Patrick held firm. “You claimed you want to be one of the men defending Castle MacGahan, did you no? A soldier in our ranks? If yer to find yer place here, Dermid, you’d best be about following orders when they’re given. Without question.”
Distress morphed to anger, and with a snap of his reins to his horse’s rump, Dermid galloped back in the direction from which he and Patrick had traveled.
“You ken I’ve no desire to risk our brother’s life to the ways of soldier, aye?” Malcolm set his horse in motion, holding it to a walk even as spoke over his shoulder. “And I’ll certainly no have him take his first battle against Torquil’s men. He’s too young.”
Patrick drew his mount up beside his brother’s. “Need I remind you, we’ve call for every man who can wield a weapon? And our brother is years beyond what either of us was when we left for our first battles.”
Dani dropped back behind the two of them, not wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation. It wasn’t her fault they spoke so loudly she could hear everything.
Almost everything.
She moved a little closer.
“I want him kept out of this, Paddy. All of it. I task you with that responsibility.”
“You ken it’ll no be easy. Dermid’s curiosity is no small thing. Already he questions the activity at the keep. His groomsman acts like a deerhound on scent.”
“Bollocks,” Malcolm swore, lifting a hand to the bridge of his nose. “Then we need a way to put both him and Dermid off the scent.”
“A distraction.” Patrick nodded to himself as if considering the idea.
None of her business. This was most certainly a conversation she should stay out of. And yet, they were both missing the obvious.
“What about me?”
Malcolm glanced over his shoulder, irritation evident. “We’ll find a spot for you, lass. I’ve told you that already. You’ve no need to fash yerself over it. We’ve time to figure out what useful skill you have.”
Oh, good lord. Arrogant one-track alpha brain on display. If it weren’t for the both of them trying to keep their younger brother safe, she wouldn’t even bother.
But they were and, grudgingly, she admired that.
“I don’t mean what to do with me, Malcolm. I mean what about using me as the distraction you need? Your brother already thinks there’s something going on between us. What if you were to let him continue to think that, without ever actually confirming it? You wouldn’t be lying to him, but it would give him a mystery to search out to keep him busy. Perhaps he’d even suspect the activity at the castle was because I’ve arrived.”
“She’s a good point,” Patrick conceded. “Give him a trail to follow. A trail we don’t mind having him pursue.”
“Since there’s naught there to hurt him. Aye.” Malcolm nodded, a corner of his mouth lifting in what threatened to be a grin before it faded away. “It could work. Do you think Elesyria would go along with us in it? There’s no a need to burden him with the knowledge that the Magical Folk have had a hand in any of this.”
“You leave the Elf to me.” Patrick’s face broke into a full-fledged grin. “I can deal with her.”
“It’s settled then.” Malcolm slapped his brother on the back and urged his mount into a trot.
Dani didn’t bother to correct Patrick’s misuse of Elf versus Faerie this time. She was too busy wondering what she’d just gotten herself into.
So that was what she’d “do” in this time. She’d be a fiancée. Sort of. A mystery fiancée.
Apparently, she’d discovered a useful skill all by herself.
Fifteen
ERIC HAS RETURNED.”
Three simple words that sent a chill to the depths of Malcolm’s soul.
Patrick’s expression gave no hint as to whether his captain of the guards carried good tidings or ill.
“He awaits you in the stables. I’ve informed him of the need for discretion in this matter.” A simple cough and Patrick almost imperceptibly tilted his head toward the entrance doors of the great hall.
Malcolm traced the direction his brother indicated, spotting the object of Patrick’s interest immediately. Their younger brother stood just inside the room, back to the wall, his groomsman a shadow at his side. Dermid’s gaze scanned the great hall, reminding Malcolm of a hawk in search of prey.