“MacCade,” she murmured, when her attention was diverted toward a familiar pair who entered the towering archway at the far end of the sprightly feast. “They are here safe, saints be praised.”
Aonghus’s lips took a shadow of a grin at the two MacCade brothers who had arrived late. Triumphant! They must have been triumphant at seeing Clan MacCade onto the terrains farther north where the other forces were secretly being gathered. As triumphant as the Royal Steward of Scotland, a commander who had left the castle undetected and was currently preparing those same forces for the siege to come after the storm.
Callum alongside Alec bowed and greeted the king, who granted them leave to join her and Aonghus. The siblings arrived before her knight. It was Callum who first noted Lord Kollungr, then hissed toward Aonghus, “Wee brother, a word?” It was a question more than a demand.
Edina gnashed another bite as her knight turned toward her, a look of uncertainty covering his expression. Keirah whispered, “All is well. Sir James is at his post and Sir Brayden remains near,” she assured, the latter more her choice of guard if Aonghus could not be. Had her kinship with the jovial knight grown by bounds? Aye. Sir James may think the stout knight fit for court jester, but the day of Seumas and Sorley had revealed why the knight was chosen for a guard to the king. Sir Brayden was no court jester when time came to draw blood.
“Aye!” Sir Brayden raised his goblet in acknowledgement toward the MacCade brothers. Sir James shot another disapproving look.
Aonghus’s fingers brushed her knee under the table in unspoken concealed touch which stated,I will be returning directly.She brushed her fingers over his to reply silently,I will be waiting, my knight.
He took his feet then trailed behind his brothers through the maze filled with tables jammed with warriors who ate and drank and laughed and belched with vigor.
After Kollungr’s grotesque claims about her earlier, Aonghus’s touch had been without hesitation; it was a good sign, right?
***
Aonghus walked next to his brothers before they took a secluded far corner of the room beside a tapestry billowing from a breeze coming in the archway, but his eyes never left Keirah. Was it more than the portrait of her holding a wee lassie that tugged at his emotions? Aye, it also was the entire evening and how Lord Kollungr had locked his attention on her.Thatmust be whyshe came up with the term ‘falcon’ for the Northman. The shite predator was eyeing Keirah as prey every moment!
Callum went right for the same topic, as if knowing Aonghus’s thoughts. “Lord Kollungr is the Northman present who stares at your lady as if she is to be served upon a platter for his pleasure?”Another perfect description.“He is also the Northman who captured Lady Keirah of Clan MacCade?” Callum verified, angrily.
“Aye to both; ’tis the arsehole. The other pair of Northern hunters, Svørn and Torsten, have not yet shown their shite faces,” Aonghus explained, violent intent lining his words.
“Callum is correct in his appraisal; it appears the Northern lord is still quite taken with your lady,” Alec observed, his eyes narrowing.
Aonghus ground out the reply, “Aye.”
“When shall we slay the piece of swine shite?” Alec asked, his usual mirth gone at the dire conversation.
“Keirah seeks to disgrace the Northern arsehole. As to the slay, I cannot; my oath has been given to our lord king,” Aonghus replied, then cursed a string of Gaelic under his breath with frustration.Hell, bloody fuking hell!
“Disgrace is good, yet death is better. Rippin’ off his cock, then death, isbest,” Callum replied and ran his fingers over his dagger strapped onto his waist beside the heavy sword. “Well, you may have given your oath, but I havenotgiven mine. A flick by my wrist, his throat slit, and the Northman’s hide will be mounted onto MacCade castle walls.”
“Aye,” Alec added earnestly, as if they spoke of the weather. “Callum is very discreet; he can make it appear the Northman slipped and fell onto the dagger’s edge.”
“Nae.”
“Brother, you are still my blood,” Aonghus heard Callum proclaim.
“Your blood?” Surprise filled Aonghus’s words.
“Aye.” Callum nodded. “The day I cast you out wasnotmy finest hour.” Shame showed upon Callum’s features. Aonghus blinked twice.Aye, ’tis Callum!
It seemed the hours spent practicing archery lessons with Keirah at Stirling, alongside the laughs and grins shared by all present, appeared to be cutting through the icy wall frozen between them all these years since their sire had passed. Had he ever thought this possible? No.
Before he could reply, the murdering topic in discussion began making his way toward the pack of them.Remember the oath, don’t strangle Kollungr – yet.
Callum murmured in a quick ask, “Where are Svørn and Torsten? They are not tied with any oaths unto our lord king.”
“I do not know,” Aonghus replied hastily. “Keirah is most worried for this, declaring the pair rarely leave Lord Kollungr’s side.”
All three grew quiet when Lord Kollungr reached them to declare, “This pair has the same pretty features as you, Sir Aonghus, so I may only fathom them to be your brothers and the remainder of Clan MacCade.” The Northman sneered the greeting, his voice carrying a hint of slur from a stronger wine’s effects. “If not for the weapons and pair of beards” – he gestured toward Callum and Alec – “you all appear to be a pack of lassies gossiping in the hall’s corner.”
Callum and Alec’s hands dropped onto their swords’ hilts; Aonghus took a broad step forward before his brothers. “Lord Kollungr,” Aonghus snarled, “If you dare treat Chief Callum MacCade or Chieftain Alec MacCade – both of whom reign over one of the Highlands’ strongest clans, whose vast lands border Loch Lomond – in such a derogatory manneroncemore, I shall have to take a greater measure upon your hide.”
Lord Kollungr looked a long moment at them before he raised the goblet in salute then took a long swig after giving a snort. The Northman turned to stand beside Aonghus.
All four noted the movement at the dais when King Alexander motioned Keirah over to sit beside him, with the server setting bowls overflowing with blaeberries onto the tables. At the summons, Edina took to twirling again in the tables’ vast empty center area.
