The Reluctant Highlander by Amanda Scott

Author:Amanda Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Highland
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-04-04T14:40:50+00:00

CHAPTER 13

“You still look angry,” Fiona said when they reached their bedchamber. “Was it something that I said or did?”

“Nae, lass, although I did not like to see you curtsy to that churlish man. We Highlanders bend only to his grace the King or to a Lord of the Isles if we swear fealty to one. We do not bow to each other or to other men without good cause.”

“I should think that not irking a man like Atholl would be cause enough.”

His brow relaxed. “Doubtless, you have the right of it,” he said. “Have you much more to do? Malcolm is eager to be away, and so am I.”

“Do you think Atholl’s invitation to my father was sincere?”

“Aye, sure, it was. He’d like naught better than to sit Ormiston at his table and try to wean him away from his grace.”

“He would fail,” she said. “I fear that he might harm Father, though. Joanna says Atholl is an evil man and never to be trusted.”

“Not evil, precisely, just arrogant enough to think James owes him gratitude because Atholl helped bring him home from his English captivity. But Atholl’s notion of gratitude is that James should behave as Atholl commands.”

“You told me you had only just met Atholl,” Fiona said from the washstand. “How do you know so much about him and how he thinks?”

“Malcolm knows him, and we hear of him from the few mendicant friars that visit Finlagh. Also, Caithness confides in me.”

“How did you meet him?” she asked as she dried her hands.

“Sithee, the northeasternmost part of Scotland is the Earldom of Caithness. So, when Alan has had enough of his father, he travels to Nairn, where he keeps a boat, and sails on to Caithness. I met him in Nairn, and he visits us two or three times a year. But we’re keeping the others waiting, lass. We must go.”

They left soon afterward and followed the increasingly steep path westward along the river Garry.

Some distance behind Malcolm’s party, six men followed, two on horseback and four afoot.

“Just four men tae aid us, Hew?” Dae Comyn said, shaking his head. “And nae more horses? Ye must be daft tae think four lads will be any use tae us.”

“Ye Lowlanders all think a man needs a horse tae do aught,” Hew replied quietly enough so that the men following on foot would not hear him. “Atholl’s men will keep up, just as them following the Mackintosh do. Also, that lot will be less likely tae heed a party o’ six than they would a score o’ men or more.”

“Even so—”

“Once we get intae the mountains,” Hew interjected, “we’ll likely ha’ tae follow afoot ourselves if we’re tae catch MacFinlagh off his guard. We’ll ha’ time enough afore then, though, tae see what’s what. But we canna follow too close.”

“What if they elude us?”

“There be only one way intae the Highlands from here as be safe for horses. Come tae that, I’m thinking we’d best slip past ’em when they stop for the night and seek out the best place tae wait ahead.

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