Page 11 of Honour Bound
Luckily I had some experience in maintaining a poker face. I sent a quick prayer of gratitude towards Taylor for all his training. ‘I see.’ I shrugged. ‘How interesting. Well, as you and Jamie are both here, I think Dr Speck will be happy to release Maggie and Rory into your care. Providing they stay away from any mountains, of course.’
‘Thank you, Dr Speck,’ Byron said drily.
Speck coughed. ‘Not a problem.’
I turned, ready to go.
‘Wait, you were going to tell me something,’ Byron said. ‘It sounded important.’
There was no way I was going to blab about Debbie now. I might not have heard about the Games before now but I was already on the inside track and I wasn’t going to lose that advantage.
‘Um,’ I demurred, before alighting on something which would explain what I’d said. ‘There were strange tracks on Coire an t’Sneachda.’
Byron looked confused ? I was probably still pronouncing it wrongly. ‘The mountain we rescued Maggie and Rory from.’ I described the three-legged paw prints.
‘What size were they?’ Byron asked.
I made a shape with my fingers to indicate their girth.
‘Something small, then.’ I nodded. Byron patted me on the arm. ‘I wouldn’t worry about it. That high up, it was probably just a bird.’ He grinned at me. ‘Well, it was … entertaining to see you, Integrity. No doubt our paths will cross again soon.’ He leaned towards me and I caught a hint of his natural musky smell. ‘The Games start in a fortnight. If participants aren’t at the Cruaich and registered to enter by the fourteenth, they have to wait a generation for their next shot.’
‘I do so hate killing time,’ I quipped.
Byron’s eyes danced. ‘You should get a watch-dog.’
Speck groaned. ‘You’re as bad as each other.’
‘Come on, doctor,’ I said to him, turning on my heel. ‘Let’s leave the Moncrieffes to their family reunion. Byron and Jam Jam clearly don’t need us. And,’ I added in a muttered breath, ‘we’ve got things to do.’
Chapter Three
My old mentor Taylor scratched his chin while the five of us sat around my small kitchen table and pondered Byron’s news. ‘I’ve heard of the Games,’ he said slowly. ‘They’re a really big deal.’
‘You didn’t think to mention them before?’ I asked mildly.
He shrugged, the very picture of ambivalence. ‘Only Sidhe can enter them and you didn’t want anything to do with your kin, so I didn’t pay much attention to Sidhe competitions. And considering how rarely they’re held, it’s a miracle I can even remember the last ones.’
Lexie’s eyes were shining. ‘You can ask for anything?’
‘If you win,’ I said.
She nodded distractedly. ‘Yes butanything?’
I glanced at Speck for confirmation. He pushed up his glasses and gave a wide grin. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘That’s what Tegs’s crush told us.’
I threw him a nasty look. He didn’t even notice.
‘It’s a shame that only Sidhe can enter,’ Brochan said, helpfully drawing attention away from me. ‘Although it’s probably just as well.’ He gestured at Lexie and Speck. ‘These two would probably get themselves killed, especially if one of the challenges involves that spider.’
Lexie shuddered. ‘I hate spiders.’
‘Aw, Lex, don’t be like that,’ Speck interjected. ‘Spiders are very clever creatures who deserve respect.’
‘Says the warlock who’s afraid of just about every damn thing in the world,’ she growled.
I held up my palm. ‘Enough. Can we focus on what’s important?’
Taylor smiled. ‘Winning the Games and getting a pot of gold. We could be set for life.’
