The Best of Alexander Grant, Part 2 (Highland Highlights)

Highland Retribution

The younger group of Clan Grant, Clan Ramsay, and Clan Drummond have discovered an evil force called the Channel of Dubh. But they still turn to their elders for guidance.

Chapter Seven

Alexander Grant, the leader…

Upon returning to Grant Castle, Braden, Connor, and Roddy immediately sought out an audience with their sires and Uncle Alex.

Once they were all settled in the solar, Uncle Alex asked, “What did you discover, lads?

Connor started. “Oh, it’s something you’ll want to hear. There was no one at Buchan Castle, it’s still deserted. There were five of the king’s guards there to keep reivers away. They knew naught about the Lamonts. We didn’t find anything else until we traveled to our last stop, Muir Castle.”

Braden pursed his lips. “And there, we found the answers to our questions and more.”

“Did you bring the lass with you, get her away from the bastards?” his sire asked.

“Nay,” Roddy said. “The Lamonts are there, two brothers, Greer and Blair. We spoke to them directly, and they both have an attitude I didn’t like.

They didn’t allow us inside, but they claimed to have found the castle empty about four years ago.

Said they had naught to do with killing the Muirs.

Didn’t realize it was Muir Castle, or so they claim. ”

Brodie Grant, Braden’s sire, looked at him and said, “Something in your face tells me ‘tis a lie. What does your sense say?”

Braden was not going to hold back. “I met Cairstine, daughter of the Muir. She said she was taken captive by the Lamonts several years ago.”

“And did she confirm the Lamonts had killed her parents?” Uncle Alex asked, no expression at all on his face.

“Nay, not directly. We were interrupted when her son came out calling for her along with Greer Lamont. I was alone just outside the curtain wall, while she returned to the keep. I didn’t get the chance to ask her everything I would have liked, but there’s no doubt she is who she claims to be and does not wish to be held by the Lamonts.

I promised her I would come back for her and take her away, but she’s afraid the bastard will hunt her down and kill her and hurt her son if she left. ”

Uncle Alex sighed. “She’s married to one of the brothers, then?”

“Nay, she says ‘tis not so. She was taken captive, and, well, you can guess the rest. She was probably raped by the bastards, one or both of them, and now she stays on because of her son.”

Uncle Alex paused to consider this while Roddy added, “We counted about fifty guards around the property. Not many. It would be easy to overtake them.”

“We should slaughter them the same way they did the Muirs,” Braden suggested, cracking his knuckles. He savored the thought. “But I also worry about the lad. We’d have to get inside to protect the two of them before forging an attack. But there’s more that Cairstine led on to.”

Roddy and Connor both gave quick nods at this revelation, and Braden had everyone’s attention. “She said Lamont threatened that if she ran away again, he’d try to sell her son across the water.”

Uncle Robbie repeated Braden’s words, rubbing his hands together. “Across the water. Hellfire, but I hate bastards who take their anger out on bairns. Do you suppose that could mean they have a connection to the Channel of Dubh?”

Brodie said, “Or they know of it. Either way, I think we need to find out. Killing them is not the answer yet. We need more information. Much as I’d like to slaughter the bastards, that act would be counterproductive.

They’re supporting themselves in some elusive undertaking, if they’ve not made use of the land at all.

It is certainly possible they could be part of the Channel of Dubh. ”

“Until we know for certain they were responsible for the Muirs’ deaths, we’ll not do any slaughtering.

It seems likely, aye, but we’ve no solid evidence.

” Uncle Alex leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin.

The man always gave careful consideration to every option before making a decision.

While he was still the clan’s chieftain, he’d given over many of his responsibilities to his two eldest lads, Jake and Jamie, after he suffered a wound in battle.

The two were still on another mission or else would have been right at their sire’s side.

“How are we going to determine that? If there were any witnesses left beyond the lass, we would have heard already,” Uncle Robbie said.

Uncle Alex said, “Braden will have to get inside to speak with Muir’s daughter again.

If she’s willing to claim the Lamont brothers killed her family and her sire’s men, I’ll have no trouble explaining to our king why we took action against the bastards.

But she needs to have witnessed their actual deaths, not just assumed.

Now, I’m sure these Lamonts are on high alert and will be for a few more days.

Braden, you can make your move after that.

I’m going to send a missive to Logan Ramsay, requesting Maggie and Will’s expertise.

I’d like them involved if this ambush could lead to any information about the Channel of Dubh.

If you determine you need extra help, they’ll be certain to assist you.

They’ve broken out of the royal castle, and if they can get past the king’s protective forces, they can certainly get past the Lamonts. ”

“That may be the best idea, Alex,” his father said. “Braden struggles to control his anger when there’s been a miscarriage of justice.”

“I can if I need to, Papa,” Braden retorted. “I’m not a bairn anymore.” He had the sudden urge to bolt out of his chair and pace, but surely that wouldn’t convince them of his self-control. “You’ll never believe that I’ve conquered that fault, will you?”

His sire tilted his head. “I will when I’ve seen evidence of it. I’ve yet to.” His words were harsh, but his tone was less so. “We can’t afford to take any chances, is all. The fate of an innocent woman and child—and possibly many children—rests on the success of this mission.”

Connor said, “He was extremely calm when he told us about what he’d learned on the journey back. I kept waiting for him to break out in his usual rant, but I never saw it.”

Roddy added, “Me, either. Why is that, Braden?” he added with a smirk.

“I’ve told you. This is different. She’s different. I’ll not walk away from her or the promise I made.”

Uncle Alex quirked his brow at Braden.

“I promised to get her and her son away from the Lamonts,” he explained, leaning back in his chair with his hands folded on his lap. “She was too frightened to leave with me, but I will go back. You can count on it.”

“I’ll send that missive to Logan,” Uncle Alex said. “Ask him what Maggie and Will are doing. I would like to wait a couple of days, catch the Lamonts off guard. If they arrive before then, they’ll accompany you all.

Chapter Eleven

A laddie named Steenie meets the renowned Alexander Grant.

Braden, Roddy, and Loki joined the wee lads in the hall. As the group settled at one of the trestle tables with Steenie and Kenzie, Uncle Alex joined them. He had heard about Loki’s companion and had come inside to chat with the boy.

Steenie had already polished off two meat pies and was working on a pastry, licking the juice from his fingers. “This is the best ever. May I have another, please? Mama says if I say please, then I may have ‘nother. Does that work here, too?”

Uncle Alex sat in a chair and rested his feet on a nearby bench. “Aye,” he said. “Kenzie will find you another, but first tell me about your keep. How many of you live there?”

Steenie set his pastry down and folded his hands on his lap. “Who are you, my lord?”

Alex smirked as he answered the lad. “I’m Alexander Grant. I used to be chieftain of the Grants, but now my two eldest lads share the lairdship, though they’re away at the moment. That puts me back in charge.”

Steenie’s eyes widened. “You’re the laird? My lord. My laird. What should I call you?”

“Call me Alex. ‘Tis fine for now. Now about your castle…”

“I live with my mama and papa, and my uncle Blair. Blair is Papa’s brother. The Lamont brothers, ‘tis what the guards call them.”

“And your mama?”

“She’s called Cairstine, but she’s locked up in the cellars. Will you get her out? I miss my mama. I’m probably not supposed to say that if I want to be a warrior. Papa says she coddles me.”

Alex whispered, “Don’t tell anyone, but I miss my mama every day. I wish she were still here to coddle me.”

“You do?” The lad stared at Uncle Alex in disbelief, and Braden couldn’t help but wonder if he was being honest. He guessed he was since he’d never known his uncle to tell anything but the truth.

“I do. And I miss my papa, too. He loved my mama verra much. He was verra kind to her.”

Braden held his breath, knowing exactly what his uncle was doing, hoping to bait the lad into discussing his mother’s treatment by his sire. His uncle never failed to impress him with his cleverness, but would Steenie be honest?

Steenie stared at his hands in his lap. “I miss my mama, but not Papa. He thrashes me all the time.”

“Is your papa kind to your mama?”

Steenie’s eyes teared up and he whispered, “Nay. He’s always yelling at her. But he doesn’t thrash her the way he does me. When he gets mad at her, he hits her in the face. He uses his fist with Mama. Sometimes he puts her in the cellars, like he did this time.”

Then he surprised everyone by pointing to Braden.

“He said men are not supposed to hit people smaller than them. Is that true, Alex?” He had the most serious expression Braden had ever seen on a child.

He’d wondered what Cairstine had been forced to deal with, but now he wondered about the lad, too. His life could not be easy.

“Aye, ‘tis true. I never hit women or bairns. And you will not either, will you?”

His eyes widened and he shook his head furiously.

“Is your mama’s name Cairstine Muir?”

He frowned and thought about the question for a few moments before he answered. “Nay, just Cairstine, but Mama tells me stories about the great Muirs. ‘Tis the same? About their laird and mistress and the special holidays they celebrated. Do you mean those Muirs?”

“Aye, those Muirs. How old are you, Steenie?”

“Five winters,” he replied, puffing his chest out a bit. “I’m old enough to help my mother now. Will you get her out of the cellars? Tell my da he cannot keep her there?”

“I will. I’ll send some of our warriors out there to get her out of the cellars. Will that make you happy?”

“Aye,” he said, bolting out of his seat. “Now? Can we go now?”

“Nay, we shall leave at dawn.”

“But…but…”

“We’ll get her freed, Steenie. I promise you.”