“Very.” Alec’s grin reached his ears. “With child, plump, and temper sharp as a whip. She sends her regards.” He paused to take a breath then explained, “Our lord king summoned the clans to be ready for King Håkonsson’s siege; I knew you to be near – but brother” – Alec gripped the bars between them – “I did not fukin’ think to find you here. Your temper was always brawny as you, but what were you thinkin’ with that wee bit of pig shite between your ears at striking a knight?”
The older brother lifted a brow. “Sir Sean, did he fail to mention the purpose?” Aonghus asked.
“Aye.”
“Your noble brother was found to be defending my honor,” she said, humbly.
The younger MacCade turned more – yep, blue eyes. She absently smoothed a hand over the tresses having escaped the plait down her back. She blinked several times to clear the tears trying to blur her vision. Raging hell. Here she was never to have this moment again in her first-time meeting Aonghus’s kin and she was locked away accused of treason. All she had done was unleash disaster upon the mercenary at every turn. Looking beyond Alec at the grin held on her by Aonghus, somehow, aye, the vow re-enforced – shemustmake this right. Her teeth hurt when her jaw clenched determinedly.
“A lass,” Alec said, shocked.
“Very perceptive of you, brother.” Aonghus’s grin grew. “You will be obliged to find this particular lassie…”
The words died when a stern bellow rocked the granite. “Aonghus!”
She tried desperately to spy a look around the corner, but all she saw was shadows; her attention went to Alec, whomuttered: “Callum is present as well.” Alec explained so quickly a wee bit of spittle flew his lips: “Make ready, brother, he is worse than ever before. Bitter as the damned are hot blooded.”
Worse? Keirah spotted the oldest MacCade sibling. By all the saints, they were a matched set of three. Her eyes darted between them; Callum’s only difference was a longer grizzled beard like he had given up. Huh, like he was haunted by his past with Aonghus as well.
On sight, the oldest brother went right at the bars to attack verbally first. “Are you daft there, wee brother?! We are on the cusp of war with the Northmen, and you attack one of your fellow Scotsmen?”
“Seems you are quite skilled in the trade” – Aonghus’s expression turned into ice – “or has time made your memory falter regarding casting me out of the clan?”
“Nae!” Callum spewed the word back and began charging at the bars.
She cried out, picking up a pebble off the ground and throwing it at Callum’s thick skull. On impact, the bullying sibling froze to turn slowly.
Callum gave a long hard look. “Stay toyourselfthere, lassie,” he warned.
Aonghus lunged with all he was, but Callum bolted a step back out of reach. “You shall not speak to Keirah in this tone!” he commanded fiercely.
“Keirah? This is the lassie?” Callum questioned vehemently, his eyes darting between them when he took a step toward the side. “This is the cause you are here? Your temper was always to be your undoing; they said you had stolen away a traitorous lass. A bonnie one at that” – Callum raked his eyesover her – “brother, you get your due in this respect – but you did not need to strike a guard over a lass. Think with your mind not your cock. Any lass you trust will grind you into the dirt, you fool!” Those words held pure contempt; had a lass done the chief a wrong in his past as well? Hell, they really were a matched set.
“This lassie’s name is Keirah MacThistlen, her protection is my strongest consideration, and if you speak another cross word toward her I will take a measure of flesh off your hide,” Aonghus threatened, “brother.”
The two sets of bright blues became bulbous after Aonghus’s declaration toward her. An instinct took her over, and she curtsied elegantly –pleaselet this allow for a shred of a brighter impression upon the pair.
Callum gave a snort, but Alec leapt forward gallantly to take her hand in an eager greeting.
“Tall cocksman!” Alec roared joyfully back at Aonghus, then smiled genuinely at her. “Graceful a lass if I ever saw one,” he gushed, appearing even younger at the trait. “’My lady, ’tis an honor. Alec MacCade, youngest, smartest, and most handsome with a natural cursing tongue at each turn that befalls every MacCade brother. However, my apologies for future talk born from the gutter as, well, I am the worst of the three.” He unleashed a sweeping bow at her.
Aonghus gave a low chuckle under his breath despite the bitterness oozing from Callum. No wonder Aonghus was so taken with Alec and had sacrificed so much for the youngest MacCade.
“Alec, ’tis time to take our leave as the clans have gathered in the throne room,” Callum ordered, gruffly. “Move!”
“Lovely to meet you,” she said softly at Alec, then turned her gaze toward Callum beyond to finish, “You’re stubborn,Callum MacCade; this I behold the same as the furrow upon your brow at me. ’Tis this stubbornness which has blinded your view to the truth directly before your eyes.” She nodded toward Aonghus. “I would not have survived the days past without your brother. You are mistaken in your appraisal regarding his character; ’tis shown bright each step I have taken by his side. It will shine to others in the times to come.”
Callum turned his back in reply and began to mumble under his breath, with Alec trailing: “He abandoned Deidre – true honor bound.”
Chapter 14
Challenge.It was a challenge running her hand over her face to pull back the auburn curls determined to see otherwise after they walked in from the drizzle, because her wrists were re-bound. Sir Brayden had kept his word; his plump cheeks appeared to be suppressing a grin at his feat. They were currently crossing the threshold not to the Lord Constable’s chambers but the throne room itself to be presented before King Alexander! Oh my, it seemed they weren’t the only ones.
“Step aside!” Sir Brayden barked. “Make way for a lassie.”Aye, thank you, fate-seer heading on through for a super-secret mission.
Aonghus, bound also, took a half step before putting his shoulder into a few spines, who grunted and shuffled aside. She leaned up on her toes to get a glimpse at the surroundings beyond. Nope. Only clansmen, furs, and beards. Ugh!
Looking up, she discovered soaring ceilings alongside some wayward winged creatures who had flown in the double doors to chirp upon the beams above. Huh, just like Håkonsson’s great hall in Bjørgvin. The structure also had similar stone walls. It made sense; the King of Norway had commissioned one from near here to build in that style.
