“MacLeod?” he interrupted in surprise.
Maria gave a firm nod of her head. “Lena and Euphemia were—or rather,are—enemies, as Euphemia had a past with Lena’s husband, Alex MacLean.”
“MacLean?” Callum knew the laird of the MacLean clan and liked him well enough. “I did nae ken he had married, nor did I ken Marsaili had any sister other than Helena, especially nae one who was a MacLeod.”
“Helena is dead,” Maria said, her voice devoid of emotion. “Lena, the sister I speak of, is Marsaili’s half sister, and the laird of the MacLeod clan, Iain, is her half brother, as are his three brothers. They share the same mother but nae the same father. The Campbell is still, unfortunately, Marsaili’s father.”
“God’s blood,” Callum muttered. There was so much he did not know about Marsaili. Had she withheld all of this from him purposely, or had she learned it after their time together? He didn’t know her well enough to say. It struck him then that, perhaps, he had never really known her. Perhaps he had only thought he had.
Maria’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Ye knew her as well as she knew herself,” Maria said, her tone reproachful and unforgiving. He flinched that his thoughts had been read so clearly on his face. “’Tis she who did nae ken who ye truly were. She thought ye honorable, and that mistake has haunted her.”
“What do ye mean?” he demanded, even as his thoughts turned to how to track this Lucan and rescue Marsaili.
“’Tis nae my story to tell,” Maria said. “Ye’ll need to be asking her.”
“I will,” he answered. “When I find the man who took her.”
“Callum!” his mother said, clearly dismayed. “Ye kinnae mean to leave here to search out that woman!”
He barely repressed the harsh reply on his tongue. “I intend to do exactly that. Marsaili was a guest in my home; therefore, as laird she is my responsibility to keep safe.”
“Let yer brother try to find her,” his mother begged.
“Nay,” Callum barked. “Brice will stay here and keep the castle safe. I will go after Marsaili, as I am the one our enemies will ultimately look to and think that I could nae even keep a lass safe in my own home.”
“Ye will jeopardize yer impending marriage!”
Brice gave him a look that Callum was unsure how to interpret. He knew his brother was against his marrying Coira, yet he also knew that Brice believed that if Callum was going to go through with the union, he ought to leave taking care of Marsaili to Brice. Callum agreed in his head, but his heart would not allow him to turn away from Marsaili. He had loved her body and soul, and he had to ensure that she was safe. “Brice will make a reasonable excuse to Coira for me. All will be well with the union.”
“Callum, ye will destroy the union,” his mother wailed.
“Nay,” he replied. His departing would anger Coira, but Brice had a silver tongue. He would make her understand. There was no possible way Callum would leave Marsaili to the fate of a Black Mercenary, nor would he send his brother out against such a foe. Brice was a good warrior, but Callum was better. He was a better tracker, as well, and time was critical. “Do ye have any notion why Lucan would have returned for Marsaili?” Callum asked Maria.
She shook her head. “Nay. To receive coin from Euphemia, he was to wager Marsaili away to a man who would make her life horrid. Once that had been done, he departed, and even if he did hear that ye had won her, I dunnae believe he would have returned for her as his task was completed, regardless of what occurred after.”
“Agreed,” Callum replied, fear for Marsaili making it impossible to slow the rapid thudding of his heart. “Mercenaries care only about coin. For this man to return here, there had to somehow be gain for him.” As the words left his mouth, a disturbing clarity overcame him. “Ulster…”
“Aye,” Maria said grimly. “I had the same thought. Godfrey was nae alone at the Campbell hold to do Ulster’s bidding. He had three other knights with him.”
“They must have tracked Godfrey here or planned to meet here,” Callum said.
“Aye,” Maria agreed. “We’ll make our way to Ulster’s home and hopefully overcome Lucan and Godfrey’s men.”
“Nay,” Callum replied. “I’ll make my way. Ye will slow me down, and I kinnae have that.” He had to save her. He would not be able to tolerate it if something happened to Marsaili.
