Page 37 of Defy the Highlander

Cam glanced at Luther, who was coughing and rubbing his throat, before crooking his finger.

“Come with me.”

Brody hesitated a moment before complying, but he kept turning to look at Luther, who was bringing up the rear. It was clear that he didn’t trust the bald man, and his fists were still up, but his curiosity about the Ludus Caledonia was stronger than his mistrust.

Still, he kept a healthy distance from the man as he followed Cam to a corner of the tavern. When Cam sat down, Brody continued to stand until the bald man sat, too. Cam indicated an empty chair.

“Please sit,” he said. “I want tae talk tae ye.”

Warily, Brody lowered himself into the chair, lowering his balled fists for the first time. “Tell me what ye know about the Ludus Caledonia,” he said. “Is it true that men can make money there?”

“Fighting or gambling?”

“Fighting.”

Cam nodded. “It is true.”

“Then I want tae volunteer tae fight. I want tae make money.”

Cam looked at Luther, who had been with the Ludus Caledonia far longer than Cam had. “This is Luther Eddleston,” he said. “He can answer yer questions better than I can.”

He deferred to Luther, who took a big gulp of ale, clearing his sore throat, before responding.

“Why?” he asked simply.

Brody couldn’t think of anything to tell him other than the truth. It was the truth. “Because I want tae buy the freedom of a woman in servitude,” he said. “She’s working off her father’s debt. If I can buy her freedom, we can marry.”

Luther looked at him, closely, as he contemplated his answer. “Do you have any experience in fighting? It seems to me that you have some aptitude for it from what we’ve seen.”

Brody nodded. “I’ve been fighting the Sassenach as long as I can remember.”

“Have you seen action?”

“When the Sassenach sacked Berwick, my clan was called upon tae reinforce the borders,” he said. “I’ve been in many a battle, I assure ye.”

“Then you have a warrior’s background.”

“Aye.”

“What happened?”

“What do ye mean?”

Luther indicated the tavern. “A seasoned warrior finds himself here, at this place, living with the filth of society? I want to know why. What made you come here, Brody?”

Brody’s jaw began to tick. He couldn’t tell him the truth, as complicated as it was. Surely those from the Ludus Caledonia wouldn’t want a man who had led his men to disaster. Though Brody was honest to a fault and lies did not come easily to him, he found that he simply couldn’t tell them the whole truth. He was afraid they would reject him.

And he desperately wanted to be accepted.

“Because I need money,” he said. “I canna find that in the Highlands. My brethren used tae call me the Highland Protector because I’m an excellent warrior. But each man must find his way in life and must do what is important tae him. Right now, making money tae pay my lady’s debt is important tae me.”

Luther didn’t have any cause to disbelieve him because Brody made a reasonable argument. “I see,” he said. “I suppose your reasons are as good as any. But let me be clear – we do not take volunteers.”

“Then how does a man come to the Ludus Caledonia?”

“He gives his life over to it.”

Brody looked between Luther and Cam, confused. “His entire life?”