How she wished she could have an escort, but if anyone found out Braden’s identity... Well, she didn’t want to think what the MacDouglas clan would do to the brother of their enemy.
She had started this alone and she would finish it that way. “Braden?—”
“Nay,” he said firmly. “I doubt the MacDouglas will listen and when he demands your head for it, you’ll be needing someone to get you out of there.”
“You can’t fight all of them.”
He snorted dismissively. “You’d be amazed what I can do when my life is at stake.”
Actually, she wouldn’t. She had seen him train enough to know quite a bit about his abilities to protect himself and others.
Still, the fact that he was willing to risk his life for hers meant quite a bit to her. Braden might be an arrogant male, but he usually wasn’t a foolish one.
“Why would you risk your life for me?” she asked.
“I have no idea. But, come, we need to find you some clothing and give Ewan your ring and instructions.”
“Are you mad?” Ewan asked after they had found him outside the kirk, putting the ladder away in a small shed.
“Is who mad?” Sin asked as he joined them.
Ewan turned to Sin with a disgusted look. “Braden is going to take Maggie to see the MacDouglas so that she can talk the MacDouglas into stopping the feud.”
Sin whirled to face Braden. “Are you mad?” he asked in disbelief. “He’ll have you impaled before you get halfway to his castle.”
“Nay, he won’t.” Maggie quickly laid out the plan for them.
When she had finished, Sin shook his head. “It’ll never work.”
“Forgive me,” Maggie said softly. “I don’t mean to be rude, sir, but I don’t even know who you are, and I have no idea how this matter even concerns you.”
“He’s my brother Sin,” Braden said softly in her ear.
Maggie’s eyes widened and she formed a small O with her mouth. Everyone in the clan knew the terrible tale of how Sin had been taken forcibly from the castle.
And even worse, the story of how, as the king’s men were struggling to force the youth on a horse, his father had turned his back to them, then coldly closed the door and left his son to his enemies. The instant the door had shut, Sin had stopped struggling, stiffened his spine, and ridden off with the promise that he would never return.
Anghus had been there when it had happened, and the tale had always haunted her. How could any father just turn his back on his blood and let him go?
Now she regretted her harsh words to him. No doubt, Sin had heard worse, but she didn’t want to add anything more to a man who had suffered so much.
“Forgive me,” she said to Sin, “But it’s been quite some time since last we met.”
Sin gave an almost imperceptible nod, but said nothing.
And now that she knew who he was, she asked, “How do you know my plan won’t work?”
A wicked, almost evil smile curved Sin’s lips. “Because when it comes to planning attacks, I have no equal. If I say it won’t work, you can wager your life on the fact that it won’t. I’ve never been wrong.”
A chill went down her spine. There was something hidden in those words. Something that scared her.
Braden cleared his throat to get their attention. “Speaking of plans … how did the reconnaissance go with Lochlan?”
Sin shook his head. “It’s hopeless. They have him and four others tied in the center of the hall where they can all keep an eye on them. Even if we came in through the gallery, they’d see us in plenty of time to kill the five of them, or us.”
“What four others?” Maggie asked.
Braden went cold at her question. Oops. In his concern for Lochlan, he had let that other little tidbit slip his mind. He turned sheepishly to Maggie. “Did I forget to mention the small fact that Fergus has all four of your brothers tied up with Lochlan?”
