The Ranger (Highland Guard #3)(45)

MacSorley nodded. “We were surprised to hear you’d left Dunstaffnage.”

Arthur schooled his features, not betraying the hint of guilt that crept up his consciousness. He hadn’t forgotten his mission, damn it. He’d just needed to get away.

“It couldn’t be avoided,” he said, offering no further explanation. “Lorn fears that Angus Og is up to something. I’ve accompanied his son Ewen to see what we can find out.”

“My cousin is always up to something,” MacSorley said about the powerful MacDonald chief. “He’s mobilizing his fleet for the battle against the MacDougalls.”

“I thought as much.” The attack against the MacDougalls from the sea would be every bit as important as the attack from land. Bruce would press Lorn from both directions. It was one of the reasons that MacSorley’s skills were so valued. He would be the one to lead the attack by sea.

“Lorn is well informed,” MacRuairi said.

Arthur grimaced. “Aye, he is. But I’ve been unable to find out how he’s doing it. There have been no strange churchmen about, nor have I seen any messengers.”

MacSorley smiled. “That’s why we sent for you. I intercepted one of Edward’s messengers on his way north with a message for Lorn. It’s one Lorn has been waiting for, though not the news he hoped for.” He grinned. “King Edward has declined Lorn’s request to send additional men north. And thanks to my cousin here, we know where the messenger was heading.”

Arthur didn’t need to ask how MacRuairi had got him to talk. MacRuairi always got them to talk.

“Ardchattan Priory,” MacRuairi said.

Arthur felt a tingle of excitement. The priory was close to Dunstaffnage, right in the heart of Lorn. This was it: the chance they’d been waiting for.

“So they are using churchmen,” Arthur said. It was as he’d suspected.

“So it seems,” MacSorley agreed. “All you need to do is keep an eye on the church and see who comes to pick it up. As one of Lorn’s knights, your presence, should you be discovered, won’t be remarked upon. How soon will you be able to get away?”

“I’ll leave in the morning.”

“You will be able to explain your sudden need to return to the castle?” MacRuairi asked.

“Someone needs to report back to Lorn. I’ll volunteer to go.”

With his mission clear, Arthur was anxious to be on his way, but he took a few minutes to catch up on the other guardsmen.

MacSorley and MacRuairi were the only two members of the Highland Guard in the west, watching the seas. MacKay, Gordon, and MacGregor were in the north, keeping the roads clear of messengers and wreaking havoc on Ross for what he’d done to the women, and the rest of the team were in the east with the king.

Robert “Raider” Boyd and his partner, Alex “Dragon” Seton, had returned recently from a successful mission in the southwest, with Sir James Douglas and Sir Edward Bruce, the king’s sole remaining brother. King Robert had lost three brothers in one year—two at the hands of MacDowell, the man they’d sent scurrying from Galloway. Seton, too, had lost a brother.

“Have Raider and Dragon finally figured out they are fighting on the same side?” Arthur asked. The ill-fated pairing between Seton, an English knight, and Boyd, the man who hated all things English, had been one of the biggest hurdles in the early days of the Guard.

“It’s gotten worse.” MacSorley frowned, so Arthur knew it had to be serious. “Dragon has changed since the death of his brother. He’s angrier, and most of that anger is directed at Raider.” The smile returned to his face. “But there is some good news. Guess who they brought back with them, captured near Caerlaverock Castle in Galloway?”

“Who?” Arthur asked.

“My old companion, Sir Thomas Randolph.”

Arthur swore, not hiding his surprise. “What did the king do?”

The news that his young nephew had gone over to the English the year before had been a bitter blow to the king who was attempting to regain his kingdom. Switching sides was regrettably all too common—King Robert had done it himself many times in the early years of the war—but Randolph’s defection had come at a particularly difficult time for the king. At the very lowest point in his struggle.

MacSorley shook his head in disgust. “He forgave him. Too easily, in my opinion. Especially after the pup had the nerve to criticize his uncle for not fighting like a knight but like a pirate.”

“Apparently Hawk failed to make an impression on him,” MacRuairi said dryly.

“Perhaps so,” MacSorley said. “But I’ll get another chance. The king has vowed to send him to me again for training.”

Arthur lifted a brow. “Why do I have a feeling the young knight will have his punishment after all?”

MacSorley shrugged not so innocently. “I’ll make a Highlander out of the lad yet.” He gave Arthur an amused look. “I hope you haven’t forgotten, Sir Arthur. You’re looking very fine in your knight’s garb.”

The jest hit a little too close to the truth. “Sod off, Hawk. Care for a demonstration?”

MacSorley chuckled. “Perhaps another time. My wife would have my bollocks if the messenger comes and I am not there. And you should get back to Duntrune Castle before they discover you’re gone.”