Aidan Read Free

pointed out Ian.
    “She’s me sister,” Aidan said in self-defense. “And I couldna let ye see her nake d! And Dagger,” he said, nodding toward Onyx, “I couldna let ye kill yer faither, as I kent ye woulda regretted it someday.”
    Onyx just shook his head and smiled. “Face it, Aidan, if anyone wants te ken gossip, they dinna go te the alewives te find a waggin’ tongue, they come te ye instead.”
    “Well, I willna e’er tell anyone aboot the stone,” he said, feeling a wee bit bad that everything his friends were saying was true.
    “Well, it’s been safe so far, so mayhap ye are changin’,” said Ian.
    Just then, Onyx’s wildcat slinked into the room with a dead chough, red-legged crow, in its mouth. It saw the squirrel scampering around and dropped the bird and lunged for Aidan’s pet instead. The squirrel scurried up Aidan’s arm and settled itself on his shoulder. Aidan ran a hand over the squirrel to soothe it, and stood to put distance between his pet and its stalker.
    “ Dagger, yer pet has grown since we last saw ye,” said Ian.
    “Aye,” agreed Aidan. “I dinna think its safe te bring it around camp. There are bairns and livestock and sheep in the hills . . . and squirrels here.” His squirrel agreed by scolding the wildcat from atop Aidan’s shoulder, flicking its tail wildly.
    “N ay, Tawpie willna harm them,” Onyx said, scooping up the cat, now having to use both hands to hold her, as she was no longer a cute little kitten. The cat’s eyes stayed fastened on the squirrel. “I have raised her from a bairn, and she is only bein’ playful since she is still so young. She listens te me, so dinna fash yerself aboot it.”
    “Still, jest te play it safe, ye should keep her locked up,” said Aidan.
    “I willna lock up me pet any more than ye’ll do the same te yers.” Onyx held the cat to his chest protectively. “Besides, she’s jest caught a bird so she willna be hungry fer awhile.”
    “What is takin’ ye three so long?” asked their chieftain, Storm, walking into the hut, followed by Wren. Storm and his father both served as chieftains to the clan, and took turns staying at either the Highland camp, or the Lowland castle they’d claimed near the border, Hermitage Castle. Wren spied the dead bird on the ground and jumped back, startled.
    “Dagger ’s pet is killin’ off e’erythin’ in sight,” complained Aidan.
    “No’ so,” Onyx replied. “And I willna lock her up.”
    “I canna endanger the clan nor the livestock,” said Storm, shaking his head. The long blond braid at the side of his head swung slightly, and the cat tried to swipe out for it with its paw.
    Storm scowled, but Wren reached over and took the cat in her arms. She had always had a way with animals and truly loved them. “I’ll get Renard to keep an eye on Tawpie during your visit,” said Wren, offering the services of their eldest son of eight and ten summers for the job. He was actually Storm’s son from a previous marriage, but Wren had raised him as if he were her own. “He used to have a pet fox years ago, and loves animals. He’ll keep the children safe, don’t worry.”
    “Then Renard and Niall will stay here te watch the cat as well as watch o’er the stone while we’re at the fair,” said Storm. Niall was Renard’s cousin and also best friend, as they were about the same age, Niall being a little younger. But they’d both turned out to be excellent with handling weapons thanks to Storm, so Aidan knew the stone would be in good hands. And since the English didn’t even know it existed, it wasn’t in any real danger anyway.
    “Storm, you know how much the boys look forward to the fair,” Wren reminded him.
    “I’ll stay,” offered Onyx.
    “Nay,” said Storm. “I need ye three te help me sell and trade fer goods we need at camp. Ye three are the best at gettin’ a guid, fair trade, and also the best prices, so ye’ll come with. Renard and Niall will take watch fer