Page 33 of Scot of Deception
I apologize for the interruption…
But you just stumbled upon a SECRET GIFT!
And if you download this book for free, you’ll get a ONCE ONLY opportunity to join my ARC group.
This means MORE GIFTS! Because you’ll be getting books of mine and other authors of the genre one week ahead of releaseand for FREE.
The only thing you need to do is use the link below and download the book!
I’ll reply in your inbox to let you know the details.
So, what do you think? Will you join me on this reading adventure? The clock is ticking…
Just click on the link!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Castle Stalker stood in the middle of the tidal islet in Loch Laich—four stories of brown stone, naturally fortified whenever the tide was high. Much to Blaine’s relief, though, when he and Kathleen arrived, the tide was low and allowed for passage on their horse, without the need for a boat or for them to wait.
The last thing he wanted to do was wait; he couldn’t stand being outside the security of the castle walls for much longer, not because he was afraid for his own well-being, but rather because he feared another attack on Kathleen was imminent.
He had only just managed to calm her enough for her to be able to ride the rest of the distance. At first, Blaine had feared the shock would be too great for her and that she wouldn’t be able to continue on their journey for a long time, but she proved to be more resilient than he had thought. Now thatthey were in Castle Stalker, he could only hope she would at least enjoy Fenella’s wedding.
“Here we are,” he said as the two of them rode down the last stretch of the road that led to the gates. “Are ye alright?”
“Aye,” Kathleen assured him, nodding slowly. “Aye, I’m fine now. It’s safe here, right? The Campbells wouldnae attack Castle Stalker.”
“O’ course,” Blaine said, though he wasn’t so certain himself. There was always a chance the Campbells would try to attack Kathleen there, thinking she would be more vulnerable when she wasn’t guarded by her own people. But Clan Stewart was a good ally of Clan Mackintosh and Blaine doubted they would let anything happen to her. If they did, they would have to answer to their allies and explain to them why they had allowed harm to befall her.
Besides, he was there. If anything happened, Blaine would simply whisk her away in the confusion and make sure she wasn’t harmed.
“Blaine Farquharson an’ Miss Kathleen Mackintosh,” Blaine told the two young guards who stood outside the castle gates. “Laird Stewart is expectin’ us.”
Just as Kathleen’s father had assured him, the two of them were immediately welcomed into Castle Stalker. The gates opened with a groan, the chains rattling loudly as they wrapped around the coils, and the guards waved them inside the curtain walls.
There, a courtyard sprawled before them. Nobles and servants alike roamed about the grounds, the courtyard lively with conversation and laughter. Everyone seemed to have gathered there for Fenella Stewart’s wedding, guests coming in from all the neighboring clans.
A pair of servants approached Blaine and Kathleen after they were summoned by one of the guards who stood just inside the castle gates. The two women were young, and bowed enthusiastically at the two of them. The taller of the two stepped forward.
“Welcome, m’laird, m’lady,” she said. “Shall we show ye tae yer chambers?”
“Aye, please take Miss Mackintosh tae her chambers,” Blaine told the woman, giving her a small, polite smile. “Make sure she’s comfortable.”
Kathleen turned to him with a small frown. “Ye willnae see yer chambers?”
“I will,” Blaine assured her. “I’ll only tend tae the horse first.”
His excuse seemed to satisfy Kathleen and she nodded with a smile. “Alright, then I suppose I shall see ye later again.”
“I’ll find ye once ye’re settled,” Blaine assured her, and with that, Kathleen followed the two servants inside the keep. Only once she was gone into the distance, too far to notice that anything was amiss, did Blaine turn to one of the guards standing near him and said, “Me name’s Blaine Farquharson. Laird Stewart is expectin’ me. Could ye please take me tae him?”
The guard stood a little straighter once addressed, pushing his shoulders back. “O’ course,” he said. “Follow me.”
Blaine did as he was told, following the man through the courtyard and into the keep. Inside, the place was even more impressive, with towering ceilings, rich tapestries, and colorful portraits on the stone walls. Torches lined the hallways, casting a warm light on everything around them, but Blaine was mostly interested in the layout of the keep than anything else. He needed to know where every possible exit was in case of an attack.
The guard led Blaine down twisting corridors, stopping only when they reached a wide door with animal motifs carved into the wood. The man knocked on the door and, at LairdStewart’s prompting, opened it to announce Blaine’s presence.
“Me laird, Mr. Farquharson is here tae see ye,” he said. “He claims ye are expectin’ him.”
