Page 63 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
“Me strategy?” Brodrick asked, confused.
“They dinnae think stealth is the best answer. It was discussed at breakfast after the meeting. I asked that we wait for ye first, but they said that ye… ye shouldnae be there.”
Brodrick swallowed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ava jump down from the mare and move closer.
“This isnae important, lass,” he assured, turning to look at her.
“I’ll be the judge of that, My Laird.” Ava’s response was brief and sharp. So sharp that he knew nothing he was going to say would dissuade her. He rubbed the nape of his neck.
Darach looked between him and Ava, contemplating whether to continue.
“’Tis alright,” Brodrick said, nodding once.
Darach swallowed. “They said that they started this war as warriors and that what ye propose makes them look like… cowards.”
“Is this a joke?” Brodrick asked. “All I’m askin’ is for them to stand down for a while until we’re able to figure this out. We cannae keep blindly plundering villages now, can we?”
He immediately noticed the way Ava folded her arms across her chest, and he knew. He knew she had alotto say.
“The men said that the only language people recognize is violence. And as long as the culprit hasn’t been found, they will continue to attack villages and… well, torture people.” Darach sighed.
“Because God forbid there’s another logical way to solve things, am I right?”
Ava’s words sent a chill up Brodrick’s spine.
He turned to her. “Lass, ye really dinnae ken what we’re talkin’ about.”
“No, I do not. But I know the language of war when I hear it. And I’ve seen enough blood to recognize the intention to draw it.”
“Ava—” Brodrick tried to stop her, but she was undeterred.
“Why are your men so bloodthirsty, My Laird? In fact, why is everyone here so bloodthirsty?” she asked.
“They’re nae,” Brodrick responded curtly.
“They most certainly are. Why does it always have to be about violence with them?”
Brodrick turned to his man-at-arms, an apologetic smile on his face. “Ye can leave. Tell the men I will speak with them later.”
Darach nodded and bowed his head once more. Then, just like he’d come, he exited the stables, leaving Ava and Brodrick standing by the entrance, their horses behind them.
“I think I might leave as well. I do have a letter to send anyway,” Ava whispered and headed out of the stables.
Brodrick followed, hot on her heels. “Ye cannae walk out on me, lass.”
Ava huffed. “I do not know why I let myself believe for a moment that this war would end after you found your child.”
She hurried across the dry fields, and Brodrick quickened his steps just to catch up to her.
“Nay, the war is far from over. We may have found me daughter, but we still need to find who took her from me in the first place and killed her maither.”
Ava turned to him, stopping abruptly. Brodrick halted just as well before colliding with her.
“Why? Why are you still pursuing this war? You have your daughter. Isn’t that enough?”
His nostrils flared. “Until I find the man who killed me wife and took me daughter, nothing is ever enough.”
“See? There it is again. That hunger. That thirst for blood.”
