Page 90 of Conquer the Highlander

Hugh nodded. “I know it well,” he said. “I’ve had the same anger since Agnes came tae tell me the truth. But… but I need tae ask ye one thing, Titus.”

“What is that?”

“Are… are ye glad tae see me?”

Titus looked at the man, seeing the desperation in his eyes. A smile spread across his lips as he took a few steps towards him and handed him his dirk, butt-first.

“Aye,” he said hoarsely. “I’m glad tae see ye, Da. I can hardly believe I’m saying it, but it’s true. I am.”

Hugh smiled timidly. “Are ye happy here, Titus?”

Titus nodded. “Verily,” he said. “The Ludus Caledonia is my home and the warriors are my family. But that doesna mean I dunna have room for my real family. It’s simply something I never thought I would know. I’ve been alone my entire life, but now… now I have more family than I ever realized.”

Hugh was vastly relieved to hear that. “Good,” he said. He meant it. “I want ye tae do what makes ye happy, but I also want ye tae know that ye’re my heir. What, exactly, that means is up tae ye. Ye mayna want the responsibility. But I hope ye’ll at least think about it. And me, also. I’d like tae know my only son, on whatever terms he wishes.”

Titus smiled at the man. He could feel the genuine emotion, the hope and the fear, radiating from him. Truth be told, he had enough hope and fear of his own – hope for the future, and fear for it as well. He still could hardly believe any of this. But there would be no future at all if Ambrose was still a threat.

“I’d like tae know ye, too,” he said. “I’m glad ye came tae find me, I truly am. But ye should know that Ambrose isna finished with me yet.”

Hugh’s smile faded. “I’ve heard,” he said. “Agnes told me he was trying tae turn ye against me one last time.”

Titus sighed heavily, turning to look at his cottage, still quiet and peaceful. “Strangely enough, he hasna tried – yet,” he said. “My wife and I are leaving today because Ambrose is after her. She was a hostage at Culroy, like I was, but Ambrose cheated her father and intended tae marry her tae Conan. She ran away from them and, by accident, they located her. In fact, that’s why I was out here this morning. I’m protecting her until we are escorted away from here.”

Hugh was quite concerned. “Where are ye going?”

Titus gestured to the south. “England,” he said. He looked at his father again. “But I will admit that it concerns me that ye’re here because the perimeter of the Ludus Caledonia is well protected, yet ye managed tae slip past them. How did ye do it?”

Hugh sighed heavily. “The truth is that I never left,” he said. “I came tae watch the games last night and never left. When everyone was leaving, I found a gully tae hide in and then I ventured back out when all was quiet. Finding ye here was just a coincidence.”

“Finding ye here is a coincidence, too.”

The reply didn’t come from Titus.

Startled, both Hugh and Titus turned in the direction of a heavy cluster of trees that was between the warrior’s village and the gardens to the northwest. Emerging from those trees was something they had hoped not to see.

Ambrose Stewart was heading straight towards them.

And he wasn’t alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Titus’ sword came up.

“Stop right there, Ambrose,” he said, forgoing any formal title of address. “Ye’ve come as close as I’m going tae allow.”

Ambrose came to a halt, his gaze moving between Hugh and Titus. There was some amusement in his expression, as if this were all just a lighthearted reunion, when the fact was that he had at least six or eight armed men with him, including Conan. They were fanned out behind him, waiting for the command to move.

Titus could sense that there was a rush waiting to happen. Reaching out, he grabbed his father, pulling the man behind him so he could protect him. He then swung his short sword in a skilled, flashy movement that showed his comfort and skill with the weapon. Wordlessly, he was stating that he knew how to use it.

Ambrose put up his hands to show he was unarmed.

“I’ve not come for ye, Titus,” he said. “Nor have I come for Hugh, though I dinna know the man was even here. When did ye arrive, dear cousin?”

Hugh was behind Titus, his dirk in hand. It was all he had, unfortunately, and he could see that he and Titus were outnumbered. He’d purposely come unarmed to the Ludus Caledonia because he hadn’t wanted to be perceived as a threat.

He hoped that decision didn’t cost him.

“Dunna worry over me, Ambrose,” he said steadily. “What matters most is that ye brought armed men intae the Ludus Caledonia and I dunna think they’ll take kindly tae it. Why on earth would ye do such a thing?”