Page 3 of Moon Craving

serve David right. Talorc had no doubt that if he ordered them to, his clan would go to war

against the king still disputed as ruler over all Scotland by many Highlanders.

In the Highlands, at least, first loyalty still went to the clan leader, not the king.

Where would that leave the "civilized" king then?

But the man raised by Normans in that hellhole to their south was a friend. Despite

the Sassenach influence, Talorc respected King David, when few men earned that honor.

"Was it not enough he sent you one English bride, that he now sends you

another?" Osgard asked, his aged voice still strong enough to express his fury.

"He has no plans to send this one," Barr said.

As if Talorc didn't already know the details of the damn message. "No, he expects

me to travel to England to wed this woman."

"'Tis an outrage," Osgard growled.

Barr nodded. "An offense you canna take lightly."

"According to the messenger, 'twas both King David and England's king who took

offense you did not marry the first Englishwoman," Guaire, Talorc's seneschal, quietly

inserted, earning himself a sulfuric glare from Osgard.

The old man, who had stood in Talorc's father's stead as advisor since his death,

deliberately turned so Guaire was no longer in his line of sight. "Some might care about

offense to the Sassenach king, but there are those of us that know better than to trust the

English. Especially one who seeks to be wife to our laird."

"I am concerned about neither king's displeasure, but merely point out that they

were offended first and that might explain our own king's unpleasant request." Guaire

stood his ground, but it was clear the young soldier was bothered by Osgard's comment.

Osgard harrumphed and Barr kept his own council, but Talorc nodded. "No doubt.

I had no intention of marrying the Englishwoman Emily, and 'tis clear my overlord realized

that after the fact."

"You did not go to war when the Balmoral took and kept her," Barr said.

"A Chrechte does not go to war over the loss of a Sassenach ," Osgard spit out,

disgust lacing every word.

Guaire frowned. "The Balmoral would."