“Ye ken me maither, daenae ye?” Aidan asked as he pressed his lips into a tight line as his eyes narrowed on them.
“The scullery maid that died a few years ago. What about her?”
“Did ye ken who her heart belonged to?” Aiden hissed as he threw the fish to Jude. The creature flopped against Jude’s chest before falling back into the water and swam away.
“Honestly, I daenae care who yer faither was,” Jude said, trying to keep himself between Hugh and Aidan.
“But you should care. Just because we share different features does nae mean we donae have the same blood coursing through our veins,” Aidan asked as his lips twitched. Jude watched as Aidan shifted his head to the right to show off his profile. “The late Laird was me faither,” Aiden said as he twisted the blade in front of Jude, daring him to make a move or to step out of the river.
“I daenae believe ye,” Jude said as he studied Aidan’s profile and noticed the same straight jawline and crooked nose his father once had.
“Oh really? Daenae ye think it’s odd how faither favored me over the other lads in the house? How he always made certain I was well cared for? Nae in all the years did ye noticed how better off I was compared to the others? Aye, it’s because I am his that I had the privilege to rise in the ranks as I did.”
“Aidan, I suggest ye choose yer next words wisely,” Jude warned as he lifted his head higher. He knew that he was not in a position to fight, but he would do everything he could to salvage his honor and save his son.
“Or what?” Aidan said, “I’m the one with the high ground, daenae even try to move. I wanted to do this clean but I will take what is mine one way or another.”
“What is yers? And what exactly is that?” Jude asked glaring at him.
“Isnae it obvious? I should be the Laird of this realm! Nae Hugh, seein’ as how me maither bore me first.”
“Me faither may have been many things in his lifetime,” Jude said, “and he occasionally had a mistress to take care of his needs. That’s nay lie, everyone kenned it. But the Lairdship belongs to those of noble blood and birth, both of which ye do nae have.”
“If ye were out of the way, who else will the clan look to for guidance and stability? Surely, they would turn to me. And as the first born, I would have a rightful claim on the Lairdship and I would be the leader of this clan.”
“And just exactly what is it that ye propose to do?’ Jude asked as he stepped back, forcing Hugh to step back with him.
As Jude felt Hugh’s fingers digging into his legs, he knew his son was scared. The boy shook and for a moment, Jude wasn’t certain if it was due to the icy waters or Aidan.
Jude realized there was only one way out of this, he would have to fight to get back to the castle, but by being on the low ground and without a weapon, he knew it was going to be dangerous.
“Ye tried poisons, dinnae ye? But it failed,” Jude said as Aidan gave a sharp, cold laugh that seemed to fill the valley and drifted over the moors.
“Once I dispose of ye and go back to the castle, claimin’ there was a terrible accident, I’ll say we lost the both of ye to the river and the clan will see me as their new leader.”
“The clan will never accept ye as their leader. If anythin’, it will be Ian who will step in to take me place.”
“Do ye honestly think that I was able to do this by meself?” Aidan laughed as he shook his head. “Who do ye think helped me collect the ingredients that I needed to make the poison? Ye think a soldier like meself ever kenned of such things?”
Jude’s heart tightened as he heard the words spilling from Aidan’s lips. In all his years, Jude had never suspected either one of them to betray him or his family. Yet it seemed that both of them were willing to do so for power and titles.
“Ye daenae have to do this, Aidan,” Jude said inching closer to the shore.
“Faither, look out!” Hugh cried as Aidan threw the dagger at Jude.
Refusing to let the blade go past him, Jude stepped forward, catching the blade as it sliced through the air. Jude’s face tightened as pain coursed through his hand and arm. Hugh screamed and stumbled back into the rushing water.
“Nay!” Jude cried as he twisted around, trying catch Hugh from falling, but it was too late. The boy had slipped into the running stream and was pulled by the current.
“Hugh!” Jude shouted as he reached for his son. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Aidan rushing toward him with his broadsword, ready to strike. Jude pulled the blade from his hand and used it as a shield against Aidan’s relentless blows.
“One down, one to go,” Aidan said as he pushed with all his might into Jude, forcing him deeper into the river. Jude knew that it only took one wrong step and he too would be swept away. For a moment he thought of going down the river to search for Hugh, but Aidan had snatched his shirt and pulled him back.
“Ye think I’ll let ye go that easily, do ye?” Aidan said as his lips twisted with rage. “Just so ye ken, that blade was dipped in the same poison I put in yer food. Tis only a matter of time now before the effects start to show.”
Aidan laughed as Jude glanced at his bloodied hand. He found his throat closing on him as Aidan pulled him to the shore and threw him on the ground.
“Ye’re nae goin’ to get
