Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (64 page)

She was out here somewhere, cold and alone. She couldn’t be dead. He had to find her. He whistled a soft trill, the bird song Raven would recognize. He waited, listening intently, but did not hear the answering call. His heart twisted in worry. He advanced silently, moving as a wraith through the shadows.

Progressing steadily away from Nevin’s body, Aidan studied the ground, following the boot tracks, but concern countered his hope. There were far too many tracks of heavy horse in the mud as well. He gritted his teeth, praying she lived, praying she hadn’t been injured. Drawing in a steadying breath, he whistled again.

An answering whistle responded, and he closed his eyes in relief. She lived, praise the saints. He hurried forward but maintained his stealth. Within a moment, he saw a barely recognizable outline huddled against the trunk of a tree next to some thick bushes.

“Raven,” he called softly.

She looked at him and blinked in surprise. “Aidan?”

He smiled and reached for her. Suddenly, she plowed into him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. God, she shook like a leaf battered in a storm. He gently pulled away and cupped her face in his hands.

“Are ye hurt?”

“Nay, just cold.”

“What happened?”

She stared up at him, her dark eyes liquid, her black hair hanging in a thick braid down her back. The clothing she wore did nothing to hide her beauty. Tiny cuts and large bruises marred her bonny face.

“Deserters and knights-errant,” she choked, a tear spilling down her cheek. “They killed Nevin; they are hunting me.”

“I found Nevin’s body,” he said tightly. “Why are they hunting ye?”

“I heard some disturbing rumors and tried tae discover the truth. Nevin went with me. The bastards found us near their camp. We ran and separated, but they caught Nevin.” She paused and shivered. “I heard them slay him. Then yesterday, they disappeared.” She paused and shook her head. “I dinna ken why. But I feared returning tae the inn straightaway until I kenned for certain they no longer followed me.”

“I be gettin’ ye out of here,” Aidan said, wrapping his cloak around her as she shivered against him. “Then we can talk.”

She nodded and Aidan guided her away.

“Did ye come alone?”

“Nay, Connell awaits with the horses.”

She frowned up at him, her face dreadfully pale. “Ye brought only one man?”

“Connell be worth five knights-errant in battle, lassie. We shall gain the tavern without worry.”

They moved silently out of the trees, and Aidan quickly led her to where Connell held the horses. The young man looked at her in concern.

“Is she injured?”

“Nay,” Aidan said. “Just cold and exhausted.” Aidan mounted his horse, and Connell helped Raven into the saddle.

While Connell gained his mount, Aidan once again settled the folds of his cloak around Raven. She huddled against him, shivering.

They reached the inn without mishap, but Aidan entered to find the common room quite full. The poor weather had caused many to seek shelter this night. Aidan sent the stable boy to Raven’s small hut to fetch her some dry clothes, but he was not about to let her out of his sight, not until he knew what this was about.

The owner and the others were well glad to see Raven, although all were concerned when Aidan told them of finding Nevin’s body. The owner served some mulled wine, which Aidan carried on a tray. He ushered Raven to a table near the giant hearth but in the corner, away from prying eyes, where they could await their hot meal.

The stable boy returned, and Aidan sent Raven upstairs to change into some dry clothes. She appeared moments later, wearing a warm woolen dress with a plaid wrapped around her shoulders and appearing far more like herself. She joined Aidan and Connell at their table and gratefully drank the mulled wine.

“I have ne’er been so grateful for yer instruction in the basics of swordplay, Aidan,” Raven said softly. “The brigands would have had me for certain had I no’ fought back.”

“I am glad tae hear that, lassie,” he said, smiling. Although being a part of his nest of birds rarely grew dangerous, sometimes it became such. Aidan did his best to teach those lower in station what only nobility knew, at least the basics of handling a weapon, especially lassies such as Raven.

The serving lass from last night brought their food. “Rhona,” she said gratefully. “We were so worried.”

“Thank ye, Una.”

“We’ve been running ragged. I pray ye return soon. After ye have rested, of course.”

“She will,” Aidan said. His tone was pleasant but also one that told the lass enough was enough. Una nodded and hurried away.

“Now, Raven, ye need tae be telling me what happened,” Aidan said.

“I heard some frightful rumors,” she said softly. “But I ken how ye feel about tales without truth.” She paused, her dark eyes gazing steadily at him. “Ye taught me so much,” she whispered. “No’ only about being a bird, but keeping my wits about me. If it hadna been for that, the brigands would have caught me.”

Aidan felt his lips lift, glad she had listened and learned—and that his instruction had saved her life.

“Unfortunately, the bandits are a wily lot, and they discovered me.”

“And they pursued but then suddenly abandoned the chase?”

“Aye.”

Two more men entered the tavern with a blast of wind and rain. Aidan recognized them as being locals: one was the blacksmith and the other a farmer. All owed their allegiance to the nobles at Glen Trool.

The blacksmith barked a greeting to the owner before taking his seat at a table in the middle of the room.

“Smith!” another man called. “Were ye able tae judge the roads?”

“They dinna be safe enough. We be needed tae go as a group tae fetch the justiciar in Glen Trool. I care no’ how terrified he is of these bastards. We need tae take a stand.”

“They burned old man Liam’s farm a few days ago,” the second man with the smith said. “We found the bodies of him and his two sons. The good news is his wife be safe. Apparently, Liam feared the brigands would attack and sent her tae her sister’s.”

“I sought tae travel tae the market at Glen Trool,” another man said. “I kenned that with my lads, I’d be safe.” He paused and gestured to four braw young men at the table with him.

“His sons,” Raven said to Aidan. “Those lads would give any outlaw trouble enough.”

“About a mile north,” the man continued, “I found a banded wagon burned tae kindling and bodies littering the ground. The rumor be true, they attacked a wedding train. After seeing that, I turned around and came home.”

Aidan blinked in surprise. Out of all the rumors he had heard, this was new. “Wedding train?” Aidan whispered to Raven.

“Would that be the reason they stopped hunting me?”

Again the door opened with a blast of wind and rain, but the accompanying wail of a bairn lifted the hairs on the back of Aidan’s neck. Every soul in the common room fell silent.

A young lass, muddy and soaked to the bone, staggered through and would have collapsed had it not been for the owner stepping from the bar and catching her. Her wee bairn cried piteously.

“God’s bones,” someone muttered.

“Mercy,” the lass cried, shivering so hard her teeth chattered. “Mercy, I beg of ye.”

Before Aidan could stop her, Raven bounded to her feet and crossed the room. “Bless,” she murmured, removing her wrap from her shoulders and placing it around the girl. “What happened?” None moved to stop Raven as she guided the lass to their table near the fire.

“Baodan,” Raven said to the owner. “She needs dry swaddling for the bairn.”

“Aye, Rhona,” the man said.

The lass looked around the room, terrified. Small cuts and bruises marred her face. Water dripped from her soaked clothing, leaving small puddles on the floor. She allowed Raven to lead her toward the hearth, but her gaze fell on Connell and her eyes widened in fear. She then looked at Aidan, and her eyes widened even more. She cast about the common room, and Aidan had the feeling she was suddenly searching for a way of escape.

“Nay,” Raven said gently, trying to reassure her before she truly panicked. She guided the shivering lass forward. “They willna harm ye. What happened?”

Shaking violently, the lass sat before the hearth, clutching at her crying bairn. “Bandits attacked. They slew the guards, anyone who came within arm’s reach of them. They would have killed me were it no’ for milady.”

Aidan studied her and felt the blood drain from his face. “Ye were in the wedding train that was attacked?”

The girl nodded miserably. “I am Mairi, maid tae the laird’s daughter, Kenna MacLean. She traveled south tae be wed. But the brigands attacked. They even slew Edana.”

“Edana?”

“She was also a maid in service tae milady. When we saw her slain, milady feared for me and my bairn. She led them away so I could escape. Please, ye must help her!”

“She be a daughter of a laird,” Aidan said softly, his thoughts scrambling. “She would be worth gold tae them.”

“Aye,” Mairi said, nodding. “She led them away from me and bade me find safety at the inn. But ye dinna understand, her father is a scoundrel. He willna pay the ransom. They will kill her, or worse! Please, ye must help her!”

“That settles it,” the blacksmith said.

Aidan looked over his shoulder and saw the burly man shaking his head. “We travel tae Glen Trool upon the dawn. The justiciar willna be able tae tell a group of us nay.”

Aidan sighed heavily. There wasn’t a noble among them, no one trained to wield a weapon, no one educated in the matter of war. The only way they dared to travel the roads to Glen Trool was in the safety of numbers. No doubt the blacksmith might bear a weapon or even his hammers, and the four braw lads who had accompanied their da would put up a mighty fight. But even then, if these knights-errant attacked, the villagers would not stand a chance. These people would not be able to end the threat, only the justiciar could, but if he was truly worried over the war, he would be hesitant to move against them.

Unfortunately, even if the justiciar moved immediately, Aidan doubted it would come fast enough to save the lassie from her fate.

Una brought dry swaddling for the bairn, an extra cloak for Mairi, and some hot food. Poor Mairi trembled so hard her fingers were useless. Raven helped her swaddle the bairn and covered her with the cloak while she held the child to breast, eating her food with her free hand.

“Lass,” Aidan said gently. “Ye said these brigands slew one of the maids?”

“Aye, male or female, it didna matter tae them. I feared they would slay milady too, but she was certain they wouldna because she was worth gold tae them.”

“And she is Laird MacLean’s daughter?” Raven asked.

Mairi nodded.

“Aidan,” Raven said softly, her dark eyes wide. “We’ve got tae stop them.”

He drew a deep breath into his lungs. “Raven, my bonny lass, ye need tae rest.”

She shook her head stubbornly, and the fire ignited in her dark eyes. “They killed Nevin, now threaten a young lass who doesna deserve this. I’ve heard of this girl. Her father uses her as a pawn in his political scheming. She’s been a victim all of her life.”

“Do ye ken where they’re at?”

“I found them in the caves not far from where ye found me.”

They finished their meal, and Aidan watched Raven closely. She focused completely on Mairi and her bairn. Mairi’s terror did not seem to fade. She appeared as if she would bolt at any moment. Granted, she had been through a terrible ordeal, but she should have relished the safety the inn afforded her, especially with a wee bairn and considering the terrible weather.

While Raven and Mairi seemed occupied with their conversation, Aidan rose and discreetly pulled Connell out of earshot.

“This doesna feel right, Connell,” Aidan said softly. “There be something here I no’ be seeing.”

Connell’s gaze never left Mairi as he nodded. “A handmaiden be not worth gold, but slaughtering lassies without cause?” His jaw tightened. “Aye, young MacGrigor, even for knights-errant, they be callused indeed.”

“I’m going tae speak with Raven. Ye keep an eye on the lass. Dinna let her leave.”

Connell arched an eyebrow at him but slowly nodded.

Aidan stepped forward. “Raven,” he said gently, “a word with ye.”

She looked at him and nodded then turned back to Mairi. “Wait here.”

Mairi’s expression suddenly turned panicked and she shook her head.

“Mairi,” Raven said gently. “No one will hurt ye here. Ye canna go out again in this weather. Ye and yer bairn will catch yer death.”

Mairi looked at the baby in her arms and tears filled her eyes.

“Dinna worry over it,” Aidan told her. “Connell will make sure no one harasses ye, lass.”

Mairi looked up at the giant Scot and swallowed hard.

“Come,” Aidan said to Raven and gently took her arm, guiding her up the stairs to the rooms he had purchased. “I’m glad I got two,” he said as he closed the door.

Raven faced him. “Aidan, I’m worried about Mairi.”

“Raven, ye need tae tell me what’s going on. All of it. Rumor or no’.”

Raven’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Ye ken there are many rumors about the English prince.”

Aidan scowled. “Aye, and the greatest is that he prefers the company of men over women.”

“And ye ken as well as I do that rumor may have been started by those jealous over the prince’s regard for his friend, Gaveston.”

Aidan shrugged. “Possible. Why is this of import? The prince hasna even been knighted yet.”

“But a grand feast is being planned in the next month for his knighting. I hear Longshanks will use the event tae elicit even stronger vows that the prince and the members of the peerage will continue the war against Scotland.”

Aidan rubbed his jaw, studying her intently. “Ye seem tae have taken an unusual interest in the English ruling house.”

“I fear Longshanks has a mind tae destroy Scotland before he is through. Now that the Bruce has been crowned king.” She paused and shook her head. “I dinna wish tae lose my country, Aidan. So I did what ye taught me, I kept my eyes and ears open. I heard a rumor, and if it is true, then Longshanks’s son be not the lover of men others believe him tae be.”