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The stone throne was not as comfortable as Ian would have liked, but it was good to be seated on an actual throne rather than on a log somewhere in the middle of the woods, hidden from the rest of the world. Now he had a place to call home, walls to keep his people safe from beasts and bandits, and there was nothing that could stop him. The despairing faces of the defeated clan were depressing him, so he had them taken away to get their wounds seen to. He would have dismissed them entirely and left them to the wild if Ainsly had not pleaded for their lives.

He strode away from the throne and marched through the rest of the keep, wanting to acquaint himself with the prize he had won. He walked through a few rooms and was amused by how so many people cowered before him. It was no wonder that the keep had been taken so easily when it was populated by so many weak people. There was clearly no respect for strength here, and it made him sick to think about how many of these people took and took without contributing anything. He was starting to regret making such a bold promise to Ainsly, but he was a man of his word, and he would not turn these people out. But he would work them hard and instill in them a sharp ethic. He wasn’t about to let anyone live in his clan if they weren’t going to provide anything in return.

The keep was more impressive than he had thought at the outset. As Ainsly said, it was built into the valley beyond. The stone walls melted into the dirt and offered a bigger space than seemed from the outside. This made him feel a little better about agreeing to let so many people stay as it ensured the keep would not be crowded, and there was still plenty of land in the valley so that he could expand if he so desired. The fields outside were lush and fertile and would provide many fruitful crops. Beasts roamed the land—beasts that could be hunted for food and sport. There were other animals nearby that were bred to feed the people of the keep as well. The kitchens were wide and spacious, and he told the kitchen staff to prepare a huge feast to celebrate the new era of the clan. Everyone stiffened in fear as he passed them. It was something he was used to, and he was glad that they knew enough to show respect to him. It showed they didn’t completely lack in sense, and he hoped it was a sign that the transition would go smoothly.

The only person who hadn’t shown him fear was Lady Laird McLallen. The way she had come at him with the sword, it took guts to charge at him like that. He didn’t know if she should be respected for being so brave or ridiculed for being so foolish, but sometimes bravery and foolishness went hand in hand with each other. She was a talented fighter as well. He reached around to his arm and felt the prick of pain as he touched his wound. Few people made him bleed, and he wondered if she knew how special that made her. He would not underestimate her again, though. He had toyed with her as a cat toyed with a mouse, but she was no mouse, and he would not make the same mistake twice. It actually brought a smile to his face to think of the way she fought.

He made his way up to the very height of the keep where he stood upon the parapet and looked out over the valley around him. Behind him were rising mountains; before him was a thick forest. A path led through it, winding towards other towns for trade and travelers. Soon enough word would travel, and curious merchants would make trips to see if the new laird was more generous with coin than the old. He gazed out at the battlefield. The bodies were already being cleared. Crimson shadows stained the lush green grass, but that would be the last battle for a while.

He turned to face the mountains and folded his arms across his chest, taking solace in the long journey that had led him to this place. A short time later, he heard footsteps coming up the stone steps, and Calan emerged, shaking his head.

“Are ye mad, Ian? What dae ye think ye are daeing taking that demon as a wife!”

Ian arched an eyebrow and chuckled, wagging a finger at Calan. “Be careful what ye say. Would ye dare tae speak about a wife of the laird like that?”

Calan furrowed his brow and huffed. “Be serious, Ian. Hae ye lost yer mind? Did ye nae see the way she looked at ye? She hates ye! The first chance she gets, she’ll slit yer throat. Is that really the woman ye want tae be sharing yer bed?”

Ian shrugged. “It’ll make the nights more interesting,” he grinned, which only made Calan shake his head, becoming more infuriated with every passing moment.

“Ian,” he said sternly. Ian sighed and nodded, understanding why his companion needed him to take the matter more seriously.

“I know what ye are saying, and I understand yer concerns. I dinnae hae any wish tae be killed in my sleep, but I dinnae think she is that foolish. She knows the wellbeing of her people depends on this marriage. I dinnae get the feeling that she is willing tae risk that. She might be a strong woman, but she is still a woman with a soft heart, and we can take advantage of that. She will nae abandon her clan.”

“I hope yer instincts are right.”

Ian laughed heartily again and slapped Calan on his shoulder. It had been hours since they had taken the keep, and the daylight was fading. Color streaked across the sky, making it bleed red. The crescent moon peeked out beyond the veil, as though it was waiting for its time to come forward and bring the night with it.

“They were about this place, weren’t they? This is our new home, Calan. Finally, after sae many years of searching, we hae a place we can call our own.”

Calan nodded. “Aye, I suppose I am just nervous. We hae spent sae long searching for a home. Now that we hae one I am afraid that it will be taken away before we get a chance tae enjoy it. I dinnae want this risk tae be for naething. We hae already lost tae many good men in the assault. I cannae think of anywhere else we could gae.”

Ian clasped Calan’s shoulder and smiled at him earnestly. “Ye dinnae hae tae worry, Calan. Our long journey is over now. The warriors who died didnae die in vain. Their names shall linger long in their memories, and they shall look upon us and be happy at all we hae accomplished. This is our home, and the only thing left is tae enjoy it. Our wee clan haes suffered sae much over the years, but finally, I hae made up for my da’s mistake. We can rest now.”

Calan nodded and sighed as he looked out to the Highlands. A shadow crossed Ian’s mind as he thought about the past. He closed his eyes, forcing the pain back down inside him. The last thing he wanted was for this triumphant moment to be marred by memories that haunted him. All the pain was finally over. All the tribulations they had endured were no more. Now the only thing he needed to do was rest. Yet why was it so difficult to stop the past from coming back to him? He wrenched his gaze away from the horizon and started back down the stairs, calling out to Calan that the only thing left to do now was to drink and celebrate. But he wanted help in dispelling the whispers that ran through the back of his mind.

They returned to the great hall, which had been cleared of all the wounded. His clan was there, and many of them had already started feasting and drinking. Servants came in, carrying jugs of ale and wine and trays of food. It was a hearty meal, the kind of which had been few and far between in Ian’s life. He grabbed a turkey leg and sunk his teeth into the meat, pulling back the crackling skin with a mouthful of the tender meat. The servants trembled with nerves. Ainsly was nowhere to be seen, but he didn’t mind that. No doubt, she was licking her wounds somewhere. He would see her again soon and would have plenty of time to enjoy her company during the course of their marriage. Now was the time to feast and celebrate with his men!

They raised their mugs and sang loud songs to celebrate the battle. They told stories of all those who had died, remembering the deeds and the acts of those who were no longer with them. Torches were lit, illuminating the room in a deep orange glow. His vision grew hazy as his belly grew full. He belched as he sat on his throne and looked around at the keep he now owned, and the clan he now commanded. This was his rightful place, not roaming through the world like some nomad.

He listened to the tales of battle and told some of his own. He watched men challenge each other to bouts of wrestling, as evidently, they had not had enough of fighting that day. There was no end to the food, and the thunderous noise filled the keep. It was a raucous atmosphere, which did wonders to drown out the dark thoughts that plagued the depths of Ian’s mind. He smiled as he looked over his clan, grateful to the gods that they had blessed him with the courage and strength to lead them to this place, and with the endurance to remain resolute in his task. This was not the land of his birth, but he had taken it by strength, and that was all that mattered.

It was a lesson that had been burned into his mind from a young age, and one that he would never forget. He owned this keep now, and nobody could take it from him. He would never be lost again.