Page 115 of Highland Spy

“Are you sure?” Percy asked.

Connor grasped the man’s shirt to pull him down. The skin beneath the cloth felt waxy and cool.

“His throat was cut,” Sylvi said. “And not many can survive that.” She fingered her own neck, where the skin showed pink beneath the ribbon she wore. Her gaze flicked to Connor, and her hands dropped when she obviously realized he was watching.

He slid the man off the horse, hefting him carefully to keep the body from slamming to the ground. The head fell backward. Too far, as if it meant to roll off. Connor shoved his shoulder forward and braced the weight before it could fall further.

Percy gave a horrified gasp and pressed a hand to her mouth as though she were squelching a scream.

The man’s throat had been cut with such savage strength, his head was nearly shorn off.

Connor lowered the man to the ground.

“Don’t look, Percy.” Sylvi’s voice sounded from behind Connor, and the grass rustled with their retreating footsteps.

But Connor did not lift the man to follow their departure. He could not tear his gaze from the face on the ground.

The dark hair had thinned some since Connor had last seen him, but the thick brows and the scar down one cheek was unmistakable.

Connor knew this man.

Renny. Renny was his name.

He’d been the blacksmith.

At Urquhart.

One of the many men Connor assumed had died three years ago. And now he was truly dead.

Something hot and tight coiled in his chest.

If he’d stayed at Urquhart, this never would have happened.

And if Renny had only recently still been alive, so too were others.

Connor would leave for Urquhart immediately.

His people had need of him.

Chapter 28

Connor refused to return to Urquhart without Renny’s body.

He couldn’t allow one of his men to be buried anywhere but at home. Nay, Renny would be buried at Urquhart, near his parents and the young wife he’d lost so early in their marriage.

Connor had begun mentally preparing the list of items he would need for his journey, especially since he’d need to travel quickly. The urgency of his impending departure raked at his nerves, but not nearly as much as the urgent issues needing his attention before he left.

Sylvi and Delilah were both waiting for him in his solar. Sylvi’s back was ramrod straight despite her obvious exhaustion. Delilah, who had taken the time to change into a soft pink gown, slumped in the seat beside her.

“We’ve uncovered a plot against the king.” Sylvi spoke before the door had even closed.

Connor came around the large desk and regarded them. Grime lined Sylvi’s face from their journey, but her pale eyes were bright.

“Where did ye hear about this?” he asked.

“The night we went to seek out MacAlister. We didn’t find him, but we heard some men talking about trying to raise coin to buy gunpowder.” Her brows raised. “A lot of gunpowder. I sent Delilah to them to get more information.”

She looked to where Delilah sat beside her.