overlook him anymore. Maybe he’d even take up politics. Speaking of…. “What is going on with Jenkins? Did you use the satellite? Did you call home?”
A soft breeze ruffled Bannon’s hair. He turned and glanced at Marcus, who was staring off into the distance, toward the pass. Bannon followed his gaze to where smoke rose high up into the air. It was visible even from here. Patrick had torched the inside of the base before they’d left. Bannon imagined he could even smell minute traces of the fire.
“I did not. Not yet. But Patrick found the position of the Lady Anna on the computers at the base. That is why I came to find you.”
A trickle of unease slithered through Bannon, making him jerk his attention back to Marcus.
Marcus met his gaze and gave him a soft smile. “It seems you were right. Your Captain Kindros is on her way back here. In fact… if my calculations are correct, she should be here before dawn.”
Elation and devastation filled Bannon in a rush. He didn’t know which emotion to trust, but he knew he was going home.
§ § § §
June 1, 4831: Lochwood Castle
Ciaran left his bedroom the next morning, with a headache the size of Blae Mountain and feeling bone-tired. He had not gotten much sleep last night. After helping Patrick interrogate the prisoner, he’d gone to bed and stayed awake half the night, waiting for Red to come in. He never did. Apparently he was more upset than Ciaran had thought.
Pausing at the end of the hall next to Red’s room, he raised his hand to knock, then decided against it. Red was probably as tired as he was, and truthfully he didn’t know what to say to Red yet. The man had acted foolhardy last night. He’d had no idea of the plan to attack the base, yet he’d shown up after the siege had been well underway. He could have run into fragger fire or the tip of a sword. The thought of it made Ciaran’s stomach clench with nausea.
Och, but Ciaran had been totally justified in yelling. Why then did he feel like such an arse? It sat like a rock in his abdomen. He couldn’t get over the flash of hurt on Red’s face before he’d turned on his heel and completely dismissed Ciaran. Then he’d spent the rest of last night avoiding Ciaran, so Ciaran couldn’t even talk to him and point out how idiotic he’d acted. He raised his hand again, then let it drop.
Shaking his head, Ciaran continued on his way down the hall and down the stairs. He’d talk to Red in due time. Once Red saw his error, he’d apologize and everything would be fine.
Ciaran stepped into the great hall and everything got quiet. Everyone looked up at him. He glanced down to make sure he’d indeed put his kilt on. Yes, he had.
Eventually the talking resumed, and he made his way to the laird’s table. Red was not there, but Ram, Angus, Fiona, and Maggie were.
Maggie took one look at him, gathered up her trencher, and headed to the kitchen.
Ciaran sighed and watched her go. He’d thought they were getting along. “What is wrong with her?”
“Ye mean other than ye throwing old men in the dungeon and chasing Red away?” Fiona asked with more than a little bit of venom in her voice.
He had not chased….
Angus shoved his food away and stood up so abruptly he made the bench, and Ram who was on it, wobble. Without a word, he turned and stomped down the dais steps and toward the door.
In amazement, Ciaran watched him all the way to the door of the great hall. What was that all about? When he looked back at the table, Fiona was getting to her feet and gathering her own trencher. “Fiona, where are ye going?”
Completely ignoring him, she stormed off toward another table, sat down, and continued her meal.
What the hell? He turned back and noticed Ram staring up at him. “What?”
Ram shrugged. “They do nae approve.”
Unbelievable. “Red was wrong. He could have been killed.”
“Aye, he could have, but he wasnae.” Ram picked up a piece of bacon and plopped it into his mouth.
“Ye tae?”
Ram held up his hands. “I’m on nae one’s side. I’m just an innocent bystander. Though I will tell ye, there is a bit of a fuss about letting Stuart out of the dungeon. And everyone wants tae ken what the outsider ye captured has tae say