by A. W. Exley
“A lovely, peaceful place to discuss business, is this not?” He gestured to the lush surroundings, before placing a kiss on Allie’s outstretched hand.
Duncan and Zeb stayed several paces behind. They halted, out of earshot and out of reach.
Jared cast a glance in their direction. “We bought the package, for visual verification.”
Gregor passed his attention to Zeb before nodding. “He looks exactly like his father. Very well. You are certain no one knows you have him?”
“Le Foy is overlord and no amateur.” Allie defended her father’s professional reputation. “He would not violate your agreement.” Or would he? Fractured pieces of conversations danced in her mind. “Lithgow’s school has finished for the holiday, he will not be missed until the new term starts in two weeks’ time.”
Gregor scanned her open face before reaching his decision. “Payment will be made to Le Foy as he instructed. I will have the package collected this afternoon.” He picked up Allie’s hand and tucked it under his arm.
“Our instructions are to deliver him.” Jared halted their progress.
“No.” A cold light entered the older man’s eyes. “I will have my men collect him.”
Allie squeezed her fingers on his arm and drew his attention. “We have our instructions. Le Foy was most adamant that we deliver the boy. I believe he wishes to know if you still hold the older Lithgow and what you have been up to.” She gave him a wink. “I am his eyes on this matter.” She waited to see if he would fall in line with their plan.
“Whisperers, always wanting to know more than they should, prying where they are not invited.” He puffed out air. “Very well, but there will be little for you to sing about, my nightingale.” He pulled a small silver pocket book from within his waistcoat and used the tiny pencil to scribble a note. He tore off the sheet and handed it to Jared. “I expect to see you tomorrow morning, now leave me to stroll with my young friend.” He waved his hand to dismiss Jared.
The young man gave a polite bow. “Of course.” He shot a glance to Allie, before walking over to where Duncan held Zeb.
The Count and Allie strolled closer to the glasshouses, a renowned feature of the botanic gardens. “Young people, always rush, rush, rush. Why are you with these boys?”
Allie gave the count a coquettish look from under lowered lashes. “Because they amuse me.”
He laughed, and then fell serious. “You are not marked yet, would you consider trading enthusiasm for experience?”
“I’m always open to a better offer,” Allie said. “Or another business opportunity. I’ve not made a formal choice yet, so I am not bound to the Whisperers.”
He looked on the point of saying something, before changing his mind. “Hmm, today is for strolling in the sun. Perhaps we could discuss business tomorrow?”
Allie kicked herself, she hoped to get him talking freely. “Of course. Although I should warn you, I am a girl with expensive taste.”
His belly shook with laughter this time. “What woman is not?”
They walked around the glasshouses for a while longer before Allie said she had to make arrangements for their trip, so she could disentangle herself and return to the boys. They walked in silence back to the carriage.
Jared halted, pulling her to a stop next to him, leaving Duncan and Zeb to walk ahead. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
She twirled the parasol closed. “What do you mean?”
“You’re chewing something over. Maybe if you share we can both figure it out?” He picked up her hand, holding her attention.
“I’m not sure what it is.” She sighed. “But the Whisperers deal in information, not people. Why are they doing this, why hand Zeb over?”
“You said the Reapers are paying an exorbitant amount of money.” Jared frowned, trying to follow her concern.
Allie sucked on her bottom lip, trying to articulate what niggled in the back of her brain. “Would your family sell the Stone of Coulags?”
He gave a snort. “No. It’s worth more than money.”
“Exactly, why are the Whisperers handing Zeb over for money? What else is in his head? What knowledge are they giving up? And why did Le Foy insist I deliver him?”
He shook his head as they continued walking. “I don’t have any answers.”
“Neither do I, and that’s what is bothering me.”
By the time they returned to the house to change, her hangover had retreated but the onset of nerves settled in her stomach like a lead brick. She ditched her beautiful walking dress for more practical attire. And weapons. Then she grabbed her leather satchel and slung it over her shoulder and headed out to the courtyard.
Jared and Duncan both carried a long sword in a scabbard on their backs. Jared wore his katana and Duncan had an enormous Scottish blade, which they each paired with a lethal stiletto strapped to their left thigh.
Allie wore her brown buckskin pants and a cream shirt under a green suede vest. Over the top, to keep out the Scottish chill, she shrugged on a forest green frock coat. She had a row of large throwing stars on a brown belt slung low around her waist, and two short swords worn crossed on her back. For ease of access, she moved her dagger from her boot and wore it on her right thigh.
Duncan let out a low whistle on seeing her, while Jared arched an eyebrow at her ensemble and the displayed weaponry.
“Beautiful and deadly,” he murmured. “Marshall told me you had quite a collection of toys, I guess this is what he meant?” he pointed to the gleaming throwing stars.
She paused next to his horse and looked up at him, he had his hair tucked back behind his ears and she faltered when it triggered all the memories of the previous night. Recovering, she shrugged.
“Carpet bags are fantastic, much bigger on the inside than they appear from the outside. You’d be amazed what you find down the bottom of them. But if it makes you feel better Marshall loaned me the swords.”
She rode astride. It didn’t feel right to ride sidesaddle while attired as she was, plus she needed the ease of mounting and dismounting unassisted. She saw the raised eyebrows from Duncan and Jared as she swung her leg over Soiron and sat in the saddle. “Don’t even think to lecture me about riding in an unladylike fashion when I am this armed.” She waggled her finger at them.
“How’s the hangover?” Duncan enquired instead.
“Almost gone. I have made a mental note never to go drinking with you ever again.” She felt much better but was glad she wouldn’t need her full facilities until the next day.
Another quick ride to the military base passed and an escort waited to take the horses. Allie earned a few double takes at her change of clothing, but no one commented.
General Galloway got straight to the point. “The escort tells me you were successful.”
“Yes. We have the co-ordinates of his base. It’s in the Highlands. He is keen to acquire Zeb, since things have not proceeded as planned with Lord Lithgow,” Jared said.
“It’s not just Zeb the count is keen to get his hands on,” Duncan muttered under his breath.
Allie slammed her elbow into his ribs. “Ow!” he cried out. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I can’t reach high enough to smack you in the back of the head.”
“I meant what was it for?” He rubbed his side, feigning a hurt look.
“For reminding me of his sticky paws.” She was already longing for a long hot bath, to scrub the count’s fawning off her body.
General Galloway coughed into his hand and bought their attention back to him. He held out his hand to Jared. “The co-ordinates?”
Jared held back. “We are an integral part of this operation. I assume you’ll be dropping us in first? So Allie can get him talking? We think there may be more at play here.”
“Marshall vouched for you three and Harris has been watching you. I will admit you intrigue me. I want to see how the three of you handle a combat situation, so I’ll give you an opportun
ity. I know you’re here every holiday and I assume you plan to enlist and serve a few years before heading to court?” The general countered to Jared.
He nodded in agreement. “Yes, sir. When I turn eighteen, I intend to sit the officers’ exams.”
“Very well. And what about you?” he directed at Allie.
“I’m not an organised military kind of girl.” She couldn’t see herself lasting long under military protocol and structure.
“We can offer you protection here. The guilds haven’t sunk their claws into you yet, you would make a good agent,” he said.
The guild will sink more than claws into me, when they find out I’ve betrayed them.
“If I promise to think about it, can we get this moving along?” She was going to dismiss him outright, but didn’t want to engage in a philosophical debate about why she had no future. The gallows aside, given Jared, Duncan, and Zeb were heading for careers with KRAC, the option had some merit. It might even hinder Le Foy’s reach for her. Another chink of light broke through in her mind.
“All right,” the general agreed. He rose from his desk and walked around to the front. “Lieutenant Harris is in charge, you follow his orders or you sit this out. We’ll take you in and give you a thirty minute head start to see what else you can learn.”
“Hang on,” Allie said. “You’re giving me a thirty minute advantage to find out what’s really going on here?”
Lieutenant Harris gave her a smile. “Think of it as a challenge as to how good you are. Anyway, you’re forgetting Lord Lithgow has plenty of time in there. It’s paramount we get him out of there and retrieve anything he may have constructed.”
Jared handed over the slip of paper to the general. “Here are the co-ordinates.”
General Galloway glanced at it before handing it off to his lieutenant, who barked an order at his sergeant. “Tell the men to saddle up, we leave within the hour. I want to drop this lot off under the cover of dark a good distance away so they don’t know we’re around.” He gestured to the friends. “Take this lot down to the mess hall, they may as well be fed before we leave. It’ll be a long night.”
The friends were subdued as they encouraged the horses to walk up the gangplank and into the hold of the KRAC airship. Allie and Duncan saw the equines settled in their stalls while Jared and Zeb ascended to the bridge, to consult with the lieutenant over their drop point. It would be a long flight to the remote highland location.
When they all entered the main room, the other soldiers cast curious looks at Allie but they were too disciplined to comment on her presence amongst them. Allie offered Zeb a game of chess, while Duncan appeared to be in his element and soon exchanged stories with the other soldiers as they played cards.
Darkness fell, and the lights came on in the airship. Jared left the lounge to go stand out on the deck. He tried to penetrate the darkness but saw only the dim tops of trees pass underneath them and the ridge of mountains surrounding them. They were heading to the edge of his family’s highland seat.
The door behind him slid open and closed and soon Duncan leaned on the railing next to him. Silence drifted for several minutes.
“Look, about Allie,” Duncan said. “Are you serious about her, or what? Because I’ve been thinking. I’ve never met a girl who is smart and carries weapons. I wouldn’t mind―” Duncan’s words faltered and his eyes widened in surprise.
He never heard Jared draw his sword and now his cousin levelled the razor sharp tip of his katana at Duncan’s throat.
love you like a brother, but I swear if you ever look at her like that, I will run you through.” Jared’s eyes and tone were as cold as the steel of his blade.
Duncan uttered a soft Gaelic curse. “Careful, cousin, or I might think the Stone is heating your blood.”
His mind replayed the bolt of heat that shot down to his toes when they kissed. Was it the taint of the stone that ran through his family? He needed to talk to Morag, his old nurse. She knew all the stories swirling around his family and the Stone of Coulags and the changes it made to the men who discovered it.
“You’ll not touch her,” he growled.
Duncan raised both hands. “I know she’s yours, I’m just needling you.”
Jared dropped his sword and returned it to the scabbard on his back.
Duncan looked his cousin in the eye. “But you’re not going to use her?”
Jared thought Duncan sounded a lot like an older brother looking out for his little sister.
She spars with a knife and words and she understands me. How can I let that go?
“I made up my mind for certain when I saw her at the bottom of the stairs last night. I can’t let her go.” Jared let out a deep sigh. If the effects of the Stone were responsible, losing Allie would be the regret of his life. “We’ve talked about it, briefly, but there’s other things to worry about at the moment.” He waved his hand at the airship with a wry smile.
“You could have discussed it last night, when you had the opportunity,” Duncan pointed out.
Jared shook his head, he knew Duncan wouldn’t understand. “You’re forgetting she was very drunk last night.”
“A drunk and willing girl? Not many men would walk away from such an opportunity.” Jared gripped the railing tighter as he looked out at the surrounding velvet night. “She’s not like other girls, this isn’t a one night chance to abuse.” She saw into the depths of him and walked a similar path, trying to find her place in the world. What would they achieve if they walked together?
“Well I’m glad you didn’t take advantage of her last night, otherwise I would have to stab you.” Duncan chuckled, before turning serious for a moment. “Allie’s a friend, so don’t stuff this up.” The smile returned to Duncan’s face. “And you do realise if you go down this road, it’s all going to blow up horribly in your face with Madeline and Aunt Lillian?”
“Yes.” Deep inside Jared a part of him relaxed, as though the chains loosened around a slumbering beast. Then he grinned at Duncan. “But she’s worth it.”
Duncan punched Jared in the arm. “Just remember I’ll be watching you.”
Allie appeared out on the deck. “We’re close and they want to put us down soon,” she announced. “They need us to go down to the horses and be ready. They want to get out quick and will ground the airship until after sunrise.” She gave a look from one cousin to the other but they said nothing as they followed her down to the holding deck and the awaiting horses.
The airship hovered close to the ground while a small group of the soldiers hurtled over the side. They affixed ground lines and made the straining airship relatively stable, so they could lower the gangplank for the horses. The animals were nervy with the swaying movement under their hooves, but followed their riders down to the firmer ground. Zeb muttered about using flesh and blood creatures when Thumper provided a superior ride.
Lieutenant Harris fixed them all with a stern eye. “Use the next few hours to get some rest and stay put until well after sunrise. You’re a good two hour ride from the location. We expect you to enter his compound at 1000 hours and I’ll be there at 1030 hours. Don’t disappoint the general by doing something stupid.”
“I can assure you we don’t intend to risk the life of our friend,” Jared answered him. “Either one of them,” he whispered, his gaze shooting from Allie and then back to the soldier.
The lieutenant stiffened for a moment and his lip curled back from his teeth. “That is a conversation for another day.” Then he walked back up the gangplank, issuing orders as he went for the airship to lift off and find her own spot to go to ground for the rest of the night.
With only their handheld glow lamps to light the way, they walked a small distance until they came to a suitable clearing to wait for dawn. Tethering the horses to a stand of trees, they untacked and placed their gear on the ground. Allie and Zeb settled the horses, while Duncan and Jared disappeared to gather firewood. Soon there was a small friendly blaze in the centre
of the clearing.
Allie rubbed her hands together and held them out in front of the fire. It was mainly for light and solace and did little to chase away the advancing autumn chill. She couldn’t stop shivering as the cold of the highlands night leached into her bones.
“You don’t have enough fat on your bones to keep you warm,” Duncan observed when he saw her shaking.
“Come over here.” Jared indicated the spot next to him. “Before you freeze.”
Allie was too tired and cold to disagree. Skirting the fire, she pulled off her swords and satchel and dropped them on the ground next to Jared. Once she undid the buckle on the belt of throwing stars, she let it fall to the earth. She sunk down and settled next to him.
He pulled his saddle over to use as a backrest and shrugged off his wool top coat to drop around her shoulders and torso. Leaning back against the saddle, he pulled her close to his side, to share his body warmth, his arm wrapped tight around her.
“Won’t you get cold?” she started to argue.
“We’re Scottish, this is positively tropical for us,” he reminded her as she laid her head against his chest. “Any moment now I suspect Duncan will strip off his clothes and romp naked through the heather.”
She smiled at the image. She hadn’t realised how tired she was, but let out a deep sigh and before too long, her breathing changed to the deep rhythmic pace of the sleeper.
Thursday, 29th September.
The prisoners emerged from the dank tunnel and blinked against the harsh daylight, blinded and dirty like moles fresh from the earth. The crowd roared and the guards pushed with their rifles and prodded the condemned to shuffle toward the worn steps. The wood creaked and groaned under their feet; the crowd laughed and peddlers sold sausages on sticks.
Her body trembled as she came to a halt. Looking out, faces melded together in a blur of pinks and browns stained by the tears running down her cheeks. Her heart pounded so loud it drowned out the noise of everything else.