a better man and warrior.”
“Donald of the Isles might prefer Murdoch for being the weaker,” Ivor said. “But never mind that, Lion. Where did you go when you climbed out of the Tay?”
“Where do you think?”
“St. Andrews?”
Fin nodded.
“I see. You saw his reverence then. Did you tell him what had happened?”
“I did, aye. At present, he is the only man save yourself who can identify the coward who left the field by flinging himself into the river.”
Shooting him a grim look, Ivor said, “Did you tell him that I told you to go?”
“Nay, I was sure that you’d tell him yourself if you wanted him to know.”
“I thank you for that, I think. It raises another issue, though. Sithee, I have served Alex Stewart just as you serve Rothesay, and whilst we were in the Borders, Traill sent for me. He gave me a message for Alex to go to Moigh, saying that he dared put nowt in writing for fear it would end up in the wrong hands. When we met Davy in Perth, someone had just told him that we were to meet here instead.”
“That was my man, Toby Muir,” Fin said. “Rothesay sent me to persuade your grandfather to host the meeting, and the Mackintosh wanted it held here. I also sent a message to Lochindorb in the event that Alex should return meantime.”
“Traill must be heavily involved in this then, must he not?”
“Aye, for he sent me to serve Davy two years ago,” Fin said.
A loud double rap on the door diverted them both.
When Ivor snapped, “Enter,” the door swung open to reveal Catriona with a jug and two goblets in her hand.
“Grandame thought that the two of you might like some wine,” she said, smiling mischievously. “I have carried it all the way up here to you myself, to preserve your privacy. Does not such an effort deserve proper payment?”
Chapter 8
Catriona watched warily as Ivor took the jug from her, trying to decide if he was angry or amused. Either mood would annoy her, but the latter one was safer.
He said, “Come in, Cat, so I can shut the door. But I warn you, you may not learn all that you want to know. Some things are not for you to hear.”
“Sakes, you of all people should know that I can keep a secret,” she said. “I’ll hold my tongue about the two of you knowing each other,” she added when he frowned. “But only if you will tell me how that came to be so.”
“I hope that is not a threat,” Ivor said, his tone sending a shiver up her spine.
“Don’t scold her, Hawk,” Fin said. “I’ve already promised to tell her what I can, but I did want to discuss things first with you.”
“Aye, well, we met at St. Andrews,” Ivor said, taking the jug from her and pulling out its stopper. As he poured wine into one of the goblets, he added, “You will recall that Granddad and Father sent me to the bishop there some years ago.”
“To study, aye,” she said, trying to remember what she could of those days. “I was no more than a bairn when you left, being six years younger than you are.”
With the quick, unexpected smile that often surprised her after she had irked him, he held the goblet out to Fin and said, “I do know that, lass.”
“I just meant that you cannot expect me to recall much about those days. I must have been about four when you left. And although you came back each year for a visit… long enough to teach me things such as to paddle our raft and to swim… you were away much of the time until I was nearly ten. I don’t know anything about St. Andrews except that you learned to read well there.”
“We did, aye, and learned much else forbye,” Ivor said.
“Also, you did teach me my letters and numbers.”
“Bishop Traill believes in educating anyone who wants to learn, and many who do not,” Ivor said with a wry look. “He believes that if men learn the history of places beyond their ken, and about each other, they will better understand themselves and other men—other countries, too, such as England and France, come to that.”
“But if you were a student with Fin… with Sir Finlagh,” she amended hastily, “then why did you not know his name?” She glanced at Fin, but he kept silent.
“For the same reason that he did not know my name,” Ivor said.