Page 56 of Luthias

We’ve both been deceived by an enemy wishing our clans to war. Mistress Parker exposed his scheme. Come alone to the shearing barn by your crooked loch, and I shall meet you there with her. My life, ’tis in your hands.

Carack.

“Go to the stronghold with the lads.” He pocketed the scroll. “I ride to the crooked loch, and shall return shortly with my lady.”

“’Tis a trap,” Taveon said at once.

Luthias shook his head. “Callum sent this by white dove, and gave me his life bond. We cannae lie to each other in Fae. I must go alone,” he added when he saw the war master’s expression. “’Tis little different than your scheme. If he attacks, ’twill be laird against laird.”

“Then win, Brother.” Taveon’s dark eyes glittered with malice. “For if you die, I shallnae rest until I send every facking Carack after you. Come, lads.”

Luthias watched the men ride off toward the stronghold, and only when they disappeared from sight did he guide his mount to the trail leading to the crooked loch. Riding toward what might very well be his death didn’t trouble him; since Emery had been taken he realized how empty his life would become without her. If he could save her and return her to her time, then he would at least have some comfort of knowing her to be alive and well in the future. He doubted he would live long enough to see the twenty-first century, but if he somehow eluded his end for another seven centuries, then he would find Emery again.

And then I’d stop her from ever touching that cursed blade, and change history so we should never meet.

By the time the easternmost loch on his land came into view Luthias had cleared his mind of such thoughts. Protecting his lady and putting a stop to this clan war before it started was all that mattered now. Yet as he surveyed the shores for signs of the Carack in hiding, he saw only one horse peacefully grazing where it had been tethered by the shearing barn. He dismounted and drew his sword before he led his horse toward the meeting place. From this close, he caught the scent of the many sheep that had once been sheared inside, and came to a stop.

“I came alone, as you bid me,” he called out. “Release my lady now.”

“I’m here. I’m okay.” Emery came rushing toward him, hurling herself into his arms. “Don’t kill him.”

Luthias allowed himself a moment to hold her, and kissed the top of her head before he looked all over her.

“I cannae promise that.” He pushed her behind him and in a louder voice said, “Show yourself, Carack.”

A tall, hooded figure came out to stand before him, his sword also ready.

“I sent the white dove, and gave you my bond. I didnae lie.” Callum pulled back his hood and gestured at Emery. “The lady shall tell you how we’ve both been made fools.”

He had the chance to end his rival, who surely deserved it for taking his woman. No better opportunity would come to strike such a decisive blow against the Carack. He had not asked nor accepted Callum’s offer of peace, and he stood on his land. He had not broken the truce, the Carack laird had.

Even as Luthias thought all of this, and burned with the fury demanding he avenge what his lady had endured these last hours, he had to think of the clan. The killing would not end with Callum. Dozens, even hundreds of his brothers would die at the hands of the Carack when they came to seek vengeance for the death of their laird, broken truce or not.

Luthias looked at his woman. In the sweet, clear honesty of her eyes he saw his only choice. “Tell me.”

“Someone killed Lord Carack’s jewel-setter, and tried to frame you for her death by making it look as if she’d committed suicide,” she said, and then quickly related everything he had not known about Athdara Martin, the contents of the forged scroll, and how the woman had actually died. “From the dye powder and straw fragments I found under her fingernails during my examination of the body, I believe at one point she was inside this barn. She may even have been killed here. There may be evidence inside that will tell us who’s behind all this.”

“Aye, or the bastart even now hides within,” Luthias said. “I’ll take Emery back to Dun Lasair, and return to search the place with my men. I’ll send word to you of what we find.”

“We’ll search it now, together, with the lass,” Callum countered. “’Tis her eyes we need, and my clan willnae believe the word of a MacRoss.”

“He’s right,” Emery said. “You don’t know what to look for, but I do. If both of you are with me, then no one can accuse the other side of deceit. This only works if we work as a team.”

Luthias regarded the Carack laird for a long moment. “You wish me to join forces with the fack who stole you from me?”

“Aye, for someone tortured and killed my woman on your land,” Callum said. “Do we act the fools this bastart reckons us, or shall we make him pay?”

He wanted to beat the other man senseless, but instead he sheathed his sword. “We shall look first.” To Emery he said, “You stay by the door until we ken ’tis empty.”

“Wait.” Callum took out two blue coldfire orbs, and handed one to Luthias. “’Tis dark inside.”

As they went inside Luthias smelled the old, musty straw that covered the dirt floor. The fainter scents of the dyes used in the vats––sweet, earthy madder root and the sharper, green smell of dandelion flowers––still lingered in the air. The shearers and vassals who used the barn had not yet begun their work, so aside from the water troughs, kettles, coils of rope and drying racks the interior stood empty. It seemed obvious that no one had been inside the place for some time.

“The lady came to no harm at my stronghold,” Callum said as they stood inspecting the room. His stance changed, and the muscles in his arms bulged. “I give you my word.”

“’Twas a cowardly facking thing to do, using my woman to strike at me,” Luthias said, kicking aside a crate.

“Don’t do that,” Emery called from the doorway. “You could be destroying evidence.”