Page 31 of Highland Steel

“I’ll tell you,” said Rhoswen.

“Lass, ye’ve said enough,” Logan warned her, his hand covering hers slightly.

Her eyes went down to his hand and then her eyes lifted to his and she flashed a slight smile.

“It’s all right,” she told him. “Your clan deserves to know everything. I’m just sorry I don’t have a better story to tell them.”

“What do ye mean?” asked Storm.

“The sword was not just any sword,” Rhoswen explained. “You see, it belonged to our English King Richard.”

“How did yer faither get the king’s sword and why did Richard allow it to be traded away?” asked Aidan.

“Da, give her a minute to finish,” spat Logan.

“Our faither stole the sword from the king,” spat Newell before Rhoswen could answer. She had intended to stretch the truth a little and tell them the king gave it or lent it to her father, but now it was too late.

“He stole the king’s sword,” Bridget told her father. “Did ye hear that?”

“I did,” said Brigham, scribbling something down on the page.

“He stole the king’s sword?” gasped Wren. “Oh, no.”

“He only did it to use it for leverage. To bring Lockie home,” explained Rhoswen. “He planned on bringing the sword back to England and returning it afterwards.”

“I dinna understand,” said Storm, cocking his head. “How did yer faither think he was goin’ to walk away from the Drummonds with the child and the sword?”

“My faither was goin’ to kill Drummond!” shouted Newell standing up and holding his hand in the air. “I say we go there, steal the sword back, save Lockie, and kill them all!”

“Newell!” shouted Rhoswen, jumping up and grabbing her brother by the arm. “What is the matter with you?”

“I think this is enough for now, Storm,” Wren whispered to her husband.

“The man was a fool!” shouted Aidan. “If he’d had his way, ye’d all have been killed. Is that what he really wanted?”

“Da!” shouted Logan, jumping to his feet as well.

Blaine jumped up, crying, running for the hospice.

“I’ll go after her,” Wren offered, getting up and hurrying after the girl.

“This meetin’ is over,” said Storm, getting to his feet. “Logan I’d have a word with ye.”

“Me, too,” said Aidan, heading over to Storm.

“In private,” Storm told Aidan.

“Aye, of course, Chieftain,” said Aidan, looking sullen as he headed away.

“What is the matter with you?” Rhoswen said under her breath to her brother.

“Well, I thought they wanted to know everything,” said Newell.

“You shouldn’t have said it right in front of the chronicler. That was stupid.”

“I’m sorry.” Newell hung his head.

“And now, Blaine is off crying again, so upset that we’ll never be able to calm her down.”