Page 81 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

Laird Labert snorted, his shoulders moving as he laughed. Domnhall looked between them, uncertain of what had been meant. Bruce shook his head. For someone who spent his life scheming, and strategizing, Domnhall really was slow when it came to his sister.

“So, it is decided that none of us are keeping the Honors,” Laird Labert said. “Our alliances, though strong, could nae handle the strain of this decision making.”

“We could take turns,” Domnhall said, spreading his hands. “Like we do with the spring feast, but every three years. This would make the Honors difficult to pin down.”

“Aye,” Bruce said. There was merit to this but also many pitfalls. “But the risks double. The Honors will have to be transported once every three years. This will involve more than a few people knowing about them, and the risks will double every time it is transported. And this will strain our alliances more. To be very frank, Laird Labert, ye are getting on in years. I love yer boys, but I cannae trust them like I can trust ye. They are nae ye, and soon one of them will be Laird. I need to ken I can rely on them like I can ye to trust them with something as precious as the Honors. I mean nae offence.”

“None taken. My boys are nae me; I ken that. And ye make valid arguments.”

“But we’re still nae closer to placing the Honors somewhere safe.” Domnhall rubbed his forehead.

There was a silence in which all three of them thought of places that would be suitable, and Bruce thought of John McLean, the Bishop, who had guided him to this point in his life. What wouldn’t he have given to be here, to be in the thick of it. Bruce smiled thinking about how passionate he would have gotten if he were still alive. How, if John McLean had found the Honors, Leo would have had a hard time prying them from his corpse.

“I ken where they should go,” Bruce murmured. He looked up at his fellow Lairds and smiled. “We should inter them at Orkney. The Bishop never got to see them in his life though his life’s mission was to bring the Honors back to Scotland. I wish for him to be protector of those holy relics in death. I believe they would bring his soul peace.”

A soft smile was Domnhall’s answer, and a softening of the gaze Laird Labert’s. Both men nodded.

“He would have wanted it,” Domnhall said.

“Aye. And it is also secure. The island is small, and far enough from the mainland to warrant a modicum of security. Aye, this is the best solution.”

Bruce was happy that they had agreed. It felt nice to be able to do something for the Bishop when before he had felt he had failed him. As much as the Bishop had wanted Bruce crowned king of Scotland, it was an impossible dream, and not what Bruce had wanted from his life. And Bruce realized the Bishop would have understood if he were alive. His dreams and ambitions for Bruce should not have to define the trajectory his life.

“We’ll iron out the details later,” Laird Labert said, looking at the cast of the sunshine outside the window. “Elspeth will be waiting for us at lunch, and I’m sure my boys must had driven her to distraction by now. I say we rescue her before we secure the Honors.”

“Just one more thing,” Bruce said. “Domnhall, I need to ask something of ye.”

Domnhall sat back down. “Aye?”

“I am in two minds,” Bruce said, placing his hand flat on the table his palm rubbing over the subtle carvings and notches in the wood. “One wants to apologize to ye, and the other wants to thank ye. When I first saw Elspeth on the shore off Bass Rock my first reaction was to curse at Leo and demand that she be sent back. But Elspeth is naught if nae stubborn. So, aye, I apologize for nae sending her home as soon as I had set eyes on her, but I do nae apologize for letting her stay longer. She has saved my life on more than one occasion, and with her I have understood what is really precious in my life.”

Domnhall was grinning like a fool. The penny had finally dropped.

“Are ye saying ye want to marry her?”

“Of course, I want to marry her! How has it taken ye so long to figure it out? I even asked ye before we came to Dunnottar!”

“I remember, and I had given my permission. But nae mention was made after, and I didnae want to jump the gun until I gauged Elspeth’s opinion on the matter. I’ve been too hasty in pushing decisions on Elspeth’s behalf. I didnae want to make the same mistake this time.”

Bruce stood up and embraced Domnhall. Of all the things they had needed to discuss today, this was the one he had been most nervous about because it meant more to him than anything else. He had expected Domnhall to refuse on the basis that Bruce had put Elspeth in danger multiple times with no regard to her safety, and Bruce would have understood the objection. But that he had accepted Bruce with open arms spoke to his generosity of spirit and just how much he loved his sister.

“Congratulations!” Laird Labert joined them and placed an arm on either shoulder. “It would gladden yer fathers’ hearts that the alliance has deepened further. I’ll be honest, I had fervently wished for Elspeth to be wed to a Labert. But Bruce is as much my son, as are ye Domnhall, and I’m overjoyed that Elspeth has found happiness.”

“We must prepare for the wedding!” Domnhall said. They walked out of the room together, and he kept a litany of questions and suggestions going as they walked down the hall and toward the stairs. “When do ye want the ceremony? Allie will be overjoyed with the news. Elspeth has always loved our mother’s wedding dress. I’m sure we can have it altered soon, and then it would fit her perfectly.”

“Calm yerself, Buchan!” Bruce held up a hand to stop the flow of words. “It will all come to pass. The most important thing we need to confirm is this. Yer name; it’s Donald, right? I need to make sure for the priest.”

Laird Labert laughed uproariously.