The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain (Clans of Mull #2)

Chapter Fifteen

Logan

“Who took the bairns?” Logan asked, approaching the fool he pretended to agree with. He was getting too old to play games with men like this, but if this bastard had anything to do with the bairns, he would deeply regret it.

Logan adored bairns. They were much easier to deal with than idiot adults.

“I don’t know.”

Logan took two steps closer. “Surely you do. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Nay, I have no use for the bairns. I wish to control the Isle of Mull, not bairns.” The man spit off to the side and set his hand on his weapon’s hilt. “I asked to see you because there are scores of horses trying to get on the ferry. And there’s a giant birlinn unlike I’ve ever seen. Why?”

“What you are seeing is the response from Clan Grant to having one of the chieftain’s granddaughters taken.”

“Someone stole a Grant bairn? Now that is foolishness I’d never commit.”

By the look on the man’s face, Logan guessed he was telling the truth. That didn’t mean he was about to let the man off easily. Bairns were a sore spot with him. “Connor Grant and his nephew Alasdair are on their way. The two finest swordsmen in all the land. You better be forthright because they will find you if you are guilty.”

The man let out a slow whistle, then Logan caught the slight smirk.

Logan stepped forward and grabbed the fool by the throat. “If I find out you had anything to do with stealing the bairns, I’ll cut off your bollocks and make you eat them for dinner. Then I’ll give you to Connor to do as he wishes. You better tell me now what you know.”

The man was about to turn green, so Logan let go of him, mostly because he didn’t wish to be heaved on. The fool rubbed his neck and looked as guilty as anyone he’d ever seen, so Logan took another step closer.

The fool held up his hands. “All right. I had naught to do with it, but I know why they stole the bairns away.”

“I’m listening.”

“There’s a man on Ardnamurchan who wants the faery.”

“What faery?”

“The green maiden. She has the ability to grant wishes. They say she appears in the middle of the forest when she finds someone she can trust, and she can take any form she wishes. They say she’s a bairn this time.” The man rubbed his neck.

Logan hoped he’d left a bruise, but he had to pursue this a wee bit further. “Out with all of it. I can see it in your eyes.”

“They say there’s a child who is also a seer, so they stole her too. They have plans on how to use the green maiden, but that I don’t know.”

“Mayhap to be rid of you.”

“I’ve done naught to anyone.” His voice rose a pitch.

“Who? I want names.”

“I don’t have any. I am not familiar with Ardnamurchan.”

“Names!”

The man let out a deep sigh. “I truly do not know who ordered the stealing, but I know the men who stole them. They were to take the bairns to the mainland and hide them for a sennight, then take them to Ardnamurchan.”

“Names, I said.” Logan whipped out his sword and had it at the man’s neck before the fool could even move his hand.

“Hell, but you are fast for an auld man.” He hitched his breath, then said, “Herbert and Ellis. That’s all I know. They’re from the mainland in Oban.”

Logan sheathed his sword and mounted his horse. “I hope, for your sake, that you told me the truth.”