As soon as they saw Coinneach coming, Collum said, “I want a word with you, Coinneach.”
“Aye.” Coinneach figured he was in trouble.
“What happened last night?”
Coinneach hadn’t planned to tell anyone, but he couldn’t lie to the chief’s brother. “Two of the stable hands tried to hunt Aisling and me down when we were running as wolves last night.”
Collum’s brows raised. So did Aodhan’s.
Och, maybe that wasn’t what Collum had come to talk to him about. “Aisling and I went running as wolves. We decided to mate in the meadow in privacy, and the next thing we knew, two men, the two stable hands who had worked for Osmond, were coming after us with bows, intent on hunting us. Still, we gave them the benefit of the doubt. We took extra measures to stay out of their sight.”
“But?”
“They continued to track us to the river. We crossed to the other side and waited for them to follow us. Once they did, we returned to the opposite side of the river and got rid of their clothes and weapons. Then we returned to my family’s croft. We had given them every chance to leave us alone, but they came after us as wolves. We had no choice but to take them down.”
“Why would they go after you?” Collum asked.
“Mayhap because I confronted Rupert about being aggressive toward Aisling.”
“Rupert? Why would he have solicited two of the stable hands to kill you?”
“Maybe because he was humiliated when he was forced to work in the stables, mucking out the stalls. I dinna know for sure if he was the one to send them after us. Unless his da did it.”
“His laird wouldna have done so.” Collum folded his arms and looked furiously at Coinneach.
Gods’ wounds, Coinneach hadn’t meant to let that slip. Coinneach rubbed his beard. “I misspoke. I meant that Osmond might have sent the men after us.”
Collum eyed him with suspicion. “What wouldhismotive be?”
That Osmond was Rupert’s da, but Coinneach didn’t want to make mention of that again. “Maybe he didna like that Rupert had to clean out the stables. I dinna know.”
“I’ve heard the rumors. My brother has too. That Osmond is Rupert’s da. Is that why you think Osmond might have sent his men after you? Because he felt he had to protect his son? We dinna believe that Rupert isna the chief’s son, by the way. ‘Tis just a malicious gossip started by wagging tongues.”
“Aye, well, I have no idea.”
Collum considered Coinneach’s expression and then said, “I came to tell you I heard you and Aisling had mated and wanted you to know you and she can stay in the couple’s quarters. I’d heard whispers that a couple of our pack members left the castle and hadna returned, but I didna think much of it because no one raised the alarm. If you killed them, where are their bodies and why didna you report it?”
“Their bodies are in the bog. We didna report it because we didna know who was behind it. We thought if we didna say anything about it, someone would slip up and say something or would send someone else after us again.” Which was the truth.
“Come with me. You need to tell the chief about this.” Collum waved at Niven, who raced to join them. “Tell Aisling to join us.” Then he asked Coinneach, “Who else had seen what happened?”
“Aisling, Nelly, Tamhas, and my parents.” Coinneach didn’t want to involve his family, but they had been witnesses, and they could help corroborate their story. But since they were family, the chief might think they were saying what they did to protect them.
“All right. Niven, go get Nelly and Aisling and bring them here.” Collum said to Aodhan, “What were you doing in the stables? You and Coinneach are supposed to be on guard duty.”
Niven dashed off to the castle to get Nelly and Aisling.
“Well?” Collum asked Aodhan.
“I asked if Osmond sent the men to kill Coinneach and Aisling since they worked for him. He said he didna. All that he knew was that they hadna returned to sleep here last night and they hadna come to work this morning. He wanted to know what I knew about it. I didna tell him what had happened because I hadna witnessed it,” Aodhan said.
“But you believe Coinneach,” Collum said.
“Aye.”
“Do you also believe Rupert is Osmond’s son?” Collum asked.
“I didna, but now I believe so.”
