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“A large troop of mercenaries appears headed this way,” Cavan said. “They have caused harm to none so far, but that could be because we are their intended target.”
“From what our scouts tell us,” Artair said, “a tall man, who rides his horse with distinction and more handsome than you”—Artair paused to glance at Lachlan, though without a grin—“leads them.”
“I know him!”
The three brothers turned wide eyes on Alyce.
Chapter 31
“How do you know him?” Lachlan demanded, having heard her clearly but somehow not quite understanding her, or perhaps not wanting to. After all he had made it clear to her that part of the reason he also had been at Everagis was to make contact with the mercenaries in the area to see if they could provide information about Carissa and in turn Ronan.
When Alyce still hadn’t answered, Cavan spoke. “Explain,” he ordered with the command of a laird who expected obedience.
“His name is Septimus,” she said. “And I struck a bargain with him so that Everagis would remain safe.”
“A shrewd decision,” Artair said.
“A necessary decision,” she corrected. “I had people to protect.”
Lachlan shook his head. “You knew I wished to make contact with the mercenaries and yet you never told me.”
“I couldn’t,” she said truthfully. “I gave my word to speak of the bargain to no one in exchange for protection.”
While Lachlan knew what it meant to give your word, it disturbed him that she had not confided in him. “But you knew that the mercenaries might be able to provide information about my brother Ronan.”
“Your brother Ronan was not among the mercenaries.”
“How do you know that?” Lachlan asked.
“I’ve been to their camp several times.”
“While I was at Everagis?”
“That was when I first made contact with Septimus.”
Lachlan shook his head. “Wait. Are you telling me that while I was at Everagis you stole off into the woods and made contact with the mercenaries knowing full well I wished to make contact with them?”
“I had a duty to protect my sisters and we were not yet involved.”
“They’re not your blood sisters, nor are they nuns,” Lachlan said raising his voice. “They are simply women, who I have made certain remain protected.”
“No!” she shouted at him. “They are women who survived horrible situations and deserved to have a safe haven. And those women and I joined together and made Everagis just that, a safe haven for us. When the mercenaries arrived, did you really expect me to sit and do nothing but wring my hands and expect you to help us knowing your inevitable departure would leave us vulnerable?” Alyce shook her head. “I long ago abandoned the fantasy that a man would rescue me, love me, and protect me. I decided it was up to me to provide it all for myself.”
“You could have trusted me,” Lachlan said sadly, for it hurt to know that she felt she could depend on no one, but especially him.
“Could I have?” she asked. “Would you truly have understood? You wanted an answer from the mercenaries, while I required much more.”
“Have you told us all you know of the mercenaries?” Cavan asked.
“No,” she answered boldly. “And I will not, for I gave my word.”
“Before or after you became involved with me?” Lachlan asked.
Alyce shot daggers from her eyes at him. “You truly need to ask that?”
“Enough,” Cavan ordered. “You can settle your differences in private later. At the moment we need to deal with the present situation.”
“I will go speak with Septimus,” Alyce said, though it sounded more like a command.
“You will not,” Lachlan snapped.
“He is a friend and I will speak with him,” she argued. “And settle this matter reasonably.”
“He may be a friend of yours, but not of the Sinclare clan,” Lachlan said.
“I thought I was a Sinclare,” Alyce challenged. “Wouldn’t that then make a friend of mine, a friend of the Sinclares?”
Lachlan stepped toward her to argue, but Cavan interrupted.
“She is right,” he said. “If this Septimus is here to visit with Alyce then we will welcome him.”
“He arrives with a troop,” Lachlan argued. “Such a heavy contingent speaks more of battle than a mere visit.”
“We will send a messenger,” Cavan said.
“I will go to him,” Alyce insisted.
“You will not,” Lachlan ordered.
“You cannot stop me,” she argued.
“I most certainly can. You are my wife and carry my child and I will not see you placed in harm’s way.”
“I can take care of myself,” she said, shaking a fist at him.
He grabbed hold of it and yanked her to him. “I don’t care. You are my wife and will do as I say.”
“Like hell I will.”
“Don’t challenge me on this,” Lachlan warned.
“What challenge?” she snapped. “You can’t stop me.”
“Try me?”
“Stop!” Cavan shouted. “This is no time to argue. I will send a messenger to the mercenaries and see what brings them to our home. In the meantime we will devise a plan of attack in case it proves necessary.”
