“See that you do.” Hamish looked at Blair, the only one who hadn’t said anything.
Blair shook her head. “I only came in case I was needed, for my daughter’s sake. I only learned what had happened late this day.”
Hamish inclined his head.
“You’re no’ going to have them all held accountable for two of our pack members’ deaths?” Morag asked, sounding furious.
Hamish sighed. “From the sounds of it, they were defending themselves as any pack member has the right to do.”
“You will take the word of their family? Canna you see they are sticking up for each other? Spinning a tale that would absolve them of any crime?” Morag raged at Hamish.
“What would their motive be? They had planned to mate in the meadow, not kill a couple of stable hands who had no business out hunting for anything. I hadna approved it,” Hamish said, sounding irritated with her tone of voice. He motioned to the gathered group in his solar. “Leave us.”
Everyone showed their respect and then left the solar while Hamish said to Morag, “Why would you defend the stable hands who were obviously at fault in the whole matter?”
They didn’t hear her response, though Aisling was dying to eavesdrop and learn what Morag said to that.
16
“We’re going to speak to Osmond,” Collum said, surprising Aisling as they left the chief’s solar.
She thought Collum would interrogate Osmond, but not have the rest of them go with him.
Collum turned to Aodhan, Blair, Nelly, and Coinneach’s family. “None of you need to come with me, just Aisling and Coinneach.”
“Aye,” Nelly and Blair said, and hurried off to the castle.
Aodhan said to Coinneach, “I’ll see you on the wall walk.”
“Soon,” Coinneach said.
Aodhan stalked off to the north tower stairs.
“If you need our help further, feel free to ask for it,” Coinneach’s father said to Collum.
“I will,” Collum said.
Aisling and Coinneach both hugged his family, then they left.
“Why did Blair join us when she had nothing to offer when we spoke to Chief Hamish?” Collum asked.
Aisling wasn’t surprised that Collum still wanted to know why her mother wanted to be in on the discussion. “You would have to ask her.”
“But I think you know as close as you are to your mother,” Collum said.
They walked into the stable and saw the red-haired Osmond speaking to one of his men. He was of such small stature that it was hard to imagine he could do any job and succeed. “Collum.” Osmond sounded surprised to see Collum entering the stable.
“We have a matter to discuss—actually, a couple of matters. Two of the men in your employ hunted down Aisling and Coinneach last eve while they were running as wolves in the meadow. I need to know your role in all of it.”
“My ro…role?” Osmond said, his hand on his chest as if he were shocked to hear that anyone would think ill of him.
“Aye. They were your men.”
“Were?” Osmond glanced at Coinneach, as if he knew Coinneach was the one to dispatch his men.
“We’ve heard the rumors about you and Morag,” Aisling said.
“What? What rumors?” Osmond asked, his eyes wide, but she didn’t think he looked surprised in the least bit.
