Page 98 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Nora exhaled. The Douglas attack on the Duncans had come at the end of their bitter war. The ones who had killed her mother...

Despite Fiona's conciliatory pose, a flush of hot pain gripped her, burning her throat with its acrid flavor. This was unexpected. But perhaps it should not have been. Being here, in the heart of the enemy, was setting off unforeseen reactions. Like in her gut. Inside, Nora was writhing and hurt. Memories surged from out of nowhere.

This was the time when her mother had been killed. Not in the same fight, not even the same place, but the same clan and the same feud. And in Nora's head, very much the same.

Struck dumb by the horror, Nora just stared.

"Ye alright, hen?"

Grace's friendly head peered in, bringing Nora back to life. Blinking, she looked about. There she was, head to toe in the drop-down green dress, the rolled headdress fastened snugly to her head.

Nora blinked again, and there were her prospective sisters, Grace and Fiona, looking at her with concern. Their evident worry made her feel quite unwell.

"I-I am braw. Thank ye," she murmured, as Grace pressed forward, watching her intently.

"Ye look a wee bit pale," said Fiona, observing her fully.

Nora felt herself shrink under the full glare of the sisters' stare.

"Och, she is vera bonny," chided Grace, nodding to Nora. "She didnae mean that."

She looked apologetically to Nora.

"Och ye are most beauteous," said Fiona quickly. "I am most pleased that oor brother has such a bonny bride. We are both relieved."

She looked at Grace swiftly. They both nodded.

"An' nae just bonny, but also sweet, an' who will love him," added Grace, smiling.

Nora did not know what to think. She had been blindsided by the pair of them.

"Och, we are both so happy," added Fiona. She kept her eyes pressed down but sounded earnest. Fiona, Nora was learning, was not someone who displayed her emotions easily.

Which made it all so much worse for Nora.

Shyly, Fiona raised her head. Stepping forward, she met her gaze.

"Nora, may I call ye Nora?" she asked, her light eyes shining. It was impossible for Nora to refuse her gaze.

"Och, of course," said Nora uncomfortably. She tried her best to smile naturally. It was not that she had a problem with this, of course. More that she felt nervous being in their presence.

"Well, och, I dinnae ken, it's just so important that William has someone he can trust," said Fiona, after pacing halfway around the chamber. "The fact is, he is oor wee brother. An' this is the first time he has ever really had anyone serious."

Here, her eyes exchanged with Grace's again.

"Och, he will kill me for saying it," fiddled Fiona, playing with her hands. "But the fact is that oor brother is delicate."

Grace's eyebrows shot up. Nora's nearly fell off her head. The William she had met had not struck her as delicate.

"Really?" said Nora, looking at Fiona unsurely. By the same note, Grace seemed to also question Fiona.

"Aye, really," said Fiona to both of them. There was a little look at Grace for her to back down, which Nora did not understand. "The truth is, he has only just become laird, an' it is a big responsibility for him. An' while I am sure he will succeed in his task, he really does need someone by his side to keep him focused."

Fiona's light eyes glowed and shone through the pale light. The last traces of the sun had gone, leaving the moon in its place and naught but pale candlelight to light the way.

Nora watched unsurely.

"It is yer job to keep his feet on the ground an' stay focused," said Fiona.