Chapter Twenty-Six #4
Cam had thought that question might come and he was prepared for it, but his answer wasn’t exactly the truth.
He had been concocting his plan on the ride from Auchnacree and thought it was a solid one, but what he hadn’t expected was to find the warrior known as The Beast in Drostan’s hall.
A warrior who knew him from the Ludus Caledonia and quite possibly knew he’d left because he’d been made an offer—by the Keith.
That might pose a problem.
“I have my reasons,” he said after a moment. “If ye must know, I felt compelled tae return home. My time at The Cal was valuable, but my vengeance canna wait.”
“But I thought ye were going tae learn tae fight first?”
“I have learned tae fight. Ask The Beast.”
All eyes turned toward The Beast, who was still standing over near the hearth. He was an obedient servant, not moving unless he was told to move, not acting unless he’d been given a command.
“Well?” Drostan said to The Beast. “It must be true that Cam learned tae fight if he bested ye.”
The Beast’s gaze moved to Cam. “He can fight.”
That was all the man said. Nothing about Cam’s departure from The Cal or whom it was with. Cam was relieved with the response because it validated what he’d told Drostan. But on his shoulder, Isadora grunted again, in obvious pain, and that had Cam’s attention.
He had to get her out of there.
“I can fight and I have what I’ve come for,” he said to Drostan. “I heard rumor that ye captured Keith women and I came tae see for myself. Now that I have this one, I’ll take her with me.”
Drostan shook his head. “Ye canna.”
“I can and I will.”
“Think, Cam.” Drostan tapped his skull. “Do ye even know who the lass is?”
“I know she’s a Keith. Ye told me so.”
“That’s Niall Keith’s daughter. I canna let ye take her.”
Cam frowned. “Why not? Ye promised I could have my vengeance and now that I have the daughter of the man who killed my grandfather, I’ll exact vengeance upon the Keith the likes of which they’ve never seen.”
Drostan stood up from the table. “Put her down,” he said firmly. “Ye canna take her with ye.”
Cam could see that the man was serious. Evidently, this wasn’t going to be simple thing. Not that he’d believed it would be, but he’d hoped for some ease in slipping Isadora from Kirkburn as he portrayed a man seeking vengeance.
Cam had to change tactics.
“Then I’ll pay ye for her,” he said. “I have money. If ye willna give her tae me, then sell her tae me.”
Drostan shook his head. “She’s too valuable.”
“She’s nothing tae ye, not like she is tae me. Will ye go back on yer word of helping me seek vengeance?”
“I’ve not gone back on my word.”
On Cam’s shoulder, Isadora grunted again and Cam knew he couldn’t keep her in that position much longer.
It must have been excruciating for her. Therefore, he shifted her off his shoulder and turned around, carefully setting her down onto the ground.
But as he bent over to prop her against the wall, he whispered in her ear.
“Not a word,” he murmured. “No matter what, not a word.”
That was all he said but as he stood straight, he could tell from the expression on Isadora’s face that she understood him. God, how he ached to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be all right. He could see the total trust in her eyes and it fortified him.
It also fed his fears.
He’d not been there when his grandfather had been in danger. But he was here with Isadora as her life hung in the balance. No matter what Drostan said, Cam wasn’t leaving without her.
He went with his instincts.
“Then I’ll make ye a proposition,” Cam said as he faced Drostan.
“If ye willna give or sell me the woman, then I’ll make ye an offer—I’ll fight yer Beast for her.
If I win, then I am allowed tae take her and the other Keith women.
But if I lose, I’ll swear fealty tae ye.
I’ll serve in yer ranks and ye’ll have two great warriors, both trained by the Ludus Caledonia.
And I’ll destroy the Keith in yer name.”
Drostan looked at him in astonishment. “Are ye making me a serious offer?”
“I am.”
Drostan appeared as if he didn’t believe him, but then he motioned to Ternan and the two of them began to whisper furiously over at the feasting table.
Cam watched them, unable to tell which direction they were leaning or what decision they might come to, and his gaze eventually moved to The Beast, still standing in the same spot he’d been standing in since Cam entered the hall.
The Beast was looking at him.
Cam felt much as he had the first time he’d faced that mountain of a warrior—apprehensive.
He’d lost to him once and triumphed over him once.
He was apprehensive in that the man might be brighter than he was given credit for.
He would be prepared for Cam to jump onto his back again and would do everything he could to prevent it.
That meant Cam had to be smart about it. He might have to try another tactic.
If he even got that far.
The seconds ticked away as Drostan and Ternan continued to bicker quietly.
Casually, Cam turned to look at Isadora, who was still sitting against the wall beside him, only to see that she was gazing up at him with fear in her eyes.
He knew that his offer to fight The Beast was the reason, so he turned around quickly, unwilling to be influenced by her.
If she was fearful, then he might be as well.
It was quite some time before Drostan and Ternan finally stopped arguing. Cam had to fight down the uneasiness when Drostan turned to him.
“Very well,” Drostan said. “I’ll accept yer offer. But on one condition.”
“What is it?”
“That if ye win, ye dunna kill The Beast and ye dunna kill the Keith lass. We will need them both for things tae come.”
“I willna kill them.”
There was nothing more to say. The bargain was struck, but Cam was making promises he had no intention of keeping. When he took The Beast down, he intended that the man wouldn’t rise up again.
He was going to have to kill him.
Could he defeat The Beast twice?
God help him… he was about to find out.