Page 89 of Laird of Smoke
She raised her brows at the clink of coins.“Indeed?Nowwho’s the outlaw?”
“I earned this,” he assured her.
From across the courtyard came a friendly call.“Is that Adam?”
Adam’s brother-in-law Dougal came striding toward him.Since his tenure as Laird of Darragh, Dougal appeared even more self-assured and responsible.He carried their firstborn daughter, and his eyes shone with pride and the spark of imminent fatherhood again.
“Dougal, good day,” Adam said.He winked and waggled his fingers at his wee niece, who shyly buried her face in her father’s gambeson.
“Sweetheart,” Feiyan said by way of greeting her husband, “Adam’s decided to go to war.”
“What?”Dougal said, putting down the three-year-old, who ran off across the courtyard.
“What?”Adam echoed.“I didn’t say that.”
“Why else would you ask for weapons and armor?”Feiyan asked.
“’Tisn’t that simple,” Adam said.
Dougal gripped his shoulder in a brotherly fashion.“If ’tis armor ye need, then armor ye shall have.I remember all ye did for us in the battle for Darragh.”
“I appreciate that, but I’m not going to war.”Then he furrowed his brows.“At least, I don’t think so.And I’m not asking for charity.I’ve brought something in exchange.”
Adam handed the satchel to Dougal.
Dougal narrowed his eyes at the satchel.“This isn’t—”
“Nay,” Feiyan said.“’Tisn’tthesatchel.”
Dougal seemed disappointed.“Whereisyour famous satchel then?”
“’Tis…on loan at the moment.”
“On loan?”Feiyan didn’t miss a thing.“What does that mean?”
Dougal gave her a chiding smile.“Now, Feiyan, let’s not interrogate your poor brother.At least not yet,” he said with a wink.“Come in to the hall.We’ll have an ale.”
As Dougal requested, they kept the conversation light and friendly.Feiyan told Adam about the frustrations of sparring while pregnant.Dougal talked about the challenges of managing a keep.And Adam regaled them with some of his recent adventures.He omitted mentioning the enchanting shape-shifter he’d met on his travels.
Of course, it would come out eventually.Feiyan might not recognize him in disguise.But nothing else missed her notice.
After supper, she invited him to the solar, where she could look through the contents of the satchel.She immediately perceived what he’d neglected to mention.
“These are a woman’s things.”
He shrugged.“I told you I have no use for them.”
“I suppose ’twould do no good to ask how you came by them?”
“I’ll tell you…one day.”
“Fine.I’ll donate the clothing to the local convent.”
“Good.”
“Now will you tell me why you need battle gear?”
Swearing her to secrecy, he explained what he’d heard about the king planning an attack at Galloway.They both knew the moment the clan found out, all of Rivenloch would rush to defend the king.But Adam felt they needed better information before they charged in blindly.
