IX

"Mind explaining, Connor?"

Around a table in a bar, Rachel and the three MacLeods were having coffee. Oliver felt out of place, being the only one not befriended with the other three. Rachel gazed lovingly at the three others. Connor was silent, so was Duncan, who had asked the question rather harshly.

"That was Jacob Kell."

"Jacob Kell?" Duncan spoke as he thought. "Wasn't that the... priest who sold his soul to the devil to resurrect his murdered father after the attack that nearly destroyed Glen Finnan?"

"Exactly." Connor sighed.

"So he is one of us. And why is he after you?"

"The legend doesn't mention who made the attack, does it?"

"There are versions, though." Oliver broke in. "Some say it was an enemy clan, others that it was an army of hounds from Hell."

"It was one-man army..." Connor whispered, in a tone that made further words futile.

"Your mother." Rachel spoke with kind perturbation. "After they... you took your vengeance on them."

"I was angry, mad. All I wanted was to take my mother away from those... bastards!"

"Funny you never mentioned it." Duncan blurted bitterly.

"Chill out, people." Oliver spoke. "Arguing about who is right, and who is wrong won't get us anywhere. Kell is strong, too strong for any of us."

"What are you talking about?" Connor queried.

"You're a strong warrior, Connor. You stood up to Kell, but he nearly got you. He is beyond your league. Beyond everybody's league."

"How come?" The sceptical question marked Connor's resent for nearly having lost.

"He's broken the Rules."

The sentence fell on them like a guillotine on a neck. Duncan took a sip of coffee. Connor's hand began to twitch. Rachel was impassive.

"It can't be." The elder of all them finally spoke.

"He doesn't care about the Rules, or the Game. He wants your head." Rachel spat up.

"Explain yourself."

"I saw Kell the day she... died." Oliver sighed. "He was getting away, just as you moved towards the house. I travelled to Europe and began to talk with some immortals I know. Eventually I learnt who he was. Someone like him is dangerous. I went to where it all began."

"Glen Finnan."

"There I found the answers I was looking for... and the way to stop him."

"How come?"

"It's a long story."

"And now you carry my sword?" Connor asked, still dubious.

"I carry your claymore because you will need it. You need to increase your power. Otherwise you won't be able to defeat Kell."

"You expect me to believe a damn word you say?"

"I could have let you die, Connor." Oliver took a sip. "But I didn't."

"And why?"

"Her." Rachel blushed lightly. She looked away as she took another sip of coffee. "I don't think there's ever anyone I hated more than I hated you for pushing me away from her, but right now, you and him are the best shot we have."

"Oh, that's really..."

"Cut it, Connor!" Duncan snapped. "You simply vanished for ten years and now you come feeling omnipotent. Where the hell have you been and why you look like hell?"

Connor stared at his clansman, distress exuding through every pore of his skin. "I was hunting him. I thought he was responsible for your death."

"I could've done it forty years ago, couldn't I?" Oliver remarked, definitely winning the quarrel. Connor kept silent. "You indeed look like hell!" Oliver mocked.

"I've been ageing since I defeated the Kurgan... for some reason... when and if you ever defeat such a warrior, it might happen to you."

"All right, you bunch of roosters!" Rachel cut them off. "Unless you're planning on talking Kell till he dies of boredom, I don't think this is getting us anywhere." They stared at her. "I would personally like to get more power. That... post-nuclear Barbie almost killed me. And you two will need it if you are to fight with Kell."

"Kate..." Duncan sighed.

"You know her?"

"She was... my wife. I... killed her on our wedding night." Rachel eyed him appalled. She drank her entire coffee as she blinked repetitively. Disgust was growing in her expression and Duncan saw it. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

"You weren't, Duncan." Connor broke in. "But we've discussed that already, so let's get over it. She's on Kell's side, and I don't care a bit about her."

This time it was the younger Highlander who fell into a void of silence. He simply finished his coffee and stared at the table. Connor plunged his drink down his throat as Oliver was asking for something to eat to the waitress.

"So what's to be done?" Rachel asked.

"We have to travel." Oliver replied softly.

"Where?"

Connor spoke with a grin before Oliver could reply. "Where it all began."