But Brendan wasn’t hurrying. In fact, he strode out, face grim and drawn, and stopped. He placed his hands on his hips and stared out into the forest. Waiting.
A second later, a horde of men on horseback thundered out of the forest, the noise of their hooves almost drowning out Argentum’s frantic barking. They circled around Brendan, and Freya pressed her hand to her mouth to smother a yelp.
It was clear that they were Grahame men, the distinctive tartan fluttering around their shoulders as plaids, or around their knees in loose, heavy kilts.
Run, Brendan,she prayed, willing him to move, to run, to dosomethingbeyond standing there, tight-lipped, watching the men circle him. They were all armed, all of them, each man clearly a warrior.
A younger man than the rest, dark-haired and dark-eyed, rode through the center of the courtyard, peering down at Brendan from horseback. He was handsome, his even features only marred by a vicious scar that ran down one cheek. Argentum’s barking reached a fevered pitch, and the man glanced down at the dog.
“Come, Argentum,” he said, voice carrying easily, “I would have thought ye would remember me.”
A cold feeling raced through her. Stifling a gasp, Freya took a step back from the door. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the crack, however, and couldn’t stop watching.
The young man leaped nimbly down from the saddle, dusting himself down. The other men remained on horseback. She noticed that they were all on high alert, glancing around with suspicious eyes, hands always inching towards the swords strapped to their belts. Argentum finally stopped barking, although he retreated to stand beside Brendan, eyeing the men warily.
“What do ye want, Noah?” Brendan spoke, and Freya shivered.
They know him. He knows them. These aren’t the soldiers who attacked him in town. I’ve never seen these men before, but they are Grahame men.
Are they here for me?
A horrible, sickening idea occurred to her. Could Brendan have given her up? Was this all a trap? She considered running for her life now, but how? The only entrance and exit out of the barn was the front one, the one that was currently looking out into the clearing. She could hardly creep out in full view of all those soldiers.
Just wait a moment,she told herself, swallowing thickly.All will be well if ye justwait. See what happens.
The young man—Noah—sighed, shaking his head. “So unfriendly. We were close once, weren’t we, Brendan?”
Brendan clenched his jaw. “Once. Ye promised ye wouldn’t arrive without sending me word. I could have had guests.”
Noah spread out his hands. “Doye have guests?”
A muscle feathered in Brendan’s cheek. Freya held her breath.
“No,” he said at last, and she released her breath in a quiet gasp.
Of course, he hadn’t betrayed her. How could she have thought that he would? It was wrong of her, to be sure. Whatever was happening here, it had nothing to do with her.
Brendan must have known that she was in the barn, as he’d instructed, but he didn’t glance her way even once. His self-control was remarkable.
Even one look in this direction, and that man will sense that something’s up.
“I’m sorry to come without warning,” Noah said eventually, “but no harm done, eh? Ye know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
Brendan swallowed thickly. She could see the movement of his throat even from here. He was nervous, she realized. It wasn’t clear whether the other man understood that, or was simply ignoring it.
“Is he dead?” Brendan said, at last. “Is that why ye are here? I think that is the only circumstance where I’d be happy to see ye.”
Noah shifted uncomfortably, glancing around at his men. “It’s illegal to speak of the laird’s death, lad.”
Brendan gave a harsh bark of laughter. “What? Since when?”
“It was put in place a few months back. We’re not to speak of it, nobody is.”
Laird Grahame,she realized.They’re talking about Laird Grahame.
“And so what, the implication is that he’ll live forever?” Brendan sneered. “It’s nonsense. And what has this new law to do with me?”
Noah sighed. “I’m not here to discuss the new law with ye.”
