Page 31 of Defy the Highlander

He’d therefore spent those three days asking about the Ludus Caledonia to anyone he could strike up a conversation with, hoping to glean some information. Brody had spent enough time in the place that he knew the regulars, men who drank hard and sometimes fought harder.

What he was told was what he already knew – that the Ludus Caledonia was a secretive fight guild where men gambled on the bouts. A couple of the regulars had become irritated with his questions and had thrown punches to silence him, which only earned them a hammer-like fist to the side of the head.

The Sticky Wick was not for the faint of heart.

Brody had his share of fights in the place over the past two years. Mostly, the fights weren’t directed at him and were things he simply found himself caught up in, but he had a devastating blow and the regulars knew not to tangle with him. Brody would come in, sit in the corner, and make his ale last as long as he could because he didn’t have the money for more.

But today, things were different.

He wasn’t going to spend another day and night at The Sticky Wick, watching for a carriage that would never come. A storm had rolled in and rain was coming down in sheets as he made his way through Edinburgh, heading east.

He was going to Hawkhill.

He knew that Lilia didn’t want him near the manse, but he simply couldn’t stay away. He knew the place well enough to know that he could probably sneak in through the postern gate because Laird Currie’s guards were lazy.

He’d learned that from his brief time there. Men that Laird Currie paid to protect his home would gather up at the main gate in the guard room and drink until they could hardly stand. As Brody made his way to the great stone bastion in the driving rain, he was certain the guards would not be out in this weather in any case. He had to take that chance.

As he knew, the postern gate was unguarded.

The stable yard was vacant as he made his way inside, rushing to the stables where he knew he would find old Angus. He was as nervous as a cat as he ducked and dodged all the way to the stable, terrified that the screeching old woman would see him. The last thing he wanted to do was cause trouble for Lilia, but he felt very strongly that something was amiss.

He had to discover what it was.

Ducking into the stables, he mercifully had cover so he could watch the kitchen yard for someone he recognized without fear of being seen. He had no idea where Angus was, because the old man was usually somewhere around the stable. The seconds ticked away and Angus didn’t make an appearance.

But someone else did.

Brody could see Tynan as the lad entered the stable yard. He had a bucket in his hands, but he was evidently hunting for something from the way he was swinging his head about. When he came across another bucket, he picked it up, looked it over, and then swapped it out with the bucket he’d been carrying. He turned around to leave the stable yard and Brody knew he had to act.

Quickly, he stepped out of his hiding place.

“Tynan!” he hissed.

The lad came to a startled halt, looking over at Brody with big eyes. Brody motioned him over and the lad trotted towards him, the bucket banging against his legs. When he reached the stable, Brody stuck out a big hand and pulled him inside.

“Brody!” the boy gasped. “Ye came back! She said ye might come back and ye did!”

The child was clearly glad to see him, but Brody didn’t have time for a happy reunion. Every moment was valuable. He grasped the lad by the arms.

“Do ye know where Lilia is?” he asked.

The child’s joyful expression morphed into a grimace. “Aye.”

“Where?”

“Colly took her away,” he said, suddenly fearful. “I saw it.”

Brody felt as if he’d been hit in the gut as his fears were confirmed. “I knew it,” he hissed. “I knew something was wrong. What happened, lad? What did ye see?”

Tynan looked around anxiously, making sure no one was listening. At the very mention of Colly, he looked like a frightened rabbit. It was clear to Brody that this woman Lilia had spoken of as a vile creature had some kind of hold on Tynan, too.

The child was terrified.

“Lilia was bringing food tae m’lady,” he said quietly. “I was helping her when Colly came tae the kitchen. She hit Lilia on the head and put her in the vault until Lady Currie told her tae let her out, but Lilia isna allowed tae leave the house now.”

Brody frowned. “Hit her on the head?” he repeated. “Is she hurt?”

Tynan shook his head. “I dunna know,” he said. “I’ve not seen her very much since it happened.”