“More riders approaching the castle, Laird Mackay! Sutherlands from the looks of them!” a guard suddenly roared from the rampart, Donald uttering an oath while Alec drew Rowen close against him.
“Sutherlands?” she echoed, glancing up at Alec in confusion. “How can that be?”
He didn’t answer, just as surprised. Even if Gaira had continued last night on her quest to deliver a message to Rowen’s father, they would never have been able to arrive at Strathnaver so soon.
Alec signaled for his men to open the gates, then he grasped the hilt of his sword as did Donald.
Rowen sharply drew in her breath to see it, though she stood fast at Alec’s side. He could feel her trembling, he knew more out of apprehension, his wife too brave a lass to show any fear.
Both his men and his father’s too, had dismounted with their hands at their swords while the heavy gates creaked open and a host of Sutherlands rode into the bailey…a grim-faced Hamish at the lead with Errol beside him and his other three sons close behind.
“Stay your weapons, we havna come tae fight you!”
No matter Hamish’s bellowed words, Alec didn’t release his hold upon his sword and neither did any Mackay warriors…too many years of bloodshed between the two clans preventing any show of trust.
Hamish didn’t appear surprised, but dismounted heavily and gestured for Errol to join him while the rest of his men remained astride their horses.
“My youngest son has an apology tae make tae you, Alec Mackay, for his treachery against you. It’s glad I am tae see you hale and healthy after his plot tae kill you—och, I canna believe it! Is that my own daughter wearing a woman’s gown?”
His bearded face flushed with astonishment, Hamish drew closer with Errol a step behind him even as Donald turned to Alec, his face grown mottled with fury.
“A plot tae kill you? By God, what all has happened here since I left?”
“I’ll tell you myself,” Hamish interjected, grabbing Errol by the arm to thrust him forward. “This one, blood of my blood, bone of my bone, ordered a clansman to stay behind and wait for the right moment tae wield his sling and bring down your son and his horse as if it was an accident—och, but good sense overcame the man yesterday and he revealed all tae me. We set out at once and thank God in His mercy, you still live, Mackay, though our clansman saw you strike your head upon a rock?—”
“Your head?” Donald echoed, Alec nodding gravely.
“My healer’s skill saved me…aye, along with the tearful prayers of my wife. She revealed everything tae me as well?—”
“So your bride knew of this plan?” Donald cut in, clearly incredulous even as Rowen left the shelter of Alec’s arm.
“Aye, it was a terrible wrong, but my husband has forgiven me. I love him and he loves me…do you hear what I say, Errol?I love him!”
Her outcry so impassioned that everything seemed to grow silent in the bailey except for the restless whicker of horses, Alec kept his gaze fixed upon Errol as he drew Rowen close to him again.
“Aye, I love her…and I will never do anything tae hurt her, even if King Robert gave me the right tae order you slain for your treachery. We are brothers now by marriage, Errol. For my wife’s sake and the will of our king that the blood feud cease between our clans, will you clasp my arm in peace?”
Errol didn’t readily answer, Alec seeing that they matched each other in height and breadth of shoulder…both of them powerfully built Highland warriors near to the same age.
Both of them loyal to King Robert the Bruce in spite of fierce enmity between the Mackays and the Sutherlands that threatened, even now, what Alec had just offered.
Errol’s deep blue eyes narrowed, his jaw tightly clenched…while still Alec waited with his hand outstretched until abruptly, Errol reached out to lock forearms with him.
“I give you my apology, Mackay…and will threaten no further the peace decreed by King Robert.”
“Ah, God, then it is done,” declared Hamish before anyone else could speak, glancing with relief at his son.
Meanwhile, Donald still bristled, but he let go of his sword hilt as Rowen reached out to place her hand upon Alec’s and Errol’s locked arms.
“Thank you, Errol.”
Fresh tears glistened in Rowen’s eyes as she looked at her brother, whom she clearly loved, while Alec could feel her trembling from a harsh outcome averted.
If he and Errol had come instead to sword blows, who could say which one would have triumphed, they were so physically well-matched.
Errol seemed to have read his mind for he bowed his head slightly and then released Alec’s forearm to hug his sister, but only for an instant before Donald grunted again with impatience.
“Enough, we must ride at once if we’ve any hope of finding that cove before the raiders sail again?—”
