Page 96 of Bride of Mist
“I do.”
Of course Feiyan had a plan. As Sung Li had taught her, ability was useless without wisdom, strength useless without strategy.
“Who do you trust at Darragh?” she asked.
He shrugged. “They’re my clan.”
“But I’m guessing the clan warriors owe their fealty to Gaufrid, aye?”
“Aye, though…”
“What?”
“Most o’ my father’s warriors are gone now. Replaced by mercenaries.”
That was troubling. She’d hoped to assemble a small fighting force when it came time to confront Dougal’s brother. “Are there any you can trust among them?”
“To take my side against the laird?” He shook his head. “They owe fealty to Gaufrid.”
“As much as a mercenary’s fealty means,” she muttered. Then she asked, “What about servants? Do you have any loyal only toyou?”
“To me?” He thought for a moment. “My stable lad, Campbell, I suppose. He looks after…” He broke off with a wince.“Lookedafter Urramach.”
“Campbell,” she repeated. “The stable lad. Got it. What about others? Servants in the keep itself. Kitchen lads who can keep secrets. Maidservants who would lie for you.”
“There’s Merraid, the new servin’ lass.” He smiled fondly. “She practically worships the ground I walk on.”
“Merraid,” she repeated. “Any others?”
“Most o’ the servants were my father’s. They serve Gaufrid, but not happily.”
“But they loveyou?”She answered her own question. “Of course they do. Who would not? You’re their hero, aye? So ’tis a good start.”
He squinted. “A start for what?”
“As I said before, this is a matter for stealth.”
“Stealth.”
“Aye. ’Tis the best way. Sneak into the household. Interrogate the servants. Find out what’s happened in your absence. Discover why they singled out Morgan and Creagor. Get to the bottom of what happened at Kirkoswald.”
“I can’t sneak into the household. I’m the laird’s brother.”
“Right, but I can.”
“Nay!” he exploded.
“I’m practically invisible.”
“Invisible, my arse,” he bit out. “Why do ye keep sayin’ that? By the Saints, lass, ye’re anythin’ but invisible. Ye’re as eye-poppin’ as a midsummer morn. As heart-stoppin’ as a bloody rose. A man would have to be blind not to see ye.”
His words of praise were at odds with his gruff growl. And she was well aware that none of what he said was true. But his flattery—so spontaneous, so genuine—made her heart go soft. No one had ever said such kind things to her.
“Nay,” he decided. “Ye’re not goin’ near the castle. Not now. Now that I know what we’re up against. Nay. Not on your own.”
“How else do you think you’re going to find out what happened?”
“There’s got to be another way.”
