Page 53 of Awoken
“I hope ye are finding yer lodgings comfortable enough?” he asked.
Leanna nodded, while next to her, Ross let out a non-committal grunt.
Craeg grinned at their responses. “It’s not as fine as ye are both used to, I’d warrant.”
Leanna stiffened. Did Craeg think her as spoiled and haughty as Fenella did?
Seated before the glowing embers, she reached out and warmed her fingers. It was hard to believe they were in the midst of spring, for the air this high in the mountains had a definite nip to it.
Taking the platter of venison the outlaws were passing around, Leanna helped herself to a slice. She then gave the platter to Ross, who did the same. However, his gaze was focused on Craeg.
“Something is up?” he murmured. “Yesterday this was a lost mountain village, yet today it looks like ye are preparing for a siege. Why’s that?”
The outlaw leader inclined his head. “Observant aren’t ye, Campbell?”
“Call it more of a survival instinct.”
Craeg smiled at that, although Leanna noted the expression was strained. “The situation has changed,” he said after a moment. “It appears that one of my men may have done something … stupid.”
Leanna swallowed the mouthful of venison she’d been chewing, her pulse quickening. The wary look in the man’s eyes warned her she wasn’t going to like what he was about to tell them.
“Last night, the man in question, suggested we ransom the pair of ye to MacKinnon,” Craeg continued.
Leanna sucked in a breath, and even though she didn’t look his way, Leanna felt Ross tense. “And?” he asked warily.
“Of course, I dismissed the idea,” Craeg replied, frowning. “But now Brochan’s disappeared. We believe he’s gone to Dunan.”
A beat of stunned silence followed, and then Ross spoke, his voice low and rough with anger. “Ye have betrayed us.”
Craeg shook his head. “We haven’t done anything of the sort. I don’t even know if that’s where Brochan has gone, but we’re taking precautions nonetheless. I’ve put more men on the watch and sent out scouts farther down the valley. They’ll let us know if anyone approaches.” He paused then. A muscle flexed in his jaw, betraying his tension. “I didn’t sanction this, Campbell … and I will do all I can to keep ye and Lady Leanna safe.”
Leanna shifted her attention from the outlaw leader and focused on Ross. His face was pale and taut, his midnight blue eyes darkened to black. With a jolt, she realized he was struggling to rein in his temper.
Casting aside the piece of meat he’d been eating, Ross got to his feet. “We can’t stay here,” he announced roughly. “Yer man has put Lady Leanna at risk. We need to go now.”
Silence settled around the fireside. No one touched their food now or sipped from the skins of ale they’d been passing around. Instead, the men and women seated there watched Ross with strained expressions.
“Aye … maybe that’s for the best,” Craeg admitted finally. “If Brochan has indeed gone to MacKinnon, he’ll likely get the whereabouts of this camp out of him eventually. Ye should leave and get a head-start on him.”
Around them, outlaws exchanged glances. Next to Gunn, Fenella frowned. “Maybe we should also think about packing up and going?” she suggested. “Ye have no idea how many men MacKinnon has in his guard.”
All gazes shifted to Ross then, and Leanna’s breathing quickened. Of course, he’d know.
“There will be at least eighty of them,” Ross replied coolly. “Possibly more if MacKinnon empties out The Dunan Guard.”
This news made Leanna start to sweat. She glanced around her. He was right. They had to go.
However, for the moment, Ross’s attention was focused upon the outlaw leader.
Craeg’s gaze shadowed. His lips parted, as he prepared himself to question Ross once more.
However, a shout behind them forestalled him.
“We’re under attack!”
The group around the fire scattered. One moment they were seated there, watching the exchange between their leader and Ross, the next, men and women were rolling to their feet and lunging for weapons.
A heartbeat later cries echoed through the settlement.
