Page 98 of Laird of Smoke
Adam glanced at the recovering guards.Could he count on their silence?
The king waved them away.“Leave us.”
“But Your Grace…” the man gripping his injured wrist protested.
“ThisisRivenloch,” the king said.“I trust him.”
The guards reluctantly left.
When they were alone, the king asked again, “On whom do you mean to spy?”
“Fergus.”
“Fergus.”The king feigned indifference.“Why would you—”
“I believe Your Grace intends to attack him.”
Malcolm blinked.“Where did you hear that?”
“There is no faster conduit for secrets than the church.”
Malcolm’s brows rose.Then he sighed.“We must learn to take care with our confessions from now on.”His brow creased in concern.“Does Fergus know?”
“I don’t think so.”Surely Fergus would have boasted about fighting the king if he knew he was nearby.
“So what do you propose?”
“I’ve been living in Fergus’s household at Kenmure for weeks now.He’s been strengthening his fortresses.Building his army.Hiring mercenaries.”
“Mercenaries…like you?”
“Like me.”
“Mm.”The king steepled his fingers.“Surely he doesn’t think he can defeat the whole of the Scots army.”
“Fergus’s numbers are growing.Parcel by parcel, he’s taken much land already, expanded his influence.”Adam didn’t mention that the Scots’ loyalty to their king had been in question since Malcolm had become so friendly with the English king.“He doesn’t wage war like a lion, Your Grace.He attacks like a pack of hyenas biting the lion.”
“And how would you fight those hyenas?”
“If you find out when and where they intend to bite…”
The king nodded.“I see.And you plan to provide that information?”
“If I can, Your Grace.”
“This would be invaluable,” Malcolm agreed.“But if you’re caught…”
Adam was confident he wouldn’t be caught.Ness MacNeill had already managed to fade into the background at Kenmure.He was a soldier of average skill and even temper.He held no opinions.He spoke little.He kept to himself.No one would notice him missing.
“I wouldn’t expect to be rescued,” he assured the king.
“Spoken like a true Rivenloch,” the king remarked.
Chapter 16
Like a true Rivenloch, Adam also meant to keep his word to Feiyan about attending the tournament at Darragh, even if she wouldn’t realize he was there.
He could spare a few days away from spying for the king.Fergus had no immediate plans.And it had been too long since Adam had taken account of his clansmen.
