Page 8

Moira and Maura shared laughter as they casually rode back to the castle with a basket filled to the brim with juicy berries. Their hearts were light, and Maura had mostly forgotten the moody thoughts that had resided within her before they had left. The men could have their fun, she decided. Eventually, she would find her own way to act like Ruairi and show her loyalty to the clan, and she wouldn’t have to get in a fight because of it either.

She intended to have another bath before dinner as a way to indulge herself after the terror of the morning, but when they returned to the castle, they could both tell the mood had changed. The air was terse. Servants whispered and muttered to each other. They stabled the horses and were told that they should go and find the laird quickly. Rushing into the main hall, Moira and Maura found Niall sitting, holding a letter. Ruairi was pacing about the floor, gnawing on his fingers, asking his father what they were going to do.

“Be quiet,” Niall said sternly. “I’m thinking.” There was an edge to his voice that Maura had only ever known to be present when the situation was dire.

“What’s happened?” Moira asked. Without saying anything, Niall held out the letter. Moira took it, and Maura leaned over her shoulder to read it, shock rippling across her face as her eyes danced over the words.

Laird Calbraith,

I hope this letter finds you well, unlike me and the men of my clan. We have suffered a devastating blow to our mood, and despair hangs over us like a cloud. I wonder if you know what has happened. Last night a man came to us and warned us that bandits were on the prowl in the area. Being wary of any threats, I sent my son and a band of my best warriors out to investigate, but they were attacked. In the flurry, my only son and heir, John, was killed. The rest of my men barely managed to escape with their lives but it’s a most curious thing; they’re convinced that the men they fought were not bandits at all, but rather fought under the banner of the Calbraiths.

I’m sure this must be some kind of mistake and I hope that you can shed some light on the matter. The death of my son weighs heavily on me and my strength is not what it used to be, so I have named my nephew, Kevan, as Laird of the McGrory clan. I’m sure you’re aware of the proper recompense due to a grieving father, unless this was not an accident at all. But no…I’m sure someone with your wisdom would never start a war in this manner.

I await your response in due course.

Sincerely,

Wallace McGrory

“Oh no,” Moira said, lifting a hand to her mouth. An uneasy feeling twisted in the pit of Maura’s stomach as she read the words over and over again before Moira handed the letter back to Niall. “What does this mean?” she asked.

“It means that we’re in trouble,” Niall said, glaring at Ruairi.

“I did nae mean it! I thought he was a bandit! Why were they there if they were nae bandits?” Ruairi cried, protesting his innocence. Maura thought through what the letter meant. The man that Ruairi had killed had not been a bandit at all, but rather the son of a laird of a rival clan!

“Ye should hae waited like I said! If ye haed only just followed the plan…” Niall said harshly. Maura was incredulous that Niall could change so easily from praise to admonishment. It should not have been the result that justified Ruairi’s actions, but the actions themselves. He was reckless and rash, and now it might well have plunged them into a war. Niall sighed and waved a hand through the air, as though he was swatting a fly away. “It doesnae matter now. What’s done is done, and we hae tae think about what’s gaeing tae happen next.”

“What is gaeing tae happen, Da? I must admit that the letter doesnae seem like one that’s been written by a grieving man, or one who is consumed by thoughts of revenge. It sounds cordial, if anything,” Maura said. Her parents made no effort to hide the concerned glance that was exchanged between them.

“Aye, and that’s what I’m afraid of. Wallace McGrory is notorious for the way he makes deals and trades. With a man like him, it’s important tae look at what he says from every angle. He makes it clear here that he wants us tae either own up tae what we’ve done or admit that it was a mistake. Either way, there’s gaeing tae be a huge price tae pay, because he’s nae gaeing tae settle for anything less than a kingdom.”

“What price could make up for the loss of a son?” Moira asked quietly. Niall curled his hand into a fist and rose. Anger streaked the air around him and ensured that his words flew from his mouth.

“Dinnae let him fool ye. Wallace McGrory is nae a man who is touched by emotion. He’ll be looking tae make the most of this, of that I’m sure. And I hae spent tae long making our clan powerful tae simply give away all our lands because of this one mistake. If we try tae negotiate with him, he’ll push for as much land as he wants, and the opinion will be with him because it’s easy tae side with a man who has lost his son. Aye, but how much will we lose? And all because of some mistake? Because of a rash decision.” He glared at Ruairi again. Maura noticed how sullen and vulnerable Ruairi looked. In some ways, he was still just a boy, and despite it being his fault that they were in this situation, Maura’s heart went out to him, a heart filled with pity.

“Will he nae be satisfied with an apology?” Moira asked.

“Nae unless that apology comes with a hundred wagons filled with gold,” Niall said grimly.

“Then let us nae admit any fault! Say that they were in the wrong and we were simply defending ourselves,” Ruairi said.

“Aye, but that wouldnae be the truth, now, would it? A laird…” Niall checked himself. “A man has tae stand by his actions, Ruairi. Aye, and even more importantly, he even has to stand by his mistakes. But if we gae this route, then there will be war. The last thing I want is tae drench the land with more blood…but perhaps that is the only way tae defend our reputation and our honor.”

“Ye cannae mean it!” Moira asked. “We promised each other there would be no need for war.”

“Things change,” Niall snapped. The weight of the world seemed to be upon his shoulders, and Maura didn’t envy him one bit.

“I’m sorry, Da,” Ruairi said in a small voice. “I didnae mean for this tae happen.”

But Niall was cold and unresponsive. In reply, he did not have any kind words for his son, or any words of comfort. He simply told them all to leave him while he thought. The twins hesitated, not wanting to leave him in this moment of great trauma, and yet neither of them knew what to say either. It was only when Moira pushed them out of the room that they relented.

The silence was tense, and Maura could feel the emotion simmering in Ruairi’s body. They walked back to his chamber, and he fell on the bed, pulling his knees against his chest. His gaze was vacant as he peered beyond the veil of mortality. It wasn’t difficult for her to figure out that he was thinking about the man he had killed and how he had gotten things so very, very wrong.

“I didnae mean tae dae it, Maura. I truly thought they were bandits,” he said, his voice hollow and empty.

“Aye, but ye didnae think hard enough.”

“Ye dinnae hae tae be sharp with me. I’ve hae enough of that from Da. I know I made a mistake, I just…I wanted tae show him that I could be a good laird. And now I’ve ruined everything. I’ve brought shame tae our clan, and if the worst happens, then I’ve brought war as well.”