. The atmosphere in the room shifted as he stopped at the table.
“Look who has graced us with his presence. I do believe it’s none other than Laird Fartworthy,” Felix drawled, lifting his cup the moment the music stopped.
“Is that really how ye’re goin’ to greet an old friend?” Ryder scoffed as he knocked his feet off the table and pulled out the empty chair. He sat down, keeping his gaze fixed on the man.
“Friend? More like a fiend. Ye stole my boat, or have ye forgotten? Nae only that, but ye also left me on the moor as the rain poured down on me.”
“Ye hadnae bathed in over two weeks,” Ryder reminded him with a hearty chuckle. “It wasnae just me who got ye up there. But if it makes ye happy, I’ll take the blame.”
“Aye, that ye will,” Felix said. “But what’s this I hear about ye gettin’ married? Tell me it’s nae true.”
“That rumor is very much true,” Ryder answered, unable to hide the irritation in his voice.
His bewilderment only made Felix chuckle.
