Page 96 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
Reid’s eyes were glazed over as they danced wildly around the passageway. He scrunched up his face as he tried to make sense of what was happening around him.
“Save yer strength,” the healer urged.
“Ye’re in McLennan Castle,” Archer explained. “Me scouts found ye near the borders with O’Gunn.”
“Aye, he had me there,” Reid managed, before he coughed again. “I escaped. What’s…” He pointed toward the still-raging fire.
“It’s fine,” Archer said. “It’s a long story, but ye’ve been unconscious for days after bein’ brought back here. Someone started a fire close to the healer’s chambers, but I got ye out.”
“The Laird saved yer life,” the healer added.
“Then I’m forever grateful to ye,” Reid rasped. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Four days,” the healer answered. She passed a cup of water to Reid.
Reid took a sip, struggling to swallow. “I needed to get back here to warn ye, Laird MacLennan." He coughed and took another sip before he added, “One of yer councilmen is in league with O’Gunn. I heard them talkin’ about him.”
“Aye, I ken,” Archer said. “Mack Douglas. He’s already been dealt with.”
“Mack?” Reid frowned. “Nay, I didnae hear that name. It was another.”
“Who?” Archer asked.
“Harold? Me brain is scrambled up. Harold Millar?” Reid groaned.
“Henry Millar?”
“Aye, that’s the man.” Reid keeled over and almost threw up. “Aye, Henry Millar. He’s loyal to O’Gunn. They’re plannin’ somethin’, but I dinnae ken what.”
“Calum!” Archer shouted.
It took less than ten seconds for Calum to round the corner. “Me Laird?”
“Keep the guards with Reid and find Henry Millar immediately. Throw him in the dungeons when ye do. Mack wasnae the end of it. Millar is the real danger.”
“Aye, Me Laird,” Calum replied before running off.
Archer turned to Reid. “I’ll be back to hear yer story, but first, I need to get Eileen.”
“Eileen’s here?” Reid asked.
“Aye. She… Well, it’s a long story. But I’m sure she’ll be happy to tell it to ye when she hears that ye’re awake. She’d barely left yer bedside since ye were brought here.”
Well, except to get into me bed.
“It’ll be great to see her again,” Reid said. “Thank ye, Laird MacLennan.”
“It’s ye who I need to thank once we have Millar under lock and key. He’s been a plague on this castle for years.”
Archer then stood up and strode away from the fire. He could feel the heat ebbing as more buckets of water were brought and poured over it. Part of the healer’s chambers would be damaged, but the castle had withstood far worse over the years, and the brickwork would endure.
As he ascended the stairs to the first floor, the cold hit him. It hadn’t felt as cold when he’d left Eileen in his warm bed, but after being burned by the flames, the night felt chilly.
He touched a hand to his face when he got to the top of the stairs; his cheek felt raw. He looked at his hands as he hurried down the hallway, noticing the raw skin. They looked sore, but he didn’t feel any pain yet. He would once his heart rate slowed.
He turned the corner, and his heart almost stopped. He choked on a breath before rushing to the open door. Outside his room, the two guards lay on the floor, both of them stone-cold dead, pools of blood beneath them.
He bolted into the room and looked around. Eileen wasn’t there. No sign of a struggle except for the dirk lying by the wall. Archer went to it and picked it up; the tip was stained with blood.
