Free True Highland Spirit by Amanda Forester Page A

topography wi’ more happy names,” she grumbled.
    Archie smiled faintly. “Perhaps. Since they saved our land, the Templars determined we owed them allegiance and demanded we serve their cause or suffer the consequences. We were not bothered for a while, but recently the messages have gotten more frequent and more demanding, until this.” Archie held up the missive Morrigan had given him.
    “So this is from the Templars?” Morrigan glanced at the red, wax seal with two knights on a single horse.
    “This is their seal. Father showed it to me afore he died. There is only one Templar left that I know. He was verra young when he first fought for Robert the Bruce, but he has grown into the devil. It is he who wants us to kill the bishop.”
    “But who is it?”
    “’Tis the Abbot Barrick.”
    “The Abbot Barrick?” Morrigan repeated. “The abbot sent us that message?” Morrigan wished she had not stayed up all night, maybe then her brain could keep pace with the events before her. “But why would the abbot want us to kill the bishop?”
    “I dinna ken.”
    Morrigan stood and paced the room, trying to clear her head and think through what needed to be done. “What are we to do now? Go after the abbot?”
    “Nay, Morrigan. Leave that bastard alone. I have told the bishop the whole, and he is taking me to testify against the abbot in Rome.” Archie gave a small smile, his eyes gleaming.
    “Rome!” Morrigan stopped short and stared at her brother. “But that’s so far… Rome?” Morrigan shook her head. The thought of her Highland brother traveling to some far off land was inconceivable. Rome was a place that lived in myth, not in reality. “But how? When?”
    “The bishop has applied for permission to travel through England as pilgrims. We leave on the morrow. I am sorry ye are in this Morrigan. I must go, but I will return as soon as I can.”
    “But why are ye leaving?” Morrigan fought the urge to convince him not to go. Though she enjoyed mocking Archie and complaining about his poor leadership and ill-conceived schemes, the thought of trying to try to take his place was chilling.
    “I can name Barrick as the one trying to have the bishop killed and this missive ye brought will help us.” Archie held up the letter with the red seal. “I burnt all the ones I received.”
    “And what am I to do in the meantime? What is to keep the clan safe from Barrick while ye are gone?”
    Archie rubbed the back of his neck and frowned, causing a deep worry line to form on his forehead. “With the bishop gone, ye canna be expected to try to have him killed. I hope to return soon, before the abbot can do any more mischief.”
    “But he could—”
    “I understand, but we must no’ work for the abbot. I will return with help as soon as I am able. It will work. It has to work.” Archie appeared to be trying to convince himself.
    Morrigan nodded. She knew she could not work for the abbot again. “I hope this bishop can be trusted.”
    “The bishop isna like Barrick. He is a good man.” Archie’s face relaxed in a way Morrigan had rarely seen. “He advocated for Andrew and not only saved him from the gallows, but encouraged Campbell to allow Andrew to marry Cait.”
    “I got the missive from Andrew, though I had a hard time believing it.” Morrigan shrugged. “If the bishop can bend the Campbell to acknowledge a McNab as his brother-in-law then the bishop is truly a miracle worker.”
    “He is.” Archie smiled faintly and his eyes went soft, an unusual look for him. “Even after he caught me trying to kill him, he dinna have me arrested and killed, so I am inclined to think positively toward him.”
    “With all due respect, Brother, the bishop has many more years and a few more pounds on him than ye. How was he able to stop ye?” Archie was a fool, but twenty years as a raider and highwayman had given him certain nefarious talents. Overpowering a fat old bishop should have been among them.
    Archie