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“I suppose I did, but I still would hae liked tae be warned. I was used tae my life the way it was. I got used tae the road ahead. It was all simple, and it all made sense.”

“Aye, well, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that life never works out the way we assume it will. But that doesnae mean it ends up being bad.”

“I know, ye and Kirsten found happiness, and the same might be true for me, but I would hae appreciated a wee warning, dae ye understand?”

“Aye, and I’m sorry for that,” he said, his head drooping. “In truth, I didnae want tae face the prospect myself. Laird Calbraith brought the matter up early on in our negotiations, but I dismissed it then. Ye are my best friend, Moira, and I dinnae want tae see ye leave our home. But he was insistent, and I spoke with my advisors. A marriage is always the best way tae seal peace. It’s nae easy, but it’s the way it haes tae be.”

“Aye,” she replied, sadly. “I dinnae blame yer brother. I know it is best for the clan.” She hadn’t felt the same way the previous day, but after reflecting on the matter for the night, she was determined to be reasonable. Besides, she didn’t want these last moments with her brother to be marred by petty sulking.

Marcas nodded, and then a thoughtful look came upon his face. “Did ye mean what ye said before we left? Dae ye truly think I look like Da?”

“Aye! Ye are like him in every respect, Marcas. He would be proud of ye if he could see ye now.”

Marcas smiled. “He’d be proud of ye as well.”

“I hope I can make him proud. Sae, what can ye tell me of my future husband?” she asked, almost afraid to inquire. Marcas arched his eyebrows and took a deep breath.

“Laird Niall is an impressive man. Very tall and strong, and very confident in himself. He seems tae know what he likes, and he often knows how tae get it. He speaks his mind, and his people respect him. He’s smart enough tae know that peace is something tae strive for, but he’s nae shy in promising war if he feels he isnae getting a fair deal.”

“He sounds like a dangerous man,” Moira said.

Marcas shrugged. “I hae handled him sae far, and since ye hae dealt with me and Roderick over the years, I daresay ye are well-equipped tae making a good impression on him.” He paused for a moment, as something was on his mind. “Ye know, Moira, I wouldnae hae done this if there was any other way.

These negotiations…they hae dragged on, and I can feel people getting restless. The longer they take, the more people believe that war between our clans is inevitable. Some already think that trying to find peace with them is gaeing against nature. Our clans have been in conflict for generations, and tae some, that means it is the natural order of things. I want tae prove that we dae nae hae tae be at war.

This marriage is a sign that our two clans can live taegether peacefully and that we dinnae always hae tae rush tae war as a solution. In the end, it was the only thing that worked,” he admitted.

“I understand, Marcas. I sometimes forget that it is difficult tae be laird and make everyone happy. Sometimes ye hae tae give up something ye love. I will make sure tae represent the Monroe clan well and prove to all the Calbraiths that they should never think about gaeing tae war with us.”

“I’m sure ye’ll change a few minds. I could think of naebody better tae represent us,” Marcas said. Their conversation fell into memories of their childhood as they drove along the long road that led to Calbraith territory.

The woods were thick, and the sky was clear. In the distance, she occasionally caught glimpses of mountains. The scenery around her was familiar and similar to what she had grown up with, and she hoped that it would make the transition a little easier to bear. After all, the stars and the moon would be the same too. It was only the people around her who would be different.

As the Calbraith lands came into view, a knot twisted in Moira’s stomach. Ever since Kirsten had come into their lives, and then the children, the moments spent alone with Marcas had been few and far between. While she didn’t hold this against Kirsten or the children, it was still nice for Moira to be alone with her brother, although it made the prospect of saying goodbye to him harder.

“How long are ye gaeing tae stay for?” Moira asked, her words catching in her throat.

“Long enough tae see ye settled and make sure that the marriage actually takes place. Then I’ll return home.”

Home.

The word was such a simple one, and yet it carried within such powerful feelings and sensations. The Monroe clan would always be home to her, and yet this place would come to be known as home as well. This place, with its strange buildings and unfamiliar layout, with the people whose faces were unknown to her, would be her home.

Moira shivered a little and suddenly felt more uncertain. There was no way for her to tell Marcas to turn the wagon around and drive her away. She was being pulled forward by destiny, and there was no way for her to resist.

They pulled up near the stables and then alighted. A servant took her bags into the castle, which was made of dull grey stone, and looked foreboding. The sound of a blacksmith working greeted her ears.

Moira looked around for any sign of her new husband, but although she saw a number of swarthy men, she knew none of them were him. But her gaze did meet a woman who looked as old as time itself.

Her hair was wispy and thin, like strands of cobwebs, and she rested on a thick, gnarled cane. She wore a loose cloak that swallowed her thin limbs, and approached the newcomers.

“Greetings to the Calbraith clan.” She spoke in a soft voice, yet one that had a surprising amount of power. “I am Grizel, one of the elders of the clan. Please, come with me, and I will escort ye inside. How was yer journey?”

Moira and Marcas glanced at her. It was evident from his expression that Marcas hadn’t seen her before, and Moira wondered why an old hag like her had been tasked with greeting them. She had hoped that she might find a friend here, just as Kirsten had found a friend in Moira.

But if Grizel was the only friend that could be offered, Moira thought she might be better off without one. It wasn’t that she didn’t respect her elders or was instantly dismissive of anyone who might be a little different, it was more that there was something about Grizel that made Moira uneasy, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it might be.

“Good, good. I’m glad. Ye can never be tae careful when traveling through the woods. There are malevolent spirits out there in the Highlands, waiting tae pluck unsuspecting travelers away.” As she said this, she made a motion with her hands as though she was plucking a feather out of a chicken, and then let out a cackling laugh, which descended into a harsh cough.