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“Not rimly “I bumped into Alison Forbes”

“Oh” Gregor Grant hesitated, questions in his eyes, and then carried on “’Tis barely dawn What do you want?”

“Aye, and there are already so ye Duncan spread the word that ye were back, and that we ht their weapons to show ye, as ye requested”

Gregor groaned and ran his hands over his face “I dinna ht! Verra well, I’ll be down in a moment Fetch me some water to wash in, Malcolm, so I can feel half alive”

“There’s always the puested slyly

His master eyed hiet it Find a maid and send her for a ewer”

But Malcol furtively at the door Gregor’s mouth kicked up at the corner “Are you afraid, Malcolm Bain?”

“No!”

“I think you are You’re afraid wee Alison Forbesknife”

Malcolm shuddered “I wouldna put it past her”

“She’s not forgotten your leaving her then?”

Malcolotten She has it in her head that I wronged her”

“You should have stayed I should have ht at the time, I would have”

Malcolor, and I was your man I was your father’s man before that I couldna leave ye to face matters alone, I wouldna been able to live with ht, if I had”

“So you put hed and sat up, rubbing his arrateful, Malcolm—don’t let yourself be persuaded otherwise—but I’ht…If I’d been capable of thinking at the time, I would have sent you home Can I help smooth matters over between you and Alison?”