Page 38 of Defy the Highlander

Luther put up a hand. “Before we proceed any further, there is something you should know,” he said. “If you are looking for quick money, this is not the place for you. If you are looking for something temporary, this is not the place for you. But if you are willing to work hard and pledge your life and your time to the Ludus Caledonia, we can change your life. Ask Cam.”

Brody’s attention shifted to Cam, who nodded his head slowly to confirm Luther’s words. “When I first came tae The Sticky Wick, it was because I was told the Ludus Caledonia was a place that could teach me tae fight,” he said. “Unlike ye, I had no real experience in it. I was told that those at The Sticky Wick could connect me with The Cal and I was determined tae learn tae fight for one very good reason – vengeance. Like ye, I had my own wants. I wanted tae seek vengeance on those who had destroyed my village in the Highlands. But The Cal isna for opportunists. It’s for men who know how tae make a vow and keep it.”

Brody thought carefully on that. “What kind of vow?”

“If ye want The Cal tae provide ye with opportunities, then ye need tae pledge seven years of yer life,” Cam said. “Usually, the man who owns The Cal would tell ye that, but since ye seem tae think ye can fight for quick riches, ye should know what is expected of ye before ye waste yer time and ours. We look for fighters than can commit tae training and will hold true tae that commitment. If The Cal is going tae spend money training ye, then ye must understand there is also a commitment on yer part as well.”

Seven years. That gave Brody pause. He didn’t want to commit his life to something for seven years when he desperately wanted to pay for Lilia’s freedom and marry her sooner rather than later.

But he was a realist – as he told Lilia, it would take him years to save enough money to pay for her freedom were he to find any number of low paying jobs in the city. It might take him more than seven years. But if he could earn the money faster at the Ludus Caledonia, he supposed that was worth it.

But he had one question…

“If I commit for seven years, can I bring my wife?” he asked.

“Do ye have a wife?”

“I will when I buy her freedom.”

Cam nodded. “Wives live at The Cal. My wife lives there with me.”

That settled it. Now that Brody had his most important questions answered, he was ready to move forward.

For Lilia.

“As long as I can make enough money tae buy her freedom, I can commit seven years of my life,” he said. “What do I need tae do?”

Luther stood up, followed by Cam. “Come with us,” Luther said. “If you have any belongings, go and get them. We will wait for you in the alley behind this tavern.”

Brody shook his head. “I only have what you see,” he said. “But… but I would like to do something before I go. I’ll meet ye in the alley in a few minutes.”

Luther and Cam departed the tavern, slipping out through a side door that led to the dark alley where their horses awaited. Meanwhile, Brody went to the tavernkeep as the man used a bucket of water to wash away the vomit from a patron who had imbibed too much of the cheap ale. He tapped the man on the shoulder.

“I need tae get a message tae someone,” he said. “Can ye help me?”

The tavernkeep looked at him, empty bucket in hand. “I can find someone for ye,” he said. “What’s the message?”

“I dunna have anything tae write on.”

“Tell me and I’ll remember it.”

Brody scratched his head thoughtfully. “I need someone tae go tae Hawkhill House,” he said. “It’s outside the city walls, tae the east, the home of Laird Currie. There’s a servant there named Lilia. I need tae get a message tae her without letting her masters know. Whoever ye send needs tae be careful.”

The tavernkeep nodded. “I understand. Give me the message.”

“She needs tae be told that I’ve gone tae The Cal. She’ll understand.”

The tavernkeep held out his hand and Brody gave the man, literally, his last pence. He tucked it into his pocket as Brody headed out into the alley. The tavernkeep intended to find someone to send to Hawkhill, but a fight broke out and a man was killed, and in cleaning up the aftermath, he forgot about his promise.

When he found the pence in his pocket the next day, he couldn’t remember what it was for.

PART TWO

THE LUDUS CALEDONIA

CHAPTER TWELVE

Brody had a sharp mind and a sharp sense of direction, and even though Luther had put a sack over his head to confuse him, he still had a fairly good idea of where he was. He was able to get his bearings before leaving The Sticky Wick and even with the turns the horses took, he was still marginally oriented.