‘I have done nothing but think on this matter and the time has come for our family to choose a path. I found proof of his treachery and his plans against the truce—’
‘Have you, now?’
Alan and his father turned to discover Gilbert and the council of elders standing there listening. His uncle crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin at them.
‘And where did you find this proof?’
Many of elders fidgeted and shifted on their feet. Alan knew that they were not unified behind Gilbert’s leadership, but none would speak out first or be openly supportive of one who brought a claim as he did now.
‘You do not deny that you plot against the treaty with the Mackintoshes and Chattan Confederation?’
Murmurs and questions rippled through the growing crowd. Many of those who’d been below stairs came to see what was happening there and watched now. Even his mother and brothers had followed the crowd and stood there listening.
‘The treaty has outlived its usefulness,’ his uncle claimed. ‘I have been looking into our options and opportunities.’
Alan walked towards his uncle, leaving his father a few paces behind him. Gilbert’s smirk spoke of his confidence in this matter. Certainly he would be confident if he kenned that the only witness was a dead woman.
‘Opportunities that benefit you while destroying more of our kith and kin,’ Alan challenged. ‘The peace has been good for all of us.’
‘Peace is for weak men,’ Gilbert snarled out the words. ‘Like my brother and like you.’ He shook his head at them. ‘Weaklings who would seek the favour of our enemies and allow the Camerons to be thought of as followers instead of the leaders we are.’
Gilbert strode towards him and Alan waited for him.
‘Weaklings who take the dregs left by other men and are not worthy of being called a Cameron.’ His father lunged past him and grabbed at Gilbert then, surprising everyone including Alan.
‘You bastard,’ his father yelled as he threw a punch at his brother’s jaw. ‘I supported you all these years.’
Alan watched as his father was thrown back by his uncle. Confused by their exchange, he pulled his father to his feet.
‘Camerons do not betray their own,’ Alan said quietly then. ‘Camerons do what is best for the clan and we expect our chieftains to uphold that.’
‘Are you challenging me, boy? You? Are you certain you wish to let him do this, Brother?’ his uncle yelled. When a few of his closest allies tried to calm him, he pushed them away and nodded at Alan. ‘This is about that whore I married, is it not? The one you thought was in love with you and chose me instead?’
Alan understood his uncle’s aim—to break his concentration and make him doubt his purpose. Hearing Agneis spoken of like that disturbed him, but it would not change his mind. He had to keep himself under control or he would lose this before it began.
‘You wanted her, but she left you the moment I showed interest in her and called her to my bed,’ his uncle boasted. ‘Why settle for a worthless boy when she could have a man? A chieftain with the power of life and death.’
‘And you killed her!’ Alan called out to him. ‘Used your fists like she was a beast of burden instead of your wife.’
His uncle’s reaction to that was to laugh. Stunned silence filled the corridor as Gilbert laughed loud and hard. Even Alan could not fathom the cause of it.
‘It is about her. She tried to tell me my rights and my duty. I showed her what hers was. Even a stupid beast could learn the lesson sooner than she did.’
His sword was in his hand before he thought of drawing it. The gasps and outrage spiralled around those watching.
‘You would challenge me over that dead piece of arse?’ his uncle asked. Now, his voice was cold and controlled, as he was. ‘Or do you think you should be chieftain instead of me? That is it, is it not? You want to take the seat from me—for your spineless father? Nay, for yourself? Think again, bastard, if you think you can take it from me.’
‘I will stop you from killing any more women whose only sin is to find themselves in your control, Uncle.’ He shifted the hilt of the sword in his hand, finding its comfortable place, and grasped it strongly.
‘Uncle?’ Gilbert asked, mockingly. ‘Robbie, have you not told the boy the truth? He has no place here other than what I give him, like the stray mutt he is. He has no right to challenge me—’
‘We have an agreement, Gilbert,’ his father said in a quiet voice.
Though not loud, the import of it carried across the area and drew all the attention. Alan glanced at him and then his mother and saw the shame and dread in both their expressions. When she tried to push his brothers behind her, Alan kenned it would be bad.
‘An agreement? Oh, aye, we did. But I warned you that I would end it if you did not bring him to heel.’
A sick feeling rose in the pit of his stomach and Alan looked to his father for some explanation. Let him speak it before Gilbert did. But his uncle began laughing again and the sound of it made Alan’s blood run cold in his veins.
