"What the hell happened to him?" Haldane yelled.
"Knocked out," Keegan said. "Hope he wakes up. If not, it's on your head. That's what happens when you provoke a skirmish. You should be ashamed, fighting amongst your own clan. Your father would be disappointed in you."
"This bastard is not part of my clan." Haldane jerked his head toward Dirk.
The rest of Haldane's men were captured and disarmed. Rebbie stood with his foot planted on the back of one of them, a sword in each hand. The lad squirmed and turned his head about, trying to grab Rebbie's ankle. Smiling, he pressed down harder and the lad snarled.
"Let's tie them all up. They're going into the dungeon," Dirk said.
"I'll be damned if I'm going into any dungeon." Haldane flung himself toward the ground. Twisting and turning, he yanked himself from Dirk's grip. Dirk attempted to grab hold of him again, but Haldane, with his smaller body, was quicker. He launched himself at Rebbie who dodged out of the way. The lad who'd been beneath his boot leapt to his feet and sprinted after Haldane. They both raced toward a grove of bushes.
"Cowards!" Dirk yelled. He needed to chase them down and capture them, especially Haldane. But in this darkness, they'd be difficult to find in the thicket. Although they had no swords, they likely still had their knives. They could easily hide and leap out on anyone who went into the bushes after them.
Dragging the skinny lad named Ross to his feet and untying the gag, Dirk grabbed his hair. "Who was Haldane planning to meet at the tavern?"
"I'm telling you naught, you bastard!"
"How old are you?" Dirk asked for he acted like a spoiled bairn.
"Eighteen summers."
Dirk nodded. "I'm thinking your da will take a horse whip to your sorry hide when he finds out what you've been doing. Opposing the clan chief is the same as treason. You'd best be telling me what I want to know. I can keep you in the dungeon as long as I want. Months. Years. It matters not to me."
"Kiss my arse! You're not our chief."
Fury rushed through Dirk's veins. He wanted to slap the lad to the ground, but given that Dirk outweighed him by ten stone, such a violent action would make him no better than his stepmother.
"You are no longer a member of this clan," Dirk said with cold finality. If Ross wasn't loyal, Dirk didn't want him around causing trouble.
"You can't do that," Ross said in an unsure tone.
"I just did. If I ever decide to release you from the dungeon, you'll have to leave MacKay lands and never come back."
"This is my home!"
"What do you think happens when men are not loyal to their chief?"
The lad merely stared at him wide-eyed.
"I can't trust you. You'll likely stab me in the back."
"Very well," Ross ground out as if someone were forcing the words from his mouth. "Haldane was meeting no one. 'Twas supposed to be an ambush."
To hear his suspicions confirmed sent fury raging through Dirk's veins. "Haldane was planning to kill me here?"
"Aye."
"Why?" Dirk demanded, even though he already knew.
"His mother said he had to do it."
"Of course." That bitch! Dirk had expected nothing less. "Who shot the arrow at me on the roof?"
"Haldane saw you up there when we were heading out here. He said you were acting like king of the castle and should be taken down. He ordered Gil to shoot the arrow while the rest of us hid behind the kirk wall."
"Who's Gil?" Dirk demanded.
"The lad who ran away with Haldane."
Damnation. Dirk would've especially loved to have captured him. "I thank you for telling me."
"I spoke the truth. Will you allow me to stay now? I don't wish to leave the clan."
"That depends on how loyal you are to me. I'll tolerate no empty words. You think on it a while, then decide what kind of man you want to be."
Ross hung his head.
"Let's get these traitors back to the dungeon," Dirk said. "Walk," he ordered Ross.
The lad stumbled forward and glanced back, more fearful now. He well knew a man without a clan was vulnerable indeed, but Dirk could tolerate no disloyalty.
The two men who'd been knocked out were carried and tossed across the horses' backs. The rest were bound and forced to walk forward. The lads were not boasting so much now. Likely, none of them had ever spent time in a dungeon, and mayhap they were a little afraid.
Dirk led his horse and made Ross walk ahead of him while he held the rope binding his wrists.
A few minutes later, they entered Dunnakeil's gates, the guards there surprised to see the prisoners from their own clan, some of them sons of respected clan members. The lads would have to be taught a lesson if they were ever to be loyal and trusted members of the clan. Maybe they never would be. If not, he'd have to send them all away.
Dirk spoke to the front gate guards. "Don't allow Haldane or his young friend Gil inside the gates. They are traitors who shot at me and then started up a skirmish in the byre. If you see them, capture them. Tell the rest of the guards."
One guard's brows lifted. "Aye, m'laird."
The dungeon contained plenty of cells with solid, well-maintained doors. Dirk made sure every last one of Haldane's party was locked in an isolated cell, because he didn't want them talking and hatching more plans. He wanted them to think long and hard about their traitorous actions, attacking their chief and his party. Men had been executed for less. Dirk didn't plan on doing anything so drastic, but he would never be able to trust the backstabbers. He was glad to be finding out exactly who in the clan he could trust.
Now he had to deal with his murderous stepmother.
Chapter Twenty-One
Maighread watched Dirk and his armed cohorts enter the great hall. Supper had been held until the chief returned… that alone made her grind her teeth.
She narrowed her eyes at the arrogant bastard. His hair windblown, he wore armor and carried his helm. Where was Haldane? Was he injured? Had he and his men bungled the ambush she'd so carefully set up? She knew Aiden had been listening when she'd told Haldane to meet the man at the tavern. In truth, there was no man and no meeting. Haldane and his men, along with one of her own guards, were to surprise Dirk and his friends and kill them. Or at least kill Dirk, but he was not even injured, nor were any of the men with him. Frustrated rage burned through her veins. What the devil had happened?
"Where is Haldane?" Maighread murmured to Aiden, who stood nearby.
"How would I know? I've been here all night."
"Don't be impertinent with me, young man."
"Pray pardon, Mother, but I don't ken where he is." He moved away from her. How could he be so rude and ungrateful? Did he not know she did all this for him?
Listening closely, she understood some of the men's words. They mentioned a failed ambush and that several prisoners had been taken to the dungeon.
Damn him. Had he thrown Haldane into the dungeon? She charged across the great hall, wishing she had a small dagger to slip between his ribs.
"Where is my son?" she demanded.
"Aiden is there." Dirk pointed. "I know not where Haldane is."
"Liar!" She clenched her fists so she wouldn't go flying at Dirk and claw his eyes out. Never had she hated another human being so much.