Page 42 of Scot of Desire
Bran left the room, but as the doors closed behind him, moved by one of the guards, he caught the briefest sight of Ilyssa as Cillian moved toward her.
“What is this about?” Bran hissed as he and Catreena moved toward the staircase.
“Ye!” She tapped him around the arm in reprimand as they hastened up the stairs together. “Aye, Laird Gilroy and Cillian may nae be the brightest sparks of fire out there, but they arenae blind. Dae ye and Ilyssa really think that all yer stolen glances at one another are unseen by us all? In the name of the wee man above, Bran, it’s plain as the moon is full tonight.”
Bran cast an easy glance at one of the glass windows they passed. Beyond and in the dark sky, the full moon was out.
“Ye two need tae take more care. If ye and Ilyssa are planning tae flee together, tae elope before this wedding can take place –”
“That is exactly what the plan is,” he said as they reached the top of the stairs.
Catreena stopped, gripping the banister beside her.
“I thought it may be.” She nodded, solemnly. “Then that is all the more reason tae be more careful. If ye raise their suspicions fer a minute that ye two intend tae leave together, then they will seek tae stop ye. Better tae take them by surprise.”
“Aye. Aye, ye are right.” Bran nodded and rubbed his brow. Catreena was right. Perhaps his mind was a little foggy with love and lust. “We’ll be more careful.”
Catreena nodded and walked on again toward her chamber.
“Ye can go back down tae her now. I just needed tae make sure ye understood the danger ye are putting the pair of ye in.”
“Like I am going tae let either of ye walk around this castle alone at present.”
“What happened tae ye nae parenting us anymore?” Catreena said in defiance, elbowing him in the side.
“Well, I made nay such promises, even if ye wished me tae.”
Catreena huffed in annoyance, and he smiled. Not much could dampen his mood after the day he’d had with Ilyssa, finally managing to be alone with her.
“When we flee, the three of us will go together,” he whispered to Catreena. “If Tad doesnae return tomorrow, then we’ll go in the night. I’ll come tae yer room and collect ye both. We’ll sneak out, take the horses and run.”
“And the fact ye may be dragging our clan as well as Tad’s clan intae a war means…?” Catreena left the question open ended as they reached the door of her shared chamber with Ilyssa.
“Then we’ll fight.” Bran nodded.
“How strange.” Catreena spoke with a small smile. “Once the politician, now a warrior, all fer the woman ye love, eh?”
Bran smiled at his sister, mirroring her expression.
“She’s lucky tae have yer devotion, Bran.” Catreena sighed as she turned to the door and opened it wide. “Nay every woman is so fortunate in this world.”
Bran was curious at her choice of words as he watched Catreena walk into the chamber.
“Get some sleep,” he pleaded gently. “I’ll see ye in the morning.”
“Aye, see ye then. Now, go back tae yer lady love. She’ll be waiting impatiently fer yer return, I dinnae doubt it.”
Bran waited until Catreena was inside then he left, hurrying back down the corridor and toward the staircase. When he reached the stairs, he took them two at a time, so eager to reach the feasting room again.
Before he reached the door, he heard a sound behind him.
He halted, turning around, noting how odd it was that just minutes ago there had been Laird Gilroy’s guards in this entrance hall. Now, there was no sign of any of them. He checked the doorway, wondering if someone there had been the source of the strange sound. There was nothing but the shadows that danced in the quivering candlelight from nearby.
Turning his back on those shadows, Bran advanced toward the feasting room again. His hand was in the air, about to close over the handle when he felt it – a sharp crack to the base of his skull.
Bran wavered on his feet, turning, trying to fight off his attacker, but the second blow came across his cheek. He didn’t even feel his body hit the ground as all turned black.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
