Chapter 17
Sweat dripped off of him by the time he was done sparring with Alistair.
The spy was equally as fatigued and looked frustrated for it.
“I see yer time at the keep hasnae made ye soft,” Alistair grinned.
“Ye seemed to be fighting dirtier these days. I wonder if it has something to do with the lovely lass I’ll be spending some time alone with. ”
“Ye touch her, and she will no doubt cut off something verra important while ye are sleeping,” Liam retorted.
He wasn’t all that worried about Jean’s virtue. Alistair liked his women, but he respected Liam’s father too much to do anything that would infuriate Laird Armstrong. There was a certain trust between the laird and the clan spy, and once it was broken, Alistair would find himself lost.
Alistair was a few years older than Liam, and when he became Creighton’s spy, Liam found himself more than a little jealous.
The role was never going to be his. One day he would be laird and Alistair would be his spy or training his replacement, but that bond between Alistair and Creighton was one that Liam could never replicate.
He wondered more than once if his father preferred Alistair to him.
It was nonsense, and he grew out of it quickly. Alistair had no family. He was orphaned at a young age and raised by the village until he trained to be a warrior and showed proof of other skills. Alistair might look to Creighton as a father, but he was not a replacement of any kind.
There were even some days that Liam thought of Alistair as a brother. Today was not one of those days, though.
“Aye, she is feisty,” Alistair laughed. “And unwed. When I pointed that out to her father, her mother quickly reminded me that her safety was more important than her virtue. Apparently, the bonnie lass makes a habit of getting herself into dangerous situations. I wonder if they’ll force her to wed after this. ”
Liam’s stomach twisted. There was a time when he would have staked his life on the fact that Connor would never force his daughter to do anything, but this may very well be the mistake that pushes the Sinclair laird over the edge.
“What business is it of yers? Still angry that ye had a hard time taking her down?”
“She did surprise me, and I was sore about it yesterday, but I’ve had some time to think on it. She is an interesting woman. Perhaps ‘tis time for me to take a wife after all.”
“Ye cannae marry outside the clan and still work for my father,” Liam told him curtly. “Even if it ‘tis to an alliance clan. Ye know the rule.”
“Another can take my place,” Alistair said mildly and looked over Liam’s shoulder. A wide grin split his face. “Aye. I do believe I like the way she looks at me.”
Immediately, Liam whipped his head around. Jean stood in the partial shadow of the building, her eyes trained on them. When she realized that she was caught, she straightened and walked toward them. Whatever look Alistair had seen was obviously not the same look that she was giving them now.
He’d been the one to put that look of hurt in her eyes.
“Good morning,” she said curtly as she nodded her head.
“I have finished my rounds. Mara will be able to take over for me once we leave. I suggest we start the hunt immediately. I know the majority of yer men are working on rebuilding, but I can take one or two with me in the woods. We might be more successful at night, but if we find its den during the day, we may luck out and find the beast sleeping.”
“It hunts at night?” Alistair asked, still grinning.
“It has killed at night,” Jean corrected. “We dinnae know if it was hunting or if Amelia simply crossed its path.”
“Then I suggest a morning and a night hunt. We search for tracks and a den this morning. It hasnae rained in a few days which is good for us. We ascertain its habits and then the hunt may begin tonight.”
“We ‘ave already done that,” Liam interjected. “Amelia was by the river when she was attacked. ‘Tis no doubt where the dog finds water, but there are many access points. I think we should set up a few points where we can watch the water today and do the hunt tonight.”
Alistair frowned. “Dog? Ye think ‘tis a feral dog. I heard ye called it a wolf.”
Liam instantly stiffened. “We dinnae know what it is,” Jean said hastily. “But we know ‘tis dangerous.”
“‘Tis no wolf. I have traveled these parts many times, and I have never seen evidence of a wolf,” Alistair mused. “I could keep watch at the river, but Lady Jean, I am also tasked with keeping a watchful eye on ye. Perhaps I should join ye on yer plans for the day.”
“No need to keep watch since I amnae leaving until the beast is found,” Jean said. “But if ye wish to spend time with me, I would like to check on the pregnant woman who is due next month. Ye are welcome to join me while I examine her.”
Alistair’s face immediately contorted, and he took a step back. “Ye are a healer?”
“I know the basics, and I am teaching Mara.”
“I wouldnae want to get in the way of that.”
With a small laugh, Liam clapped Alistair on the back. “Dinnae worry, my friend. I am certain we can find something for ye to do.
It wasn’t until supper that Jean saw Liam again.
Most of it was design on her part, but when she did see him, her heart ached.
“Ye cannae blame him for what yer parents have done,” Mara said in a low voice in her ear.
“And from the way Alistair is looking at ye, I suggest ye let Liam make his claim before ye leave.”
“Make his claim?” Jean echoed and rolled her eyes. “That phrase alone makes me want to never wed.”
“All I am saying?—”
“I know what ye are saying,” Jean sighed. “But he should have told me. It wouldnae have changed anything but I would not have been blindsided. And whatever ye see between Liam and me, or even Alistair and me is all in yer head. That is what happens when a woman is unwed.”
“I am unwed,” Mara pointed out with a smile.
With a grumble, Jean accepted her plate of food from a woman and gave her thanks.
Liam was already eating with the guards.
If they had caught the beast, she would have heard of it, so she ignored him.
She and Mara joined a spread blanket with some of the other villagers.
At some point during the meal, she felt eyes on her and immediately looked at Liam, but he wasn’t the one staring at her.
It was Alistair.
“Are those two handsome men who have caught yer attention,” Mara teased in a low voice. “Whatever shall the lass who declared she would never wed do.”
Jean glared at her friend and hoped no one else could overhear them. “‘Tis not that I am never going to marry. It would suit my family to do so, and with the right husband, I could make that work.”
“Like a warrior? The one who is to escort ye home, perhaps? Can be some lonely nights on the road.”
“Stop that!” Jean almost jumped when Mara poked her in the ribs. “I know nothing of Alistair other than that he is a competent fighter. It would take more than that to be my husband.”
Mara nodded, and Jean could have sworn she saw a look of satisfaction on her friend’s face. She was so certain that Jean and Liam were destined to be wed.
Jean didn’t put much stock in destiny or fate. She was lucky enough to be able to make her own decisions, and she wouldn’t give that up lightly, not for something as fickle as fate.
After dinner, she changed back into the pair of breeches she’d used for the roads. It was easier to hunt in. The flowy fabrics of her skirt often snagged in the woods. Armed with her dagger and a bow and arrow, she joined the warriors who were gathered in front of the woods.
No one was surprised to see her.
“Lady Jean, our fearless leader is sending us out with partners. Care to join me on the hunt?” Alistair asked with a small bow.
“Only if ye drop the ‘lady’ and simply call me Jean.”
Alistair paused and then nodded. “Verra well, Jean. I can do that. Ye can confirm whether the exploits of yer daring adventures as a child are true.”
“We will be on a hunt. Story telling should not be on the agenda.” She cocked her head. “Ye do want to hunt this beast, do ye not? Then we can be on our way.”
“Aye, but I have a feeling Liam needs the kill more than I do. He carries a burden on his shoulders.”
She found it curious that he’d noticed that. Liam carried a lot of burdens on his shoulders, and he never talked about the wolf. Maybe he and Alistair were closer than she first though.
“Jean.” As if he knew that they were talking about him, Liam appeared. “I willnae let ye go out there alone, and before ye get angry about it, I amnae letting anyone go alone.”
“I have already agreed to go with Alistair.”
Liam looked sharply at Alistair and nodded. “Verra well.”
They made a plan to spread out but never be so isolated that shouts for help would go unnoticed. Alistair surprised Jean by knowing the markers that were assigned to them. She knew that he’d entered the territory through the woods, but she didn’t think he’d stayed in them for that long.
Perhaps he had an excellent memory.
The light from the moon was bright, making it unnecessary to use their lanterns or torches. Alistair dropped all pretenses of engaging Jean in conversation. Once the hunt began, he was singularly focused on it, and it took Jean only a few minutes to realize that he did not work well with others.
It was in her nature to lead and give directions, but her partner was not one to follow, so she fell back and reluctantly followed.
The forest was eerily quiet despite knowing that dozens of warriors were crawling through it.
To follow what many believed was a supernatural monster, they had become ghosts.
Alistair’s body language changed. He stopped short and stiffened. He then turned his body and moved in a different direction than they were supposed to be heading. Instead of following, Jean searched the spot for what had alerted him.
A broken branch at waist height. Kneeling down, she examined it. The break was almost clean. The second half of the branch still clung to the plant, but there were no breaks or splinters in the split. When she searched the bush for another break, she couldn’t find one.
Animals trembling through the brush broke many branches. Those brushing up against a branch might break just one but often at several points. The branch that was broken was still young and thin and flexible.
It shouldn’t have broken at all. It was cut.
Wary, she followed Alistair until he changed directions again. Another broken branch, at the same height. Another young sapling that shouldn’t have broken.
She put a hand on Alistair’s shoulder, and the man whirled around, blade in his hand. Gasping, she moved before it bit at her skin.
“Jean. Sorry.” Immediately, he pulled away. “‘Tis not often I work with someone.”
He’d forgotten about her? She tried to stow her outrage and quickly pointed to the branch. “I dinnae think the tracks ye are following are made from an animal,” she said softly. “We should continue in the direction we are assigned.”
Alistair hesitated. “If they are made by a man, then ‘twill be even better to discover what is at the end, aye?”
He had a point, but she was not looking for a man. She was looking for a beast. “I will head back so ye can continue to work.”
Just as she suspected, he grabbed onto her idea. “Aye. ‘Tis dangerous for ye to be out here anyway.”
Clearly he thought she was returning to the village. Annoyance sliced through her, but she ignored it. He was already focused on his own hunt anyway, so she turned and headed back to the point where they’d gone off course.
Gripping her dagger, she held her breath as she moved forward. It wasn’t long before she couldn’t shake the feeling that eyes were watching her. Like she was being followed, and not by a supernatural creature.
Movement caught her eyes, and she turned just in time to see a figure darting behind a tree. “Liam, is that ye?” She was going to be very angry if she discovered that he’d followed them even though she’d partnered with Alistair.
Although, he wouldn’t have remained hidden when he realized that she was alone. Fear trickled down her spine. “Who are ye?” She demanded.
Leaves rustled behind her, and she turned and gasped.
The wolf stood in the moonlight, no more than ten feet from her. It was massive with dark grey fur and eyes that gleamed yellow in the light. Dipping its head, it gave a warning growl.
But it didn’t attack.
“Easy,” she crooned as she thought quickly. The dagger would help her in an attack, but it wouldn’t bring the beast down. If she reached for the bow and arrow, it might attack. “Hold.”
The wolf’s ears twitched, and to her surprise, it lifted its head. Slowly, she reached for her bow.
Pain exploded from behind her, and she screamed. As she tumbled to the ground, darkness descended.