Free The Outcast Highlander by R.L. Syme Page A

you speak to my father face-to-face?”
    “No,” Malcolm admitted, his eyes narrowed. “I had the account from the court page, over quite a night of drinking. They are not allowing your father any visitors, and no communication. Lass, even if you went there yourself, you could not see him.”
    Kensey had to find a chair, because suddenly, her legs felt as though they would give out. In all her imaginings, she hadn’t even considered this. Other than his possible death, she had always imagined him returning with Malcolm. Though this was not death, it was as good as.
    “When will he be released?” she dared. Malcolm’s face was all the answer she needed.
    “Och, lass.” Malcolm reached for her, but she drew back. She pressed her arms tighter around her body, pushing thoughts of her father wasting away in a dungeon out of her mind.
    “You think they do not mean to release him?”
    “The page indicated that there was no sentence. Just that he had been jailed immediately until he would recant his indictment and swear loyalty to the king. His title has been decommissioned, although they cannot take away his headship in the clan.”
    “What has happened to our lands?” she wondered.
    “That had not been decided.” Malcolm’s voice wavered as he continued. “A rumor reached my ears that Edward planned to give your lands to another, but it was not confirmed.”
    Kensey shuddered. They would likely pass to Robert. The thought of her father stripped of his title and her little brother, who could barely sit his own saddle, as the new laird of the clan, it was unthinkable.
    “Surely this can’t be true.” She sniffed against the threatening tears. “Can you remain with us this night?” Kensey placed her small hand on his forearm. He shook his head in assent. “It is late in the afternoon and my mother is very ill.”
    Reyf stalked away and spoke sharply to one of the pages, who immediately took off running through the hall. He remained to speak to the other page and Kensey stepped closer to Malcolm.
    “My mother will want to hear this from you herself, but I don’t wish to trouble her this evening. If you could see her first thing in the morning before you leave for Castle St. Claire? It will give me some time to think of what we can do.”
    Malcolm’s intense stare almost took her breath away. Something else lingered behind his looks and she wasn’t sure what to do, other than look away. He took her hand and she smiled at the ground.
    “I will stay until you bid me leave, Kensey.”
    She offered a small curtsey and reclaimed her hand, turning to signal to Ene on the stairs. The older woman scurried across the room, a basket of clothing in her hands.
    “Yes, miss?”
    “Malcolm will be staying with us this evening. Please see that he gets our best guest room and a hot bath. He will eat with us, as well, if he wishes.”
    Ene nodded. “What should I tell your lady mother?”
    Kensey sighed. “Nothing, for now. Let her rest.” She stepped backwards, making her exit away from Malcolm. “Please make yourself at home, and I will see you at the evening meal. We usually eat just before dark.”
    Before he could speak to her again, she turned and stalked from the room, taking care not to run, although a part of her wanted to run for the door and out onto the moors and just keep going. Perhaps a bigger part knew that if she could find her mysterious lone Highlander, he would be able to fix whatever was wrong.
    Fantasy or not, it settled her heart to think that he could fix any problem she put before him.
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven

    Reyf burst into the great hall just as Kensey lifted the first bite of guinea hen to her mouth. She’d smelled the fabulous roast fowl since Malcolm returned that afternoon and her mouth hadn’t stopped watering.
    But the look on Reyf’s round, red face stopped her cold. His whole countenance spoke of a fear she hadn’t seen in him before. She dropped the leg of hen and