LITMIR.BIZ

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whoever was giving Lundie orders gave that one as well.

      A line had been crossed with that death. What Niall was certain was meant only to be harassment was now much more serious. If a man’s death was part of the bigger plan, what could be next?

      ‘We will only be here for a few days. It should be safe enough for that,’ Lundie said, his decision clearly made and the plan set in place. Niall could only nod as Lundie walked to the centre of the clearing and waited until he gained every man’s attention.

      He was not the leader who had a masterplan in mind, but only that leader’s second-in-command. Someone else, someone more powerful, had designed these attacks and somehow benefitted from them. After each raid or attack, Lundie would disappear to meet with the one who gave the orders and then return with the orders for the next step. Niall needed to discover the identity of that one who had some plan to sow discord between the now allied Camerons and Mackintoshes.

      Though his own orders gave him permission to do as he must, both to maintain his anonymity and to identify the leader of this plan, he did not countenance taking lives. Especially not innocent villagers who did not raise resistance but only protected themselves. But, from Lundie’s comments, their activities had escalated and would again soon. Lundie pulled out a small sack and weighed it in his palm. Coins jingled within and the others smiled and moved closer. Niall watched and waited.

      ‘Ye have done good work and yer reward has arrived.’ Lundie tossed the bag to Iain Ruadh to distribute. Each man would get several gold pieces, more than any of them would have earned in years of honest toil. It took little more than that to gain compliance to whatever Lundie offered.

      ‘Iain Dubh,’ Lundie said, calling Niall by the name he’d used during his time with them, ‘’twill be yer turn for a reward on the next raid.’ Though the others grumbled, they’d each earned the chance to claim something from their endeavour. ‘Choose something ye like and ’tis yers.’

      Niall nodded in acceptance and smiled as he received his gold. If their previous pattern held, Lundie would reveal their next target and they would attack on the morrow. Only the death of the old man had made them pause for any length of time. Tucking the coins into a small pocket in his leather jack, he waited for the rest of it.

      ‘The Mackintosh has left his lands and gone to The Cameron,’ Lundie revealed. ‘On the morrow, we will make a small visit to Drumlui village.’

      Niall forced himself to react as the others did. This was a huge challenge that the leader thought them ready for and the men listening smacked each other on the back and congratulated themselves for being given such a task. Niall’s stomach roiled and clenched at the thought of such a foolhardy mission.

      No matter that Brodie Mackintosh left his lands, his commander and others would be in charge of the security of the keep and the village. Formidable defences were in place and even more would be at the ready if the chieftain was not in residence. Good Christ! This called out disaster to him more than anything else they’d done.

      ‘At nightfall, when the gates close, we will stir up a wee bit of trouble.’ When the men cheered, Lundie waved at them. ‘Nothing too much, ye ken. Just a little excitement that will surprise them.’

      In other words, knock a few heads, toss a few cottages and get out. Niall shuddered at the thought of being that close to the main keep of The Mackintosh chieftain. He suspected that someone was trying to stir up trouble for the Mackintosh, but Niall did not want to be close enough to be caught when it happened.

      ‘Seek yer rest. We ride hard before daybreak, taking different paths to Glenlui, and will enter the village separately.’

      Lundie nodded at the men who sought their places and readied for the night. No fires would be built that could draw attention, even in this remote location. They followed the same pattern as they had for months, posting guards who would take turns through the night. Niall could see no good from this newest plan, so he decided to say something to Lundie.

      ‘This is dangerous. You know that, Lundie,’ he said quietly so only the other man could hear. ‘Pricking at the man is one thing. Attacking his main village, at his keep, borders on madness.’

      ‘’Tis the order,’ Lundie replied, with another shrug of his shoulders. ‘Dinna worry. The pay will match the danger, Iain,’ Lundie reassured him, believing that greed and gold drove him as it did the others.

      ‘Well, then,’ Niall said, nodding. Let Lundie think it was about the money then. On the morrow, Niall would be on his guard.

      * * *

      So, after sitting in the caves, dry at least, for a day they’d not planned on, they made their way down from the mountains and to the village. Niall made his way into the village, riding past the gateway of the keep without staring at the tall, stone walls around a taller stone keep. He dismounted, leaving his horse tied nearby, and went to the baker. After buying one of the man’s last remaining loaves, he eased his way along the paths, observing the villagers who lived and worked here.

      It did not take long to notice her.

      A young woman, tall and lithe, walked past him and was trailed by a young man who he took little notice of. But, it took only one glance to assess this situation. The young man, awkward and lanky, wanted the woman. The woman who barely gave him a moment’s attention. Until she stopped and turned, giving Niall his first good look at her.

      Good God, she was a beauty!

      She wore a plain gown, but that was the only unremarkable feature of hers. Green eyes the shade of the summer forest. A gently sloping nose that led his gaze down to the most perfect mouth and lips he’d ever seen on a woman. She said something to the man and he imagined how her lips would taste and feel against his own. How her voice would sound as she whispered his name....

      Niall shook his head, trying to understand the strange wanting that this woman caused. Tossing the last bit of bread in his mouth, he chewed it slowly while sorting out the cause of his reaction to her. He was not an untrained, inexperienced lad with no history of involvement with willing women. Before, before he became Iain Dubh, he had had his share of lovers and even since becoming this rogue, women had sought him out for bed play.

      Nay, inexperience did not explain it. So, he stepped into the shadows of the path where he would not be seen and watched the exchange between the two.

      Even without being able to hear their words, he could decipher what was happening. The man was trying to convince the woman to accept his offer. He shuffled from side to side, unable to meet the beauty’s gaze for more than a moment or two. Truly, Niall doubted he could have for much longer than that.

      Then, the woman took the man’s hand and was clearly attempting to be kind about her obvious refusal. Was the man making an offer of marriage? He was bolder than Niall thought him to be if that was happening,

      ‘Dougal!’ the beauty said louder now. Ah, the hapless lad was called Dougal. ‘I have been as clear as I can about a match between us. I pray you to leave the matter now.’

      Dougal, the hapless lad, opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to say something. The lad’s rebuttal to the lass’s refusal, Niall suspected. But the determined young woman—was she an Isabel or a Margaret?—did not give him the opportunity. She released his hand and stepped back, a clear message to one who had eyes to see it.

      Niall let out a sigh and retrieved the apple he’d been carrying in his sack. Biting into it, he continued to watch this unexpected bit of entertainment to ease the waiting.

      Bloody hell! He needed to get into position and realised the lass, and lad, would be in the middle of the coming disturbance. Glancing around, he wondered how to steer her away from it. Niall saw that his presence had not been noticed. Mayhap if they saw him, they would leave this area and go in some other direction?

      He’d seen many other men and women in the months with this gang and had never thought of warning one of them, so why now? Why her? For it was the lass for whom he was concerned.

      Without

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