Page 38 of Honour Bound
He threw up his arms. ‘That’s not fair! I saved you from being zapped like Brochan.’
‘At least I was trying to help Brochan, you geeky warlock. What were you doing?’
The merman interrupted them both. ‘Stop it. Aren’t we forgetting something? If that necklace isn’t in here, where is it and who took it?’
There was a rustle of leaves from across the path and the Wild Man appeared. Seeing our shocked faces, he grinned. ‘Really? Did youreallythink I wouldn’t notice you spying on me this morning?’
Uh oh. I tried to stay calm. ‘Why didn’t you say anything at the time?’
He gave an amiable shrug. ‘Tip would only get flustered. It’s easier this way.’ He reached into a pocket and pulled out Chieftain MacBain’s silver and pearl necklace.
‘Where did you get that from?’ I asked.
The Wild Man jerked his head towards the cabin. ‘In there. In a backpack’
‘I didn’t steal it!’ Speck babbled. ‘I promise! Sir…’
The Wild Man continued to smile. ‘Call me Candy.’ He nodded at me. ‘Nice to see you again.’
Speck drew back. ‘Tegs? You know this monster ? I mean, Wild Man?’ He dropped his chin. ‘Fuck. Sorry.’
Candy didn’t appear to have taken offence. Considering his size, that could only be a good thing. He raised the necklace a little higher. ‘One of the Moncrieffe servants dropped by earlier and left it for you as a little present.’
Taylor lunged for it but the Wild Man was too quick and held it out of reach. ‘I’ll hold it for safekeeping. I won’t tell anyone about it if you keep your mouths shut about me and Tip. Say anything, though, and it might end up back in one of your bags.’ His smile widened. ‘And we know what that will mean.’
I let out the breath I’d been holding. ‘We can do that. We can keep a secret.’
‘You can’t tell anyone,’ Candy warned. ‘Not even your own mothers.’
My mother was long gone. ‘No problem.’
‘Tegs, are you sure we can trust him?’ Lexie eyed him with an expression that suggested she’d have no qualms about hitting him over the head with her handbag and then chopping him up into tiny pieces to dispose of the evidence.
I looked at Candy. He’d certainly been gentlemanly towards me before and I reckoned he was alright. ‘Yes.’ Anyway, what choice did we have?
The Wild Man gave a happy nod. ‘Excellent.’ He turned and lumbered away.
‘Tegs,’ Taylor whispered, as the Candy vanished. ‘Do you think he heard us talking about you stealing Byron’s Gift?’
‘I have no idea.’ I shook my head. ‘What a freaking mess.’
‘If it was a Moncrieffe servant who planted the necklace, does that mean your Byron is a double agent?’
‘Fucked if I know,’ I muttered. ‘But it definitely makes me more shaken than stirred. Come on. We need to get to that ceremony.’
‘What about Chieftain MacBain?’
I sighed. ‘I think we might be too late. Let’s go and get ourselves thrown out of the Games. At least the masses will be entertained.’
Chapter Nine
The opening ceremony was taking place at an open field near the main tent where I’d found the Bull the previous day. The field was surrounded by a grandstand and the sounds of the thronging crowds proved what a big deal these Games were. Considering the prize, it wasn’t surprising they were held so infrequently but it was a shame this seemed to be the only time that Clan differences were set aside. Then I spotted a Fairlie Sidhe being deliberately jostled by a small group of Dundas Clanlings. Whatever camaraderie existed yesterday had already vanished; the serious business of winning was in the air.
The competitors were crowded into a small area, waiting for their grand entrance to the showground and making a great show of admiring each other’s costumes. As I walked up with my team behind me, there were nudges and hushed whispers. Obviously the news about my ‘crime’ had spread quickly and I wondered if news of my exoneration had been transmitted with the same speed. Judging by the dirty looks, it didn’t appear so.
I glanced down at my jeans and warm jumper, wishing I’d had time to change into something more appropriate. I might not have a gown to match Tipsania’s but I looked like I’d not made any effort at all. Not everyone was wearing evening wear, of course; I spotted all-in-one jumpsuits made of Clan tartans, traditional kilts and even a top hat and tails.
I couldn’t stop my eyes drifting towards Byron, who was lingering at the front of the crowd with Tipsania. Thanks to her massive skirts, there was quite a gap around them. He looked damn good in his kilt.
