Chapter 6 #3
Christopher nodded and smiled. He waited until the bald man had completely disappeared from the corridor in the other direction and wondered at the situations life put them in.
If his mother hadn't stolen him away, would he have known Kier years ago?
If Kier's mother hadn't clearly passed at some point in his past, would the man be here serving the Campbells?
There were so many stories untold, so many possibilities unexplored, and it hurt Christopher's head to try to consider what any of it might mean.
Shaking his head to clear it once he was sure he was entirely alone again, Christopher made his way into the war room.
He did not stop but headed directly to the opposite wall where he knew a small, hidden door waited.
Ian had shown it to him a few days before.
He located it after a moment, then pushed it open, revealing the war room library beyond.
Books and scrolls were stuffed haphazardly into shelves, rows of maps and records as far as the eye could see.
Christopher did not hesitate. He immediately set to work, rummaging through the dusty shelves and boxes, pulling out anything that might be of help in any way whatsoever.
He didn't know exactly what he was looking for—numbers, names, maps, anything at all—but he knew that he'd recognize it when he saw it.
He needed anything at all that could help prevent the war that was coming closer and closer every breath that passed.
After about twenty minutes, he spotted a rolled map that lacked the dust of the others on the shelves surrounding it. He pulled it out and carried it over to one of the tables, unrolling it and setting down weights in the corners to keep it flat.
His eyes widened as he realized what he'd found.
It was a map of the Highlands, including the islands and encapsulating the whole of the north right down to the boundary faultline. Several places were marked with colored shapes, including a dark red cross over the location of the Murray clan and another, brighter red mark over the Kincaids.
Heart racing, Christopher leaned closer to the map, intending to study it as closely as he could. He could not overestimate how much information could be available from this—clearly part of a larger plan—and he needed to learn as much as he could before time ran out.
"I kent I'd find ye here. I kent ye'd go sneakin' around as soon as everyone else was away."
He jumped at the unexpected sound of the feminine voice and saw Morag standing in the doorway, smiling victoriously at him.
Panic flooded his chest, though he managed to keep his expression organized as he reached desperately for Murdoch once more.
However, as Morag moved closer, the mask slipped out of reach.
"What's yer excuse, then?" Morag taunted. "Curiosity? Interest in yer father's work?"
"Morag—" he started roughly.
She snatched the map away from the table, and Christopher watched it fall to the ground. His chest ached and his fingers flexed, and he only barely managed to stop himself from grabbing it back.
"Ye dinnae need this, I suppose?" she asked as the library door swung closed behind her.
"Why did ye follow me?" he demanded. "How did ye follow me?"
"Ye're nae as subtle as ye think, Murdoch," she mocked, taking her time with the name in a way that felt like a punch.
"I've had me eyes on ye all day. Ye're good with that horse of yers.
Beatha, is it? Awfully gentle for a Campbell.
Ye remind me of how Elsie Kincaid treated that wild horse of hers.
But she's a traitor ye want nothin' tae do with, aye? "
Christopher clenched his jaw, saying nothing.
"Are ye nae gonnae defend yerself, Murdoch?" she pressed. "Are ye nae gonnae tell me how I'm a foolish woman who doesnae ken what I'm sayin'? Are ye nae gonnae say I dinnae understand?"
"Ye dinnae understand a thing," Christopher growled.
Morag's eyes flashed. She took a step closer to him, so close that he could have touched her. She tilted her head up to glare into his face.
"I understand that I've caught ye. I understand that if I tell me father what I've discovered, it's over for ye. Ye're at me mercy now, Murdoch. Or should I say, Chris—”
Christopher grabbed her wrist and pulled her hard, holding her flush against him as he leaned down and hissed his next words in low, urgent panic.
"This isnae a game, do ye understand? People will die if I do nothin'."
She narrowed her eyes, but before either of them could say more, the sound of voices and thundering footsteps outside the library door caused them both to freeze in place. Ian's voice echoed through, loud and commanding, as he barked indistinguishable orders over the sound of the noise.
Ice flooded through Christopher's veins. Ian was back. He'd been too late. There was no way that he could explain away being here, no way that he could act that would stop everything from falling apart.
The library door started to open. Christopher looked down to Morag, who was staring back at him with wide eyes.
Then her expression changed to one he did not understand. She swept her foot to the side, dragging the map under her cloak, then wrapped a hand around Christopher's neck, tangling in his hair.
"What—" Christopher demanded.
"Be quiet," Morag hissed.
The door swung open and she yanked his hair, pulling his head down and pressing her lips hard against his.