“Brian MacSloan!” the boy shouted again.
Brian strode down the path to meet him. “Aye?”
The lad rested his hands on his knees and panted for breath for a few moments before he could speak. “I’ve been sent to fetch ye. There’s a tear between our valleys and the outer world, and—”
“What’s your name?” Brian asked. “Alford, isn’t it?”
“Aye, sir.”
“Who sent ye, Alford?” Brian’s father asked.
“Kenrick, from the upper village. I was after some of our sheep that had wandered too near the cliffs, and I met him as he came down the path. He’s already sent others for the chieftains from the upper and lower villages. He was going to come for ye himself, but then our paths crossed, and he asked if I’d deliver the message.”
Brian knew the part about including the other chieftains to be a lie. After how his own father had been set up, perhaps Aiden suspected he’d not come alone unless he believed others had been called to meet him there as well. That gave him a bit of time, didn’t it? “Where are we to meet him?”
Alford described the very spot Grayce had already identified, a place well known to him and his clan. Brian exchanged a look with his father before turning to the boy. “My thanks, lad. I’ll head there shortly.”
Alford peered up at him. “Kenrick said I shouldn’t tell anyone else. He said the village chieftains would share the news with the clan after they’d spoken with the druids. But, can’t I tell my mam and da?”
Brian drew in a long, steadying breath as he considered the matter. “I’m the chieftain here, and ye’ve my permission to tell anyone ye wish, lad.” The more people who knew about the falsehood the better. “Off with ye now.”
He and his da watched as Alford took off down the path. “This is it then,” Brian muttered. “I see no reason why Aiden and Kenrick shouldn’t wait twenty minutes longer while we have our midday meal.”
“No reason at all. Ye and the druid can set out together for the village to gather the other two.” His da placed a hand on Brian’s shoulder as they walked.
“Let’s not say anything about the summons until after lunch,” Brian said. “Grayce has been so excited about today’s meal. I don’t want to ruin the moment for her, especially not for the likes of the two planning to murder me.”
His da nodded his agreement. They reached the back of his cottage just as Grayce was removing something from the bread oven in the yard. “Whatever it is ye’ve prepared? It smells delicious,” Brian called to her.
“Quiche,” she said. “You can open the door for me.”
“Quiche?” His father’s brow knitted.
“Told you ’twould be something new to us.” Grinning, Brian opened the back door for her, studying the dish she held between wadded pads of wool. “What’s in the pie, love?”
“Eggs, ham, onion, cheese and cream.” His wife beamed at him. “I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
Inside, he found their table already set, including a bowl of fresh berries, and another of cooked vegetables from their garden. His mother set down a loaf of brown bread and a crock of butter on the table as she greeted them. Rob, the hunter druid, appeared to be blessing the offerings.
Grayce went to the counter and divided the quiche onto plates. Brian joined her there, slipping his arms around her waist to give her a quick hug. “I’ll help.”
“Mmm. You smell sweet like the hay you’ve been cutting.” She handed him two of the plates.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. Much better than when you reek of sheep dung.” She cast him a teasing look.
Gods, his heart nearly burst when she looked at him like that. He could not fail her today. He would not. Their plan was a good one, wasn’t it? He began picking their strategy apart, looking for flaws.
Grayce frowned and stopped in her tracks. “What is it?”
Too often he forgot her empathic abilities. Telling her it was nothing would never work. “We’ll speak of it after we’ve eaten.” Brian set one of the plates in front of the druid, and the other at his da’s place at the table. Grayce brought the remaining three.
Her expression pensive, Grayce took her seat. She remained quiet. Her glances bounced from him to his father as the food was passed around.
“This egg pie is delicious, Grayce,” his father exclaimed.
“Thank you.” Grayce’s gaze fixed upon Brian. “Today is the day, isn’t it? The boy from my vision came to you.”
“Aye, and it can wait a few minutes. I intend to enjoy the wonderful meal ye’ve prepared for us.”
She nodded. Everyone went quiet after that, and the only sounds to be heard were chewing and the scraping of forks against the earthenware plates. Grayce glanced at him again. “Kenrick is on border patrol, right? How long will it take you to hike to the place where the two are waiting?”
“Once we gather the other two who are coming with us, a little over an hour and a half,” he told her. “It’s between our village and the upper village to the north.”
“How often do the guards change?”
His father arched a brow. “What are you getting at, lass?”
“I don’t understand why Brian isn’t gobbling down his lunch so he can get going. If the guard changes before he gets there, won’t that thwart Aiden’s plan? The two aren’t going to risk having another clansmen show up in the middle of their murder.”
Brian shrugged. “It’s possible, but—”
“Kenrick will say the rift disappeared, and we’ll be back at square one. I can’t guarantee a vision for their next plan.” Grayce pushed her plate away from her. “The sooner this is over with, the sooner I can relax.”
“The better we’ll all feel,” his ma added. She rose from her spot. “I’ll fill waterskins for you both.”
His father also got up. “I’ll get your sword.”
“I didn’t wish to ruin the fine meal ye put on our table, Grayce.”
“I know, and I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll be putting meals on this table for years and years to come. The threat to us is now.”
“I see your point.” He wolfed down the rest of the delicious egg pie—quiche was it?— and grabbed a handful of berries. Brian stuffed them into his mouth before taking his sword belt from his father and strapping the weapon around his waist. “Shall we be off, Rob?” he asked the druid.
“Aye.” Rob snatched his quiver full of arrows and his unstrung bow from where they rested against the wall.
“Grayce,” he said, crossing the room to stand at her side. “I don’t want ye to worry.”
“I will anyway,” she said, her voice quavering.
He drew her into his arms and held her tight for several seconds, savoring the feel of having her in his arms.
“Go,” she whispered. “Then we can put this behind us once and for all.”
“Aye.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back.
Brian’s mother handed them each a filled waterskin, and together, he and Rob set out for the village where Dylan and Craig awaited word that the time for action had arrived. Dread and excitement warred within him. Was this what his ancestors experienced as they prepared for battle? Goddess, he hoped all went according to plan. So long as neither of the would-be murderers thought to keep watch behind them, all would be well.
Brian strode up the last incline and stopped in the grassy field before the trail narrowed and wound around sandstone boulders and tors jutting out of the ground. The place looked as if a giant had dumped a bucketful of boulders right there on the ground. He scanned the rocky terrain where the trail came so perilously close to the edge of the cliff. “Kenrick,” he called.
Kenrick appeared and gestured to him from around the outcrops. “Come see what I’ve discovered.”
“Nay. I don’t think I will.” He smirked. “I’ll wait here until the other chieftains arrive.”
His would-be murderer frowned at that and glanced behind him. “That coul
d take some time yet. By then, the rift might disappear. Are ye not curious?”
“Not in the least.” Brian placed his palm on the pommel of his sword and widened his stance. “I know the claim is false, and I’m also certain no summons was sent to the other two chieftains. Ye can come out now, Aiden MacBlaine, lying sack of sheep shite that ye are.”
“Have ye gone daft?” Kenrick sneered at him. “I’m the only one here. What are ye on about?” He swung his arm out toward the cliff. “The rift is real. Come see for yourself.”
“Attempted murder is a hanging offense.” He raised his voice to make sure Aiden would hear him. Kenrick disappeared around the bend, probably to consult with Aiden.
“Aiden, your entire miserable life ye’ve been a bully and a coward. Ye and your treacherous bitch of a mother are a bane to our clan,” he taunted. “Instead of facing me like a man, ye hide behind a rock? Pitiful. Planning to push me off the cliff from behind, are ye? I suppose ye think ye’ll be made chieftain once I’m gone. That won’t happen. We all know you’re dishonorable and rotten to the core. Ye are a weak man, Aiden MacBlaine.”
It would drive Aiden mad that Brian knew what he’d planned. He continued to goad. “Ye cannot defeat me in a fair fight. I’ve already proven that over and over.” He waited for a response.
“The druids and most of our clan know ye and your mother murdered your father, and your act of cowardice during the tournament proved ye’d stab a clansman in the back. What poison did ye use on your father, I wonder? Banewort? Hemlock? And then there’s the scandal your family concocted about my father. Everyone knows the three of ye made the whole thing up. Worthless. Both ye and your mother are good-for-nothing liars and cheats.”
That last bit caused a cry of outrage. Aiden stomped out from his hiding place and strode toward Brian. Both Aiden and Kenrick had their blades drawn. Brian drew his sword and assumed a defensive stance. “Typical. Two against one, not that it’ll help in the least.” He crouched, his gaze shifting from one to the other. “If I’m to be murdered in cold blood, the least you could do is admit your crimes.”
“How?” Aiden circled him while Kenrick remained where he was. “How did ye know of our ambush?”
That Grayce had the sight was really none of Aiden’s business, and he chose to keep it to himself. “Ye’ve always been predicable.” He continued to taunt. “Did I not say as much when I defeated ye in the tournament? Everyone knows Kenrick is one of your idiot followers, and ye’ve planned ambushes before, aye? Not very original, Aiden. I’m sure ye contributed naught but the simplest part to the plot against my father.”
“I was smart enough to know ye, like your da, would walk into our trap. Ye do have one thing wrong though. My father had nothing to do with Sloan’s downfall. Blaine was weak and stupid.” Snarling, Aiden charged.
Brian deflected the blow and pivoted away just as Kenrick came at him. Brian parried and backed away from the cliff the two were trying to herd him toward. He glimpsed movement from behind the boulders. Keeping out of sight, Craig, Dylan and Rob crept closer, arrows drawn and ready to fly. Brian kept his attention on the two men with murder on their minds. “Is that why ye poisoned your father? Because ye saw him as weak and stupid?”
“Aye, and it was so easy. I was meant to take over as our chieftain, and ye were meant to remain disgraced.” He charged again. “Grayce should have been mine,” he cried.
Brian brought his blade up hard, directing Aiden’s sword upward, and slicing the underside of his enemy’s forearm. He followed the movement with a swift kick to his attacker’s wrist, knocking the sword out of Aiden’s grip.
Aiden cried out and swerved away from him. Blood dripped from his arm as he reached for the dagger at his waist.
“Enough,” the druid shouted. “We’ve all heard ye admit your crimes, MacBlaine.”
Kenrick whipped around. Once he caught sight of the three, he dropped his sword and attempted to run away. Craig let loose an arrow that went deep into Kenrick’s thigh. The would-be murderer fell to the ground, crying out in agony. Craig hurried over and tied the wounded man’s arms behind him with a strip of leather. Then he removed all of Kenrick’s daggers.
Rob and Dylan kept their bows trained on Aiden, who took on the wild-eyed look of a cornered animal. Once Kenrick was bound, Craig moved to Brian’s other side. Aiden was surrounded. His only escape route was over the cliff.
“Drop the dagger, Aiden,” the druid said. “All three of us heard ye confess to murdering your father and concocting the scandal against a good, honest man.”
“Don’t forget attempting to murder Brian today. You’re a dead man, MacBlaine. Don’t deny us the satisfaction of seeing you hung,” Dylan added, his tone filled with disgust.
“Maybe I am a dead man, but I’ll take Brian with me!” Aiden shouted. He ran at him, his arm dripping blood and his dagger raised.
The whiz of arrows filled the air, and Aiden dropped at Brian’s feet. His legs went weak, and he trembled from head to toe. “Goddess, ye cut that awfully close.”
“When have ye ever known me or Craig to miss?” Dylan came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Ye’re shaking.”
“Aye, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.” He stared at Aiden’s body, and the arrows lodged in his back, neck and side. A pool of crimson spread from his wounds, staining the grass beneath. “Things could’ve gone wrong at any moment.”
“But they didn’t,” Craig said as he and Rob lifted Kenrick by his arms.
“Aye. ’Tis over.” So, why hadn’t the dread lodged in his gut left him?
Grayce dried her hands on a square of linen and gazed around the interior of the field-stone cottage that was now her home. She loved the place, and she cherished all the memories she and Brian had already made in their cozy home.
She’d swept, cleaned the hearth, dusted, and wiped down all the washable surfaces—all out of nervousness. Whatever had happened on the cliff should be over by now, so why did she still feel traces of menace in the air?
It would take some time to get the two criminals to the druid’s grove. There they’d be held until … She didn’t want to think about the until part, and she wouldn’t attend. Sighing, she draped the linen square over the edge of the wooden kitchen counter to dry. Time to head for her in-laws’ cottage. Waiting alone was driving her nuts.
Grayce took one more look around before stepping outside. The sun was beginning its descent, and the trees cast long shadows over the grass. The air held the scent of ripening grain and the freshly cut hay from their fields. Out of habit, she glanced at the trough that held water for the dogs. She’d already fed them, and the border collies were somewhere with the sheep, doing their job.
What little water remained held backwash and saliva. She dumped the contents and headed for the well situated in the shade of the evergreens. The moment she drew up the filled bucket, a wave of malevolence washed over. Grayce stiffened. An arm came around her neck, and a blade pressed against the small of her back, cutting through her clothing to sting her skin.
“Don’t make a sound or this blade goes into your kidney,” Rebecca hissed into Grayce’s ear. “You and I are going to take a little walk.”
Her brain seized, and she couldn’t think, much less act. A thick, scratchy noose replaced Rebecca’s arm around Grayce’s neck. Her captor turned her around and started her forward, away from the village. Rebecca held the rope close, and kept the tip of the dagger pressed into Grayce’s lower back.
Grayce’s throat worked convulsively. Her hands and feet had gone cold, and the pounding of her pulse echoed inside her head. Dammit, why the hell didn’t her visions ever reveal what was going to happen to her? She considered screaming for help, but the thought of that knife stopped her. “So, I’m assuming you and Aiden planned this together?”
“I don’t work with losers,” Rebecca hissed and tugged painfully at the rope around Grayce’s neck. “And I certainly don’t need that fool to do my thinking.
”
Grayce reached up to loosen the cord choking her. Panic pulsed through her with every beat of her heart. “Where are we going?” They weren’t taking the worn paths. Instead, Rebecca had them crossing uneven ground, heading southwest into the wilderness.
“To a place where I can dispose of your body so that no one will ever find you.”
Shock shoved the cloudiness out of her head, and all her senses sharpened. She needed a plan. “Why are you doing this, Rebecca? What did I ever do to you?”
“You ruined everything,” she snarled. “Everybody keeps telling me only one woman is meant to come through when a clan member dies. If it hadn’t been for you, Brian would’ve chosen me.”
Brian never would have chosen Rebecca, no matter what. She bit down on her retort.
Rebecca started muttering to herself then, something about how falling into the hidden world had been the perfect escape, and everything would’ve worked out the way she’d wanted if it hadn’t been for Grayce.
Grayce forced herself to calm down. She had to think and think fast before the two of them reached the spot where Rebecca planned to murder and dispose of her. The noose made it impossible to make a break and run. Could she twist around and free the cord from Rebecca’s grasp without getting stabbed? Doubtful.
Just how far away was this corpse disposal site, anyway? She began taking mental notes of landmarks. If she did manage to escape, she’d have to find her way home by the light of the moon.
She had to figure a way out of this mess, because … Brian. Losing her would break him, just like losing him would break her. Her eyes filled, and her heart splintered. “What about Dylan? I thought you and he—”
“Shut up.” Rebecca jerked at the cord around her throat again.
Grayce coughed and struggled to claw the rope loose enough that she could breathe. As long as she remained upright, unwounded, and breathing, she still had a chance. She walked along silently for a while, scanning the horizon for any sign of someone on patrol. All three villages had agreed to guard the boundary between the valleys and the outer world, hadn’t they?
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