Page 35 of Defy the Highlander

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Sticky Wick

Edinburgh

“Usually, he’s here in the morning,” the tavernkeep said. “I would wager he’ll be here sometime.”

He was speaking to two men, one enormous and bald, and the other big, blond, and handsome. They were both well-fed and well-dressed, making them something of an oddity in a pit of despair like The Sticky Wick.

The blond spoke up.

“And ye said he’s been asking about The Cal?” he said. “If it’s the man ye’ve described tae me, I’ve seen him before. He was here when I started coming tae this place years ago, though I dunna much know him. But I do know his name – Brody.”

The tavernkeep nodded. “Brody McKay,” he said. “He’s much like ye were, once.”

“At least I found my way out of it.”

The tavernkeep looked him up and down. “Ye surprise me each time I see ye, Cam. Time was when ye were a fixture here, too, living in filth and drink until those from The Cal took ye away. Ye dunna look like the same man.”

Cam Netherton’s eyes glimmered. “That’s because I’m not,” he said. “The Cal can do for Brody what it’s done for me, although I’m surprised it’s taken this long for the man tae ask about it. He’s a fighter. I can remember seeing him in the past. He’s a beast when it comes to a brawl. Surely he’ll make a good candidate for The Cal.”

The tavernkeep nodded. “The regulars stay away from him,” he said. “I dunna know Brody’s story, but he seems… lost. There’s something inside of him that’s hurt and dangerous. He’s a man with secrets.”

“How do ye know?”

“Because I’ve seen enough men hiding their pasts tae know that.”

The tavernkeep tapped his head knowingly as he walked away, off to help a group of men who had come in out of the rain. Cam turned to the man next to him.

“I’m sure ye’ve seen this man, Luther,” he said. “Ye’ve been coming around tae The Sticky Wick for a long time. Brody McKay is a regular here.”

Luther Eddleston scratched his bald head. “I’m not sure,” he said in his proper English speech. “Describe the man to me.”

Cam cocked his head in thought, leaning forward against the table they were sitting at. “He’s a big man, about my size,” he said. “Brown hair that is badly in need of a cut and a beard. He always sits in one of the corners, out of the way.”

Luther pondered that. “Walks with his head down?”

“I suppose so. I’ve never really noticed.”

“Then we’ll simply have to wait until he makes an appearance, but we cannot wait too long.”

Cam knew that. Like Cam, Luther was a doctores, or trainer, at the Ludus Caledonia, but he was also a scout. Often, the doctores made trips into Edinburgh to find new blood for their fight guild. On this afternoon, it happened to be him and Cam at The Sticky Wick because they’d received word that a possible candidate had been asking about the Ludus Caledonia.

That was usually how it started. The tavernkeep received a bounty for every fight guild candidate he referred to The Cal, so he would send word if anyone was either asking of the Ludus Caledonia or if a man seemed to be a viable prospect. The other trainers were busy on this day, so Luther and Cam took the short journey into Edinburgh to check on the information. There were fights at the Ludus Caledonia tonight, however, so they couldn’t spend an over amount of time on the hunt for the elusive Brody McKay.

During their wait, it was an interesting afternoon.

At least three fights broke out in the tavern, including two very old men who could barely stand, trying to brain each other with their wooden cups. That was entertaining, bringing chuckles from Cam and Luther, but one of the fights had ended up in a man being stabbed.

His friends had dragged his body away, leaving a trail of blood.

But that was the extent of the action. The pair was about halfway through their cup of cheap ale when the rainstorm outside let up and men began to filter out, going about their day until the next bout of rain began. But as men departed the tavern, more came in. Cam recognized one of them.

He tapped Luther on the arm.

“There,” he said. “Over by the door, the tall lad with the hair to his shoulders. That’s Brody McKay.”

Luther peered at the man Cam was indicating. He was a little taller than Cam with a slender torso and ridiculously broad shoulders. “I thought you said he had a beard?”