Medieval Highlands 01 - Highland Vengeance (50 page)

Feeling his brother’s eyes on him, Bao shook off the morose recollections and sat up straighter. “She was carrying her husband’s bairn, but my father did not learn of it until later.” Jamison Maclean had not been pleased at the lady’s childing state and had made no allowances for her condition in his treatment of her. Bao was amazed even now that she’d lasted through her child-bearing time. But she had not lasted past the delivery and Bao had had to make a devil’s bargain to keep his sister from being thrown off their cart and dumped into a water-filled ditch that night.

“Where is your sister now?

Bao shifted on his seat, uneasy at the turn of the conversation. He was pleased so far with Daniel’s acceptance of their blood connection and his seeming lack of enmity regarding Bao’s foreign heritage, but how he would react to learning that Bao was the ‘magic giant’ of Alleck’s tales and that he and his sister had been living in the Maclean wood all these moons, Bao was a bit worried to learn. “She is not far. She awaits me in your wood, in fact.”

Daniel rose from his seat. “You left her in the wood? We must retrieve her forthwith.” Daniel called for his steward and then turned back to Bao, saying, “I only wish that you had arrived this day past. For we had a feast in honor of my wife’s childing and her father’s visit. Your arrival would have given us even more to be glad for.” After giving his steward instructions to send word to the stables to have their mounts readied, Daniel stepped from the dais, clearly anxious to be on his way. “I am sure after your journey, the delectables that were prepared would have pleased the two of you greatly.”

Bao was a bit bewildered at Daniel’s enthusiasm, so it took him a moment to realize the man believed he had only just arrived on Maclean land—and on horseback. Rising, he descended the platform and walked over to stand at his brother’s side. “Pray, pardon me, for I have not made myself clear. We have been in your wood for the past five moons, so I own no steed at present. I arrived on foot this day.”

Daniel’s eyes widened before he rushed to the door to call the steward back. After explaining the error and making arrangements for two extra mounts, he turned back to Bao, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tell me this tale.”

Sighing, Bao resigned himself to Daniel’s anger. He’d known when he came that there would be no getting around this confession. He might have been able to hide the fact that he’d been living in the Maclean wood by purchasing mounts prior to this meeting, if he had not begun a friendship with Alleck all those moons ago. But he’d pitied the wee lad’s loneliness, and understood it much more than he dared think on. Deciding to begin by explaining why they’d come here originally, he said, “We—my sister and I—lived in Perth until a few sennights after
Hogmanay
, when, due to some events that directly affected my sister’s continued virtue, I decided that ‘twas time to leave that town and find a place where she might have a safer and more acceptable feminine influence in her life. I remembered my time here as a youth and decided to appeal to Lady Maclean to take my sister under her wing.” Bao paced, needing to move as he spoke. “We had only just arrived the day prior to your own arrival. When I found out that you were to reside here, I knew I could not make myself known yet.” Turning his head to look over his shoulder at Daniel, he explained, “I had heard that you had lost your memory of most of the events leading to our father’s death.” Turning back, he continued to pace. “I needed to find out if you desired to know the events before I met you again. There was also the worry that you might still hate me for being the one to kill our father once the details were revealed to you.” With a doleful smile, Bao turned back to face his brother. “The day our father died, you refused my aid and spurned our blood-tie. You called me a mongrel bastard and told me you wished our father had given me a fatal blow before dying.”

*

A sharp pang of regret squeezed Daniel’s chest. He’d not recalled saying those vicious words until Bao repeated them. Now, he remembered his anger at not having avenged his mother and grandfather’s horrid murders—anger that some other hand had done the deed. “You must know that I no longer feel that way. In truth, if I had not lost my memory, I believe I would have searched for you within days—mayhap even hours—of leaving you thus. I always wanted a brother, you see.”

Bao looked away and cleared his throat. Turning back to Daniel, he said gruffly, “I, too, have always wanted a brother.”

Daniel grinned. “Well, then.”

Bao grinned back. “Well, then.”

*

“Your mounts are ready, Laird,” Steward Ranald said as he entered the great hall. The two men turned at the sound of the steward’s voice.

Daniel looked at Bao and said, “Let us retrieve the lass. I’m anxious to be back so that we can reveal the wondrous tidings to our other family members.”

Bao’s heart was too full to reply. He simply nodded and followed Daniel as they departed the keep. His brother’s generosity was overwhelming to Bao. He’d lived a mean existence, one in which greed and disappointment in man’s nature were commonplace. This was a new experience; one which would take a bit of getting used to.

A light misting rain began as they walked across the bailey to the stables. Looking up at the patches of dark clouds in the sky and hearing the distant sounds of thunder, Bao hoped they would not be caught in a deluge before they returned with his sister and their belongings.

After they’d mounted and started toward the forest, Daniel said, “So, you’re the ‘magic giant’ we’ve been hearing so much about of late.”

Bao gave Daniel a pained expression. “Aye, that I am. I found Alleck crying miserably by the loch one day and pitied the wee lad. I began the game purely to ease his loneliness by giving him something unusual that might spark a few friendships for him in this new place.”

“But it turned into a manhunt when Alleck showed me the gift. I saw the similarity of the symbols on the coins you gave him to the ones cut into my mother and grandfather’s flesh and I wanted to find out the meaning of such symbols.”

Bao bit back a growl of anger and disgust. After a moment, he nodded. “Aye, it never occurred to me that those coins would or could be connected in any way to the horror of your family’s deaths.”

Daniel pulled on his reins and turned in his saddle to face him. “Do you know the meaning of the symbols on the coins?”

Bao tugged on the reins of his mount as well. “Nay. I know they represent the language of my mother’s homeland, but she did not teach me to read them.” Taking a deep breath, Bao steeled himself to Daniel’s reaction before saying, “But I fear I know the meaning of the symbol your family received in death, tho’ I cannot be sure until I see it drawn.”

Daniel’s hands clenched around his reins, the knuckles growing white. He gave a quick nod and said, “It will be done.” The two sat their steeds quietly a moment as he scrubbed his fingers across his brow before looking over at Bao. “Let us take this day to celebrate our reunion. There will be time enough on the morrow to speak of such dismal remembrances. I’ve had enough of them for this day.” Spurring his horse into a gallop, he raced toward the forest. When Bao sped up beside him, he grinned. ‘Twas the first Bao had seen since they left the keep.

They left their mounts tethered to a juniper not far from the pine they would climb in order to get to the entrance to the cave. Bao ascended the tree first, showing Daniel how to place his hands and his feet for best purchase. Once they’d entered the cave, Bao called out the signal and waited for his sister’s reply, which was not long in coming. Grinning, he motioned for Daniel to follow him, already anticipating his sister’s reaction when he brought Daniel into their inner sanctum.

Branwenn knelt with her back turned away from the entrance to their cave-chamber. She folded and re-folded their blankets, unwilling to pack these last two possessions and make their departure final. Though this had been the most austere place she could remember ever living in, it had also been her favorite, and she was loath to leave it. For her brother had spent much time with her here, without the interruption of his work, which was a thing she’d long craved from him. ‘Twas truth, that when they’d lived in their lovely cottage near the king’s castle in Perth, she’d rarely seen him. For when he was home from battle, he would remain out all ‘noon and night, returning only to drag himself to his bed each dawn. She would only see him at dinner, and then he’d be off again to his manly recreations once more.

But she hated the times when he was fulfilling his contract in the king’s army even more, for then he was gone for several moons each time, leaving Branwenn with the bitter old spinster he paid to watch over her. Though the woman had never been violent toward her, she had had a vicious tongue that had left Branwenn with many invisible scars. Well, Branwenn thought grimly, at least she’d seen the last of that old scold. And that alone was reason enough to be glad they had quitted that town.

Bringing the blanket up to her face, she wiped the unshed tears from her eyes and let out a forlorn sigh. She hoped she could talk her brother out of his scheme to set her aside. Tho’ he said ‘twas only that he wanted to do what was best for her future when he harped upon the same old string of leaving her with a good household, it seemed to her as if he was simply wearying of rearing her, mayhap even wearying of
her
. And now that she knew the truth of her parentage, a small corner of her heart also questioned whether ‘twas because they were not truly kin that he was so eager to be rid of her.

“Seize as many things as you can carry, for we shall abide at the keep!”

Her heart leapt into her throat. “
Aieee!
” Branwenn whirled around, causing her to stumble over the leather satchel she’d been packing their belongings in. Her arms spinning in the air like the sails of a windmill, she teetered for an instant and then promptly lost her balance, toppling over onto her backside.

Bao laughed so hard at her, he snorted.

Brows furrowed and lips pursed, she glared up at him. “You have quite a wicked sense of humor, brother.” Branwenn thrust out her hand in a silent demand for him to help her to rise.

Still grinning, he strode over to her prostrate form and unceremoniously yanked her to her feet.

“I see no humor here,” she fussed, dusting off her backside, “so ‘twould be best for you to wipe that smirk from your countenance forthwith. And I’d not shut my eyes this night, were I you. Else the same disaster”—she made a sharp shearing motion with two fingers—“may befall
your
lovely black locks that befell
mine
.”

*

“Jest not about such wicked doings, you witches’ whelp,” Bao said, grabbing hold of the strip of hair he had in a thong at the base of his neck, as if making sure it was still attached. Then, evidently appeased by what he found, he crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Now, ‘tis time you proved that I have taught you a
few
manners at least and greet our guest.”

Branwenn felt her face drain of color. “Guest?” she croaked. She refused to peek around the massive chest of her brother and see who the visitor might be, but she had a suspicion, and it made her even more furious at Bao’s success in startling her to her core.

He grinned, nodding. “Aye. Laird MacLaurin.” Moving aside so that Daniel was now in full view, Bao said, “Daniel, meet my sister, Branwenn. I know her hair is a dreadful sight, but she is truly not so unpleasant to gaze upon if you will only look past the hacked mop on her head.”

Branwenn gave Bao a sharp jab in the side with her elbow.

Bao ignored it.

Daniel moved forward a few paces. “Aye, she is excessively fair,” he replied.

The heat flew back into Branwenn’s cheeks at the unfamiliar compliment. “My thanks,” she said with a shy dip of her head.

Daniel’s smile was kind. “This day has been full of wonders. For I have not only gained a brother, but a sister as well, in a mere matter of hours.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Branwenn saw Bao tense as he turned his gaze on her.

“Beg pardon, did you say that you’ve gained a brother and a sister this day?” she asked, then turned her gaze from Daniel’s to Bao’s. “What does he mean?”

“She knows not?” Daniel asked into the awkward silence.

Bao gave Daniel a silent shake of his head. Then, his voice filled with regret, he said to her, “Daniel and I share the same father, Branwenn.”

A bereft sadness swept through her. Her brother had a brother-germane. Surely, he would forsake her for evermore now.

Bao placed his hand on her arm. “I should have revealed all to you last eve when I told you of your own parentage, but I decided against it. I’m sorry that you have learned of it now in this way.”

All at once, utter vexation at Bao’s continued secrecy replaced the desolation she’d been feeling. She shrugged out of his grasp. “Aye, that you should have done! Why would you leave me in the dark about such an important part of your history? Unless, ‘twas a lie you told me last eve and you do not truly consider me your sister—is that the way of it then? Aye, I believe it is, I—”

“Nay! ‘Tis naught like that, I swear it!” Sending a quick glance his brother’s way before turning it back on her, he continued, “I feared that Daniel would not embrace our kinship—would, instead, scorn it—and me—and I sought only to protect you from any knowledge of his derision.”

No matter how annoying he could be sometimes, Branwenn had no liking for those who would disdain her brother. With fire in her eyes, she turned her sights on Daniel. “Woe be upon you if you ever do!” she swore. “For that red hair of yours shall not last long under my clever knife—this, I vow.”