Loki (19 page)

Lucky Kenzie could be the key to everything.

Chapter Twenty

Loki and Brodie paid the toll outside of Woodgait and led the ten guards into Ayr. They headed to the castle first to see if Brodie could uncover any information about Bella there, but the trip was fruitless.

Loki sat outside the castle with the guards, still on horseback, while Brodie entered the castle. When he returned, Brodie told Loki, “The only thing the king is presently worried about is the theft of a few jewels from his royal coffers, but that has naught to do with the earl. King Alexander had very little to say about the Earl of Cliffnock. Seems he’s been quiet lately, which is not his norm.”

Moving back through Doongait and on to Woodgait, Loki slowed his horse. Brodie gave him a look of curiosity, which was not a surprise—Loki had not told him aught about Kenzie. As soon as he neared the inn, he shouted, “Kenzie!”

The young lad shot out from behind the building, his eyes alight with excitement. “You came back for me?”

A surprised look filled Brodie’s face, followed by a small grin as he took in the young lad in front of him. Loki wondered if his sire remembered this spot.

Loki replied, “I did come back for you. Kenzie, this is my sire, Brodie Grant.”

Brodie gave each of them a weighing look. “Seems I’ve seen someone like this before,” he finally said.

Kenzie jumped up and down. “Aye, I live where Lucky Loki lived, so someday I’ll be lucky, too.”

Brodie returned his gaze to his son, curious to see what would happen next.

“Kenzie, have you seen the wee lass you found before?”

“Bella? Aye, Blackett’s men have her at the castle,” he said with a scowl. “I tried to tell the sheriff, but he would not listen to me. She could be hurt. I don’t like the earl. He and his men are mean. And I can help you find her. I sneaked behind them one day, so I saw where the secret tunnel to the castle is hidden.”

Loki’s mouth curved, for this was just the discovery he’d been hoping to make. “How do you know she’s there?”

“Because Blackett’s second came through to hire a bunch of men to guard his castle. He also hired the best archer in England to kill someone. Never said who, but they say he’s the best.” His nose scrunched up. “I heard Ramsay’s wife is the best of the Scots.”

“You heard right, now continue. What else did you hear about Blackett?”

“The second said Blackett would be attacked soon and he needed help. He promised a lot of coin, so some Lowlanders went with him. But some that left came back. I overheard them talking. They said Blackett was holding someone’s wife at his keep, and he would bring all the Highlands down on them. ‘Tis why they left. They did not wish to fight the savage Highlanders from way up north. Are you a savage? You do not look like a savage.” He peered at them such a serious expression it almost made Loki choke.

Holding a hand down to the laddie, Loki said, “Do you wish to travel with me? I’m not riding in to an easy situation, but I could use your help. We are always looking for someone who can uncover information for us without raising suspicion.” He wouldn’t discuss it with his sire now, but Kenzie was going home with him to Grant land. He could live with him and Bella, or wherever he wished to live. They’d make it work somehow. He couldn’t desert the lad again, not when the cold winter was about to bear down on him.

Brodie cocked his brow at Loki. “Like you did with me,” Loki glanced at his sire, speaking only loud enough for him to hear.

Brodie nodded. “Suits me if it suits you. He seems like a resourceful lad.”

“I’m coming,” Kenzie yelled out, “but let me hide some things first so no one steals from me.” He tore back behind the building, and Loki saw him dash into the trees.

Loki waited until the laddie was out of hearing distance, then explained to his sire. “He found Bella when she was about to fall from her horse from cold and exhaustion. He wrapped her in plaids, then moved her in the back before he came to find me.”

Brodie nodded. “That explains everything.”

Loki hung his head as he whispered, “He also found a pan with the initials ‘LL’ inscribed with a knife in the middle of the bottom.”

Kenzie raced toward them, only a plaid in his hand.

“Do you have anything else of importance, lad?” Brodie asked, an unreadable expression on his face.

The laddie gazed up at Brodie Grant, hesitant to answer for some reason. “Aye, my lord.”

“What is it?” Brodie asked, in a quiet yet stern voice with which Loki was quite familiar.

“Uhhh…”

“Speak up, lad.”

Kenzie swallowed and said, “My mama sewed me a fabric puppy before she died.”

“Then you better get something that important. We won’t be coming back.”

“Aye, my lord.” Kenzie hurried through the walkway and returned with his well-worn puppy. “Where am I going, my lord?”

“Home,” Brodie replied. “‘Tis time for you to go home with us after we’re done with this wee skirmish.”

Kenzie’s face lit up as he stared at Loki in delight.

Loki gave his father an appreciative look and then held his hand down to the laddie. “Aye, you’re moving in with the Grants. Welcome to the clan.”

***

By the time they arrived at Clan Ramsay, Kenzie had just about talked their ears off. Loki and his sire left the guards in the outer bailey, then made their way to the stables. As soon as they stepped inside the great hall, a special woman made her way over to Loki, and he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. Alex’s sister Jennie Grant, now married to the Cameron chieftain, strode over to them.

After she greeted Brodie, she wrapped her arms around Loki and said, “I’m so glad to see you, Loki. I’m sorry to hear about your wife, but I look forward to meeting her once she is home safe. Is she not the same lass who told you she would love you forever? Arabella, is it not?”

“Aye, she is the same lass.”

“I’m so happy for you. Come and see Aedan and our children, though they are no longer wee.” Jennie led him over to the table and introduced him to her daughters, Riley and Tara, and their son, Brin. He’d met them when they were young, but years had passed since their last meeting.

Loki pulled Kenzie out from behind him and said, “This is a new member of the clan, Kenzie. We brought him with us from Ayr. I think he’ll be able to help us. He’s very astute.”

Her eyes lit up with surprise, but she simply said, “Well, if he’s anything like you, he will be a clever lad.” She ruffled the laddie’s hair and found him a spot at the table. “Are you hungry, Kenzie?”

The laddie’s face lit up as he nodded. Loki thought his head might roll off his neck, he nodded so hard. He recalled what it felt like to have an empty belly. “We haven’t eaten in a while, Jennie.”

Brenna Ramsay greeted them and sent the kitchen maids for food. “These lads look mighty hungry, Fiona. Stew, lots of brown bread, and some baked apples for them.”

Kenzie tipped his head back to look at Brenna, excited at what he’d just heard. “I’ve never had baked apples before. Will they still be warm?”

“Aye, they’ll be warm, and you’ll have the chance to try plenty,” Brenna said with a chuckle. “I hear you have much work ahead of you. We’ll fill your bellies first.” Kenzie sat down at the table, anxiously awaiting his food while he took in all the people in the Ramsay hall.

Alex emerged from Quade’s solar and beckoned for Loki and Brodie to join them. When Kenzie gave Loki a questioning look, Loki waved at him. “Eat, lad, we’ll catch you up when we’ve decided what to do.”

And then he and Brodie joined Alex, Quade—the Ramsay chieftain, Aedan Cameron, and Logan in the solar. Torrian came in from outside to join them at the last minute.

Once seated, Logan quickly filled them in on the situation. “We’ve received our note asking for coin in return for Bella’s life. We are pleased to see he’s handling it this way since it is now in Blackett’s best interest to keep her alive.”

Loki ran his hand down his face and rested his elbows on his knees, staring at the ground. “Hellfire, I did not want it to come to this.”

“I’m pleased,” Alex said. “The bastard sent a note to the Cameron, also. He needs to be stopped.”

Aedan folded his arms across his chest. “This is the second time I’ve received notes from him ordering me to empty the coffers of Lochluin Abbey. I agree with Alex, we must put a stop to this. The monks and the nuns are verra upset and frightened.”

Loki raised his head quickly to give his uncle a perplexed look. “Explain why this pleases you, if you’d be so kind, my laird?”

“The alternative was that your wee wife was lost in the woods in the Highlands in the winter. At least we know she is alive, warm, and being fed.”

Loki shot out of his chair. “You do not know that. The man is a bastard. Who knows what he’ll do to my wife. He could be…”

Brodie pulled on his hand, encouraging him to sit again. “We do not know aught for sure, and there’s no point in conjecturing. Actually, that is incorrect. There is one thing we do know for certain. Bella is a strong lass. Need I remind you the strength in your mama? You need to believe in your wife.”

Loki sat, realizing he spoke the truth. An image of the gentle Celestina Grant running down a pathway as she swung a large branch at a Norseman popped into his head. Bella was strong, too. He’d have to believe in her, or he wouldn’t be able to continue. “All right. I believe in my Bella. So what is our plan?”

Logan said, “Simple. We collect a bag of coins, then we take eight score of guards and surround their curtain wall until they release Bella. There is no other option.”

“Aye, there is,” Loki said, “or at least there is something else we can try while we wait.”

“And what is that?” Logan asked.

“The lad we brought with us says he followed Blackett’s men. He knows the location of the secret tunnel they use to get inside the castle walls. He also told me they hired the best archer in all of England.”

“Then this should prove to be a great contest,” Logan said with a grin. “We have Gwynie on our side.”

“And you,” Brodie added. “You’re one of Scotland’s best archers as well. We’ll put you in the trees alongside Gwyneth.”

“Not sure about that, but I will have a talk with the lad. He’s the one from Ayr, is he not? What’s his name?” asked Alex.

“Kenzie,” Loki replied. “His parents died of the fever, leaving him to fend for himself on the roads in the royal burgh.”

“Then he is definitely wily enough to help us,” Alex said, giving Brodie a pointed look.

“When do we leave?” Loki kneaded his hands, so worried about his Bella he could barely think of aught else.

“First light. You agree to stand back and let me handle things, Loki?” Alex said. “You’re a fine warrior and a clever guard, but you are too close to the situation to think clearly. You need to let me handle this scum and deal with him. Find out what the boy knows, and we’ll see if ‘tis of use tomorrow. Personally, I hope we come to full battle with the earl. He’s not going to stop until he gets riches from one of us.”

***

Bella paced the floor again, unable to settle no matter how she tried. She knew what Loki would tell her about saving her strength, being ready to run, being observant—all the qualities of a fine spy.

But she couldn’t stop herself. Fortunately, the louts hadn’t bothered her much. She’d been allowed out to use the garderobe, and only the maids came into her room. She’d vomit for sure if any of Blackett’s men dared to touch her.

She’d said a thousand prayers for forgiveness, hoping the laird and Loki would both forgive her for her foolishness. Would they come for her as a clan or would Loki be forced to carry this battle out on his own? How she hoped her laird was behind him, that he had willingly sent extra guards with him. Every once in a while, she could hear conversations in the chamber next to hers, so she put her ear to the stone wall and tried to eavesdrop. Still, she hadn’t learned much of use.

She heard more sounds from the adjoining room, so she sat back down on the pallet and put her ear to the stone again. This time, she could make out everything.

Voice #1: “How long before they arrive?”

Voice #2: “I expect them any day now.”

She was surprised she could hear them so clearly, but she suspected they’d imbibed quite a bit of ale, making all of their voices louder. She thought the first man was Hamish, and the second was Blackett.

Voice #3: “Tell me exactly what you want me to do.”

Whose voice was that? She did not recognize the lad.

Voice #2: “We’ll know more once they’re here, but I plan to bring her out to get Loki to come forward with the bag of coin. We need to get him alone. If he has any warriors there to assist him, he’ll be too dangerous.”

Voice #1: “I’ll beg you to allow me to go hand to hand with the lad. He’s a smart arse, and I’d like to whip his arse.”

Voice #2, now sharp and louder: “Nay, you’ll not jeopardize our wealth for your sick need to beat him to a pulp. The archer will take care of them both.”

Bella almost shouted, but she managed to hold her shock inside. Take care of them? Did he mean…

Voice #3: “So the only two you want me to kill are the lass and the lad?”