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"Just here, lass ", Donald’s voice barked unexpectedly close and Lily jue fro woods not three feet behind her

They rode astride a single horse, the gruff olderRobert between his arrime and spattered, blackened blood, but it was Robert who nursed a ghastly wound that still appeared to be oozing fresh blood froreeting in a theatrically weakened voice with the bravado of a Ro over the saddle and leapt down Horror curdled her sto true, that she ’d done nothing to stop it And noas in grave danger, without his family by his side

"What happened?" Lily fixed Donald with a distressed look

"Where’s Ewen?" Her heart pounded in her ears and adrenaline cascaded through her systees of her vision waver

"Lily," Robert said feebly, " quehed with finality, "die young"

"Calm yourself, lass, " Donald soothed "And Robbie" He turned an exasperated look to his charge and scolded, "You fool lad, you ’ve hadsince we crossed the ben side of the woods Keep the proverbs to yourself, aye? Nobody’s listening anyhow, and he that speaks to hi to a fool How’s that for philosophy?"

Donald looked down at Lily with ahad she not been choking down full-fledged panic since spotting the two men "It’s but his shoulder that ’s been nicked," he said dismissively "The lad will be fine by the morrow, and I left your laird not but three hours past, braw as ever he was "

"That’s what Kat said about John " Lily added through gritted teeth, "If one other person proclaioing to screa on?"

"What news have you?" Concern broke Donald’s otherwise stoic features "Is John hurt then?"

Robert gasped and Lily quickly replied, "No, no, he ’ll be fine Rowena got it in her head that she wanted the boy dead, but I took care of her Kat said he ’ll be back to nors, did you? Good work, lass Rowena, eh?" The two ed look Donald added, "I kent that lass for fasherie froht for a moment then added,

"I see the MacKintosh ’s hand in this devil ’s work"

Lily looked at Robert "You told him about the man in Rowena’s rooruh to talk, aye?"

"Rowena told me that MacKintosh wanted Ewen dead …"

"Aye, lass, " Donald considered, "I can see it clear There’s a spit of land, by Loch Arkaig "

"A spit of land, " Robert continued, "that has been the cause of a long and bloody dispute between Clans MacKintosh and Caht for a moment then added, "I can only but surmise that if both John and Eere to turn up dead, the absence of an obvious laird could thrown the clan into te Lauchlan MacKintosh the opportunity he needs to seize the lands in question "

Robert grew alarmed "We must warn Lochiel! He knows the MacKintosh threatens, but to hazard John ’s life so … the scoundrel has put into play sons on utter ruination Wehi?" Lily asked "I’m not exactly out on a trail ride here "

"Aye, of course, lass" Donald glared at Robert "if she can -- --into the laird on his way back to the keep to give hih, lass," Donald scolded, "next time you unseat your mount, you’d best tie her to a tree You’re chancie she ’s such an old hack or you ’d be away to the laird by your oo feet"

Robert sighed "I would that I could accorimaced as Donald adjusted his hold on hi "

"You ’ll be fine, lad, so stop yourwhen you took the bullet for Lochiel as you did"

"What did you say?" Lily’s head began to buzz

"I said a braw lad our Robbie is, he took the bullet for Lochiel" The oldbetwixt Ewen and a redcoat pistol "