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Duncan Forbes stood behind him Malcolm Bain could feel him, feel the disapproval, like pin-prickles on his flesh And he didn’t need to turn and look to knohat expression would be on the other man’s face A sneer Because he considered Malcol years ago

And desert her he had, but it had not been an easy choice, and if he were to ht of when it was too late to do anything about therets In his opinion, life was the

re to be lived, and one had to just get on with it

Malcolor had chosen a core of twenty or considered necessary The rest of their siven orders to follow, but these twenty ht and well drilled It was Malcolm Bain’s job to see that they reached that standard in as short a time as possible

Duncan had been watching, that sneer on his face, as if he could do better He was al a nuisance as the lad with the fair hair, henever his work perround As far as Malcol house, carrying wood and seeing to the horses He was young, too young to grow a beard, but tall for his age, and with a keen eye He was desperately keen to be one of the elite , and desperately disappointed that he was too young

Each of theht Malcolm Bain, but at least the lad didn’t sneer He just looked sort of wistful

If Gregor were here, he’d have gone over to the lad, ht up with hero worship But Malcol at tough, hardened old soldiers, and putting the fear of the devil into them to make the bawled at

Malcol—he had had other things on his one, several of the Glen Dhui men had been sent off to fetch the priest, with instructions to bring hi or no, and as quickly as possible

At first Malcoleneral—[ ]ency But shortly thereafter, he had been passing through the Great Hall and seen the general hi as spry as a two-year-old

It was Gregor who looked edgy Pale and serious, his eyes shadowed In Malcolm Bain’s opinion he had hardly slept a wink the past few days So behind the twolike a de her, too

“We will have a banquet!” General Mackintosh’s voice had risen with excite ti to celebrate at Glen Dhui Castle!”

Malcol had, after one brief glance, worked hard at avoiding each other’s eyes He suspected Gregor was playing the bloody hero again—dinna the man ever learn!

And now here was Duncan Forbes, creeping around behind hirim reaper himself Suddenly it was all too much Malcolm Bain spun around and strode quickly toward the other man Taken by surprise, Duncan stuained his balance and stopped The two men came face to face, barely an inch between them Malcolm Bain was pleased to see Duncan’s eyes flicker

“Have ye no’ soht voice “If ye want to join in, then come and stand in line and I’ll see what ye are et lost”

“Ye are the one should get lost,” Duncan growled, pushing against Malcolm’s chest “We dinna want ye here Ye are no’ welcome”