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Maura also imagined the confusion that would take hold back at the castle. Maura had always been a well-behaved child and had never done anything like this. There was no telling how long it would take them to figure out that she had left, and they would surely give chase. Time was of the essence because if she failed in this, she knew her father would keep her under lock and key until the matter with the McGrorys was resolved.

The forest thinned. A river was a sliver of blue amidst the cold, grey stone. Mountains rose around her. This place was an unforgiving land, and it was a miracle that anything had been able to thrive here. The sky burned over her as she rode towards McGrory territory, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of bandits. Thankfully she saw none, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw signs of civilization ahead. But her relief was short-lived. Scone slowed to a serene pace, but all the people looked at her with suspicion, for she was a stranger, and strangers were not looked upon kindly in these parts. A lump formed in her throat as she made her way up to the castle. A huge stone arch appeared, dark and foreboding, and outside the entrance stood a funeral pyre. She assumed it was for the fallen son. Suddenly she felt guilty, as though she was intruding into a place where she didn’t belong. But she had come this far, so she might as well see it through to the end.

She alighted from Scone and tied her to a nearby pole. There were a few mutterings from people who wondered who she was and where she had come from, but she ignored these and marched straight into the wide, shadowed hall. Her footsteps echoed against the cold stone, and her breath misted in the air. Tall, narrow windows stood behind the figures on the dais at the end of the room. There was an old man, a younger man, a woman, and a third man. The old man had long, grey hair, while the younger man had long brown hair with a short beard that was the same color. Maura’s eyes lingered on him for a few moments more, struck by his height and his innate handsomeness. The woman looked lost and forlorn, and she assumed this to be the mother of the man who had been killed. Maura’s heart went out to her; she imagined what Moira would be like if she or Ruairi were killed.

The third man was the first to notice her. He was a slender male with a long, narrow face, and his eyes regarded her with curiosity.

“Well, what dae we hae here?” he said. His words drew the attention of the two other men, who had been deep in conversation. The woman was lost in her thoughts.

“Indeed, what dae we hae? Who are ye, lass, and what are ye daeing here?” the older man asked, who she assumed was the notable Wallace McGrory.

Maura cleared her throat and summoned her courage as she stepped forward to address the men. She couldn’t very well wilt at the final moment when this was the reason why she had come.

“My name is Maura Calbraith, and I am here tae offer myself as a wife in the hopes that it will make up for the recent tragedy...the loss of yer son,” she said. Her words rang around the hall and were met with silence. The young man licked his lips and looked pensive, while Wallace and the advisor exchanged a glance.

“Ye hae come a long way tae make this suggestion, and without an entourage tae. What assurances dae we hae that ye are truly who ye say ye are and nae some waif that haes wandered in off the street, looking tae take advantage of a grieving family?” Wallace asked.

Maura pulled around a small pouch she had brought with her and dug her hand in, bringing out a banner that could only have come from the Calbraith clan. She walked up and presented it to the advisor, who took it in his pale fingers and examined it before nodding.

“Well, this is a surprise. I didnae expect tae receive a response tae our letter sae quickly. I’m a little taken aback that yer da would allow ye tae travel here without an escort. It seems he trusts me more than I trust him,” Wallace said. There was a cackling laugh between Wallace and the advisor, although Kevan remained silent.

“Dae ye accept the proposal?” Maura asked, wanting to settle things as quickly as possible.

“My, my, wee one, ye are eager when there is no need tae be. We hae nae even been introduced. I’m Wallace. This is Elaine, my wife; Wyl, my trusted advisor; and my nephew, Laird Kevan McGrory.” He said the last name with awe. Kevan tossed him a look that Maura couldn’t interpret. There was some tension between the three men, and Maura wasn’t sure who was in charge. While Kevan was laird, it seemed as though Wallace did most of the talking. Maura remembered everything her father had said about him so she made sure to be on her guard, but her gaze continued to drift to Kevan. There was something about him that was alluring, although she wasn’t sure what. Her heart quickened when he shifted his position, and she assumed it was simply nerves about being in this strange place and making this strange request.

“It is a pleasure tae meet ye,” Maura said with a curtsy. “I come here in good faith hoping that this proposal will soothe yer anguish and provide a sliver of hope that will cut through yer gloom.”

“Aye, a beautiful woman is always likely tae dae that,” Wallace said, but Kevan scowled. His hand clenched into a fist as he looked at his uncle.

“This is nae what we discussed. This will never happen,” he said sharply, and Maura was surprised at how much his words stung her. His gaze was piercing, and when he looked at her, it was as though he was bearing down on her; all she wanted to do was wilt. But despite his stern rebuke, the other two men were not as hasty to dismiss the potential of her offer.

“I wouldnae be sae hasty tae refuse such a warm and generous offer,” Wyl said, his words lilting and melodic, as though he was twisting the air into a song every time he spoke.

“Indeed. After all, revenge wilnae bring John back, and it will only cause more death here. And what’s more is that we can ask anything we want. A bride should come with a handsome dowry, after all,” Wallace said, and he looked at Maura in the same way she imagined he would look at a rare gem, seeing the possibility in its value. Maura pinched her face into a smile as she listened to the men debate this matter. Wallace’s words gave her encouragement, as what she wanted most of all was to avoid a war.

“I believe we shall negotiate this option,” Wallace said, satisfied with the outcome. Kevan groaned, though, and looked away. She didn’t know why he was so troubled by this, but it would seem that the man she intended to marry was the only one not enthused about the prospect.

“Kevan, I believe ye should show our guest tae a comfortable room sae that she may slake her thirst and ease the ache on her feet,” Wallace said. Despite Kevan being laird, it seemed as though all the orders came from the other men. He reluctantly rose from the dais and walked past her.

“Follow me,” he said bluntly. Maura fell into step with him, breathing in the scent of his masculine musk as he passed her.

“She did what?” Niall thundered when he heard that servants had spotted Maura saddling Scone and riding away. “And nobody thought tae stop her?” His face was a picture of worry, and he paced around in fear for his daughter.

“She is nae a prisoner here. Of course, nobody stopped her,” Moira said.

“How can ye be sae calm? Why are ye nae more worried?” he asked, looking at Moira accusingly. Moira sighed and placed her hands on his shoulders.

“Niall, calm yerself. Maura is a capable young woman, and she’s just trying tae dae what she thinks is right tae protect the clan.”

“But she…she wants tae get married tae them!” he spluttered.

“Aye, she does. And who can blame her? It’s the only thing she can offer the clan. It’s nae a bad idea either. If ye haed given her yer blessing, ye could hae gone with her,” Moira said. Niall clenched his jaw.

“I hae one child who runs away in the middle of the night tae gae and chase bandits, and another who flees tae try and get married. Where did I gae wrong?” He sounded beleaguered, but Moira kissed him softly and cupped his face. She spoke gently, and he found her voice soothing.

“Ye didnae gae wrong. Ye brought them up tae be confident and adventurous. They’re nae the type tae wait for life tae happen tae them. They want tae make a difference. They want tae protect the clan in any way they can. Ye hae tae be open tae this possibility, Niall. Haed ye thought of any other way tae avoid a war?”

“Nay,” Niall grunted begrudgingly.