Part 29 (1/2)
She felt a flare of hope.
”Gareth MacKenzie? He comes for me?”
”Nay, my lady.” Brice turned and met her gaze squarely.
”He comes for me.”
”Surely Gareth MacKenzie would not be fool enough to bring his men into the Highland forests where they would be outnumbered.”
”He and his men do not come alone. They bring the MacAlpin clan with them.”
She brought her hands to her hips in a fit of outrage. ”My people do not fight in the Highlands. They understand the folly of it.”
”They fight when they are persuaded that the life of their leader is threatened.”
”You have threatened my life?”
”Nay. But your people believe I have. And,” he added tersely, 'they agreed to fight when the grandson of Duncan MacAlpin was murdered by the Highland Barbarian.”
”What are you saying?” Her hands balled into fists as she turned on him.
”You killed William?”
He caught her fists in his big hands as easily as if they were no more than wispy flowers blowing in the wind. ”Nay, my lady. The lad was killed on the very day I was dancing with the queen.”
”I do not understand.”
”The ones who killed young William wanted the murder to be blamed on me.”
”Why? Who would benefit from such a thing?”
”Aye. Who indeed?” He studied her in silence for long minutes.
”Did I mention that Gareth MacKenzie has offered one hundred pounds sterling for the Highland Barbarian?”
Several men pushed past them, their arms laden with the supplies of war.
When she continued staring at Brice in open mouthed surprise, he said softly,
”It could mean that Gareth MacKenzie is so incensed by the death of one of the MacAlpins that he would lead his own men into certain danger.”
His lips curved into a smile, but his eyes, she noted, were dark and unfathomable.
”Or it could mean that Gareth MacKenzie hopes to silence the Highland Barbarian before the truth can be revealed.”
”It could also mean that Gareth is determined to avenge the senseless murder of his brother.”
Without a word in his defense Brice swung away and strode toward the storehouse.
While she watched the frantic preparations for war, Meredith felt a growing sense of dread. This feud was growing into something far more dangerous than vengeance. Someone was going to a great deal of trouble to ruin Brice Campbell's reputation. Someone who would stop at nothing, even the murder of the young and helpless.