Page 115 of Bride of Mist
He’d realize at once where she’d gone. He would likely follow her. He might be on his way to Darragh even now.
If only she could give him a warning. Let him know that Gaufrid had discovered her identity. Make him aware that he had to feign disinterest in her. Otherwise, she would become leverage for whatever demands they wished to make of him. And those demands could be enormous.
Her eyes misted as she realized Dougal was the kind of man who would protect her with his dying breath.
She wouldn’t let him do that. Not the man she loved.
Somehow she would find a way out of this cave.
Somehow she would find a way back to him.
Sensing they were heading home, Urramach raced along the road toward Darragh. Still, the sun was high in the sky by the time Dougal reached the castle. He’d hoped to intercept Feiyan before she reached the keep. Now he wondered if the sly lass had left him immediately after their moonlit tryst.
From the high towers, the guards shouted out a greeting at once. It was hard to miss Dougal’s magnificent black charger churning up the ground toward the gates.
Once he was admitted, Dougal wasted no time. Word of his arrival would reach his brother’s ears soon enough. He galloped to the stable yard, sliding from the horse’s back to hand the reins to Campbell.
Campbell murmured, “We’ve missed ye…m’laird.”
Startled by Campbell’s address, Dougal frowned. “What’s happened?”
“Your…friend…arrived,” Campbell whispered.
“Feiyan.”
“Aye.”
“Is she all right? Where is she? She hasn’t—”
He halted suddenly when one of the mercenaries lumbered past on his way to the stables.
When he’d passed, Campbell confided, “I’ve done as she asked. Ridden out to the villages and alerted the crofters to your plan.”
“What plan?” Dread tingled at the back of his neck.
Campbell blinked, suddenly uncertain. “’Twas your plan, aye? She said ye were goin’ to lay claim to the clan.”
“Ah. Aye. I suppose.” To be honest, Dougal hadn’t thought that far ahead. Thatwouldbe the ultimate outcome if he discovered his brother and his ilk had indeed committed the atrocity at Kirkoswald. But inciting a rebellion against a sitting laird was not a thing to undertake lightly.
Campbell’s eyes grew moist as he added, “Those of us who remember your da and the days we were proud to be mac Darraghs, we intend to stand with ye.”
Dougal couldn’t help but be touched and inspired by his words. He supposed it was too late now to rein in the galloping horde. But he wondered what havoc the lass had wrought in her brash, singlehanded attempt to overthrow Gaufrid.
He gave Campbell a smile. “I’m glad I can count on ye.”
Campbell grew nearly an inch, straightening with pride. Then he sidled close to whisper, “Is it true? Is the lass really a Warrior Maid o’ Rivenloch?”
“Aye.”
“And ye’re goin’ to wed her?”
“What? Did she say that?”
Campbell winced. “Nay. But she said she cared for ye. I assumed…”
“Well, that’s still to be determined,” Dougal decided. He didn’t particularly care for the way she’d abandoned him, taken things into her own hands, and marched straight into danger. “What else did she tell ye?”
“Naught, but…” When Campbell furrowed his brows, Dougal braced himself for bad news. “I suspect she’s in trouble.”
