The man’s voice still rang strong in his head. Telling him he would be naught. That he was the reason his mother was dead.
Part of that was true, he supposed. She had died whilst birthing him. But was that really his fault? He had no control over such happenings. Mayhap she was a weak woman.
His brother had tried to talk about their mother. As if such conversations would keep her alive in their minds.
’Twas foolhardy. He had never met the woman. Never seen her. There was naught to remember.
He continued to watch them as they discussed their plans on how they would get to the next location. Even though they thought they were alone, they spoke quietly, making it hard to hear their conversation.
With a sigh, he sank onto the mossy ground. He would just have to wait until they moved on and continue to follow them. He looked forward to the end of this journey when he could put the whole thing to an end.
Chapter Seven
It was alie.
Errol kenned exactly where they needed to go next.
And what was there.
He hadn’t beentherein years, but the last time he had been, he remembered it clear as day.
A time when there was no truce between the MacLeods and the Harts. Though it was deep in MacLeod lands, the enemy was there. Watching through the trees.
Waiting.
Quietly.
Patiently.
When Errol’s brother, Gavin, and the small party he was traveling with, stopped at the old graveyard to pay their respects to those long gone, they were ambushed.
Taken by surprise. All four men were cut down.
For no reason. They’d done naught wrong. Hadn’t led any attacks. Hadn’t hurt anyone.
When Gavin and his men hadn’t returned, Laird MacLeod, he and Gavin’s da, sent out a search party.
It was Errol who found his slain brother.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The gruesome scene was forever emblazoned in his memory.
“Is something amiss?” Moira asked, placing a small hand on his forearm. “Suddenly ye look unwell. Are ye suffering from the same affliction as Seema and the others?” Her voice was laced with concern.
But he paid no attention to that. Instead, he pulled his arm away, recoiling from her touch. The thought of his brother reminded him that Moira couldn’t be trusted. That there was an underlying reason for this chase they were on.
He’d never been able to prove it, but he had always believed that the Harts were behind his brother’s assassination.
“Did I do something wrong?” She asked when he didn’t answer.
“Nay. Finish yer meal so we can return to the room. Ye need yer rest.” He couldn’t keep the gruffness out of his voice.
For a moment, Moira looked like she was going to put up a fight, but she snapped her mouth shut and after a moment, took a bite of stew.
They ate in silence and as they were finishing, she called over the serving wench to request a bowl of stew to bring with them.
“Seema’s belly must be empty. She’ll need sustenance.”
Errol gave her a curt nod.
