Page 59 of Highland Sky

“S-she did?” Kellina’s body shook and Nash had to hold her tighter to comfort her.

“Robena said she . . . didna want to live . . . no’ after murderin’ her friends, and without her husband. She . . . went crazy with guilt.”

“Why didna our chieftain tell us there were only four people involved?” asked Nash.

“I told him it was a lover’s spat . . . between them,” said the chieftain, fighting for breath. “Neither side . . . would fight that way. But I asked him . . . to keep silent. For the sake of the children . . . all of ye.”

“So, that is why our clans were enemies, but never actually went to battle, beyond this occasion,” said Tomas, understanding now.

“Aye,” said Ciaran. “That is . . . why.”

“Why are ye tellin’ us this now?” Kellina’s nostrils flared and her jaw ticked. “Why no’ just take yer horrid secrets to the grave with ye? Ye are a terrible man, and I hate ye! No matter if ye are my faither or no’.”

“He’ll get what’s due to him . . . in hell,” spat North.

“I have already been punished . . . more than ye ken.” The chieftain coughed some more and his eyes started closing. He didn’t look like he could speak or even breathe much longer. “The Sutherlands killed my wife and daughters . . . so I have been punished . . . by the hand of God for my mistakes.”

“Why did ye even have to tell us this at all?” spat Nash. “Are ye purposely tryin’ to ruin the marriage between me and Kellina?”

“Nay. I wanted . . . an alliance between . . . yer clans. That was . . . the only way . . . I could . . . do it.” He looked over to Tomas next. “Tomas, ye are . . . chieftain now. Please, keep the alliance strong . . . between the MacKeefes and . . . our clan . . . forever.”

With that, his breathing stopped, and his open eyes stared up at the ceiling, and the man died. Everyone stayed silent for a minute, not knowing how to respond to what they’d just heard. This confession was life-changing, and could bring about peace . . . or most likely trouble. The truth was out, and now they had to decide just what to do with the confession they’d just witnessed. It wasn’t going to be an easy choice.

“What do we do now?” North finally spoke, saying exactly what they were all thinking.

“I suppose I’ll need to tell the clan, and ye’ll need to tell the MacKeefes what really transpired,” stated Tomas. “Although, I’m no’ sure how everyone is goin’ to take it.”

“Nay, no one will say a word,” said Kellina, standing up, looking stronger than Nash had expected, especially after hearing this. “No matter what my mathair did, I willna have her name and image dragged through the mud and sullied. It seems to me that she’s been through enough, havin’ to keep the secret of what our chieftain did to her. I canna even imagine how horrible that must have been for her. I’m surprised she didna take her life years ago. I think I might have.”

“Kellina, yer mathair isna at fault for that, and no one would blame her for what the chieftain did,” said Nash.

“If Avery had kent, he would have killed Ciaran, and battle would have broken out within our clan,” Tomas pointed out.

“She did the right thing by stayin’ quiet then,” said North. “She did it for the guid of the clan.”

“I canna say I agree with her silence, but I suppose I understand now why she never told me that Ciaran might be my faither.” Kellina paced back and forth in thought.

“There’s still a chance, he’s no’ yer faither,” said Nash. “Nobody kens for sure, lass.”

“Either way, I dinna want my brathair and sister to ever ken the truth about any of this.” She started pacing faster. “They can never ken.”

“I agree,” said Tomas. He looked down at the dead man on the bed as he spoke. “Laird Ciaran didn’t have to tell us any of this, but he did. He could have gone to his death with everyone still admirin’ him, but he chose to tell the truth.”

“A little late as far as I’m concerned.” Nash stood up.

“He wanted to clear his conscience,” said North. “Even if he will burn in hell for the things he’s done.”

“Aye, mayhap,” Nash answered.

“Ye heard him,” said Tomas. “Ciaran told the truth because he wants peace between our clans. He doesna want the loss of any other lives.”

“Peace, meanin’ he wants us to stop blamin’ each other’s clan for the deaths of our parents.” Nash looked over to Kellina when he said it.

Kellina’s body stilled. “The fact still remains, that our parents are dead,” she answered with a stiff upper lip.

“But now we ken that it was the chieftain’s actions that caused the reactions of our parents,” added North. “I dinna think either clan will feel settled hearin’ that!”

“The MacKeefes could attack us if they find out,” added Tomas.