Child of the Mist Read Online Free PDF

companion, only to see to your wounds and nourishment. 'Tisn't necessary to make nice talk with me."
    "Mayhap not," he agreed quietly, "but I'd like to nonetheless."
    The chains that bound him to the wall clanked as his hand moved to raise her chin gently. Silver eyes flashed at him, but Niall persisted. "'Tisn't your fault, lass, no matter what your father's told you. My death would've set far worse on MacGregors than my living ever will. Your father will see that, once his anger cools."
    "Och, will he now?" She wrenched her chin from his grasp. "And will your living end the feuding? Tell me that, Niall Campbell!"
    Aye, he thought, if I can discover who the traitor is, if your father willingly reveals his name .
    A sudden, horrible thought assailed him. The traitor. How long had he been behind this? Since the very start of the feud? It was too terrible even to think such a thing, for the feud between Campbell and MacGregor had burned hot and bloody for over eight years.
    Niall shrugged. " 'Tis possible, lass. It depends on your father."
    "Hah! Lay it all on my father's back, will you? 'Tis so like a Campbell to stoke the pot, then claim he was nowhere about when it boils over!"
    Anne stepped back, her hands settling on her hips. "And why should you even want the feuding to end? The sanctity o' a wedding wasn't enough to keep you from starting the feud. And'tis well known how you like the raiding, the bloodshed. You're slowly wearing us down with your greater numbers. Why should you want to stop until you've stolen all we possessincluding the land itself?"
    His mouth tightened. A hard look glittered in his eyes, but Niall managed to control his temper. It wasn't her fault she'd been led astray as to the true cause of the feud. "We don't want your land, lass." He sighed wearily. " 'Tis a matter o' clan honor. If the MacGregors would stop, then so would we. And I think you've been misled as to who truly caused the feud."
    Anne arched a skeptical brow. "Really now? And how would you know?"
    "I was there. 'Twas my wedding day. While all were feasting after the ceremonyMacGregor as well as several other neighboring clansone o' our villages was raided, the people murdered to a man, woman, and child, and the livestock stolen."
    "Aye, I know the tale," Anne finished impatiently. "And the only clue to the raiders' identities was a scrap o' MacGregor plaid. More than sufficient evidence that we'd been the reivers, despite my father's protests to the contrary. Thank the Holy Saints my people were safely back on MacGregor lands before you discovered the village. No doubt you would have murdered them all, right there at your wedding feast."
    "What would you have done, if the crime had been against your clan?" Niall asked softly. "Wagged your finger and asked them not to do it again?"
    "I'd have waited a bit, investigated more thoroughly, before beginning a blood feud! Such a crime as raiding can easily be laid at some innocent clan's feet, if the reasons are right. A scrap o'plaid is hardly a fair piece o' evidence!"
    "And how thoroughly did the MacGregors investigate their own?" Niall countered. "Have you no renegades who might have done such a thing? But, nay, we never heard o' any MacGregors brought to trial, nor ever received one word o' apology."
    "Apology for what? For a crime we didn't commit? Highland honor wouldn't permit such a thing!"
    Niall shrugged. "Aye, 'tis true enough. But, one way or another, the feud is set and there seems little either. o' us can do about it. For my part, I had yet to be named clan tanist and wasn't privy to the rest o'the evidence, or part o'the final decision. I accepted the council's decision, though, as any good Highlander would.
    "As far as your other accusation that I like raiding and the shedding o'blood, well, I do admit to enjoying the thrill o' occasionally lifting a few cattlewhat Highlander doesn't?but I don't like bloodshed. Feud or no, neither I nor my men have killed any o' yours save in