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"Ugh" Lily put her hand up "I don ’t know that I want to be hearing this"

"Nay, you ’re not understanding The man’s plaid were fastened with a MacKintosh brooch "

"You didn ’t like the man’s pin?" Lily asked incredulously

"Nay, Lil’, it isn’t that I didn’t like his pin Och, the brooch, it ’s a cat You ken Da’s hound pin, aye? What it means to him? Well the MacKintosh clan, their battle ani her of the infamous bad blood between Clans Ca were true, it would be a serious accusation indeed

A chill shuddered through Lily to think that a man from an enemy clan had made his way into Tor Castle while er under its roof She didn ’t know the nature of their feuding but this could only have serious--and downright frightening--implications

"Are you positive, John? It was dark after all"

"Aye, it was as plain as porridge, it was I looked close thinking it could be an ill-made hound So I looked till I knew for certain, and it were the MacKintosh cat alright "

"Okay " Lily gathered herself If anything disastrous were to happen with Ewen out of the castle it would be up to her and Robert to get John to safety She didn ’t know much about Scottish history but she did know that clan feuds often went beyondcattle to all-out bloodbaths "Tellelse you saw or heard, John This is very important "

"Well there you two rascals are! " Robert sauntered into the garden "I’ve been searching high and low to see what all the fuss is "-- He stopped short at the grim expressions on Lily’s and John ’s faces

"What’s this then?"

"I’lad you’re here, Robert" Lily was deeply relieved that Ewen had had the foresight to leave his foster brother behind She was feelingwith a clash between two Highland clans was not so she felt prepared to face alone "John was just telling me how he saw someone fro out of Rowena’s roouis in herba A snake lies in the grass, lad" Robert’s brow furrowed "But how can you be certain?"

"He ’d a cat brooch" John looked at thely "I may be a lad but I ’m not daft, I ken the MacKintosh token" Robert visibly deflated as he sank to the ground He paused to give Lily a ful look that didfears

"Ah, yes, the MacKintosh clan and that infernal cat " Robert turned to Lily to explain, "They’ve a motto, ‘Touch Not the Cat Bot a Glove ’"

Lily looked perplexed so Robert clarified, "The MacKintosh sy is that you’re not to touch the cat without a glove " He paused, but Lily still didn’t look satisfied "Peculiar it may be, but Cameron ’s are hounds, MacKintosh’s are cats, and the lairds have been at odds since Ewen ’s grandfather was Lochiel Clan MacKintosh is disposed toward feuding over the sa here in the Highlands: Those that board with cats may count on scratches!" He muttered, "I suppose that is applicable to our fair Rowena as well Feline indeed, that one was, but no iven hiave Lily a soue with the MacKintosh "

Robert’s voice then took on a gravity that would have surprised Lily had she not otherwise been so grateful to have him by her side to face the situation "John, listen to us This is very important, lad Did he see you?"

"Nay, sir I ’m never seen if I don’t want to be"

"Good There ’s a clever boy "

"Robert, " Lily interrupted, "what could soer?"

"I fear it’s our laird who faces the er " Robert paused for a moment, then added, "I never did trust that lass I say the best course will be to keep our peace about this matter until we ’ve the truth of it With the one, there ’s no need to fley the castle staff with news of a MacKintosh underfoot "