Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

“ T hank God above, salvation, at last,” Kai said.

They crested a small rise and found themselves staring down at the town of Seabridge, site of the Highlander Games. Thousands of people from clans all around Scotland traveled to the northeastern coast of the Isle of Skye every year for the games. Large clusters of people milled about, reacquainting themselves with old friends and making new ones. In addition to the contests of skill, the music, the food and all the festivities, the games were where alliances were formed, bonds were solidified, and deals were made. It was as much about business as pleasure.

“We are going tae get a room at the finest inn and the first thing I am going tae dae is take a piping hot bath and get a good meal in me belly,” Kai announced.

“Is that so?” Magnus asked.

“Aye. And if ye say otherwise, I’ll beat ye tae a bloody pulp.”

Magnus laughed but said nothing to contradicts his brother’s wishes. A hot bath and an even hotter meal sounded just fine to him. The journey from Dunvegan Castle to the Highland Games had been long and arduous. Magnus and his brother had slept rough and had eaten mostly what they’d been able to forage. The temperatures during the day had been cold and those at night had been downright frigid. Not even sleeping near a fire had been able to cut through the biting cold. Magnus was glad that Eldrick had thought to pack several more furs for them to wrap themselves in. Winter in the Highlands were harsh.

“All right,” Magnus said. “Let’s find an inn, get the road dirt off, and put on some clean clothes. Mission or nae, we’re still representin’ our clan, so we need tae look the part.”

“Aye,” Kai agrees. “And I think we can gain some valuable information around the hearth in the common room with a mug of mulled wine.”

Magnus rolled his eyes. “We are here tae dae a job, Kai. We’re nae here tae socialize.”

“I disagree, braither,” he replies. “Aye, we’re here tae dae a job. But Domhnall never said we were nae allowed tae socialize. After all, as ye pointed out yerself, we’re here representin’ our clan. What would people think if we were nae friendly, eh?”

“Ye can talk yerself into anything, cannae ye?”

“Aye. But in this case, there isnae much convincing that needs tae be done,” he replied. “Ye ken how loose tongues can get when people have a few cups in them, eh?”

“I dinnae think ye ever noticed that since all ye seem tae notice is how loose the bodices get on the barmaids.”

Kai shot him a mischievous smile. “I am a talented man who can dae both things at once.”

Magnus shook his head and smiled to himself. “Ye are a scoundrel.”

“Aye. That too,” he replies. “But me point about the tongues waggin’ in a common room still stands, big braither.”

“Fine. One mug,” Magnus said in exasperation. “I’ll allow ye one mug in the common room and after that, we get tae work.”

Kai frowned but the gleam in his eye told Magnus this would not be the end of the conversation. Eventually his little brother nodded.

“Fine. I can work with that,” he said.

His words, along with the look on his face, told Magnus he had been correct in his assumption Kai would not be settling for just one mug. He was going to have to put his foot down though. They were there on serious business, not for rolls in the hay with whatever willing barmaid cast a look their way. Or rather, Kai’s way. Magnus did not have the luck with the ladies his little brother did, and it was not something he actively pursued, either. His head was already too crowded as it was, without trying to balance love and relationships as well.

“All right,” Magnus said. “Let’s head for the inn.”

“Good man,” Kai chirped as the nudged their horses forward.

After paying for two rooms and hot water for their baths, Magnus and Kai got cleaned up and made themselves presentable. As emissaries of the clan, they were held to a higher standard Domhnall insisted they uphold. They had station and position among the clan and so, they were expected to dress and act as such.

Once they had gotten seated in the common room and had mugs of hot, mulled wine in their hands, Kai wasted no time in making eyes at the barmaid, which were, of course, returned. All Magnus could do was shake his head.

“This is more like it,” Kai said.

The fire in the oversized hearth crackled, filling the room with a heat Magnus found pleasant after the biting chill outside. He sipped his mulled wine and looked around the room. It was filled with men and women from the surrounding clans, some he recognized, most he didn’t. The air reverberated with the sound of music from the small group playing in the corner and the laughter of everybody around him. The atmosphere was fun and festive. But Magnus searched the faces of the crowd and did not see the person he was looking for.

“What dae ye think?” Kai asked.

“I dinnae see her.”

“I am nae surprised,” he said. “I told Domhnall this was a fool’s errand.”

“Maybe so,” Magnus said. “But given the possible threat, ‘tis our duty tae follow up on the information we were given, fool’s errand or nae.”

“Aye. I ken. I’m just sayin’ if we both agree this is foolishness, then we should let ourselves have a good time, eh?” Kai said.

Magnus sighed. “Dae ye ever think of anything but havin’ a good time?”

“Sure,” Kai said. “I sometimes think about what I might want tae eat. What I want tae drink. Which barmaid I might want tae bed on a given night.”

“This is serious,” Magnus says, his voice hard. “We dinnae have time tae be foolin’ about, Kai. We have a job tae dae.”

“Aye, I ken. I ken. I just dinnae think it’d dae any harm fer us to lighten up and enjoy the games as long as we’re here. We can still dae the job and enjoy ourselves, eh?”

Magnus let out a long, frustrated breath and shook his head. “I’ll never understand why Domhnall saddled me with ye fer a mission this important.”

“Because he probably kens that ye need tae let yourself loosen up and enjoy the world around us, big braither.”

“Focus, Kai. Get yer head on straight or I’ll knock it off yer shoulders.”

Kai grinned devilishly. “What dae ye want me to dae? Ye’re the one who can hear what people are thinkin’. Why dinnae ye give a listen instead of mouthin’ off at me?”

Magnus grimaced. He hated to admit when his little brother had a point. But he did. Closing his eyes, Magnus took a moment to clear his mind and focus himself. Magnus had discovered his gift when he was just a boy. His ability to hear the thoughts of other people. At first, it had terrified him. He didn’t understand what was happening and had believed he was hearing the voices of demons in his head. It was a constant noise that gave him no peace. He’d sought the counsel of Father Watson, his family’s priest for as long as he could remember, but had not come away with anything closer to understanding or peace of mind.

It was only after a conversation with his father that he came to understand that he and his siblings had been blessed with certain gifts. Each of them had been bestowed with an ability that defied logic or understanding and was as unique as each of them. Rather than demons, the constant noise in his head were the thoughts of everybody around him. Understanding what it was allowed him to do away with the fear, but the unrelenting noise in his head made him feel like he was being driven to the brink of madness.

As he had with his siblings, his father had sent him to Mor, the apothecary and mystic who lived in the woods just outside the village beyond Dunvegan’s walls. She had taught Magnus about his gift and over many weeks, she had taught him how to shut out the perpetual cacophony in his mind and how to make it work for him. How to focus on a single person to hear their thoughts without the cascade of a hundred other voices trying to crowd into his mind at the same time.

It was in those teachings that Magnus learned to control his mind, to harness his gift and to use it to the greatest benefit. It was in those teachings that Magnus had also finally found peace. And over the years, his control over his gift had grown stronger and he’d learned to use it in ways that benefitted not only himself, but his family and his clan as well.

“Well?” Kai asked.

“Give me a minute,” Magnus snapped.

“While ye dae that, I’m goin’ to order another mug of mulled wine then.”

“Fine. Dae that,” Magnus said. “Just be silent and let me focus.”

As Magnus centered himself and focused his mind, Kai did what he’d said and ordered another mug, using the time to flirt with the barmaid, of course. Magnus didn’t object simply because it kept his brother occupied. Once he had unlocked that door in his mind, allowing his gift to take over, Magnus used Mor’s teachings to narrow the scope of his ability.

He scanned the room, moving from face to face and giving a listen to what was happening inside their minds. He listened for mention of the one they had come to Seabridge to find. But he heard nothing more than inane ramblings as well as a few stray inappropriate thoughts as the men ogled the barmaids. There were no dark secrets or nefarious plans that he could hear. Magnus hadn’t expected anything more, but as he closed that part of his mind again, shutting out the voices entirely, he let out a breath of relief anyway.

“Well?” Kai asked.

“Just as I kent,” he said. “Naething.”

“Well, I wouldnae say naething,” Kai replied with a mischievous tone. “I’ll be meeting up with Isla the barmaid later, so it wasnae a complete waste of time.”

“Ye’re unbelievable.”

“Aye. I am. And I’m sure Isla will be sayin’ the same later.”

Magnus chuckled. “Come on. Let us go walk the grounds. Now that ye have yer plans fer later tonight lined up, maybe ye’ll actually be useful.”

“I wouldnae count on it, big braither,” he replied. “The grounds outside are of full of lasses.”