The Highlander's Forbidden Bride(54)

“And you,” Ronan said.

“I was surprised when Addie told me that you were her son.”

“I was surprised when I learned that you care for my mother,” Ronan said.

“I care for her very much,” Hagen admitted, while his cheeks flushed bright red.

“How is it that Hagen didn’t know who you were?” Cavan asked curiously.

“Where we came from and who we were is not important to our group,” Hagen answered. “It is who we are as a group that matters.”

Ronan couldn’t agree more with Hagen. Not one mercenary questioned another about his past. None were judged by past deeds or misdeeds. It was what they gave and shared with the whole of them that mattered.

“Mother explained what we want of you?” Cavan asked.

Hagen nodded.

“Before you present our request,” Cavan said, “can you find out why the two mercenary groups are meeting?”

“I already know,” Hagen said. “My troop has contacted me.”

“How?” Cavan asked, annoyed. “My sentries haven’t alerted me to anyone entering the village.”

Alyce laughed. “It could only be one of two people who could make it into the village without being detected. Evan your scout who remained behind at my village, or is it Piper, a young woman who knows the land as if she were born to it.”

“They both were on a mission for Septimus,” Hagen explained, “and learned of the problem before anyone else.”

“What problem?” Cavan asked.

“That the other mercenary troop has captured Dykar,” Hagen said.

“Your leader?” Cavan asked.

Hagen hesitated.

“Why has your leader’s identity remained a secret?” Ronan asked.

Hagen nodded. “You knew Dykar wasn’t our leader?”

“I surmised though I had no proof, only a gut feeling,” Ronan said.

“I don’t understand,” Cavan said annoyed. “If Dykar isn’t your leader, why was he taken captive?”

“They threaten to kill Dykar if our leader doesn’t meet with them,” Hagen explained.

“And how is that a problem?” Cavan asked. “Does your leader hide because he lacks courage?”

“I have known no other as courageous as my leader,” Hagen said.

“Then there is no problem,” Cavan said.

Hagen shook his head. “There is a problem. The men fear that the troop plans to capture our leader en route or while there.”

“Why?” Cavan asked, shaking his head. “It makes no sense. And how could they with his men protecting him?”

“Our leader is to come alone to the meet, or they promise that Dykar will die and not quickly,” Hagen said. “And as for why? There is a sizeable reward for our leader’s capture.”

“Who placed a reward on your leader’s head?” Cavan asked.

Hagen hesitated, then finally said, “You did.”





Chapter 23




Cavan shook his head. “I don’t know what you could mean? I have placed a reward on only one person.”

Hagen remained silent.

Cavan’s mouth fell open in shock, and it took him a moment before he said, “Your leader is Carissa?”

Ronan glared at Hagen. “All this time the woman I searched for was the one who commanded me?”

Hagen nodded.

Ronan didn’t know whether to be furious or relieved. Furious because he felt that once again Carissa had made a fool of him, or relieved because he knew she was safe with the mercenaries.

“Then there is no problem,” Cavan said. “Once the mercenaries have her, they will bring her to me.”

“Not before they do what they want with her,” Hagen said.

Ronan looked to Cavan. “That can’t happen.”

“She has done worse to us,” Cavan said.

Ronan shook his head. “Her father did; she had nothing to do with it.”

“You defend her?” Cavan asked bitterly.

“Carissa is not who you think,” Hagen said.

“She isn’t?” Cavan laughed. “That’s funny since I saw her smile every time her father had me whipped. And she was the one who insisted on tossing a bucket of God knows what on my wounds that caused me to pass out from the pain.” Cavan slammed his fist on the table. “To me she is nothing but evil, so do not dare ask me if I care what becomes of her while in captivity of the mercenaries.”

“I care,” Ronan said.

“Why?” Cavan asked with a shake of his head. “Has she filled your head with nonsense since we left you at the village Black?”

“She escaped from the village and I had to go after her,” he said. Another fact he had to admit to his brother that made him appear a fool. And before anyone could comment, he finished explaining. “We were stranded in a cottage in the woods due to the snowstorm.”