Page 57 of Gifted Thief
I punched him on the arm. ‘I do.’
He smirked. ‘So you’re going to confront this guy?’
‘Nah. I’ll do a little reconnoitring first. The others were prepared to delay the journey to the Foinse if I got ill. I’ll pretend I am so that I’ve got enough time to find out what’s going on.’ I thought of Bob and my mouth turned down. ‘He also has something of mine that I want to get back.’
‘Sounds good,’ he said approvingly. ‘We can help with all that.’
My eyes gleamed. ‘You can. There are enough other species and races around here that you three can probably wander around the Cruaich more easily than I can.’
‘What do you need us to do?’
I met his eyes. ‘Find out what really happened to the Adair Clan.’
Brochan sucked in a breath. ‘Are you sure?’
I nodded. ‘I am.’
‘Okay. We’ll use the signal to get in touch with you once we have something.’
I shook my head. ‘No. I have a better way.’ Expect the unexpected. ‘You can summon me. Layoch. My true name is Layoch.’
Brochan’s jaw dropped. ‘You shouldn’t have told me that, Tegs. If I know your name then…’
I waved an airy hand in the air. ‘Yeah, yeah. You can obtain absolute power over me. I already trust you with my life, Brochan. Lexie and Speck too. The least I can do is trust you with one sodding word.’
‘The Sidhe never reveal their true names. Not even to their families.’
‘They can’t trust each other,’ I said simply.
‘You’re still taking a big risk.’
I smiled. ‘No, I’m not.’
He squeezed my shoulder. ‘Do you know what it means?’
‘My name? No. It has a meaning?’
‘You should brush up on your Gaelic,’ he scolded. ‘It translates as “warrior”.’
I gaped. ‘You’re kidding me.’
He lifted one shoulder in apology.
‘Oh, well,’ I dismissed. ‘I’ve not lived up to Sidhe expectations so far. I’m certainly not going to live up to that name. Not unless it’s an X-Box warrior anyway.’
Brochan turned and gazed back out of the grove. ‘Well, if you’re not going to fight your way back to the castle, how do you suggest we slip out of here unnoticed? The last thing we need are more fireballs being flung your way.’
‘Not to mention it’s better if we’re not seen together,’ I agreed. ‘Er…’
‘Pssst!’
Both Brochan and I jumped. ‘What the hell was that?’
‘Over here!’
We exchanged glances then peered in the direction of the hushed whisper. As soon as I realised who was speaking, my shoulders relaxed. ‘It’s her,’ I said, thoughtfully. ‘That’s good.’
Brochan watched the old woman as she continued to beckon. ‘Who is she?’
