Magnus knew the voice, but he didn’t turn toward Alex. He wouldn’t take his hazel eyes off the two men whose loose lips would likely have him banished from Dunbeath and made an enemy to the Sinclairs.
He sheathed his sword as he took another step back. He waited for Alex to come to his side before he shifted his focus. His heart sank at the anger he witnessed in Alex’s mien. But the older warrior wasn’t looking at him. He glared at the two men on the ground.
“Callum and I explicitly told ye nae to tell tales. Ye arenae laird, tánaiste, or the lass’s father. Ye dinna decide who can and canna guard ma daughter. Ye insulted our guest and slighted ma daughter’s honor.”
“We didna do aught wrong. We didna insult him.”
“Now ye’d call ma daughter a liar? Get up.” Alex reached forward and yanked Conan to his feet. Magnus could tell Alex barely held his temper in check. He was a wiser man than Magnus had been. He wondered if Alex directed some of his rage toward him and if it would be his turn next. “I just spoke to Lady Saoirse. I ken how ye acted. Ye’re lucky Óg didna beat ye senseless then. Óg has been part of this clan since before either of ye shites were born. Go clean yerselves up. Ye’ve just earned yerselves a fortnight of evening watch. I expect ye in the lists at sunrise. Find yer own time to sleep. The rest of it is mine.”
Alex adopted the Sinclair Stance, and both men hurried out of the lists. Alex waited until Thormud realized he was unwelcome, too. His nephew hurried out of the training area, leaving Alex and Magnus to talk.
“I didna think I would ever have to warn ye nae to dally with one of our lasses.”
“I am nae dallying with anyone, Alex.”
“Ye were alone in that cave with Saoirse for a long time.”
“Any guard would have been. It would be unacceptable to send anyone inside alone.”
“Nay other guard is pining over ma daughter, imagining things he has nay business doing.”
“Ye arenae inside ma head, Alex. I’m nae pining for anyone.”
“Bullshite. Ye think I dinna recognize how ye look at Saoirse? She’s the bluidy image of her mother. I look at Brighde the same way. I ken what yer look means.”
“I havenae done whatever those two claimed. I havenae dishonored Lady Saoirse, and I never would.”
“Lady?” Alex mocked. “I doubt that’s how ye see her.”
Magnus took a step forward until he was nearly nose-to-nose with Alex. “Dinna question ma integrity or ma intentions toward Lady Saoirse. Dinna make her sound as though I think her a whore. I dinna care if ye are her father. I willna stand for anyone slighting her like that. Ye might think it’s only directed to me, but it dishonors her too.”
“Ye think ye can fight me, lad? Ye still needed yer sister to wipe yer nose when ye arrived here.”
“Better than being so auld now that someone needs to wipe ma arse.”
“Ye little fucker.” Alex reached back for his claymore, and so did Magnus. “Stay away from ma daughter, ye lecher.”
“Da!”
Both men looked toward Saoirse, who had her skirts lifted to her knees as she ran across the field. It surprised both men to see how fast she could run. Callum, Mòr, Tavish, and Liam were behind her. When she reached the livid men, she pushed Óg a step away, then slid between them. She looked up at Óg, beseeching him to stop. He returned his sword to the sheath across his back. She spun to look up at her father.
“Go inside, Saoirse. I ken Óg already told ye to. Ye dinna have to listen to him, but ye have to listen to me.”
“Nay. I’m nae leaving if ye’re going to fight.”
“Yerunclehas nae business lusting after ye.”
“Da!”
“I’m nae her uncle, and well ye ken it. Dinna make this sound incestuous on top of yer accusations. I willna tolerate it.”
“Ye will tolerate whatever I bluidy well say, or yer arse can be on yer horse in the next two minutes.” Alex’s hands were on his waist as he leaned forward. Óg snarled, as he gripped Saoirse’s arm lightly but pulled her from between them.
“Dinna ever trap yer daughter between us. Dinna make her choose, and dinna put her in danger. I willna forgive ye, Alex.”
Alex glanced at Saoirse before narrowing his deep brown eyes at Magnus. “I’m nae the one who’d harm her. I’m nae the one she needs protecting from.”
“Dinna put her in the middle, Alex. I willna hit ye, but ye dinna put a lass between two men able to kill each other. I dinna care if ye are her da.”
