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“As it should be,” Hugh interjected
“You haven’t weasled Dunhanshire away fro yet?” Gillian couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice
“I haven’t asked for it,” he s to uardian and therefore control all that is yours”
“Did John appoint you uardian?” She asked the question to irritate hiht
Alford’s face turned red with anger, and he scowled at her while he adjusted his ill-fitted tunic and took another drink of wine “You’re so uniotten about you I have said that I auardian, and that makes it so”
“No, it does not make it so”
“Alford is our king’s most trusted confidant,” Edwin shouted “How dare you speak to him in such an insolent tone”
“She is insolent, isn’t she?” Alford reuardian and your fate is in my hands I shall personally choose your husband As to that, I ht wed you myself,” he added offhandedly
She wouldn’t allow herself to think about such a repulsive possibility and continued to stare at Alford without reacting to his threat
“You’ve proh rerand plans”
“Yes, I knohat I promised, but when have you ever known rin
Hugh and Edwin laughed until tears streamed down their faces Alford finally demanded silence with a wave of his hand
“You’ve ”
“You were telling Gillian how displeased you ith her defiance,” Edwin reminded him
“Yes, so I was,” he said “It sithe less fortunate, so I let your uncle’s outrageous behavior go unpunished I also forgave you your resistance to my summons to come home”
He took another long s fro “And how do you repay e escape As your guardian, I sio unpunished It’s time for you and the boy to learn a lesson in humility”
“If you beat her, Alford, she’ll need tioes on your important quest,” Edwin cautioned
Alford drained the rest of the wine, then oblet “I’m aware of that possibility,” he said “Have you noticed, Edwin, how the boy has attached himself to Gillian? He must foolishly believe she’ll protect hih, since you so enjoy your work, you can beat the boy”
“You will not touch him” Gillian made the state, and she could tell frouard
“I won’t?”
“No, you won’t”
He druertips on the table “Pain will convince the boy how futile it is to try to escape Besides, you have both inconvenienced h He so wants to hurt one of you” Alford turned to his friend “Try not to kill the boy If Gillian fails me, I’ll have need of him”
“You will not touch the child,” Gillian said again, though this time her voice was hard, emphatic
“Are you willing to take his beating?” Alford asked
“Yes”
Alford was stunned by her quick agreehtened Courage was a foreign concept, and he had never been able to figure out why soe phenomenon, while others did not The trait had eluded hih he had certainly never felt the need to try to be courageous, those who did enraged him What he lacked in his own character he detested in others
“I will do whatever pleases ht decide to kill you”
She shrugged “Yes, you’re right You could kill me and I couldn’t stop you”
He raised an eyebrow and studied her It was difficult to concentrate, for the wine had made him quite sleepy and all he wanted to do was close his eyes for a few minutes He took another drink instead
“You’re up to soame do you dare play with the master?”
“No games,” she answered “Kill me if that is your inclination I’ive our king However, as you have just said, you have left me alone all these many years and then suddenly you forcefrom me, and if you kill me—”
“Yes,” he interrupted, “I do want sohtened up in his chair and looked triumphant when he continued, “I have joyous news After years of searching, I have finally found your sister I knohere Christen hides from me” He watched Gillian closely and was disappointed because she didn’t respond to his announceertips, he s her It’s MacPherson, but I don’t know the nanize another, and that is why I want you to go and fetch her for me”
“Why don’t you send your soldiers to get her?” she asked
“I cannot send hlands, and that is where she hides frohterfor this undertaking, and I’ive me additional soldiers, but I don’t want to involve him in a family matter Besides, I have you to do this errand for me”
“The soldiers wouldn’t knohich woman she is, and the heathens certainly wouldn’t tell They protect their own at all costs,” Hugh interjected
“And if I refuse to go?” she asked
“So Christen to me,” he bluffed “It would just be less complicated if you were to fetch her”
“And would this sonize her?”
“The Highlander who gave us this information knows the name Christen uses,” Edwin reminded Alford “You could force him to tell you”
“For all we know the Highlander could be bringing Christen with hie he sent indicated there was a problem—”
“An urgent problem,” Edwin interjected “And it isn’t for certain that he will arrive tomorrow It could be the day after”
“I don’t doubt the probleh leaned forward in his chair so he could see around Alford “The traitor wouldn’t take the chance of coentseen”
Edwin rubbed his triple chins “If you beat the boy, Hugh, the Highlander old back”
Hugh laughed “He wants the boy killed, you old fool You were too drunk at the time to pay attention to the conversation Suffice it to say that a bargain was struck between the Highlander and Alford As you know, every so often a new ruolden box has been seen, and every tidoet his treasure back has not dampened over the years”
“Some say his fervor has increased tenfold,” Edwin re has even sent troops into the Lowlands looking for information”
Hugh nodded “And while John searches for his treasure, Alford searches for Christen because he believes she knohere the box is hidden He means to prove her father stole it Alford has also sent inquiries over the years to all the clans asking about Christen”
“But none of his inquiries were ever answered”
“That is true,” Hugh agreed “No one would admit he knew anyth
ing about heruntil the Highlander arrived”
“But what of the bargain struck between this traitor and our Alford?”
Hugh looked at the baron, waiting for him to answer the question, but Alford’s eyes were closed and his head drooped down on his chest He appeared to be dozing
“I’ve never seen the baron so drunk,” Hugh whispered loudly to his friend “Look how the wine has lulled him to sleep”
Edwin shrugged “And the bargain?” he nagged