Page 72 of Fire in his Highland Heart

“I’ll handle it,” Douglas said through gritted teeth, and began to stand up.

Arguen grabbed his arm and bade him sit back down. “Nay,” she sniffled, trying desperately to regain some sense of composure, “I dinnae want tae be a burden. I should...I should find a monastery. I ken they take care of...women like me,” she insisted.

Douglas shook his head. “Lass, there are no monasteries now. King Henry destroyed them long ago, aye? Nay. Ye’ll stay here an’ let me handle it.”

She sniffled and hiccuped. “Ye’ve done so much for me already. I cannae let ye bear another of my burdens.”

“Arguen, ye’re the only family I have left. We need tae stick together an’ fight each other’s battles, aye? Now, go inside, back tae yer chamber. Get some rest, make yerself some tea--not the kind that’d harm ye or--” he pointed to her stomach. “I’ll handle it, I promise.”

He stood up and helped her up as well. Arguen’s legs still felt a little wobbly, so she was glad for the momentary support.

“Dinnae do anything rash ‘til I’ve returned, d’ye understand?” he asked, holding her shoulders, his grey eyes looking deep into her blue ones.

She nodded. “Aye, I promise, an’ I trust you.”

“Braw. I’ll fix it, I promise.”

All she could do now was trust her brother’s judgment, and wait for the outcome, no matter what it was.

* * *

Blake and James rode quick as they could on the main road through the forest. Blake’s mind whirled with anger and unpleasant thoughts. Cataline had been right. He hated that such a terrible person could be right, but he’d heard it with his own ears. After everything he’d done for Arguen--protected her from Cataline, given her a home, let her live in his town, fallen in love with her...he was astonished that she would just accept another man like this. It was embarrassing for him, and his cheeks burned with shame. How could he have not seen it?

His only thought now was to get back to Ernmore and see Mirellain. He was back at the beginning again. Women were fickle creatures. He’d been convincing himself. Poor sweet Mirellain kept asking about a mother, and it broke Blake’s heart to realize she might never have one now. He could not stand to keep hosting those silly feasts when he returned. No, he would throw himself into his work, and Mirellain would have to realize that her family would be different. Besides, lots of children grew up without one parent, some in much less fortunate circumstances than she. She would simply have to live with it.

For a few moments, he thought he heard someone calling his name behind him, but it was difficult to tell. The pounding of the horses’ hooves and the wind rushing past his ears muffled distant noises, and made it difficult to have any sort of conversation. After a few minutes, another horse and rider burst out from the forest lining the main road and stopped, blocking the path. Blake and James both tried to call out to get the rider to move, but their warnings fell on seemingly deaf ears. They had to rein their horses to a stop, which Blake’s didn’t like--it reared and whinnied after the stop.

The person blocking the way was none other than Douglas Larimore himself, looking madder than a wild dog. This was the face Blake had seen in battle, and he knew it spelled trouble.

“What in God’s name are ye doin?!” Douglas shouted.

“Going back tae Ernmore, where I dinnae have tae subject myself tae humiliation!” Blake shouted back.

Douglas scoffed. “Ye? Humiliated? The only one humiliated is Arguen. After everythin’ she’s been through, ye tell her ye love her, an’ then ye leave?”

“She never truly loved me! She led me on!”

“Ye’re full o’ shite! I cannae believe that after everythin’ we’ve been through, ye’d abandon my family like this!”

“Friendships end. Alliances crumble. The world still spins ‘round,” Blake said icily.

Douglas shook his head, his nostrils wide with anger. “Nay. Not like this. I challenge ye tae a duel!”

Blake chuckled lowly as James nervously watched. “A duel, eh?”

“Aye. For Arguen’s honor.”

Blake shrugged. “Well then, I accept.”

At that moment James interrupted. “Lads, please. I’m sure there’s a misunderstandin’ here. Ye’ve been friends for too long. Can ye not speak instead?”

“We’ve passed the time for words, James,” Douglas said through gritted teeth, dismounting. He unbuttoned his doublet and threw it aside. It would be easier to fight without such fabric restricting him.

Blake followed after, doing the very same. James stayed atop his horse and watched from a distance. “Really lads, ye cannae have a proper duel. As far as I can see, Douglas has no weapon an’ no second. Ye cannae have a proper duel without that,” he pleaded.

He was right, of course. In a proper duel, the terms would be discussed beforehand. Each person would have a designated second, and there were serious legal consequences for wounding or killing the other party. James thought that Douglas’s challenge was rash in that way.

“Fine, then. Not a duel. We’ll have it out: a good ol’ tavern brawl,” Blake said tauntingly, rolling up his sleeves.