Page 45 of The Best of Brenna Grant

“Here’s our largest loaf of bread. Share it amongst ye and I’ll pass the sack full of apples around. They are no’ the freshest, but I was surprised to find any. Someone had them in cold storage since autumn. Then I have some chicken legs that were smoked not long ago.”

Willum sat down next to Maitland, Alaric next to him. “Chicken legs. Yum. Anything but rabbit makes me happy.”

As they shared the food around, the lasses returned and Dobbin started a fire for them all to gather around.

Maitland tossed the bare bone of a chicken leg into the fire. “King Robert wishes for us to keep the English in the Borderlands and trapped in Berwick until he takes the castle back. Where are we needed most? Have ye heard?”

“A group of soldiers in disguise headed into Edinburgh, begging for food so I’m told. Douglas said to find them and send them out. We couldnae locate them. Ye can try. They say they are split into two groups of five. They are stealing anything they can: food, coin, livestock. Anything they can sell or eat. And I’m told they are gaunt. They are hungry and desperate. I wish ye luck. I suggest ye search the outskirts of the city and check the taverns at night. Ye might catch them. If ye do, bring them to Douglas. He’ll handle them.”

Willum had to admit the thought of this tactic made his skin crawl. He didn’t wish to go inside any tavern, since they were often filled with unwashed men wall-to-wall. That was exactly the type of situation that could make him lose his head.

Crowds in tight spaces.

Being alone in the woods.

His two biggest fears. With eight of them, he needn’t worry about being alone, especially with Maitland’s rules about always traveling in pairs.

But he didn’t like the idea of Edinburgh. Any burgh made his insides curdle from distaste.

Loki and his group took their leave after the meal, heading back into the Highlands.

“Dyna, let’s no’ waste any time,” Maitland said. “If we’re looking for English thieves in Edinburgh, then we should find a place to sleep this eve. We’ll split up. Choose yer team and we’ll get on our way.”

“I’ll take Thea, Alaric, and Willum. Work for ye?”

“Aye, off to Edinburgh. There are two inns I know where the questionable oft shelter. I’ll take the worst of the two places. Ye take the other.”

Willum let out a breath. He was more than pleased to have Thea with him.

Perhaps he’d get the chance to steal a kiss. A real one.