The priest continued his Latin liturgy, the onlookers respectful and quiet.
Raini tapped Kali on the shoulder and gently guided her backward, away from the hall and into an adjoining passageway where they could still look on. Sounds came through the exterior doors, the pounding of boots and men talking. Then the double wood doors crashed open, and a swarm of MacKay soldiers, led by Adam, flooded the great hall.
Joy and fear for his life filled Kali’s heart and soul. Naturally, she wanted to run into his arms, but Raini kept a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Now is not the time, lass. Soon. I promise.”
Kali nodded, riveted by the scene unfolding before her.
The priest ceased his prayers and sank back behind the dais, while the English soldiers pulled their weapons and surrounded Lord Nelson and his veiled bride. The crowd parted, allowing Adam and his men access to the front of the hall.
“What is the meaning of this?’ Laird MacKay asked, pulling Ariana behind him, his eyes narrowed on his eldest son.
“Did ye forget to send me an invitation to yer wedding, Father?” Adam growled, his sword at the ready in his right hand. “To all of us?”
“Ye were supposed to be on a turnip cart headed south!” the MacKay said.
Adam closed the distance between them, coming within a of couple feet of his sire and pointing at his young bride. “Ariana Bane isna for ye. She’s but a girl compared to ye, and no matter what ye do, old man, ye canna resurrect Mother or relive the moments of yer youth.”
Anger flashed over his sire’s face. “Envious? Are ye heartbroken that yer bitch is wedding another?” He indicated the still-veiled woman standing next to Lord Nelson.
The English lord sighed. “Can we get on with the ceremony, MacKay? I’m not interested in your family squabble, as I’m sure no one here is.”
Adam pointed his sword at Nelson. “As for ye English bastards,” he seethed. “Get ye gone from this place before I change me mind and have ye all hanged. And release that woman!”
Nausea overwhelmed Kali, and she wanted to retch—for Adam must know if he harmed a hair on the head of an English noble, the king would have his head and possibly disband his clan.
Lord Nelson openly scoffed at Adam, turning to the priest. “Ignore the miscreant and say the vow for me and this woman. Now.”
Reluctantly, the priest emerged from the shadows, looking left, then right, weighing his safety before he took his place again.
“Wait,” Adam called.
“For what?” Thomas Bane asked. “Ye have no power here, young MacKay. Ye will obey yer father as every son should and celebrate his good fortune in providing ye with a stepmother. As for me eldest daughter, she will do as she is told.”
Kali gritted her teeth as her sire reached for the imposter’s veil, her heart racing—offering up prayers of protection for Adam and whoever was under that veil.
…
“Wait!” Adam’s brother Aodh, the next in line, shouted. “Ye have no right to interfere with Father’s happiness or this clan’s future.”
Adam gave his brother a humorless laugh. “Ye finally tore yerself away from MacLeery’s daughter long enough to return home, eh? Got a whiff of the possibility of me being gone and wanted to brown-nose the old man so he might name ye heir?”
Adam signaled his guards to press closer. “There is no wedding for Father tonight,” Adam announced. “And as for Lord Nelson…”
Thomas Bane ripped the veil off who he thought was his eldest daughter, only to find the maid Heather. “Ye wee bitch,” he cursed, slapping her so hard she stumbled back and fell to the floor. “Where is me daughter?”
Adam had finally witnessed firsthand what Bane had done to Kali and his other daughters. Nothing made his soul burn more with righteous anger than violence against women and children. “Ye will pay dearly for that, Bane.”
Bane laughed, dragging Heather to her feet and holding a knife to her throat. “Produce me daughter now, or this lass dies.”
A stirring at the back of the hall caught Adam’s attention.
“Wait!” a female voice called out. A lone figure dressed in a peasant’s robe with a hood rushed forward. “Doona hurt Heather, Father.”
Father?Adam stared in fascination as what appeared to be an old woman moved with grace and speed to the front of the hall, lowering her hood and throwing aside a gray wig and revealing flame-red curls. The fire that should never be contained, that should be allowed to burn freely. The very woman who set Adam’s soul ablaze.
“What trickery is this, witch?”Bane spit at Kali. “More deception?More lies? But proof that ye should burn at the stake.” Her father shoved Heather violently away and snatched Kali by the arm, shaking her as he brought her forcibly to Lord Nelson’s side. “Do ye still want her?”
Lord Nelson reached out and fingered a strand of Kali’s hair, then caressed her dirty cheek. “You are a beautiful woman, Kali Bane. Most men would never accept a bride who has been compromised. I will, of course. But there will be consequences…”
