Page 60 of Cottage in the Mist
“Aye, that it was,” Bram agreed, images of the carnage echoing through his mind. “I dinna see faces, only swords and shields. And honestly, I dinna know that I’d recognize Alec Comyn himself if he’d stopped for me to take a look.”
“It was worth asking,” Iain replied with a shrug.
“Do you have reason to doubt Macniven?” Frazier asked, tossing the thistle aside.
Iain considered the idea on a frown. “I canna say that the man has a reason to lie. But none of this feels quite right to me.”
“Aye.” Bram nodded, considering the thought. “Why take a chance on his own? If Alec knows we’re on the march then why wouldn’t he just attack us in force?”
“’Tis possible this Murdoc was merely a scout,” Ranald replied. “But when faced with the opportunity to throw your scrawny arse off a cliff it presented an opportunity too tempting to resist.”
“Scrawny, eh?” Bram eyed his cousin with disdain. “That’s not what you were thinking the night I saved your hide from the Macsween brothers after you bedded their sister.”
“Ach, a comely lass she was, too.” Ranald smiled at the memory. “And I canna fault your timing, cousin. But there’s still some question as to whether I truly needed rescuing. I was holding my own, after all.”
“Aye, from the bottom of a pile o’ Macsweens,” Bram responded.
Ranald eyed him ruefully then, after a moment’s bluster, threw back his head and laughed. “They were rather a lot of them,” he admitted with a shrug.
“Five, if I remember right.” Bram waggled his eyebrows as Iain and Frazier joined in the laughter. There was something comforting about remembering their past. As if the bond he shared with his cousins could help to ease the pain of all that he’d lost.
“Well, as far as I see it, the world might have been a better place if you’d just let the Macsweens teach him a lesson or two. Might have humbled the man a wee bit.” Iain shot Ranald a benevolent smile, but his eyes still glittered with mirth.
“Humble or no’, there’s nothing like knowing your friends have your back,” Frazier said. “’Twas the way of it with your father and me, Bram. But times change. And now Seamus isgone.” Something dark passed across the old warrior’s eyes, but then he shook his head as if banishing the memories. “And now… it seems I’m at the mercy of nature’s call.” The man shrugged, his grizzled face breaking into a grin.
“Where is Macniven now?” Iain asked as Bram watched his father’s friend disappear into the mist. No doubt in search of the perfect tree.
“I’ve left Collum Macilbra to guard him,” Ranald answered.
Bram nodded with satisfaction. Macilbra was a giant of a man. Not one to easily be taken advantage of. It seemed Murdoc Macniven was well and truly captured. Which served the bastard right.
“Perhaps we should take him to your uncle,” Iain suggested. “His attack on you would go a long way to proving your innocence.”
“Would that it were that easy,” Bram said on a long sigh. “All he has to do is accuse me of being the traitor and say that Murdoc was sent to tie up loose ends. The only way I’ll truly have any peace is to take my vengeance on Alec Comyn. And then when we’re finished with him, I’ll be ready to face my uncle.”
“And in the meantime, maybe we can coax the truth out of Murdoc Macniven.” The hard glint in Ranald’s eye gave a sinister twist to the word ‘coax.’
From behind them out of the mist came the sound of raised voices. Bram reached for his claymore, his cousins doing the same, the three of them moving to stand back to back, weapons at the ready.
Frazier and two of Iain’s men burst from the clearing. Blood dripped down Frazier’s face, his sword clasped in his hand. He stopped in front of them, his breath coming in gasps. “Macniven has escaped.”
One of the men with him nodded in agreement. “And Collum is dead.”
20
“Well, this is getting us nowhere.” Lily dropped down on the bed with an audible sigh. She’d been clutching the damn brooch for what felt like hours, Jeff pressing thesgian dubhas if it was some kind of magic talisman. Which of course was exactly what it was supposed to be.
Only somehow it hadn’t gotten the message.
“It takes patience, Lily. The last time I did this, it took hours. And a lot of concentration.”
The room was cloaked in shadow, the moon having yet to rise. Mrs. Abernathy and Elaine had started out just beyond the bedroom door. But when nothing happened, they’d all decided that it was best if Jeff and Lily were alone. So after more hugging and reassurances, they’d left. Presumably for scotch-laden tea and comfort.
“So you said.” Lily sighed. “But when you did it before you didn’t do it with a stranger.” Jeff opened his mouth to object, but she waved him silent. “A friend then. But both times you traveled, Katherine needed your help.”
“Well, Bram needs yours. And even if she doesn’t know it, Katherine needs mine. That has to count for something. We justhave to focus our energy. Try and picture Bram. Think about how much he means to you. Concentrate.”
Lily tightened her hold on the brooch with one hand, her fingers closing around the ring with the other, and obediently closed her eyes. If things weren’t so dire, it would almost be funny. The two of them in here, clutching ancient relics and trying to slip back in time.
