The laird was standing on the other side of James’s father, dressed in the ceremonial tartan that showed his position, his face expressionless as he stared down the other lairds present. While the games were meant to be a show of strength, James knew that each clan was taking them very seriously. Each loss would be perceived as a weakness, and once the gathering was complete, James imagined that the clans who had thought they were a weakness would be ramping up their warriors for an attack, even if one never came.
It was the way of their people to always be the ones that were far superior to the rest.
There was a low murmur in the crowd gathered as their host laird finally took his place on the platform, holding up his hands for silence.
“Welcome!” he called out, a smile on his face. “And welcome tae the first challenge of the gathering games! The ledger is complete, and the participants have been decided! Mah advisor will call out the names now.”
James watched as the man from the previous day stepped forward, clearing his throat.
“Once yer name is called, ye will step forward and agree tae represent yer clan.”
It was time. James cleared his throat as the advisor started with the first clan, watching as the participants stepped forward, cheered on by their clan behind them. He already knew he wouldn’t receive the same welcome, but it didn’t matter.
He wasn’t going to back down. They would have to eliminate him first.
“The Wallace clan!”
James felt the entire clan around him straighten in attention, knowing that their enemy was only a few feet away. Yet they couldn’t engage in any sort of fighting lest they be banished from the gathering. He looked over to see Irvine’s jaw clench, his eyeson the laird who was laughing with his own men. James didn’t understand why Irvine saw the need to negotiate with such a fool bastard as Wallace.
“Iris Wallace!”
There was a rumble of voices at the name, James swallowing hard as he watched the lass from last night step forward, her head held high.
Iris. She didn’t look like the flower at all. His heart picked up in his chest as he saw the way she ignored the jeers and laughter around her, her jaw clenched as if she could fight them all.
And win.
His coin would be on her if last night was any indication of what she could do.
No other person was announced from the Wallace clan, and the advisor moved on, surprising James. She was going to take on the gathering games alone, without any sort of aligned help?
What sort of bastard was Wallace to begin with?
James’s hands clenched into fists as he watched the laird eye his participant with a grin on his face. Was he putting her up for slaughter or was he truly that confident that she could be victorious?
Whatever his reasoning, James still had to contend with the fact that the lass who had caught his eye—and was quite possibly the most intriguing thing he had encountered in his lifetime—was a Wallace.
His enemy, his clan’s enemy.
The irony was not lost on him, and he wanted to laugh aloud. Of course she would be his enemy.
The advisor moved on and more participants stepped forward to represent their clans, but James paid them little heed, his eyes on Iris.
He was forced to turn his attention away from her when his clan was announced, clearing his throat as he waited for his name to be called.
It was the moment of truth.
“James Lennox!”
James heard the start of surprise roll through the clan as he stepped forward, refusing to meet his father’s eyes. He didn’t want to see the disappointment in them, even if the games were what he wanted to participate in.
“Matteau McGregor!”
His oldest friend also stepped forward.
“Well,” James chuckled, “I didnae think ye were interested in participating.”
“Someone has tae watch yer back,” Matteau teased. “That is if yer da doesnae murder ye first.”
