swelled in Lachlan's chest at Hugh. How could he have let himself be used by that filth of a man, who attacked his own people?
"Leave Hugh for another day and fight the MacLeods," Lachlan said, though he wanted to punish Hugh as much as Connor did. "More of them are crossing the Snizort River each day."
"We don't have the forces to fight the MacLeods yet. We must hold off that battle until Beltane, when my cousins and Duncan arrive with the rest of our warriors." Connor paused, his face grim. "Pray we have a new ally to come to our aid as well, because we'll need one."
"I don't suppose you're willing to wait for the others to arrive before going after Hugh," Lachlan said, though he knew that after seeing the old man and his dead daughter Connor would not delay. The problem was that Hugh also knew it.
"Unlike with the MacLeods, all I must do to disperse Hugh's pirates is find my slippery uncle and kill him," Connor said. "That's more a matter of luck than strength."
They both knew it would require more than luck. Hugh's men were foul, but they were good fighters.
"This business between you and Hugh is personal," Lachlan said, trying a different tack. "Don't give him what he wants. Send some of us to fight him, while you stay here and hold the castle."
"It is personal," Connor said, pausing in his preparations to fix his steely gaze on Lachlan. "That's exactly why I must be the one to go after him."
If Lachlan had been able to persuade Connor to let him lead the attack, he could have pretended to stumble upon Hugh's lair by chance. Now he had to tell Connor where it was without giving away how he came by the information.
"When I was out among our people this time, I heard that Hugh had taken over the old house next to the creek at the south end of Staffin Bay," Lachlan said, feeling uneasy about giving him a half-truth. "That's a short distance from where the attack occurred, so I suspect he's still camped there."
"We'll look for the house, but if you've heard of it, most likely Hugh has already left it," Connor said. "My uncle is famous for slipping away into the mist."
"I'll see that the men and galleys are ready," Lachlan said, intending to make certain he was in Connor's boat. "How many of us do ye want to take with ye?"
"One galley, twenty men," Connor said as he strapped on his claymore. "Both you and Sorely are staying here."
"But - "
"I can't leave the castle vulnerable to an attack by the MacLeods," Connor said, cutting him off. "I need ye here."
"Take care then," Lachlan said as they gripped forearms in a warrior's farewell. "Watch for an ambush."
"Always," Connor said breaking into an unexpected grin. "Haven't ye heard? I'm a hard man to kill."
* * *
Connor stood at the bow, peering through the dense night fog that lay over the water. They were nearing Staffin Bay. If Lachlan was right, Hugh had his camp here, and he would have men watching. Though Connor could not see it, the long, low offshore island that sheltered the bay lay just ahead. The narrow inside passage was a perfect place to trap a passing boat, and Hugh knew Connor was coming. If he were Hugh, he would post a lookout on the island.
The fog was too thick for the men to see a hand signal and maintaining absolute silence was essential now, so Connor crossed the length of the galley, moving between the men working the oars, to speak to the man at the rudder.
"Steer us to the outer side of the small island," he said close to the man's ear. "Bring the boat to shore there."
Connor's cousin Alex had a sixth sense on the water and could navigate blind, but the man steering tonight was familiar with this part of Trotternish and did well enough. Soon Connor heard the lap of waves hitting the beach, and the shoreline emerged to his right. As they glided into the shallows, Connor moved between the men again and tapped the shoulders of the two he wanted to go ashore with him.
The small island was barren of trees, which meant sound would travel over it almost as well as across the water. Before they left the boat, he whispered instructions to the two going with him. They would not speak again.