Page 8 of Kilted Abduction
Ciara nodded. She hadn’t even thought about the Games. Of course. It was perfect.
“That’s brilliant. A fine idea,” she said. “I’ll start there.”
Elspeth’s eyes shimmered and her cheeks glistened in the moonlight. Ciara took her hands and gave them a squeeze.
“I’m going tae miss ye,” Elspeth said.
“And I’ll miss ye too,” Ciara replied. “But I’ll be home before ye ken it.”
“I hope so.”
“I ken so.”
They embraced one last time before Ciara jumped into the saddle and got herself seated. She turned and gave Elspeth a final smile.
“Be safe, lass,” she said. “And God be with ye.”
“Ye be safe too, Elspeth. I’m sure me departure will cause some… upheaval. Keep yer head down,” Ciara replied.
“I will.”
Ciara turned her horse and started down the darkened path that cut through the forest, moving quickly through the mottled shadows.
“All right,” she said to the horse. “Tae the Isle of Skye we go then.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Thank God above, salvation, at last,” Kai said.
They crested a small rise and found themselves staring down at the town of Seabridge, site of the Highlander Games. Thousands of people from clans all around Scotland traveled to the northeastern coast of the Isle of Skye every year for the games. Large clusters of people milled about, reacquainting themselves with old friends and making new ones. In addition to the contests of skill, the music, the food and all the festivities, the games were where alliances were formed, bonds were solidified, and deals were made. It was as much about business as pleasure.
“We are going tae get a room at the finest inn and the first thing I am going tae dae is take a piping hot bath and get a good meal in me belly,” Kai announced.
“Is that so?” Magnus asked.
“Aye. And if ye say otherwise, I’ll beat ye tae a bloody pulp.”
Magnus laughed but said nothing to contradicts his brother’s wishes. A hot bath and an even hotter meal sounded just fine to him. The journey from Dunvegan Castle to the Highland Games had been long and arduous. Magnus and his brother had slept rough and had eaten mostly what they’d been able to forage. The temperatures during the day had been cold and those at night had been downright frigid. Not even sleeping near a fire had been able to cut through the biting cold. Magnus was glad that Eldrick had thought to pack several more furs for them to wrap themselves in. Winter in the Highlands were harsh.
“All right,” Magnus said. “Let’s find an inn, get the road dirt off, and put on some clean clothes. Mission or nae, we’re still representin’ our clan, so we need tae look the part.”
“Aye,” Kai agrees. “And I think we can gain some valuable information around the hearth in the common room with a mug of mulled wine.”
Magnus rolled his eyes. “We are here tae dae a job, Kai. We’re nae here tae socialize.”
“I disagree, braither,” he replies. “Aye, we’re here tae dae a job. But Domhnall never said we were nae allowed tae socialize. After all, as ye pointed out yerself, we’re here representin’ our clan. What would people think if we were nae friendly, eh?”
“Ye can talk yerself into anything, cannae ye?”
“Aye. But in this case, there isnae much convincing that needs tae be done,” he replied. “Ye ken how loose tongues can get when people have a few cups in them, eh?”
“I dinnae think ye ever noticed that since all ye seem tae notice is how loose the bodices get on the barmaids.”
Kai shot him a mischievous smile. “I am a talented man who can dae both things at once.”
Magnus shook his head and smiled to himself. “Ye are a scoundrel.”
“Aye. That too,” he replies. “But me point about the tongues waggin’ in a common room still stands, big braither.”
