Page 88 of Laird of Smoke
“Where have you been?”she demanded.Then, glancing about at the witnesses, she lowered her voice to bite out, “The last time I knew your whereabouts, you were pretending to be the Pope’s emissary at Perth, negotiating with the king.”
“And?”
“If the king had found out—”
“But he didn’t.”
“Do you know the risk you took?”
“Risk?”he hissed.“You’re a great one to talk about risk.You’re an outlaw.”He lowered his voice to a whisper.“An assassin.”
“Was.Besides, I didn’t kill him.”
“Nay, you married him.”
She rubbed her belly, probably glad she hadn’t killed Dougal after all.
She narrowed her eyes to slits.“Anyway, I never tried to kill a king.”
“Would anyone know if you had?”Feiyan’s stealth was legendary.
She ignored that.“And then you disappeared.”She gave him a chiding punch in the shoulder.
“That’s not true.I came to the tournament at Perth.”
“Nay, you didn’t.”
He arched a brow at her.“Would anyone know if I had?”
She exhaled in disgust and frustration.It annoyed her immensely that she could never recognize her own brother in disguise.
“So why have you come?”she asked.
He frowned, disappointed.“Do I need a reason?”
“Nay, but there’s always a reason.”
That much was true.Protecting a large clan like Rivenloch, spread from coast to coast across Scotland, kept him occupied.It was rare he had time for leisurely visits.
“Well, first, I’ve brought you something for trade.”
He held up the satchel.
Her eyes widened.“Your satchel?”
“’Tis mostly clothing and motley bits I have no use for.”
“You’re giving up the contents of your infamous satchel?Are you sure there’s room in the courtyard to empty it?”
He smirked.“The satchel isn’t mine.It belonged to…someone who doesn’t need it anymore.”
She nodded.“Someone you killed.”
“Killed?”he exclaimed.“Why is that the first thing you think, sister?I hardly ever kill people.You, on the other hand…”
Feiyan waved his words away.“So what do you want in trade?”
“A gambeson.A coat of mail.Weapons.Oh, but,” he said, digging in the satchel to retrieve the purse of silver.“I’ll keep this.”
