“Still a harsh one for Sir Sean to slay his own blood.” Holger threw a doubt.
“Harsh as say your sire declaring, ‘You worthless knight! If your brother ever sought the king’s court, he would be lord constable! You are a lowly wart upon this clan’s crest!’” Nella said gravely.
“Sir Sean’s sire?”
She answered, “Aye, the final time I heard them speak.” Her eyes met Callum’s, and a silent message passed between them.That was the night Sir Sean’s sire wanted his son to bed her. A fist formed at his side.
“Harsh as all,” Holger countered.
“Aye,” she agreed.
Callum’s fist tightened. “There must have been a plan Keithen had once you and your warriors killed King Alexander.” Callum’s fist tuned into a palm as he motioned at the warriors surrounding. “You have over thirty men-at-arms here. He told us Sir Sean was to slay you after the deed was done.”
The chief’s fingers gripped Callum’s arm, halting him. “Truly? There was more than simply not paying the accord we agreed upon?”
“Aye, he meant to have Sir Sean slay you after the king’s demise, but he never spoke regarding your clan here,” he explained somberly. “Did he bequeath anything to you?”
“Bequeath?”
“Wine?” Nella’s brows rose.
He would have smiled outward any other time at her keen mind declaring where his thoughts had gone. “Aye.”
“Sèidrich settled a number of bottles unto our hands,” MacHarris replied. “He declared we were to hand one to Sir Sean at the meeting point then the rest were for my men after to celebrate their fortune following the king’s demise.”
“The poisoned wine was for Alec as Keithen forewarned,” Nella gasped.
Callum’s shoulders inwardly lowered a notch. “Aye.”
The chief’s brows became one. “Sèidrich meant to poison my clan?”
“Aye.”
Smack!MacHarris slammed his fist into his palm. The sound by blades scrapping leather aired by all his clan’s warriors mistaking the terse exchange. MacHarris’s voice bellowed at his warriors. “These here are not who we are goin’ to raise our steel against. Keep those hilts in your hands as we are out for blood when we find Sèidrich and his mercenaries!” the chiefproclaimed, then looked at Callum to ask in a tone weighted by death’s promise, “Where is that bastard?”
Chapter 34
“Are you certain Chief MacHarris shall find the way?” Nella asked Callum, worry weighing her voice.
She heard his quick reply. “Rage fit for a chief who was wronged lit his gaze. Aye, he shall lay waste to Sèidrich in our stead.” He looked toward Sir Brayden, who pointed at something as a marker in direction at the turn ahead on the twilight path they had taken through the flora.
“Yet, I feel I should have helped him find them first so—” she began, but Holger cut her off rudely.
“My lady, your attentions need to be here! Upon the abbey we ride for then seizing Sir James. Particularly after I havefinallyconvinced your knight it is of utmost importance the clergy are not harmed while at the location of their final stop. Before they journey to Perth tomorrow for the treaty signing.”
“And your sister,” Nella and Kameron both reminded.
“For certain.” Holger glared at Kameron then grinned at her while finishing, “You shall take to my sister’s company same as a butterfly to a bloom. May I be so bold as to declare she might possibly sway that ever present ill-advised want to remain within King Alexander’s court.” She glanced up finding Callum was engrossed with Brayden on the direction they headed southward. Good, he hadn’t heard the Northman.
It would besooooeasy to tell the Northman he was an arrogant arse who only thought of title and privilege before his own sister. What good could come of that? She bit her lip.
Was it more than her irritation at Holger which bothered her? Aye. Callum had declared his feelings for her but promises made regarding the future had not yet crossed lips. Time had been pressing; aye, this had to be the reason. Her gaze strayed toward her knight’s broad shoulders which stiffened ahead of her as he bantered with Brayden about going around a river or through it.
What if that wasn’t it? Did he think her the same as many other widows, simply a companion for the bedchamber at a lover’s beacon call? No, he was not like that; he loved her. He had proclaimed as much in their silent exchange at the inn. What if her past marriage in Clan MacMardan, who were all soon to be deemed traitors to King Alexander, darkened their future? It would not do for the captain of the royal guard to take a wife of such ill-reputed tethering, even if it were not by her own hand. Would that matter to courtiers if it wasn’t her fault? No, they would roast her past on a spit for their own pleasure by gossip. His captain’s chainmail tunic remained woven through his quiver and bow strapped onto the saddle. Oddly, he had not donned it back on. It was like he felt unworthy of the garment now.
Her gaze fell upon a string unraveling from her frayed cloak’s edges.Thatmay as well be their future. Callum deserved better than this. Better than having to defend his lady’s past to ever-present jaws flapping.
Time. Time was the current challenge here. If they ever secured a moment alone where threats didn’t linger in the distance same as shadows, they may have a chance to speak upon all. Inwardly she sighed. This may be never.Stop beingselfish;there is a wee lady who needs your talents, so no harm befalls her from this Sir James.
