After securing her dagger in the pocket and one in her boot for good luck, Iris undid the flaps and stepped out just as the sun was sinking low on the horizon. The camp was noticeably quieter than usual, which meant many had already made the short trek to the keep for the festivities, likely to get their drinking started for the evening.
Iris only made it two steps before Ian stepped in her path, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Wot are ye wearing?”
She glared at him. “’Tis a gown. Surely ye are familiar with them?”
After all, he chased enough lasses around the village to have inspected every gown there!
“I know wot it is,” he said in a huff. “Why are ye wearing it, lass?”
Iris sputtered, “’Tis n-none of yer concern wot I wear!”
“It is when I have never seen ye in one since ye have grown intae womanhood,” he retorted, arching a brow. “Why are ye wearing one now?”
Iris clamped her lips shut, her mind racing at what she could tell her brother. He was right. She hadn’t worn a gown in a number of years.
“I can change mah mind for one evening,” she finally said, attempting to sidestep him.
Ian blocked her path once again. “It is because of Lennox, isnae it?”
Iris’s throat went dry. “Wot?”
“James Lennox,” Ian bit out, his mouth twisting at the name. “I had a run-in with him this morning at the negotiations.”
A run-in? What on earth was Ian talking about?
“I dinnae understand.”
“The negotiations failed, Iris. James was there on behalf of his laird, and needless tae say, he might have run intae mah fist.”
Iris swallowed her gasp, wanting to rail at her brother for even laying a hand on him. If she did, he would suspect more, and she didn’t need him suspecting anything that she hadn’t figured out herself.
“Why would I care?” She shrugged. “And ye’re making me late, Ian.”
“He’s our enemy, Iris,” her brother said softly. “Dinnae forget that.”
“Move before I make ye. And dinnae think that this gown will stop me, Ian,” she ground out, her heart in turmoil.
James was supposed to be their enemy—her enemy—but all she could think of was the way she had felt when he had kissed her in the forest.
He moved out of her path then, and Iris hurried away from Ian before he could see the stain of pink on her cheeks. Her brother suspected something. She was certain of it. Iris debated on making a wide berth of the keep and her brother for the evening but then decided that if she did, she would never know what effect the gown would have on James. If Ian saw them together or anyone else for that matter, she would never hear the end of it.
So as she drew near to the keep, Iris tried not to draw any attention to herself. She kept her head down, avoiding all eye contact until she reached the crowd attempting to make their way into the keep. Iris could hear the music from inside, the laughter that brought a smile to her face. There were so many enemies in there, yet everyone was willing to put aside their differences for dancing and ale. Why couldn’t one do so outside of the gathering?
Why be at war with each other at all?
She spied her father once she finally got inside but didn’t approach him, moving along the fringes of the stone wall nervously instead. It was a crush in the great hall, with the host laird residing from his throne chair on a raised dais. Ale and whiskey were handed out freely, and a long table had been set up in the back of the large hall, laden with all sorts of delicious-smelling foods.
Iris’s stomach rumbled at the smell, but before she could go investigate, the laird stood.
“Welcome!” he called out, quieting the crowd. “And I hope that ye have felt the success of the games and the gathering asI have! May we leave this place with renewed hope that all of Scotland can be brought taegether in a peaceful time and not wage war on our fellow man.”
No one spoke aloud, but Iris could hear murmurs from those around her, some for and some against what the laird was saying. In the end, peace would always be short-lived in Iris’s mind.
“Now,” he continued, a broad smile on his face, “mah remaining contestants please step forward and let us all congratulate ye before the final game!”
Iris swallowed as she stepped through the crowd, joining the other competitors before the dais and desperately not looking for anyone in particular or how those around her reacted to her choice of dress.
