Page 62 of Wolf Heir
Aodhan let out his breath. “Where is the son then?”
“He would be full-grown, a year older than Rupert if he were born a year after the firstborn disappeared.”
“But if Morag ordered the bairn killed?—”
“And the person who took the bairn away couldna do it, then someone else raised him as their own. You see the problem with this? Morag would still want him dead if she learns he is alive. And she’d want the person dead who was supposed to carry out her orders. She couldna risk having this come back to haunt her.”
Aodhan looked back out to the meadows. “It’s too far-fetched. Unless you’re no’ telling me something. Even if Hamish’s son is out there, how could he prove he’s his son? If Hamish never saw him, and he’s fully grown, he wouldna know him now.”
“The women in the birthing room saw the healthy bairn before Morag had him taken away and brought the other baby to rest with Orla.”
Aodhan’s eyes widened. “Blair had to have told you this. She was in training to be a midwife and healer when Morag became Hamish’s wife. Why would she tell you this?” Aodhan glanced back at the inner bailey, where Collum and Hamish had a heated discussion with Rupert.
Rupert finally threw his hands up in response and headed for the stables.
Aodhan faced Coinneach. “You are no’ Hamish’s son.”
“I didna say I was.”
“You resemble Hamish and this twin brother, much more than Rupert does.” Aodhan straightened. “Are you saying Magnus and Elspeth are no’ your parents? That Tamhas isna your brother?”
“I’m saying naught of the sort.”
Aodhan looked back out to the forests off in the distance. “So, how are we going to prove you’re Hamish’s son?”
Nelly and Aislingshowed their two new cooks how to serve the tables. Then Aisling served the champion’s table, while Aodhan and Coinneach were still on the wall walk. She was so glad he hadn’t hit Rupert and gotten banished from the pack.
Right after the meal was done, she hurried out to the wall walk with meals for Coinneach and Aodhan. They both thanked her.
Then she quickly kissed Coinneach. “I have to eat and then I’ll meet you in the inner baily as a wolf?”
“Aye. Is Nelly still coming?”
“She has her heart set on it.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Aisling hurried off, excited about running with Coinneach as a wolf, and she hoped Tamhas would be as thrilled to see Nelly as much as she was to see him.
She ended up in the kitchen with the others, everyone serving up meals, but this time Aisling served up her own. Nelly ate faster than Aisling had ever witnessed. “Slow down. The men are no’ changing shifts for a while.”
Nelly drank some more of her ale. “Do you think Tamhas likes me?”
“Aye, he does. But he’s different from Coinneach. I can run up to Coinneach and hug him, whereas Tamhas is a bit more reserved. Still, as you get to know him, he may change.”
Nelly sighed. “I will be cautious around him, no’ wanting to scare him off.”
“Be yourself, Nelly. If the two of you fall in love, you will know you’re right for each other.”
“Coinneach doesna have any other brothers, does he?” Ann asked.
“Nay.” In truth, he didn’t haveanyblood brothers.
As the head of the table, Cook cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her. “I’ve heard rumors for years that Rupert isna Hamish’s son. But I wouldna want any of you to be in trouble for spreading these rumors should Morag, her son, or even the chief be angered about it.”
So even Cook had heard the rumors. That was good news. How many more of the pack members felt the same way? And were afraid to mention it?
After they ate and cleaned up, Aisling told Cook, “Nelly and I are off to Coinneach’s family’s croft. Though Coinneach and I are running as wolves.”
