Page 22 of The Highlander’s Iron Hold

Ronan Fraser

The parchment crumpled in Colin's fist before he was even conscious of crushing it. White-hot rage flooded through him, followed immediately by an ice-cold calculation that was far more dangerous.

"Niven," he said quietly, his voice carrying the deadly calm that his men had learned to fear. "Send the messenger away with our acknowledgment. Then summon MacLeod and Jamie immediately."

Niven took one look at Colin's face and nodded grimly. "Aye, me laird."

Within minutes, the messenger had been escorted to the gates with formal confirmation that Colin had received Fraser's declaration. Duncan MacLeod and Jamie arrived moments later, along with several other senior members of Colin's guard.

"Gentlemen," Colin said, tossing the crumpled letter onto his desk. "Fraser has officially declared war. He kens about our... arrangement with the MacDuffs, and he's made it clear he considers me marriage tae the lass theft of what’s rightfully his."

MacLeod's weathered face hardened. "What are yer orders, me laird?"

"Ready the troops. Full mobilization as of this moment." Colin's voice was steel wrapped in ice. "Double the guard on the castle, triple the border patrols. Fraser's nae making idle threats. Niven will see tae this."

"What about Lady Morag?" Jamie asked quietly. "She should be told⁠—"

"Nae." The word came out sharper than Colin intended. "Me wife daesnae need tae be frightened by Fraser's posturing. But I want her watched at all times. If she so much as walks tae the garden, I want two guards with her."

Colins looked up. "There is one other thing. I must fulfill tradition, so the people must meet me new bride. I will be taking her tae the village today. Make sure ye discreetly keep her safe."

The men exchanged glances but nodded.

"We'll be ready, me laird," Niven said grimly. "Fraser picked the wrong clan tae threaten. And we will guard Lady Morag with our lives."

After his men filed out to carry out their orders, Colin remained alone in his study, staring at the crumpled letter. Fraser's words echoed in his mind: perhaps she will meet the same fate as yer sister.

Nae while I draw breath, I failed Kathleen, but I'll die before I let anything happen tae Morag.

Ten minutes later, Colin found Morag in the solar, bent over her embroidery with the focused concentration with which she attended to tasks. The afternoon light caught the golden threads in her hair, and for a moment he was struck again by how she'd fitted into his castle's rhythms despite their careful distance from each other.

"Morag," he said, and she looked up with that polite, guarded expression she'd perfected over the past few days.

"Aye?"

"Prepare tae go out. We're riding intae the village."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "The village? Why?"

"It's time ye met me people properly," Colin said, keeping his voice matter-of-fact. "It's tradition in me clan fer the new lady tae be presented tae the townspeople. There's a fair organized in our honor. There will be food, music, the usual Highland festivities."

Morag set down her needle, studying his face with those perceptive blue eyes. "A fair? I thought... given the clan's circumstances..."

"The people need something tae celebrate," Colin said, which was partially true. What he didn't say was that he needed to show Fraser that they were not afraid. That Morag would remain safe under Armstrong protection and they would not cower away. "Meet me at the stables in an hour."

She nodded slowly. "Very well. Should I wear anything particular?"

"Something that shows ye're Lady Armstrong now," he replied. "The people will want tae see their laird's wife properly presented."

After Morag left to prepare, Colin made his way to his study. He had two letters to write, and both required careful wording.

The first was to Fraser:

Ronan Fraser⁠—

Yer threats have been noted and will be answered in kind should ye act upon them. The MacDuff alliance is exactly what it appears—a political arrangement between clans, naething more. Keep yer distance from me lands and me wife, or face the consequences.

Me bride is under Armstrong protection now. Any attempt tae harm her will be considered an act of war against both our clans and MacDuff lands. Choose yer battles wisely.