Page 69 of Highland Spy

“No’ to mention, ye let the king down as well,” added Ethan. “He chose ye personally to compete, so ye didna need to be a laird. Och, I canna believe ye’d throw it all away so easily when it means so much to the MacKeefe Clan.”

“I’m sorry,” said Caleb, not feeling so good about his decision anymore. “I never meant to let anyone down. But ye need to understand that I was lettin’ myself down, and I couldna have that either.”

“What do ye think Bridget is goin’ to say about this?” asked Logan.

“Bridget.” Caleb looked back up to the king’s dais, but she still wasn’t there. “Has anyone seen her?”

“No’ since yesterday,” said Logan. “Why?”

“Somethin’ is wrong. I need to find her.” He picked up Slink and was about to leave when the trumpet blew and the herald’s voice was heard loud and clear, announcing the winner.

“It seems we have a tie for winner,” said the herald. “The two men with the most, and the exact same amount of points, are Clement MacLean and Caleb MacKeefe.”

“What?” asked Caleb, turning around to see the astonished look on Clement’s face as well.

“The king has decided there will be one more round, and whoever finishes first will be our new winner,” continued the announcer.

“Doin’ what?” asked Clement.

“Aye, in what event?” asked Caleb, not wanting to compete anymore.

“The two men will participate in a hunt,” said the herald.

“A hunt?” asked Ethan. “I wonder what they are huntin’.”

“Both men will be released into the forest,” continued the herald. “They will have to make it to the loch before they are hunted down by the king’s guards.”

“The king’s guards?” asked Hawke. “That shouldna be hard to lose them, Caleb.”

“The guards will be accompanied by a pack of dogs that will be huntin’ by scent. Gentlemen, it is yer challenge to make it to the loch before yer whereabouts are discovered. Ye will have to find yer way, throw the dogs off yer trail to remain ahead of them, and avoid gettin’ caught by the king’s guards. Ye will be on foot and are only able to take with ye yer weapons, and whatever ye have on yer person to work it. The first man to the loch wins. Yer time starts now.”

“Now? Wait. What?” asked Caleb, wanting to search for Bridget. He didn’t want to play these games anymore. “Nay, I canna go.”

“Why no’?” asked Hawke. “Are ye plannin’ on lettin’ down my faither as well as the entire MacKeefe Clan again?”

“Nay, of course no’,” he said, honestly feeling bad about that part.

“Then get goin’,” commanded Logan, shoving his bag at him. “Do ye want me to watch Slink?”

Caleb’s mind was in turmoil and he didn’t know what to do. He needed to look for Bridget, and this was only going to take him away from what was important to him. He wanted to be true to himself, yet, he had his entire clan and the king counting on him. This only made him more confused as to what to do.

“I need to find Bridget. She might be in trouble,” he told his friends.

“We’ll find her. Now go,” said Ethan, turning him by the shoulders and giving him a push in the right direction.

“Hurry, they’re goin’ to release the dogs,” someone called out. Caleb looked up to see Clement already running for the woods.

“Go, Caleb!” shouted Storm.

“Dinna let me down,” called out the king.

“Damn it,” cursed Caleb, knowing now that his true self would never let down his clan or king. He had no choice but to finish this competition. “Hold on, Slink,” said Caleb, looking down to his pet. “Because I dinna think this mornin’ is goin’ to get better anytime soon.”

Chapter 23

Bridget cautiously entered the mews during the sword fight competition, wondering who would meet her after sending that missive. Whoever it was knew her secret and she had to do whatever it took to keep it safe.

“Hello?” she called out, walking further inside. “Is anyone here?” The birds fluttered their wings from atop their perches, as if she’d scared them. There were hawks, falcons, and even an array of pigeons inside the mews. The MacKeefes used the pigeons for sending messages back and forth to their Highland camp as well as England, where Lady Wren’s siblings lived.