It had to.
There wasn’t another option.
And he didn’t know where in Asgard’s shining glory those words came from. But they echoed in his ears, lifting the fine hairs on his nape and sending a chill through him.
Then he knew why.
His ill-ease hadn’t swept down from the home of the Northmen’s gods.
The source was earthly.
“Ho!” He leaned out of his saddle, grabbed Grim’s arm. “Thon lofties just now,” he said, tossing a glance to where the finely-dressed men were just swinging down from their noble steeds. “Isn’t that the Earl of Dunwhinnie?”
“Aye.” Grim nodded. “Himself, and no other.”
Callum frowned. “Do you know why he’s here?”
“He will have his reasons.” Grim said no more.
“Your silence is loud, my cousin.”
“Time answers all,” Grim returned, annoying as ever. “Word is he considers taking Lady Alanna to wife.”
“Indeed?”
“So some say.” Grim flicked a speck of something off his cloak. “We will speak with him shortly. You can ask him yourself.”
“Nae interest.”
All the same, Callum stared across the bailey at the earl, a tall, well-made man, handsome in a deep russet cloak and bright mail tunic, the same high leather boots as the Stewarts, his great sword sheathed in a silver-and-jewel-studded scabbard. Younger-looking than Callum would’ve expected, he’d tied back his rich auburn hair with a leather band. He towered over the men in his party and walked with long, sure strides toward the keep.
“I dinnae like him.” Callum’s frown deepened the longer he watched the noble.
“He means the lass nae harm,” Grim said, watching the earl and his men disappear inside the castle. “His wife passed a while ago and he desires a new one.”
“So you said.” Callum bristled. “His presence changes naught.”
Grim’s brow lifted. “Shall we begin?”
Callum almost smiled. “Aye.”
“So be it.” Grim nodded to his men.
At once, they whirled faster, shouting as they waved their Yule branches high, leaping like fools as they surged across the bailey toward the keep.
“Till soon.” Grim nodded to Callum as well, then loped after his friends.
Hold fast, lassie. I will keep you safe.
As before, the words flashed across Callum’s mind, again coming from nowhere as he threw off his borrowed bearskin cloak and tossed it to the cobbled ground.
Then, his gaze on the keep and his heart thundering, he spurred his horse and raced straight for the great hall’s door.
Chapter 8
“They do be grand this year.”
Aunt Nettie clapped both hands to her breast, beaming as a troupe of guisers whirled and leapt about the hall. She glanced at Alanna, adding, “I dinnae ken any of them. They’re no’ from hereabouts, better than we’ve e’er seen.”
