by Terry Spear
“Cormac sent Quinn with five mercenaries to bring Fenella home to marry Cormac. Quinn didna intend to steal the lass for himself. He thought the lass wished to wed Cormac.”
“She didna,” Avelina said, her chin raised.
“So I have learned.” Liam tilted his head to the side. “Did you perchance meet Quinn? Everyone has said the men must have all drowned at sea. No one said they had seen him.”
“He canna be killed, so I’ve been told.” Avelina smiled.
Liam’s mouth curved up, his dark brown eyes smiling. “You have seen him. Do you know where he is?” He glanced around the great hall as if expecting to see his friend.
“He was returning home. Has he no’ already arrived?” She arched a brow in query.
“Nay. If I had learned of it, I wouldna be asking about his fate.” Liam frowned again. “Why would everyone else say he must have died?”
She shook her head. “Mayhap they worried you would fault us for no saving more of the men.”
Liam eyed her warily. “You met him? Spoke with him then?”
“He was well, the last I saw of him. A braw warrior. He walked out of the sea like a god.”
Her da choked on his ale.
Liam smiled and leaned back with obvious relief.
“Some of our men helped him to reach the mainland. We had no idea Cormac had made a contract with Fenella’s da to wed her. Quinn showed no interest in taking Fenella to be his wife. We had a lot of damage to our crofts due to the storm, most of our men were away at battle, and Quinn volunteered to help us rebuild. That was why our people helped him. He is a good man. I hope he finds his way back home soon. Though he did say the mercenaries his brother sent tried to murder him. Thankfully, they didna survive.”
“Good. I told Quinn I would kill them if they returned without him. I didna trust them in the least.”
“You were right no’ to trust them.”
“Your da said you would marry our chief, instead of Fenella doing so.”
“Aye.” She had already married him. Their chief would be Quinn.
“We hoped to take you back with us if your da is too busy to attend to it at this time,” Liam said, his focus switching to her da.
Baudwin slammed his tankard on the table. “Nay. Our men are recovering from their injuries. We will be there to celebrate the wedding in a couple of weeks’ time,” her da said, giving Liam a growly look.
She had wanted Liam to know Quinn was alive, if he was as good a friend as Quinn said he was. And she knew Cormac would be on the lookout then for Quinn’s return, once he received word he’d survived, but he’d never suspect Quinn would come with her da and their clansmen when they arrived to see Cormac. She had also wanted Cormac to know he couldn’t kill Quinn. Maybe that would put the fear into him, and he’d give the clan up to Quinn without a fight.
Liam was smiling and shaking his head. “I canna believe he is alive. His brother will be livid.”
“Because he can never kill him?” she asked.
Liam looked a little taken aback that she would know that. “How much did he tell you?”
“My daughter is a good listener. Men and women tell her things all the time. She was never alone with him though,” her da quickly said.
“He told me everything,” Avelina said. “Cormac tried to kill him numerous times.”
“Aye and that his da died on the battlefield in an earlier conflict?” Liam asked her.
“Aye. It was obvious he cared about his da.” Even though Quinn hadn’t spoken a lot about him, he never said anything disparaging about him.
“Quinn and his brother were fighting their enemy. Their da too. Quinn was nowhere close to his da to see him fall in battle, but Cormac said a man has come forth as a witness who saw Quinn kill their da.”
“He lies! The man lies! What about Cormac? Where was he when their da was struck down?” Avelina asked, furious that Cormac had contrived the accusation, or that someone else might have.
“From all witness accounts, their da was knocked off his horse and had to fight the enemy on foot. Cormac indicated he was going to his da’s aid.”
“Then he had the opportunity!”
“He says Quinn killed their da.”
Avelina frowned at Liam. “Nay. He is lying. Quinn wasn’t anywhere near his da when he died. You already said so yourself.”
“Aye. He was near me. He saved my life. If he hadna been there to stop the man from swinging his sword at me again, I would have been cut down. But Cormac has found witnesses to say that Quinn killed their da, that Quinn feigned going to their da’s aid, and then struck him down.”
“Cormac had the motivation. And if others saw Cormac riding toward their da, I canna believe how twisted this could be and that anyone would believe it. Cormac became chief, no’ Quinn. Why would Quinn kill his own da, if he gained naught from it?” Avelina was furious with Cormac. She couldn’t even pretend to want to marry the man.
“I agree. And since Cormac was fighting nearer his da, if Quinn had killed him, Cormac would have ended Quinn’s life. Ever since the battle where their da lost his life, Cormac has been trying to have his brother eliminated.” Liam drank some of his ale.
“Why send word of this to us now?”
“Because Cormac hasna heard anything from your chief or your clan, and he’s been dying to learn if Quinn survived or no’. Mayhap he hoped the news that Quinn murdered his da would persuade your chief to hand him over to us for Cormac’s disposition, if he was staying with you here. It makes me wonder if he suspects Quinn knew what Cormac had done to their da and wants to eliminate Quinn before he tells the council the truth. Or mayhap he is worried that someone else had witnessed what had happened and is too scared to say anything. But if Quinn learns of it, he would take his brother to task.”
“If Quinn had known, he would have said something when it happened. He might have even challenged his brother then.” Avelina was sure of it.
“I believe someone had to have seen what happened on the battlefield.”
“That’s why you suspect Cormac murdered their da.”
“Rumors have been floating around ever since many of us believed Cormac sent Quinn to his death this last time. Their da favored his first born: Cormac. Quinn had always tried to prove himself to his da and the clan as a fearless and fearsome warrior. He was well-liked by everyone. His da thought Quinn couldna lead men because he wasna as ruthless as his brother.” Liam shook his head. “Thank you for telling me the truth about Quinn. You canna know how relieved I am to learn he still lives. I just hope he willna return home and give his brother another chance to kill him.”
“But you are a witness to prove Quinn didna have anything to do with his da’s death.”
“Aye, but I have to find others who will say he wasna anywhere near his da when he died. More importantly, I need to discover someone who witnessed that the enemy actually killed their da, or if someone of our clan did.”
“You said that some say Cormac went to rescue his da when he was unseated from his horse.”
“Aye, but you have to remember that in a battle, we’re always fighting someone. Some saw him ride toward the chief, but after that, they were involved in a fight. The fact remains that Cormac was nearer to his da, on his way to join him, and then his da died.”
“As long as you dinna believe Quinn had anything to do with his da’s death.”
“I know he didna.”
She sighed with relief. “I’m certain when Quinn can, he’ll try to reach you.” Avelina hoped when Quinn met up with Liam again, he would be on his side in overthrowing Cormac.
The hidden passageway was cramped, but Quinn was going to make the most of learning what he could from the men who had accompanied his friend Liam. He wasn’t going to try to listen in on Liam and Baudwin’s conversation because Avelina would tell Quinn what he needed to know after the meal. For now, Quinn was trying to hear what he could from others, though the great hall was noisy with conve
rsation. Six men really stood out to him. They were the ones he was sure would back Cormac when Quinn came to oust him as chief. Did they believe, if Quinn were still alive and living among Avelina’s clan, they could kill him? He wouldn’t be surprised if they had that in mind. He was certain when the mercenaries hadn’t returned, and neither had he, that his brother was dying to know the truth, and that’s why he had sent them. Maybe to learn who was in power after the battle too so he’d know if his alliance still stood.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to says Quinn’s body was never found,” one of the men said.
That meant his brother would still worry whether Quinn had survived or not. He guessed that it was better they said that than confirming he had died. They might have wanted to dig up the body and return it to his brother. At least that’s what they would tell Baudwin. They’d truly only want to confirm he was dead and then toss his body into the ocean.
“He canna have survived if no one else did. They were probably lost too far from the island. As bad as the storm was, I doubt anyone could have managed to survive.”
“How many times have we said that?”
“Too many to count. He canna have survived, but I’m no’ placing any bets that he’s no longer among the living either.”
“Cormac willna be happy to learn we dinna have positive proof.”
“He should have killed him himself when he learned the news. No one would have faulted him.”
Learned what news?
“Their da was a good chief. I canna think of anything more despicable than dying at the hand of your own son.”
God’s knees! Their da had died in battle. Had Cormac made up charges against Quinn, blaming him for their da’s death? Surely someone must have seen what had occurred and knew their enemy had struck down their da.
Everyone loved his da as their chief. If Quinn couldn’t prove he had nothing to do with his da’s death, he wouldn’t have any backing from his clan. Quinn glanced at Liam and Avelina’s expressions. Was he telling Baudwin and Avelina what Cormac had said about him? Would they believe Cormac’s lies?
Even if they didn’t, and Quinn couldn’t prove his innocence, would Baudwin’s clan believe him to be a hindrance in having another ally, rather than being the one who would secure it?
He couldn’t believe his brother would stoop so low. Yet he shouldn’t have been surprised. Just in case Quinn had survived, Cormac had to ensure he couldn’t return and accuse him of paying the mercenaries to kill him aboard the ship.
Surely someone had been near where Quinn had been fighting on the battlefield that fateful day, other than Liam, and knew he hadn’t been anywhere near his da. Unless Cormac threatened anyone who could vouch for Quinn. Maybe no one would, if they thought he wasn’t coming back. No sense in telling the truth, if Quinn was already dead and anyone who spoke up for Quinn risked being accused of standing behind Quinn and helping to conceal the murder from the rest of the clan.
Quinn watched Liam, hoping his friend wouldn’t risk his life to protect Quinn’s reputation. Quinn and Liam had been like brothers. More so than Quinn’s own. But that had been mostly since they’d both lost their da in battle. Though he could understand why Quinn would feel animosity toward him, if he’d been told Quinn had actually killed their da. He wondered then if Cormac hadn’t been the one to make up the falsehood, and instead, someone else had for some nefarious reason. He had to set his brother straight. If his brother wasn’t behind the deception and he could convince him Quinn wasn’t to blame for their da’s death, he didn’t think he could oust him from the clan, despite his brother’s attempts on his life. In all honesty, if Quinn had murdered their da, he would have been tried and put to death.
Which made Quinn wonder why his brother hadn’t done that, instead of trying to have him murdered in a sneaky way. That made Quinn suspect his brother had made up the whole tale, just to ensure if Quinn returned, Cormac would have no other choice but to publicly put him to death.
Quinn had wanted to see Liam in the worst way, but even more so now. He had to let him know that he didn’t want Liam putting his own neck on the line for him.
At the high table, Avelina was shaking her head.
Quinn wanted to go to her and reassure her, if Liam was telling them what his brother had said.
Below where Quinn was hidden, he overheard some more conversation. “Cormac willna be pleased,” Dogmael said, one of Cormac’s staunchest supporters.
“Aye. If he wants to go fishing in the ocean for Quinn’s body, he’s welcome to do so,” Accalon said.
The men began to eat and that was the end of any conversation about what Quinn was supposed to have done to his da. The men started to talk instead about which lass they wanted, and Quinn moved around through the hidden wall to listen in on other conversations, but no one talked about anything worth hearing. He wanted to be with Avelina, sharing a meal and conversation, and then taking her to bed. He just hoped she didn’t hear the news about what his brother was saying he’d done, but that if she had, she would know his brother lied.
He noticed Baudwin shifting in his seat and that was a signal he was getting ready to end the meal. They usually feasted longer than that. He hoped Baudwin didn’t believe Quinn had murdered his da and that he was planning to have Quinn arrested, tortured, and turned over to Liam and the rest of Cormac’s men.
Quinn needed to leave the secret passageway, return to Avelina’s chamber, and wait there to hear what would be done next.
As soon as he made his way out of the hidden passageway, Wolf greeted him. “You would have given me away, if anyone had wondered what you were doing standing there next to the guest chamber. I should have left you in Avelina’s chamber. Why didna you go down to the meal?” Quinn never thought the wolf would be more interested in being with him than with eating. “If you think I’m going to share my food with you…”
Wolf looked up at him, his golden eyes fixed on him, and Quinn swore he smiled.
“You think you know me too well, dinna you?”
16
After the meal, Fenella and two of his guards kept Cormac’s men, including Liam, away from Avelina. Though Liam continued to study her, as if waiting for a time when she wasn’t so surrounded by guards.
Not hearing anything further from anyone of any importance, Avelina told Fenella she was retiring to bed.
“I’ll go with you,” Fenella said. “I’m tired, and I’ll help protect you.”
Assuming Quinn was still observing his clansmen from the secret passageway, Avelina had to get word to Quinn that she was returning to the chamber. She couldn’t tell her guards because they didn’t know about the hidden walkways. She told Fenella, “I need to speak with you.”
Fenella and Avelina entered Avelina’s chamber. “I canna believe you told Liam about Quinn,” Fenella said. “Everyone else was saying he must have drowned with the rest of the men aboard the ship.”
Wolf crawled out from under the bed and loped to greet them.
“There you are. I missed you at the meal.” She rubbed Wolf’s head and suspected he’d been looking for Quinn. “Liam had to know. I need you to get word to Quinn that I’ve returned.”
The bed curtain moved aside, and Quinn pulled aside a blanket, but was fully clothed. “Are you coming to bed, Wife?”
“Och, I’m leaving.” Fenella’s face turned red, and she hurried to leave the chamber.
Avelina smiled at her cousin, and then at Quinn, who looked displeased. She told the guards outside her door, “Quinn is here with me. You need no’ stay.”
“Your da has ordered us to remain here in case one of Cormac’s men come looking for you and try to learn more about Quinn and the other men Cormac had sent,” Dar said.
“Or attempt to steal you away,” Fagin said. “We dinna trust these men.”
“All right. Good night then.” She closed the door and barred it, and Quinn was behind her in a heartbeat, wrapping his arms around her.
“I missed
you.”
“I told Liam you live.”
“I heard, lass. What did he say?” Quinn hadn’t expected her to tell Liam the truth.
“He was glad to hear it. I told him we helped you to the mainland, and we dinna know what happened to you after that. Although I mentioned you would be seeing him as soon as you could, I was sure.”
Quinn couldn’t believe she’d come up with the idea. It was a great notion. “You were clever to tell him I had survived and left.”
“I admit that I wanted your brother to know you are invincible. Mayhap he will worry you’re returning to deal with him. But your brother willna believe you are returning there with my people. My da wasna happy with me for telling Liam you survived the shipwreck, but Liam seemed so disconsolate about what had happened to you that I had to tell him. He seems to be just as loyal as before. I felt as though he’d come here to learn about you, more than he wanted to learn about the status of Cormac’s marriage contract and who was now in charge.”
“That sounds like Liam.”
She knew Quinn wanted to speak with Liam still, but she figured this was the best plan. She took hold of Quinn’s belt and began to unfasten it, then removed it. She put it on the bench at the foot of her bed.
Quinn unfastened her brooch and pulled off her plaid, and she began to work on his. She knew he wanted to make love to her, just like she couldn’t wait to join him in bed, but she had to tell him all that Liam had said. “We have to talk.”
“Aye.” Quinn sounded darkly concerned, and she wondered if he’d overheard something his clansmen said while he was listening from the secret passage.
“Liam said that Cormac has accused you of killing your da on the battlefield the last time you fought your enemy.”
He continued to help her out of her clothes, and once she was only wearing her chemise, she helped him remove his boots.
“I overheard one of the men say that my brother said that.” Quinn looked up and frowned at her. “I didna kill my da.”
“Liam knows you didna. But he’s worried about you. If you return home, everyone will believe what Cormac says. They’ll think he has the right to kill you.”
