“My father died trying to protect it.”
“It is not the same.” Duncan scowled. “Don’t try to compare your claim to mine. My entire clan was nearly destroyed and the woman I loved more than my life was slaughtered before my eyes.”
That statement pulled Aileana up short, and she felt the dagger-thrust of the reminder pierce her heart.Mairi. Of course. She stared at her hands, clasped tightly together on her lap. It was the memory of Mairi that drove Duncan. His murdered love, perfect and irreplaceable to him. Oh, she’d been a fool to think that any softness he’d shown her these past months meant anything to him. He belonged to his slain wife, body and soul.
That knowledge made the dagger press a little deeper, adding to the bite of guilt she couldn’t help feeling at his obvious pain. The realization of it startled her.Why care that Duncan suffered?After all, she’d had no part in Morgana’s attacks and the terrible things he’d endured after. He, on the other hand—he had locked her in this room, a fate almost worse than death after the weeks of freedom she’d been allowed.
Raising her gaze to Duncan again, she tightened her mouth, willing the sting of heat from her eyes. “I cannot keep silent, Duncan. TheEalachshould be used for good. Your clan exploited its powers. It doesn’t belong with you.”
“Who told you that?”
“It is a well-known fact.”
“It’s a lie,” he muttered, “and one your sister used to muster your people against me.”
“Few in my clan condone the way Morgana took the amulet from you,” Aileana answered quietly, “but there was more reason for us keeping it after the raid than simple selfishness, as well you know.”
“What do I know? There was no other motive for your people to keep what wasn’t theirs.”
“You cannot possibly be claiming ignorance. The feud spans three centuries.”
“There’s no truth to it.” Duncan paced near the windows again.
“Aye, there’s truth!” Aileana retorted. “TheEalachbelonged to a MacDonell before any MacRae ever laid hands upon it.”
“That is a myth.”
“It is a fact. My father gave his life for its sake. And Morgana believed, too, enough to risk all that she had to right the wrong.”
“Morgana wasn’t interested inright,” Duncan scoffed, twisting to look at her with dark sarcasm. “She wanted much, much more—and when she didn’t get it she happily sent me off into thirteen years of living hell.”
Aileana felt herself flush, but she didn’t have a chance to respond. All trace of softness had vanished from Duncan’s eyes.
“Enough. This bickering serves no purpose.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “What I came to tell you is this. Unless you give me theEalach, in one week’s time I will be leading a raid against your people. It is as simple as that.”
Shock struck Aileana like a fist to the belly. She popped up from the bench, her hands suddenly icy. “But you can’t do that. We agreed that if I came with you as leman, you’d—”
“I agreed that if you came with me, I would spare your brother’s life. An even exchange. You for Gavin.” Duncan’s expression was grim, feral. “And I’m upholding my end of the bargain. I’ll not harm Gavin. But every other MacDonell is fair game.”
Aileana’s breath left her, and she sank back into her seat. Her gaze flew to Duncan, searching, her mind tripping over itself as she tried to reach through the fear to argue with reason. “But you’d be doing battle for naught! No one knows where I’ve hidden the amulet. Attacking them serves no purpose. No one else can give you the information you seek.”
“Exactly. A few months ago you were willing to sacrifice your honor to save one brother. It’s my guess that you’ll relinquish theEalachnow in order to save the lives of the rest of your clan.”
A hard knot formed in Aileana’s throat. He couldn’t be doing this. It was unjust. Cruel. She shook her head, trying to keep away the bloody images that rushed into her mind. “If you attack Dulhmeny, many innocent people will die.”
“Aye,” Duncan’s brow quirked up, “which is why you must—”
A scratching sounded at the door, interrupting him. An instant later Kinnon burst into the chamber. He looked serious, and his stance was tense. He flicked an uneasy glance to Aileana.
“You’d better come down to the yard now, Duncan. A score of riders are approaching from the south—” He shifted his gaze from Duncan to Aileana and back again. “And they look to be a contingent of MacDonells.”
Chapter 16
MacDonells?Aileana’s heart leaped into her throat, and everything slowed as if in a dream. She saw Duncan scowl, saw him lean in while he and Kinnon murmured, their golden-brown heads close together. Then, without a backward glance, Duncan turned and left the chamber. Kinnon started to follow him, but Aileana grabbed his arm, stopping him.
“Wait. I must speak with you.”
Kinnon looked none too happy, and he shook his head, indicating his need for haste.
