Page 61 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
“Everyone is in a very sour disposition this mornin’,” Camden remarked as Murdoch scowled at him. “Tell mesomeonehas some good news for us.”
“MacDunn set a village alight near Donaldson clan a week or so ago. He is still rampagin’ through our lands, unchecked. Is that good enough news for ye?” Noah asked.
Camden sighed and glanced at Jack, who shook his head in resignation.
“I think yer temper is rubbin’ off on Black, Blaine,” Camden said to Murdoch, who glowered all the more. “Would ye stop lookin’ like a thundercloud for a few minutes at least?”
“He must be stopped, and soon,” Murdoch said as though Camden hadn’t spoken. “Where did this fire happen?”
Noah leaned over the table and pointed at the village. Murdoch placed a small marker on the map. MacDunn’s exploits were being felt far and wide, and the markers were growing before their eyes.
“Was there any intent this time?” Jack asked, his gaze landing on Noah as he raised his eyebrows, his proprietary arm still cradling Amelia against him.
“Nay,” Noah replied, “he burned it to the ground and took nothin’.”
“And who are yer sources?” Murdoch asked doubtfully. “I have heard he has been laying waste to the villages close to me home, but me scouts say he is lookin’ for somethin’.”
Noah shrugged, irritated at the implication that he was ill-informed.
“He burned the houses and the villagers without a care, and his men left; that is all I was told. Some of them survived but with terrible scars.”
Noah stopped talking abruptly as he realized what he had just said. Murdoch looked over at him, the mottled patterns on his face seemingly more livid and clearer than ever.
Noah swallowed, but Murdoch’s gaze simply returned to the map, his mouth twisted in a scowl.
“And yer source, man! Is it reputable?”
“Aye,” Noah paused. “I trust it.”
I trust Keira; that is the truth of the matter.
Murdoch stood back up and looked at Jack.
“We must send men out to our borders to observe MacDunn’s movements; we cannae have more lives lost senselessly. We must learn his motives above all else.”
“And how do ye propose we do that?” Camden asked.
Murdoch scoffed in frustration, and within seconds, they were arguing amongst themselves about the best methods to find and defeat MacDunn.
Noah’s gaze flicked to Amelia, only to find her staring at him with a puzzled expression.
Finally, as Laird Moore’s voice rose several octaves above the others, echoing off the walls around them, she stepped forward, stopping the debate as all eyes turned to her.
“We have been at this for hours and are getting nowhere. I say we take a moment to refresh our spirits. I shall have some food brought and we can reconvene this afternoon. Murdoch, ye are welcome to rest; I ken ye have traveled the furthest.”
Murdoch grunted, scowling at Amelia. “I dinnae need to rest!” he protested but his anger drained quickly away as Jack gave him a warning glare from behind his wife.
Murdoch cleared his throat. “Thank ye for the offer. I need nae rest, me lady,” he said stubbornly. Amelia nodded and turned back to Noah.
“Come brother; I would speak with ye.”
Her expression was one Noah knew well; it would do him no good to refuse. He was well aware of how much he owed his sister, how much she had sacrificed for him and their clan, and how much he would still do to repay her.
Without a word, he followed her from the room, and the heavy door slammed shut behind them.
* * *
Amelia took him to the gardens where, only a few short months before, he had stood and watched her wed his rival. It was strange how things changed in the blink of an eye.
