“Do ye think they’ve already killed him?” Greer’s voice was steadier than she expected. It didn’t match her racing heart, sweaty palms, or nausea that crept up her throat.
“They willna kill him,” Alec assured her. “Nae with Da there, and they wouldnae have done it yet. He’s an heir to the Sinclair legacy of warriors and leaders. Nay one is that daft.”
“That’s what I thought too, but now I am nae so certain. Do the MacDonalds have the might to defeat the Sinclairs if the Gunns and MacDonnells join them?”
“Nae unless the MacDonalds from several branches rode together,” Alec explained. “They’re too spread out to rally easily now. I dinna think there are that many lairds and chieftains who would have already agreed to attack the Sinclairs. This isnae the MacDonalds as a clan but a branch or sept that thinks they can win because they are nay where near Dunbeath. It’s a greedy MacDonnell laird of a lesser branch who thinks too much of himself. He shouldnae even carry the title of laird. He’s more a chieftain than a true laird. Yer father thought he could influence the MacDonnells and really make his alliance with the MacDonalds. He kenned nay MacDonald laird would marry their daughter to him. The MacDonalds thought they could gain an ally in the northern Highlands for free.”
Greer’s stomach caved as though Alec’s fist rammed into her belly rather than just his words. Obviously, word hadn’t reached the Mackays that Edgar wasn’t her real father. It reassured her they likely had heard no rumors about her, but neither did she want to listen to anyone call Edgar her father ever again. She knew the truth would come out eventually since they were Thor’s family. She could concede some things without giving away her entire history.
“Edgar wasna ma real father. Ma mother was involved with a guardsman named Albert. He’s ma father.”
“Then we dinna have to pretend to care aboot yer loss.” Wee Liam shrugged a shoulder without turning his focus away from what happened in the distance.
“Dinna mind him.” Hamish chuckled at his brother’s abruptness. “He has a six-moon auld bairn who willna let him sleep. He thought he might get some rest by coming with us, but it’s chucked it down every day since we left Varrich. He’d rather be tucked away with his wife, Elene.”
“Can ye blame me? She smells far finer than either of ye.”
“Yer lad didna when he shite down yer arm the other day.” Alec elbowed his brother. Greer marveled at the banter among the brothers. It was so similar to the Sinclairs. She knew all three men were aware of every movement around them, both near and a far. She knew they were prepared to defend her without a moment’s hesitation. But just like Thor and Rose, they could make light of a situation and keep the heaviness from growing oppressive. It calmed her without being a distraction.
“What’s yer lad’s name?”
“Thome. It’s Orcadian and ma wife’s father’s name.”
“She’s from Orkney?” Greer tried to recall Rose telling her about the woman, but nothing came to mind. She remembered hearing Wee Liam married a couple years ago, but she knew none of the details.
“Aye. From a fishing village where I stopped while representing Grandda when the king granted him the Earldom of Orkney.”
Greer knew of no other man who held the title twice over. The earldoms of Sinclair and Orkney merged and became the Earldom of Caithness, which rivaled in size to the Earldom of Sutherland. These men’s great-uncle held that title. It was moments like this when she recalled just how powerful the family she’d married into was. It reassured her that the MacDonalds and MacDonnells couldn’t be as reckless as the Gunns. They had to realize the folly in their plan.
She continued to watch but grew confused when she recognized Tristan turning back toward them. Two more horsemen didn’t join them. It meant neither Thor nor Dominic was with the Mackays and Sinclairs. The Gunns, MacDonnells, and MacDonalds turned east and spurred their horses.
“Where’s Thor?” Greer demanded even though she recognized her companions knew nothing more than she did.
“They must have already taken him,” Alec admitted. “Da’s coming back because they must have dispatched men with Thor and Dom. I just dinna ken if they intend to ride to Gunn Castle or skirt the bogs then head south to Loch Broom.”
Greer feared her heart might stop. Her ears rang, and panic danced at the edges of her mind. “What are ye going to do? He canna go anywhere with them.”
“We arenae far from where Mackay, Sinclair, and Gunn territories meet. There are other patrols along the borders. We will follow them, but at a distance. We’ll gather men as we pass them. Now that they arenae chasing ye, they’ll turn north once they reach the end of the forest. If they continue as they are, they’ll have to cross the bogs to get to more reliable terrain before they continue much farther east. They’ll take the road along the coast instead. Even though it’s predictable, it’s faster for a party that size. However, it’s still quicker to navigate the peatlands for individual riders. Da will send men to gather the patrols.”
“But we’re going to watch them go?”
“This isnae the time for a battle when what we wish to gain isnae here. We could kill all of them, but that wouldnae change that we must still go after Thor. We could risk losing men, but then they wouldnae be with us when we reach ma cousin. Da’s thinking beyond right this moment.”
“It doesnae make me feel any better, but I understand.” Greer struggled to keep a tight rein on her emotions. She was too tired and scared to add more frustration to the mix. She refused to cry in front of them, but when Tristan’s distressed expression came into view, she couldn’t choke back her sob. She squeezed her thighs and rode to meet Tristan. “Where is he?”
“They’re taking him to Gunn Castle. They have a writ from Andrew Murray giving the MacDonnell the right to challenge Thor to single combat over bride thieving.”
“Thor didna steal me,” Greer blurted.
“We all ken that. Lass, Andrew Murray didna become the Guardian of Scotland by being an eejit. He kens Thor will kill Wallace, and it will be a gift to most of Scotland. Wallace is a lesser laird, but it’ll be a reminder to the MacDonnells and MacDonalds nae to antagonize Murray’s friends. It’s obvious he’s confident in Thor. Otherwise, he wouldnae ever sanction putting Callum’s son in that type of danger. He kens Callum would track him and kill him if he condoned Thor’s death.”
“Nay, Da.” Alec shook his head. “Murray kens Uncle Callum wouldnae stop Auntie Siùsan from torturing him. I ken ye believe there is nay woman alive like Mama, but even ye ken our aunts are as protective as Mama.”
“Aye. I warned them I wouldnae keep this from yer mama, and once yer aunts Siùsan, Deirdre, Brighde, and Ceit learn of it, then there’ll be nay where safe for them to hide.”
Greer recalled the maternal women she’d met during her brief stay at Dunbeath. They’d been kind to her, and she’d felt safe with them. She hadn’t had a mother in more than ten years, so she welcomed their nurturing. When she recalled the group as she’d known them, she didn’t envision warrior women. But as she gave it more thought, she realized the very maternal nature she’d reveled in was what would make them fiercer than any man Greer knew. They might not have the size or training of their husbands and sons, but they were mothers. That was all the explanation Greer needed to accept the men who took Thor should assume their lives were over.
“What do we do next? We canna stay here.” Greer looked at Tristan, but she didn’t like what she saw in his eyes. “Nay. Ye arenae sending me to Varrich or somewhere else. I’m going where ma husband is. If ye refuse me that, then I go to Ackergill or Dunbeath. Varrich is in the wrong direction. I willna go.”
