Page 105 of Luthias

“’Twillnae catch the bastart,” Taveon predicted. “He’s too careful, and likely saw the cave uncovered by the slide and our men standing watch for him. He’ll bide his time for now, I reckon, or take bones from elsewhere.”

“The old Pritani clans would bury their dead in mounds like that we found when clearing the forested lands for pasture,” Luthias recalled. “We left them intact to respect their dead.”

The war master gave him a humorless smile. “I forget how canny you think.”

“I want the facker caught,” he told him. “Before another lass disappears.”

“I’ll set the night watchers at the farms, then.” He rose and came around the table, and put his hand briefly on Luthias’s shoulder. “We’ll keep close watch over her as well, my lord. Only ken that you cannae safeguard her from all the pain she’ll suffer.”

Taveon’s warning stayed with him as Luthias made his way back to his bed chamber. There he saw Emery as he had in his vision in the armory, her pretty face angelic in slumber. She stirred exactly as he had foreseen, and smiled sleepily at him before turning over to show him her bare back.

Luthias stood watching her for a long time.

Chapter Thirteen

When Emery woke she found herself alone in the laird’s bed, but it didn’t trouble her. She knew he always rose early to meet with Darach and his captains, and she imagined he’d have to talk over what she’d said about the intruder with Taveon. She was tempted to stay in bed until he came looking for her, but her empty stomach had other ideas. After washing and dressing she went downstairs to find the great hall deserted, and only a single guard standing watch.

“I guess it’s later than I thought.” She went into the kitchens, where Cook and the sculleries were busy cleaning up. “Fair morning, Mistress. Did I oversleep?”

“No, lass, ’tis some to-do out by the farms. Most of the clan left just after dawn.” The cook handed her some oatcakes but otherwise barely spared her a glance. “Tom, fetch five more sacks for the food, and take those filled out to the cart.” As the scullery hurried out she made a frustrated sound. “The men, they’ll soon return, so I cannae spare the lad to take food to the woodcutters’ camp. Ah, well, ’twill wait.”

“I can take the cart out there.” Emery smiled hopefully. “I know the way from the last time.”

“The laird doesnae wish you leave the stronghold,” Cook told her sternly. “Go and eat your meal now, lass.”

Emery wolfed down the oatcakes and went to help the scullery finish loading.

“This doesn’t look too heavy,” she said, giving the long handle a tug. “I can pull it by myself.”

“The lowlanders, they’re cutting the trees felled by storms on the slopes today,” Tom told her, “so none shall be at the camp. You’ve but to carry the sacks into the headman’s cottage, and then you should hurry back.”

No one had told the scullery that she was supposed to stay at the castle, Emery thought, and grinned.

“Sure, I can do that.” She glanced down as the boy offered her a small, worn-looking homemade dagger. “What’s this for?”

“They’ve no’ caught the man from the cave,” Tom said, looking grim. “If any man comes near, my lady, dinnae wait to stab him. Leave the cart and run for the castle, fast as you may.”

“Thank you.” Emery tucked the blade in her pocket and smiled at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

Tom touched his forehead and hurried back into the kitchens.

Thanks to the smoothness of the trail and the wooden wheels of the cart Emery had no trouble on the way to the woodcutters’ camp. She found it empty, as the scullery had predicted, and sat down by the cooking pit to rest before she began unloading the supplies. Inside the cottage she found a few small animal figurines whittled out of pale oak sitting on the window sill, and picked up a small horse to admire it. A shadow blocked the light and she looked up to see Callen standing on the other side of the window.

He bowed a little. “We meet again.”

“Fair morning,” she said, putting down the toy horse. She wondered if she should confront him about what she suspected, but she’d rather not do that while she was alone with him. “They told me you and the men would be working in the slopes today.”

“’Tis why you came then, my lady?” His blue eyes crinkled with a knowing smile. “So you wouldnae face me?”

“I’m facing you right now,” Emery said. “And now I’m going to finish unloading the cart.” By the time she walked outside Callen was already there picking up the heaviest sacks. “You don’t have to do that. Go back to work.”

“I cannae.” He tapped the side of his right leg, where a big rip in his trews showed a bloody cut on his calf. “I must first bind my wound.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Emery took the sacks out of his hands and carried them inside, stopping to sort through a pile of clothes until she found a length of linen that looked reasonably clean. “Do you have any whiskey around here?”

“Aye.” The woodcutter limped inside another cottage and returned with a bottle. “Do you wish a mug?”

Emery took the whiskey from him and pointed to a stump by the cooking pit.