Galeren pulled hissword from its sheath and pointed it at Morgann’s throat. Mac moved an inch forward. He raised his palm to stay Galeren’s hand.
“Cap, have mercy. He is but a pup.”
Aye, a pup. Galeren withdrew his blade. He wasn’t about to kill a pup. He wanted to make the lad shyte in his breeches. To let him know he would never be taken back into the fold.
“Ye may go,” he said. “Ye are free. I willna pursue ye.”
“Where am I to go?”
“To him,” Galeren answered with a streak of menace in his voice. “Tell him I let ye live because ye were followin’ his orders.Him, I will kill if he comes here.”
“But Cap—” Morgann persisted.
“Come on, lad,” Mac warned and pulled him out of the cottage.
Will laughed and closed his eyes. “Who would have ever believed ’twould be Mac who cared fer the traitor?”
Galeren swung his gaze to Will. “Ye think I should have killed him?”
“I think ye did what ye had to do, Cap.”
The door opened and Mac appeared. “He doesna want to leave.”
Galeren held up his hand and turned to Padrig. “Tell me, what did ye learn?”
“The steward is puttin’ together a regiment of men. We dinna know the purpose, fer he cast us all oot. But almost all the men refuse to fight against ye, Cap. So, he is hirin’ mercenaries. He is comin’ at this harder than we thought.”
Galeren shook his head. “He is predictable. Did ye hear anythin’ aboot the church?”
“Aye,” Will grinned. “The church denounced him, accusin’ him of trickery and lyin’, sayin’ his niece was a nun when she was a novice.”
“I see,” Galeren said, not knowing whether to be happy the steward lost his place on the council or not. “We will be prepared fer whatever John brings.”
“If he hires mercs,” Mac told him, “then we kill him. When the mercs find oot they are not gettin’ paid, they will disperse.”
“Killin’ the high steward and runnin’ will make us outlaws.”
“Mac,” Galeren said, looking at his friend through the corners of his eyes. “Ye seem bent of remindin’ me of the laws.”
“I dinna want ye swingin’ at the end of a noose, Cap. We will have to return to save ye, and ’tis likely that one of us will get caught.”
Galeren didn’t argue. He didn’t want that either.
He wanted a life, a future with Silene. He knew now how love changes a warrior. It makes him care about living and not dying on the battlefield. He hadn’t slept last night. He’d tried not to think about her in bed alone just across the hall. His body ached for her. The muscles in his arms trembled for her. They did, even now.
“Captain?”
“Aye, Padrig?”
“We also saw Lord Birchet. He was packin’ up everythin’ he had in Dundonald, includin’ his daughter, and takin’ them home.”
“Good,” Galeren said, happy to hear it. “I’m sure she will find a man who deserves her.”
He laughed briefly and the others joined him.
“Silene is a much better choice fer ye, Captain,” Will said.
“Thank ye,” Galeren answered. It meant much to him that his men thought he was deserving of her.