At a knock on the door, the three of them jumped like guilty conspirators. A moment later Niall hobbled in using a thick stick for a cane.
“I’ve got Duncan’s boat fixed as good as new,” he said. “Either of you lasses want to go for a wee sail and try her out?”
Niall was perfect.
“Here’s our man,” Tait said, slapping Niall on the back.
No one was more trustworthy, and Niall was strong and well trained. And yet, Moira’s gaze kept shifting between his young, open face and his injured leg. While the other two told him about Rhona and Fergus, she gathered her courage.
“I’m going with Niall,” Moira said and stood up.
“You?” Ilysa blinked at her.
“Look at him,” Moira said, pointing at Niall’s leg. “He can’t sail the boat alone.”
Even more than that, Niall was far too softhearted when it came to women. He would be no match for Rhona.
Moira would not have the same problem.
* * *
Hugh was drinking copious amounts of Erik’s best whiskey.
“I expect payment for alerting ye to the presence of a MacDonald spy in your midst,” Hugh said as he helped himself to more whiskey.
Damn it, Erik had known something was not right about that piper. Erik felt a begrudging admiration for Duncan MacDonald’s fearlessness in entering his enemy’s castle alone and under such a ruse. If Erik were not so furious, he’d have a good laugh over it.
“That was pure luck,” Erik said. “Ye had no idea he was here.”
“’Tis true that I didn’t expect to find the captain of Connor’s guard inside your castle pretending to be a piper.” Hugh pointed his finger at Erik. “But I did know that he left Dunscaith in the dark of night. That meant the attack would come soon, so I came to warn ye.”
Hugh did not know half as much as he pretended. “What I need to know is why your nephew sent the captain of his guard here.”
“He’s scouting things out in preparation for the attack.” Hugh leaned back and stretched out his legs as if he had a right to be here in Erik’s castle. “Why else would he be here?”
“Did ye see the MacDonald war galleys set sail?” Erik demanded.
“No, but I was told that the men were packing up the boats.” Hugh speared a herring from the platter that had been left on the table and commenced to eat it. “I expect they’ll be here anytime now.”
Hugh was guessing, but it was possible. Erik would double the guard.
“Connor’s cousin Ian was also preparing his boat at Knock Castle.” While he spoke, Hugh picked at his teeth with his dirk like a heathen.
“But ye know nothing at all about how they plan to make the attack?” Erik asked.
“No, but ye have the captain of Connor’s guard in your dungeon,” Hugh said as his gaze followed a dimpled lass with an ample behind. “Get it from him.”
“My men have tried for a night and a day already,” Erik said. “He hasn’t said a word, and I don’t believe he will.”
It was pointless for Duncan MacDonald to keep his mouth shut now that he had been discovered. Whatever his task was here, he had no chance of completing it, and the attack would surely fail. Erik thought the man’s honor was senseless, but he did admire his stubbornness.
“Feed him salted pork with no water,” Hugh said around another mouthful of food. “A man dying of thirst will talk—if it doesn’t make him go mad first.”
“That takes too long,” Erik said.
Besides, Duncan MacDonald was likely to know that trick. Though most men could not help eating the salted pork anyway, Erik suspected this MacDonald was tough enough to refuse to eat it no matter how long they starved him.
“I showed ye the spy and brought ye valuable information,” Hugh said, interrupting Erik’s thoughts. “Give me the lad now.”