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closely guarded secret. Neither was the trouble the DeVeaux had caused her family in the past. The telling of the tale might even insure that the DeVeaux never had a MacAlpin sword on their side again, no matter how rich a purse was offered, and that could only be a good thing. She was heartily glad that, for whatever reasons, Cameron and his men had not been part of this latest treachery.
    “It began with my mother,” she replied, “although the DeVeaux had not always left my kinsmen in peace before that. Nay, they have always preyed upon the weaker, those with less might and coin. For peace and gain, my mother was forced into marriage with Lord Michael DeVeau despite all the dark things said about him. All those dark tales were truth. He was a beast, brutal and completely faithless. One night my mother found him mutilated and with his throat cut. She ran.”
    “Why? Did she do it?”
    Avery could hear no condemnation in his voice. Although she had not described the true horror of her mother’s first marriage, what little she had said was obviously enough. So, too, would Cameron have some knowledge of what the DeVeau men were like.
    “Nay,” she answered, “though she kenned all would think she had. She had threatened such dire acts. No one would heed her about the horrors of her marriage, and she had often said she would end the torment herself if need be. My father helped her flee to Scotland. She had already been running and hiding for a year all on her own. ’Twas finally shown that others had done the murder to avenge a woman he had brutalized, and my mother was finally free. The hatreds were set firm by then, however. The marriage didnae bring peace but intensified the feud, and not all of the DeVeaux believe Mother is really innocent. Mayhap they dinnae really care, just wish to have someone to hate and fight with.”
    “And mayhap they didnae like having their kinsmon revealed as the monster he truly was.”
    “Aye, ’tis possible. They also didnae like the fact that my mother inherited so much. ’Tis small compensation for all she endured, and ’tis hers by right, but the DeVeaux hate to give up anything.”
    “E’en coin paid to mercenaries.”
    “Aye.”
    “Dinnae fear. I had already guessed that. Our backs are closely watched.”
    Avery just nodded. She wished she had some idea of the fate of her kinsmen. From what little information she had gathered over the past two days, the slaughter had not been as great as it had appeared to be. She could only hope that someone would send word to her mother detailing just how dearly the DeVeau attack had cost her family. It could be months before she learned anything, but at least she might finally learn the truth. Avery prayed it would be good news, good enough to banish the lingering horror of that day from her dreams.
    By the time they stopped for a midday rest, Avery felt fairly confident the DeVeaux would not be a problem. Sir Cameron MacAlpin, however, was proving to be avery big one. Riding in his arms all morning had left her all too aware of her own weakness. She ached. It took more will than she thought it should not to turn to the man and tell him she surrendered, to order him to hurry and find some place private so that she could show him just how thoroughly she had capitulated. Her only consolation was that she was certain Sir Cameron suffered as well. Pressed as close to him as she was for the whole ride, she had been all too aware of the hard proof of his desire. She hoped it crippled the oaf.
    The moment her wrists were untied, she hurried away to seek a moment of much-needed privacy. It was not easy, but she strove to ignore the huge, hulking man plodding along beside her. Wee Rob was her guard, and if the flush upon his cheeks was any indication, he was as embarrassed as she was. Avery thought it a little odd that this would actually make her feel, if not exactly at ease, at least not so deeply mortified.
    Once done, she returned to the