My Brave Highlander(101)

"Haldane saw you up there when we were heading out here. He said you were acting like king of the castle and should be taken down. He ordered Gil to shoot the arrow while the rest of us hid behind the kirk wall."

"Who's Gil?" Dirk demanded.

"The lad who ran away with Haldane."

Damnation. Dirk would've especially loved to have captured him. "I thank you for telling me."

"I spoke the truth. Will you allow me to stay now? I don't wish to leave the clan."

"That depends on how loyal you are to me. I'll tolerate no empty words. You think on it a while, then decide what kind of man you want to be."

Ross hung his head.

"Let's get these traitors back to the dungeon," Dirk said. "Walk," he ordered Ross.

The lad stumbled forward and glanced back, more fearful now. He well knew a man without a clan was vulnerable indeed, but Dirk could tolerate no disloyalty.

The two men who'd been knocked out were carried and tossed across the horses' backs. The rest were bound and forced to walk forward. The lads were not boasting so much now. Likely, none of them had ever spent time in a dungeon, and mayhap they were a little afraid.

Dirk led his horse and made Ross walk ahead of him while he held the rope binding his wrists.

A few minutes later, they entered Dunnakeil's gates, the guards there surprised to see the prisoners from their own clan, some of them sons of respected clan members. The lads would have to be taught a lesson if they were ever to be loyal and trusted members of the clan. Maybe they never would be. If not, he'd have to send them all away.

Dirk spoke to the front gate guards. "Don't allow Haldane or his young friend Gil inside the gates. They are traitors who shot at me and then started up a skirmish in the byre. If you see them, capture them. Tell the rest of the guards."

One guard's brows lifted. "Aye, m'laird."

The dungeon contained plenty of cells with solid, well-maintained doors. Dirk made sure every last one of Haldane's party was locked in an isolated cell, because he didn't want them talking and hatching more plans. He wanted them to think long and hard about their traitorous actions, attacking their chief and his party. Men had been executed for less. Dirk didn't plan on doing anything so drastic, but he would never be able to trust the backstabbers. He was glad to be finding out exactly who in the clan he could trust.

Now he had to deal with his murderous stepmother.





Chapter Twenty-One





Maighread watched Dirk and his armed cohorts enter the great hall. Supper had been held until the chief returned… that alone made her grind her teeth.

She narrowed her eyes at the arrogant bastard. His hair windblown, he wore armor and carried his helm. Where was Haldane? Was he injured? Had he and his men bungled the ambush she'd so carefully set up? She knew Aiden had been listening when she'd told Haldane to meet the man at the tavern. In truth, there was no man and no meeting. Haldane and his men, along with one of her own guards, were to surprise Dirk and his friends and kill them. Or at least kill Dirk, but he was not even injured, nor were any of the men with him. Frustrated rage burned through her veins. What the devil had happened?

"Where is Haldane?" Maighread murmured to Aiden, who stood nearby.

"How would I know? I've been here all night."

"Don't be impertinent with me, young man."

"Pray pardon, Mother, but I don't ken where he is." He moved away from her. How could he be so rude and ungrateful? Did he not know she did all this for him?

Listening closely, she understood some of the men's words. They mentioned a failed ambush and that several prisoners had been taken to the dungeon.

Damn him. Had he thrown Haldane into the dungeon? She charged across the great hall, wishing she had a small dagger to slip between his ribs.

"Where is my son?" she demanded.

"Aiden is there." Dirk pointed. "I know not where Haldane is."

"Liar!" She clenched her fists so she wouldn't go flying at Dirk and claw his eyes out. Never had she hated another human being so much.

He smirked, which only deepened her loathing and fury.

"If you hurt my son, you will pay dearly for it."

"Why would I hurt my own brother? What would he do to provoke me? A dire task you sent him to do perhaps?"

The hall was silent, all eyes on her.

He was trying to con her into revealing her scheme. She was not as witless as he believed. "I did no such thing."

"Haldane first ordered one of his friends to fire an arrow at me. Then, Haldane charged me with a sword," Dirk said. "Trying to kill the chief makes him a traitor to the clan."

Maighread's breath froze in her chest. If he'd killed her son… "What did you do with him?"