They got to the dungeons, and he shoved her into a cell, locked her up, and then met her gaze with his steely, blue one, one last time. “Ye both die today, or I’ll burn this keep to the ground!”
32
By the time Killian arrived at Wehnthor again, the dark skies had begun to give way for dawn. Laird McLennan and his men had waited at the borders, with Killian’s men stopping them from encroaching on the village.
The troops of men Killian saw as he slowed his trot and made his way to the frontlines scared him. His clan was wealthy, but Clan McLennan was one of the strongest clans, with an army of men like no other clan had ever seen.
That fact did not scare Killian because he had well-trained men and enough weapons to last his clan through war.
As he dismounted his horse, Laird McLennan did the same, and both men strode towards each other, their hands both poised on the hilts of their swords.
Killian knew what he wanted at that moment as he met with the McLennan troops. It was his first time meeting Laird McLennan in person, and he was determined to end all of this once and for all.
As he stood face to face with the man, every muscle in his body tightened to show his anger. His jaw hurt from how tight he clenched it, and Laird McLennan did not seem to care as he leveled him with an unflinching glare.
“We finally meet, Laird McLennan,” Killian spoke after the first few minutes of silence passed between them. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and he was ready to charge into battle if Laird McLennan or any of his men charged first.
“Ye have somethin’ of mine, Laird MacColl,” Laird McLennan said in a stiff tone as they kept glaring at each other. “I believe ye will hand her back to me now.”
“Ye murdered my brother. He trusted ye… Ye were his partner, and ye murdered him in cold blood. How do ye sleep at night, Laird McLennan? How do ye look at yerself in the mirror after what ye did?” Killian spat out. He did not notice the shock on Laird McLennan’s face until he asked.
“What do ye speak of?”
Killian’s men waited for his command the same way Laird McLennan’s men did. There was a charged tension in the air between both clans, and Killian did not want to waste any moretime, so he reached for the dirk that had ended his brother’s life and tossed it to the ground in front of Laird McLennan.
“Ye left this dirk in my brother’s gut. Ye betrayed him and stole his business.”
Laird McLennan bent to the ground to pick the dirk up, then he frowned as he read the words inscribed on it out loud.
“Do ye remember what ye did now? Do ye recall what he looked like when ye ended his life?”
It took some minutes before Laird McLennan raised his eyes to meet Killian’s again. Crease lines marred his features, and he worked the muscles of his jaw hard before he shook his head. “This doesnae belong to me, Laird MacColl.”
“Dinnae deny it. Ye have tried to kill me many times, too, just like ye did to my brother. I will end this now.”
The heavy wind around them blew harder now. Killian feared a storm was coming as he inhaled dust, sniffed, and coughed a little.
This was the moment he had been dreaming of since he had found out about his brother’s death. He had thought of when he would finally get the chance to meet Laird McLennan and watch him squirm and beg for mercy just before he died.
Anger pumped through him as he waited for Laird McLennan to defend himself.
“I have done naethin,” Laird McLennan insisted again. “I received yer letters, Laird MacColl. Ye wrote to tell me of yer atrocities. Ye killed my friend and sent word of her demise. I am here for revenge, and to take her back, bury her in my grounds, as she deserves. I didnae kill yer brother. I only met the late Laird MacColl once when he discussed business with me, but I heard of his death a fortnight after that. I dinnae ken what ye speak of.”
A knot formed in the pit of Killian’s stomach as Lily’s words echoed in his mind. She had defended Laird McLennan during her entire stay at his keep, and he had not believed her.
Both clans facing each other now, each of them ready for battle, Killian was faced with making a choice. He could either go ahead and fight with them, or take a step back.
Every word and conversation with Lily flashed in his mind as he faced Laird McLennan, and whatever choice he made now would determine the fate of his clan.
Is this the end of the line?
If he walked away now, then he was back to not knowing who his brother’s killer was. Hopefully, Lily could find something in the ledgers, but if she did not, then he would have nothing.
All the lives lost cannot be wasted. I must avenge them.
“Someone has set me up,” Killian said after a long time of processing his thoughts and trying to decide whether to trust Lily’s faith in Laird McLennan or trust his own anger. “I didnae kill the lady, and I didnae send ye any letters. I have received letters from ye askin’ to meet, and yer men have tried to kill me three times. Looks like we both have a common enemy.”
He extended a hand to Laird McLennan, and he waited for him to accept the gesture.
