Page 7 of Highland Prince of Darkness

“Ye seem troubled, lad,” Bruce called, as servants started to slowly and tentatively return to the room.

“Nae, I’m just pensive. I want to get the formalities of this affair over with,” Iain sighed. He knew that it would do him no good to reveal everything that he was thinking to his guardian, although something told him that Bruce understood exactly what he was thinking about.

“Aye, I remember when my marriage contract had been confirmed, that week went by in such a haze.”

Iain nodded slowly, the last thing that he wanted were any rumors to leak from the walls in the form of slimy gossip.

He pushed a hand through his hair, chestnut strands catching the light coming through the window and projecting the illusion that he was almost blonde. Iain followed his guardian’s glance out of the window and to the scenery that stared back at them.

“As of late, do ye feel that the rain has been as constant as the sun setting every day?” Iain sighed. He was no stranger to the highland weather, he knew it like a second skin after all of the time that he had spent up there. However, he couldn’t help but think of the world he had merely glimpsed when he was a mercenary. It had been thrilling for him to not know the ground underneath his feet for the first time, to discover for himself already discovered land.

“Lad, I have always held yer council close in my decision making, but I ken that yer thoughts are nae aligned if ye’re goin’ to talk about the weather like this,” Bruce said while chuckling.

He slowly pushed away from the wall, prompting the servants around the room to flinch and stand to attention like pretend soldiers. It would be futile to get in the way of the Laird, for he was not known for being reasonable all of the time.

Iain looked down at his lap at the comment his guardian had made in front of the many servants. A dull heat was moving up into his cheeks and fueling a sense of embarrassment even more.

He only looked up at the feeling of a gloved hand on his shoulder.

“I ken that this is goin’ to be difficult for ye, but just remember how necessary this will be for ye to secure yer claim to this Lairdship.”

Bruce could be soft with him when he wanted to be, however, Iain didn’t appreciate it that day. He clenched his jaw and shifted in his seat until the familial hand moved off of his shoulder. Iain felt his reputation was like a stone wall that was constantly under siege and he was the only one there to fight and keep it standing.

Iain remained in the great hall for a moment longer before rising from his own chair and stalking out of the large room, his brisk footsteps echoing like a warning against approaching him.

* * *

Iain paced about the castle like a restless animal that had been caged. His jaw was perpetually clenched and he didn’t feel at all like engaging with any of the servants. Instead, his thoughts drifted back to the castle that awaited him at the end of their journey, a place that had once been familiar and welcoming. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of reception awaited his return. It had been six years, after all.

He walked past the walls of the castle and out into the woodlands that surrounded the land. It was to be his land soon, however, Iain was patient. He paced through the trees and stalked into the shadows to avoid anyone who he might encounter. Iain wanted to be completely alone and with his thoughts; there was still the inner conflict that he lived with as to how he should act around May. The boyish, vulnerable side of him wanted nothing more than to go to her and embrace her, he wanted to promise her that he would never leave, and that they could finally be together. But the other side, the side who had seen more of the world, still felt anger towards her. He wanted nothing more than to show her that she would pay for the way that she had betrayed him.

Iain’s nostrils flared and he tried his hardest to contain his anger, however, he ended up taking it out on a nearby tree. With both hands gripping his sword, he swung ferociously until the sharp blade found purchase against the bark with a dull thud. The noise reverberated around the quiet forest and was only followed with his heavy panting. Iain realized at that moment that he was more confused than ever on how he felt about May.