Page 112 of The Scot’s Secret

He couldn’t see their faces yet, but if Geoffrey’s position were any indication, he was also preparing for a possible fight. Having been a reiver himself for a time, he knew their ways better than most, and Alex allowed him to take the lead as he edged his horse forward.

“Greetings, men,” one of them said. “You can relax your. . . Waryn?”

They were close enough now for Alex to get a good look at the men. They were neither large nor small.

Geoffrey jumped from his mount, as did both reivers. To Alex’s surprise, the lord embraced them one at a time. The reunion lasted but a moment before they all turned toward him.

“Alex, come meet these men.”

He dismounted and walked toward the group.

“Aaron and Robert Dunn, meet my brother-in-law, Alex Kerr.”

Their smiles faded and the Englishmen, which their reaction revealed them to be, looked as if they wanted to kill him.

“Geoffrey— ” the light-haired one named Robert began.

“Yes. He’s a Kerr. And a good man, so you can stop staring at him like that unless you want your skull cracked in half.”

The other reiver looked toward Geoffrey. “By who? Certainly not you? We’ve heard you’re a great earl now. Likely you can’t even use that thing,” he said, pointing to Geoffrey’s sword.

Geoffrey moved quickly, grabbing the lance from Robert.

“Who needs a sword?” Geoffrey said. “This will do quite nicely.”

Aaron laughed. “That’s twice tonight you’ve been taken unaware, brother.”

Geoffrey finished the introductions. “Aaron and Robert are friends of my aunt and uncle who took us in after Bristol.”

The men exchanged another surprised look, likely because Geoffrey had spoken so calmly about his home being attacked.

“They introduced me to reiving.”

“And Hugh. Where is your uncle?”

Geoffrey handed the reiver back his lance. “He’s overseeing fortifications of an old wall at Elmhurst with Simon. His wife, Faye, is at Kenshire.”

It took Alex a moment to place the name until he remembered he was the uncle whom Geoffrey had referenced earlier.

“Wife?” the lighter-haired one grimaced. “The poor woman.”

“What are you doing this far east, Aaron?” Geoffrey asked. “And at this time of night?”

The reivers looked at each other and then at Geoffrey. “We’re headed to you.”

“Me?” Geoffrey’s surprise was evident. “Is something wrong?”

“We didn’t know you needed us, Waryn,” Aaron said. “Rumors of Bristol reached us too late. We’d not have you thinking your reiving family had abandoned you.”

Geoffrey put his hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “If I’d needed your help, I’d have found you.”

The men both looked at Alex again. “But clearly you did not,” said Robert.

“Much has happened since we last met.” Geoffrey walked toward Alex, evidently as a display of allegiance. “Bristol is secure, and the Scottish king who ordered Clan Kerr to take it—” he emphasized the word ordered, “—has relinquished their claim. And—” his tone hinted at the finality of his words, “—my brother, Bryce, is married to his sister.”

Robert shrugged, apparently satisfied. “Whatcha doing out here? Are you missing your reiving ways?” he asked.

Geoffrey nodded to the road ahead. “We’re looking for someone.”