After a beat, MacKay turned and called out six names. Mariota was shocked to hear Seamus’s among them. She hadbeen so focused on her father and Alber that she hadn’t noticed him among the troop.
Once the bulk of MacKay’s men moved away, Sutherland ordered the gates opened. “Best ye go greet yer da, lass,” he told Mariota. “Stellan, stay with her. I’ll nay have one of his men grab her and hie back out of our gates.”
Stellan nodded and went down the steps in front of Mariota.
She wondered how long her father’s patience would last. She might not be inside Sutherland’s walls for long— his presence here demonstrated that he would not simply allow his heir to run off. Despite his lack of confidence in her, there was an alliance on the line, after all.
She was grateful for Stellan’s care, and that his da was not foolish enough to trust hers. After what she’d just seen and heard from her da, her hands shook and she could barely draw breath. The only good news so far was that Seamus rode with him, and was coming inside Sutherland. She could find out from Seamus what had happened at MacKay since she left, and what her father was thinking, bringing Alber with the group of warriors intended to guard her on their return home.
Stellan couldn’t believeMariota’s attacker was here with the MacKay. His outrage at the insult burned white-hot in his blood. He knew Sutherland would normally say the other laird could bring any of his men he desired, but Sutherland already denied the attacker entry, thank the saints.
Anders met them as they reached the bailey and stood shoulder to shoulder with his twin, blocking Mariota behind them from MacKay’s reach. “I kenned aught was amiss.”
Once again, Stellan had reason to be grateful for their uncanny connection. He gave Anders a quick update.
Anders understood the situation immediately. “The lass would be in danger inside our own walls if Alber had been allowed in. What would her father do if the man harmed her here? Blame us?”
“I wish yer da hadna taunted him,” Mariota told them. “He’s dangerous.”
Sutherland joined them as the gates swung open. Before the MacKay could enter, he told his sons “Ye two will alternate guarding her, backed up at all times by Sutherland men. Ye willna let that man she fears get close to her. MacKay sent him away, but I dinna doubt he will try to cause trouble, and we are responsible for her safety while she resides with us.”
“The MacKay will want her under his control, his guards,” Anders argued in a low voice. “If that contingent includes Alber at any time, it will be the fox guarding the hen. And that can only go badly.”
Stellan agreed. “And on the way home? Too many things can go wrong.”
Sutherland nodded. “I ken it. But how do we prevent it?”
Mariota’s gasp alerted them to trouble. Behind the MacKay, among the six, Alber rode in, on his face a malicious grin and evil gleam in his eyes.
The Sutherland held up a hand and his men stepped in front of them, swords at hand, halting the procession of MacKays through the gate.
“I did not give that man leave to enter my keep, MacKay. What do ye think ye are doing?”
“Asserting my right to have the guards around me that I most trust.”
Stellan found himself shocked. The MacKay named his daughter’s attacker a guard he trusted most, and dared call himback once the Sutherlands left the wall walk. Did the MacKay think they wouldn’t notice? A glance aside showed him that Mariota had paled. Stellan wanted to get her out of the bailey, away from this confrontation, but he dared not do so without his father’s order. So far, she was behind a wall of Sutherlands, but at the first sound of swords being drawn, her safety would be at risk.
Sutherland regarded MacKay with disdain. “Before we even begin to speak, ye disregard my orders? In my own keep?”
“I bring the men I choose. The men I trust. Alber is one of MacKay’s heroes of Red Harlaw.”
Stellan and Anders traded a look. Was that how the man had gotten his laird under his thumb?
MacKay demanded to see his daughter. Mariota stepped out from behind the twins, but didn’t greet her father. Instead, she made a guttural sound of disgust. The fury in her eyes relieved Stellan. He had feared she might show alarm at her father’s declaration— and demonstrated lack of support for her —but clearly she was made of sterner stuff.
“Turn him around,” Sutherland demanded, “or this conversation is over and ye will leave Sutherland territory.”
“Nay without my heir.”
“Yer heir stays here, if that is her choice, until ’tis well established that she can return to MacKay without further incident.”
The MacKay’s gaze cut to his daughter.
Beside Stellan, Mariota straightened tighter than a bowstring.
“I choose to remain where I am safe and valued,” she announced. “If ye vow that is MacKay, I will go with ye, but not with Alber in the troop. Send him back, or I will remain here.”
“Then there will be clan war.”
