Page 50 of Edge of Yesterday

Cailean swung his gaze onto the speaker. Lady Ravenstone stood beside him.

“This man needs a doctor,” Cailean said. “Don’t you think things went a little too far this time?”

“My husband’s men know how to deal with rabble,” she replied.

The man moaned, rolled onto his back and blinked up at them. He looked from Cailean to Lady Ravenstone, then pushed up onto his knees. He braced his hands on his thighs and pushed to his feet. Cailean rose and started to turn toward Lady Ravenstone. From the corner of his eye, he saw the man shift his stance and flick his eyes in Lady Ravenstone’s direction. Cailean spun and the man collided with Cailean’s chest. They crashed to the stone floor, Cailean on top of the man. The man slammed his fist into Cailean’s ribs.

Pain shot clear to his kidney. Cailean blocked a blow to his nose, then froze when two spear blades jammed into his view, the points pressed against the man’s cheek. The points didn’t break skin, but if the man moved even a hair, they would. Strong hands seized Cailean’s arm and he yanked his gaze up as Lennox pulled him off the man.

“What happened?” Lennox demanded.

Lady Ravenstone joined them, her eyes on the man. “Take him to the dungeon.”

Lennox’s head snapped in her direction. “The dungeon?” He looked from the man, who the guards had yanked to his feet, back to Cailean.

“He tried to attack me,” she said.

“Attack you?” Lennox glanced at the man as the guards pulled him past the onlookers toward the kitchen. Lennox returned his gaze to his mother. “Who is he?”

She shook her head. “I do no’ know him.”

“And you, Cailean,” Lennox said. “What have you to do with this?”

“He stopped the man,” Lady Ravenstone said. “Who are you?”

“Cailean Mackay,” Lennox said before Cailean could answer. “From Durness.”

“Ye have my thanks, sir,” she said. “Will you sit with me?”

“Of course, my lady.”

She turned and walked toward her seat. Cailean started after her, but stopped when Lennox grasped his arm.

“Unless ye want to end up in the dungeon with that man, you will not tell my mother you are a Ross.”

“A Ross who saved her,” Cailean said.

“My mother will not be so generous with strangers after someone just tried to attack her.”

“So Rosses aren’t welcome at Raghnall, after all.”

“Not tonight.” Lennox turned and headed in the direction the warriors had taken the man.

Cailean hurried to catch up with Lady Ravenstone. She stepped up onto the platform, sat down in her chair, and nodded toward a bench in front of her. Cailean lowered himself onto the bench. She nodded to a passing serving girl, who stopped and refilled her goblet.

“Would you like some wine, Cailean?” she asked.

“No thank you, my lady.”

“Do you know the man who tried to attack me?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“Never fear, Lennox will discover his identity.” She looked at the spot where the man had tried to tackle her. “Who was the other man my attacker fought?” Her dark eyes scanned the crowd. “Lennox must find him.” Her gaze returned to Cailean. She frowned. “Were you harmed in the fight?”

“What?”

She nodded at his left hand and he looked down to find he’d been rubbing the area around the cuts Val had inflicted upon him.