High in the misty Highlands Out by the purple islands, Brave are the hearts that beat Beneath Scottish skies.

Bushy-headed Lachlan McLinney was a quick shot, both with his liquor and with his little bow and arrow. No home to call his own, he relied on his panhandling and swindling to get by, but it seems like he had a little bit of a break..A kind Spaniard and his wife offered him a bit of work when he encountered them at a festival, and he was clicking his heels for joy that he'd been fortuitous enough to find a scrap of work, even if it was just playing an evening of music for some sort of party at the market.

But, he wouldn't have ever have been introduced to the couple if it wasn't for the lovely Iona, and his luck didn't stop there. She had got him on doing two nights a week with his guitar at a place owned by a fellow named Gus, and he was pleased as punch about it. She seemed very cheritable, indeed, and he had to believe it was because she took a liking to him and was interested in his welfare, but he was too absent-of-the-mind and good-natured to think otherwise, but so far" He suspected nothing but a pretty young woman helping a guy back on his feet. In fact, her offers kept rolling in. Help doing some metal work, and an offer to watch a shop" Whatever possessed her to trust Lachlan with that was beyond anybody, but he thought about it and the next time he encountered her, he answered affirmatively.

"Aye, I'll watch th' shop lass. Jest know that ah do tend t' have slippery fangers sometime, but will do mah best."

Well, this should be very interesting, indeed.

He had one foot propped up on the table and used it to push himself back in his chair, regarding her calmly, but obviously having something to say— his mouth jumped open a couple times when she spoke.

"Ah no that y' or yer friends there have no real reason teh trust me, as I'm just some man's blow in off the street, and yeh never know what yer gonna get, but all have yeh know that yeh can trust me, lass, em not gonna make off with enythan or break mah word. I was raised with honor, and time will show that off, it will."

The serious tone he gave, and he rarely did give it, melted away with a smile and a scratch of his chin. He righted himself in his chair and propped his head in his hands, his elbows on the table.

"Turtles" Oi, could go crawlin' around and get one a'those with me hands behind me back en a penny 'tween m'knees. What we need teh be trappin' is fox. Sables, reds, browns, seen 'em all I have. 'En 'ave also seen t'ghost fox once in me life. Aye! Aye! Nay! I be perfectly serious, white as bleached bones beht y'could see a tree straight through the udder side of 'em! Now thah is wha' we needs tah be keppin our eyes to, lass." He winked at her and waved down somebody for another beer, his mug had long been drained.

"Wha'" Don' ye say nuthin', I'll be dry as dirt fer yer friends there, I will."