Part 12 (2/2)
She inclined her head to him. ”Good day, Val. Is the boor inside?”
”More like a boar with a raging tusk, my lady, if you take my meaning. Please have mercy on us all and speak with him.”
”Unfortunately, I must. But I promise you, it won't improve his mood if I can help it.”
The man looked pained. ”Thanks, my lady. Your kindness knows no boundaries.”
”And I'll remember that tone when next you beg favor from me.”
”I am quite sure you will.”
”Counsel your tongue when you address my wife.” The surly growl coming out of the tent sounded like thunder. ”That is your lady you speak to. You'd do well to remember it.”
Rowena looked less than pleased. ”Don't think taking up for me is going to get you back in my good graces, Warmonger.”
Stryder left the tent like an emerging dragon. His long, dark, wavy hair hung just past his shoulders. And even though he was angry, he had kind and intelligent eyes. ”Think you by now I don't know that? You'll not be placated until I make an a.r.s.e of myself before the entire court. I've done that once and...” His voice trailed off as he realized they weren't alone.
”Ha!” Rowena said triumphantly. ”Look, you've already made a fool of yourself. What's a little more humiliation?”
Stryder grimaced at his wife.
Cat suppressed her smile as she took a step forward. ”Please forgive us our interruption, my lord. But Lord Lochlan would like a word with you in private.”
Stryder glared at his wife before he started away. ”I haven't time for this.”
Arms akimbo, Rowena put herself in his path. ”You can run innocent men through with your lance later.” She picked up his gauntleted hand and held it in hers. ”He has important”--she squeezed his hand tight--”business indeed.”
Understanding lightened the earl's eyes. ”Please join me in my tent.”
Lochlan allowed the women to go first before he followed the earl inside. The tent was surprisingly large, with a nice-sized bed and table set up. Stryder indicated the women to sit down before he faced Lochlan.
”Are you from Outremer?” Stryder asked him.
”Nay. I was told my brother knew you there.”
Stryder scowled. ”Your brother?”
”Kieran MacAllister.”
The was no mistaking the pain that flared deep in the man's blue eyes. Rowena actually stood up and moved to his side. She didn't say a word, but she patted his back affectionately and it was obvious the man took strength from her touch.
”You must be his brother Lochlan. He said all his brothers were dark-haired save you.”
Emotions flooded him at those words. It was true. Stryder had known his brother and Kieran hadn't died in the loch after all. He could almost cry in relief, but that wasn't in him. ”Aye. I'm Lochlan.”
Stryder squeezed his wife before he left her to walk over to a trunk by his bed. ”Kieran was a good man.”
Lochlan couldn't breathe as fear a.s.sailed him. ”Was?”
He nodded. ”Outremer changed many of us. Not necessarily for the better. There were two Scots among our prisoners. Brothers they said. MacAllisters.”
It couldn't be. ”Two?” How was that possible?
”Aye. Kieran and Duncan.” He pulled a small box from the trunk and returned to Lochlan's side.
He handed it over. ”Kieran gave me that two days before we escaped. He told me to hold on to it in the event one of his brothers should ever look for him. It was his hope that all of you would continue to think him dead--he didn't want you to know what had become of him. But his fear would be that one of you would learn the truth, then seek him out.”
His hand shaking, Lochlan opened the box and felt tears sting his eyes. It was a small silver crucifix identical to the one he carried. The crosses had been gifts from their mother as each one reached his maturity. And just like his, it bore Kieran's name engraved on the back of it.
”Kieran said you would recognize it and know that it was his.”
”I do.” Swallowing, he met Stryder's gaze. ”Is my brother...” He couldn't bring himself to say the words. The fear of the answer choked him and he couldn't bear the thought of knowing his brother had died in the Holy Land and none of them had known it.
”Alive?” Stryder finished, ”I don't know. The MacAllister brothers stayed behind and fought the Saracens while we escaped...one died that night and the other...” He flinched from the memory.
”What of him?”
”He lives in England now. Silent and hidden.”
”Is it Kieran?” Lochlan's voice cracked.
”I honestly don't know. The two men looked so much alike they could have been twins. There were many times during our imprisonment that we weren't sure which one was Duncan and which one was Kieran.”
”But you have to know if it's him. Surely.”
”The Scot is severely disfigured,” Rowena breathed. ”He would have died had his brother not saved him and Stryder not carried him to Europe. The fighting claimed one life and the other...we can't tell who he is and he won't say.”
Stryder nodded. ”He went into seclusion and has never emerged.”
Lochlan stood there completely stunned by the unexpected turn. He wanted to laugh and curse.
Catarina wrapped her arms around his. ”We can go and see if it's Kieran.”
”Aye.” He looked back at Stryder. ”Where is he?”
”He's in a remote keep in Suss.e.x. If you can wait a few days, I can take you there. It's the only way he'll allow you to approach. The Scot trusts no one. The last man who tried to broach his lands was shot four times.”
Cat gaped. ”Did he die?”
”Nay, but I a.s.sure you no one else has tried to visit since without a member of the Brotherhood at his side.”
Strangely enough, that sounded just like something the hotheaded Kieran would do. Lochlan held his hand out to Stryder. ”I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.”
He shook his arm and patted him on the shoulder. ”Have no fear. I have a brother myself and there's nothing I wouldn't do for him.”
No wonder he was so willing to help. ”Is he here?”
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