Page 70 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

John mulled on that for a while. Aleck fished out his whetstone and sharpened his sword. The scrape of stone on metal rang sharp and piercing in his ears. He had said his piece, but it brought him no comfort. What did he care if John assumed Aleck and Ashton had easier lives because they were the second born sons?

“Tell me about your father.”

Aleck stopped sharpening his sword. The question was sudden, but John looked genuinely interested. There was no hint of teasing in his expression.

“He died when I was eight.”

“How did he die?”

“Raiders attacked the Laird’s hunting party. He was injured but he took down three men before he finally succumbed to his wounds.”

“That must have been devastating for you.”

Aleck looked at him sharply, but John was not mocking him. Instead, he wore an expression of regret.

“Second sons have a better relationship with their fathers.” John shrugged. “They don’t remind them of their eventual demise. My father sees the culmination of his own inevitable death when he looks at me.”

“That cannae be true.” Aleck didn’t think it was possible for such mercenary thoughts to exist between father and son.

“It is. He told me as much to my face. Our relationship has always been strained because I will inherit the title once my father dies. This is not to say all father’s feel this way about their first-born sons. Some dote on them because they will continue the line.”

“My father treated us both equally.”

“Did he?” The sardonic smile was back. “Or do you only remember how he treated you?”

Aleck was forced to think back on his childhood and how his father, Callum Bryce, had treated them both. In no memory of all three of them could he accuse his father of having a favorite. Yes, he had been stricter with Fergus, Aleck’s older brother, but he had always prefaced it by explaining that Fergus would have more responsibilities after he died. Callum Bryce was a fierce warrior, but he was a kind man, and an affectionate father.

“Nae. My father was the same with us both. He expected us to do our duty and honor our word.”

“He sounds a lot like my father,” John said bitterly.

“Nae. He was an affectionate father. There was nae doubt he loved us. But I suppose he was the way he was because he himself was a second son.”

John mulled that over for a minute. “That makes sense. I wondered why he was in the Laird’s employ if he had lands to tend himself. It must have been hard for him to have the role of the elder thrust on him when he wasn’t prepared for it.”

“Aye. He did his best, though he must have felt unprepared and didnae want the both of us to be found wanting, whatever the eventuality. That’s why he was equally tough and kind to us both.”

“I suppose every child is different and must be raised accordingly.”

“Aye. Ye cannae treat people equally when they themselves are nae equal.”

A brief lull in the conversation gave Aleck the chance to take in their surroundings. He wasn’t expecting any trouble on the road, but there was always a chance of raiding parties attacking. It was dark, and the sliver of moon that had appeared at nightfall had disappeared. The snow shone a dull blue in the night and muffled most sounds, but Aleck had keen ears.

Everything was quiet. Taking comfort in that, Aleck turned towards the fire, placed his sword between his legs, and warmed his hands.

“Have you ever been in love?”

Aleck had not expected such a question from John. They were not friends, and the little conversation they had about family, fathers, and brothers wasn’t enough for them to discuss such personal matters as love. But Aleck soon saw that John was more interested in talking on the subject than hearing Aleck’s woes.

“Once.”

“Did she love you back?”

“Aye.”

“Are you engaged to be married?”

“She’s married to someone else.”