“What has angered ye so?” He followed her line of sight to the end of the hall and found the object of her inner storm. Roderic stood just inside the archway, sneering as he returned Caelan’s glare.
“I wish to remind the laird that he has yet to return to the northern borders of his lands as was promised nigh on a year ago,” Roderic bellowed as he strode forward. Each of his steps added a punch to the words as he spoke. “Many of the villages suffer neglect. The people are abused by those who know the laird only pays attention to his lovely violet-eyed wife.”
The winds outside increased to a loud, moaning howl that sent the maids and serving lads scurrying to shutter every opening against the storm.
Those gathered to seek justice from the laird milled around the hall uncomfortably, casting worried glances up at the narrow windows cut high in the walls. The sky had gone black with Rachel’s fury, then splintered with blinding white flashes of lightning whenever Roderic tried to speak again.
Emrys rushed from the stairwell behind the dais and moved to Rachel’s side. “Ye must reign in your emotions, lass. I ken the man has threatened those ye love. But he’s baiting ye. Dinna give in to him.”
Caelan stood, pulling Rachel to her feet along with him. Perhaps it was time to battle his bastard brother to protect his wife and sons. “I will not return to the northern border until my sons are arrived safe, and I see them and my wife well settled and protected here in our home. Ye threatened them, ye bastard, and I will not leave her defenseless against the cowards who side with ye.” Thunder rumbled softer across the silence of the room. “I shall have Fergus investigate your claims.” Caelan glared athis father’s illegitimate spawn. “Although I feel certain he will only find that it is yourself abusing our people.” He hugged Rachel closer and couldn’t help but smile as one of his wee sons thumped against him.
“Your wife can tend to herself, my laird.” Roderic tipped his chin upward with a glance at the darkened windows. “If she’s nay conjuring up a storm to match her mood, then she’s covering her enemies with bird shite.”
A collective gasp echoed through the vastness of the hall as all gathered there shifted to fix wide-eyed stares on Caelan.
“How dare ye insult our lady!” Emrys lifted his staff high in the air, his eyes flashing an unholy blue. “Ye always were slow, Roderic. The day the ravens shat upon ye was I not in the garden with Lady Rachel?”
Roderic narrowed his eyes at the druid with his staff glowing as though it were about to shoot lightning at any moment. “Aye,” he growled. “Ye were there.”
“And am I not here with my staff aimed at the heavens as we speak?’
“Ye were not in the hall when the storm first broke, old man. We all ken that well enough.” Roderic shifted in place as he appeared to realize the hum of whispers around him had turned in Emrys’s favor.
“Emrys was in the room behind the dais where he always stays during great hall,” Caelan bellowed, daring his half-brother to challenge him. “My father always made ye welcome, since his blood runs in your veins. But because of your actions against my beloved wife, because of your threats to her and my unborn sons, ye are no longer welcome on MacKay land. When ye act like a lying bastard, I have no choice but to treat ye like one. Ye are hereby banished—and take the cowards who side with ye with ye.”
The muscles of Roderic’s jaw twitched, then he bared his teeth with a low, throaty grown. Eyes dark with hatred, he slowly flexed the fingers of his hand closest to his sword. “Hear me, brother,” he said, sounding ready to spit, “when next I darken this hall again, it will be to lay claim to it as the next chieftain of Clan MacKay.”
He drew his sword and backed toward the entrance of the hall just as Florie walked through the archway. With a quick sidestep, he grabbed her up against his chest and held the blade across her throat.
“Only a coward hides behind a woman,” Caelan roared, fury pounding through him. “Release her!” He charged down from the dais. The steel of his blade rang out with justice as it sang its way free of the sheath.
“Maybe cowardly,” Roderic sneered as he backed farther out of the hall, dragging Florie with him. “But I am a live coward at that.”
“I have had enough!” Rachel thundered over the storm, her voice echoing with a terrifying power that seemed to come from the heavens.
“Rachel! Think what ye’re doing, lass.” Emrys reached for her arm, but energy crackled all around her, shoving him back a step.
“Release Florie and go in peace,” she warned. “Do her harm and die.” She seemed to float as she moved across the floor toward Roderic.
“Ye speak bravely with your husband there and his steel drawn,” Roderic barked with a cruel laugh. “Thank ye for the offer, m’lady. But I shall keep this lovely shield until I am safe away.” He continued backing his way out of the room, adjusting his hold on Florie as he moved.
Rachel eyed him, tilting her head to one side as she propped her arms atop her stomach. “Step away from him, Florie. He can’t hurt you.”
Florie's eyes went wide with disbelief as she clenched Roderic’s sword arm with both hands. “I beg your forgiveness, m’lady. But I dinna find comfort in your advice while the bastard has his blade still at my throat.”
Roderic sputtered with laughter as he bumped against the archway leading out into the bailey. “So, ye are as daft as they say. The violet-eyed wife of the laird—bonnie as can be but nothing in her head. No wonder the man’s taken with ye.”
Rachel lifted one dark eyebrow and smiled.
“Lore a’mighty,” Caelan said to Emrys. “What is she about to do?”
“Brace yourself, my laird,” Emrys warned. “Soon there may not be a stone of this keep left standing.”
“Sons a bitches!” Roderic threw down his sword, shoved Florie away, then bent, cradling his blistered hand between his knees. The haft of his sword glowed as white hot as though it had just been pulled from the forge. “Witch!” he hissed, glaring at her with hatred and fear.
“Know this Roderic,” she said in the same powerful voice of earlier. “I protect my own. Do not force my hand further. Be gone from here, as Caelan said. Go in peace and live well.” She turned her back to him and started back to the dais.
The entire clan watched her, backing away as if fearing she would turn on them next.
