“We’re not sure who placed the bounty, but I intend to find out,” Arran said.
“We’ll help anyway we can,” Royden said and gave a nod past Arran. “Who lurks a distance behind you?”
“That’s Quiver,” Purity said with a smile. “He serves Arran most faithfully.”
“That’s yet to be determined,” Arran said and received a jab in the side from his wife.
“He’s a good man, who was a bit lost, but not any longer,” Purity explained. “And King, Princess, and Hope like him.”
“Quiver,” Arran called out and the skinny man hurried to him.
Quick introductions were made.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir, and Mistress Oria,” Quiver said with a slight tremble.
“Quiver is an exceptional archer,” Purity said and her praise raised red spots on Quiver’s cheeks.
“Here we are talking when you all must be hungry and tired from your journey,” Oria said. “And your da must be told that you’ve returned. He will be overjoyed.”
“Oria is right,” Royden said with a smile. “Come, it’s time the MacKinnon’s gathered again.”
Oria hooked her arm in Purity’s, talking non-stop as they walked to the keep, King and Princess following along.
“Follow the women, Quiver,” Arran ordered and Quiver gave a nod and hurried off.
Royden ran his hand playfully over his brother’s cropped hair. “You sheered it nearly off.”
“I found long hair a deterrent in battle,” Arran said and pointed to Royden’s dark shoulder-length hair. “You didn’t go quite as short as I did.”
“Just enough not to be in my way,” Royden said, running his fingers through it.
Arran looked to his brother’s left wrist, where his hand would have been if he hadn’t lost it in battle. “You do well?”
“Thanks to you, brother,” Royden said, holding up the leather-clad stump. “If you hadn’t looked after me and helped me overcome those first few months, I don’t know if I would have made it.”
“You would have, but I’m glad you didn’t have to face it alone and I owe you as much for rescuing me from the pit of hell,” Arran reminded. “I never believed such evil could exist until I was captured by Brynjar.”
“It’s over now. We’re home and with what we’ve learned we can prepare and make certain we never suffer such an attack on our clans again,” Royden said.
Arran shook his head. “It’s not over yet.”
Royden nodded, knowing what his brother meant. “Raven, our sister.”
“Until we find her, it isn’t over. Have you learned anything about her?”
“I was about to ask you the same,” Royden said.
“We have to find her. She’s out there somewhere and there’s no telling what she’s been forced to do to survive.”
“I’ve thought the same,” Royden agreed. “What hell has she been through to stay alive and wait for us to rescue her?”
“We made a promise and we have to keep it,” Arran said.
“Aye, we did, and we will,” Royden confirmed.
“I need to settle, Hope, my horse, and feed her before I do anything else,” Arran said.
Royden gave a nod. “I have the perfect spot for her.
They walked off together worry over their sister still haunting them.
Arran barely entered the Great Hall when arms were flung around him and not expecting them, he shoved them off and his hand was at the man’s throat before he realized it was his da.
Arran released him instantly. “I’m sorry, Da.”
“Not your fault,” his da, Parlan, said between coughs to catch his breath. “I shouldn’t have come up behind you like that.” He spread his arms. “Can we try it again, son?”
Arran stepped into his da’s arms and was encased in a hug that instantly brought back memories of when he was a young lad and his da would hug him tight for a job well done or sometimes for no reason at all. Those times he knew his da hugged him for no other reason than to show his love. How was he going to be able to show his children such love when he had none to give?
When they parted, he tried to force at least a slight smile, but he couldn’t. Something in him wouldn’t let him.
“You look well, Da,” Arran said in lieu of a smile. He did look well, perhaps slightly thinner than he remembered, his white hair a little shorter, but otherwise unchanged from what he could see.
“Thanks to, Wren,” his da said and waved at a woman standing off to the side for her to join them.
Arran noticed how his da’s face lit with a wide grin when he looked at Wren and the way he took her hand to tuck her close beside him made it apparent that he cared deeply for the woman. And Wren was a fine looking woman, bright red hair with traces of white running through it, lovely green eyes and a pretty face. She also stood almost as tall as his da, though his da somehow seemed shorter than he remembered him. Royden was the tallest and he recalled being about the same height as his da, but now he was taller than his da, not far from Royden’s height. Maybe it was the way he’d learned to carry himself so that others would either respect or fear him, while the burden of the last few years had been too heavy a weight on his da’s shoulders.
“It is good to have you home, Arran,” Wren said, her smile welcoming.
“And it is good to meet you and a debt I owe you for saving my da’s life,” Arran said.
Wren reached out and touched his arm. “The only thing you owe me, and I know one day you will give me, is a smile.”
Arran stared at her speechless. He recalled her prediction about his family being torn apart and brought back together again. Once Raven returned, her words would ring true. Could she be right, that one day he would find a reason to smile?
“We hear you and Purity are to be congratulated,” Wren said.
“We’re so happy for you, son,” his da said.
“We wed out of necessity,” Arran explained.
Wren smiled softly as she glanced to Purity. “She wed you out of love, cherish it for it comes from a deeply kind heart.”
“Da,” Royden called and Parlan hurried off.
“I don’t deserve her or her love,” Arran whispered, his eyes on his wife.
Wren’s hand went to rest on his arm again. “You do deserve her and she deserves you, but you need to learn that yourself to finally believe it.” She dropped her hand off him. “We should join the others and celebrate—family.”
Will I ever be able to love her? The question remained in his head, never reaching his lips.
Wren smiled. “Your heart holds that answer and all you have to do is listen to it.”
How had she known what he was thinking? And how did he listen to a heart that was silent?
He joined his family at the table as he had done endless times before, only this time he sat next to his wife.
“Eat, talk, and enjoy, then I’ll have baths prepared for all of you,” Oria said.
“I need to see King and Princess fed,” Purity said.
“Bethany will see them fed outside,” Royden said, waving a servant over to attend to the cat and dog.
“I’ll tend to them myself,” Purity said, standing.
Arran took hold of her arm. “Sit and eat. They’ll do fine.”
Purity stared at him. “And did you not see to Hope?” She pulled her arm free and got off the bench, and with a call to King and Princess to follow her, left the room.
Everyone was silent, except Quiver.
He stood. “I’ll go help Purity.”
Arran grew annoyed that Quiver was quick to understand.
We’re family.
His wife had pointed out the obvious. He, himself, had seen to it that Hope was taken care of, King and Princess deserved the same.
Arran stood, shaking his head, and without a word to anyone walked out of the room. He found his wife under a tree where one of the tables from the Great Hall had been placed along with two benches. She sat there w
ith a small chunk of bread and cheese while Princess enjoyed a bone with some meat on it and King a fish. Quiver sat opposite her with some food as well.
“If you’ve come to admonish me and demand I return to the Great Hall don’t waste your breath. I won’t leave my animals alone until I know they have eaten well,” Purity said.
“I can mind them,” Quiver offered. “They like me and I like them.”
Arran glared at her and not saying a word turned, walked over to the kitchen door, and disappeared inside.
“You are a brave soul,” Quiver said.
“It doesn’t take courage to defend your family. It takes love.”
“I’ve never been loved like that,” Quiver admitted with a sadness that had Purity’s heart aching for him.
Purity squinted, not sure at what she was seeing.
Quiver turned to look over his shoulder and smiled. “He shows how much he cares for you.”
Purity couldn’t believe it. Arran was leading Oria and Royden and Parlan and Wren to the table, each carrying jugs and tankards. Servants followed with platters and bowls heaped with food.
“We didn’t realize that King and Princess are family,” Oria said as Quiver slid along the bench so she could sit opposite Purity, leaving enough room for Royden.
Arran sat next to his wife, leaning close, leaving room for his da to sit beside him and Wren next to him.
“They have been the only family I’ve had until Arran,” Purity said, turning to look at her husband. She smiled when she felt him squeeze her thigh beneath the table, letting her know she was not alone that he was there with her, just as he had told her he would be.
Soon everyone was talking, eating, drinking, laughing, except Arran. Neither laughter nor a smile surfaced, but Purity saw a lightness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before and her heart filled with hope.
When Purity rested heavily against Arran’s arm he knew that the day had taken its toll on her and she needed a good, long sleep in a bed where she’d be safe. He was glad his sister-in-law thought the same since she spoke up before he could.
“You all must be exhausted,” Oria said. “I’ll have a bath prepared in Arran’s room.” She turned to Quiver. “There’s an empty cottage that will suit you while here. A bath will be prepared there for you.”
Quiver looked speechless, but managed to say, “Thank you, Mistress Oria, it is most generous of you.” He got up and gave a respectful bow, then followed the servant waiting to take him to the cottage.
Arran leaned close to Purity, moving a stray strand of hair off her cheek. “Go with Oria. I need to talk with my da and brother. I will join you later.”
Later. Would they consummate their vows later?
She didn’t want to wait and wonder, so she said, “I will wait for you.”
“You are tired, sleep,” he said, knowing what she asked. He kissed her cheek and helped her off the bench.
She walked away with Oria, Wren joining them, wondering when they would finally, truly become husband and wife.
Chapter 11
Arran joined his brother and father at the round table in his da’s solar and reached for the tankard of wine that Royden had filled with wine. After a strong swallow, he sat the tankard on the table and gave a nod to it. “You’ve entered into trade with some of those merchants we met while captive. A wise move.”
“I’m glad you agree. I figured it was better to keep such people close, since they have loose tongues and will sell information for a good price,” Royden said.
“Exactly,” Arran agreed. “I will do the same once at Clan Macara.”
“Is that what took you to Purity, purchased information?” his da asked.
Arran shook his head. “I didn’t know I’d find Purity. All I knew was that a woman in the woods might know the whereabouts of Raven. I wasn’t confident of the source, but I had to follow the lead.”
“I would have done the same,” Royden said. “Wren believes Raven is alive and her predictions regarding our family have proven true. Unfortunately, there is no trail for us to follow. Any bit of information leads us to a dead end.”
Sadness filled his da’s every word. “It’s as if she’s disappeared.”
“Or someone hides her well,” Arran suggested.
Royden raised his tankard. “Something we all hope.”
“But who? Who would hide her?” his da asked, his brow wrinkling with worry.
“With the Clan MacKinnon coming together again, it will be known to all that we will not rest until our sister is returned to us. Someone is bound to speak up and others will follow. We will find Raven,” Arran said and his da and brother nodded firmly in agreement. “I prefer no notice is sent to Purity’s father that we’re here. He’ll want her to return home immediately and we both would like to spend a few days here before doing that.”
“Galvin is away,” his da said. “He’s not expected back until next week sometime. It would be good to have you stay until then.”
Arran was pleased with the news and he knew how his wife would feel when she heard it. “I’m sure Purity would be happy to hear that. She’s not eager to return home. And I’d like to know more about what went on here and at the other surrounding clans before going to my new home.”
“Much has changed,” Royden said, refilling all their tankards. “Wolf is the Northman responsible for the attack on our clan and our capture.” He stopped and took a hard swallow of wine.
Arran knew his brother well enough to know why he hesitated to continue. “There is something you don’t want to tell me.”
Royden delivered the news quickly. “We found out that Oria is Wolf’s sister. It’s quite a tale best left for another day. Wolf helped me rescue Oria when she was taken by one of the mercenaries, the one who left her with the scar on her face that I imagine you saw but was polite enough not to mention. We have since met her true parents and they hope to return for the birth of their first grandchild.”
Arran said nothing as Royden took another generous swallow of wine.
“Wolf’s sister, Demelza, and her husband, Trevor, now rule the Clan MacGlennen. Oria has become friends with Demelza, who gave birth to a son, Aric, about three months ago, and they visit often. Wolf claims the land of the clans he attacked and confiscated had been taken from his grandmother’s family and he’s taking back what had been taken from her clan.”
“Through battle, which seems to be the endless way of things,” Arran said. “Oria does well with all of this?”
“It wasn’t something she accepted easily, though she had gotten to know Demelza some before finding out and she liked the woman, so that made it a bit easier. Trevor, her husband, is Wolf’s right-hand man.”
“And given Clan MacGlennen for being faithful, I suppose,” Arran said, still trying to comprehend all the changes and difficulties those changes could bring. “Has the Clan Macara yet to fall under his rule?”
“The plan was to find Purity and marry her to one of Wolf’s warriors,” Royden said.
Arran nodded realizing Wolf’s intentions. “Then all the clans would be loyal to him. You do have to admire his plan. With the clans joined in fealty to him, this area would be well protected.”
“Wolf also left warriors in among the clans where he had yet to arrange marriages,” Royden went on to explain. “Penn is one that is here among our clan and wed to Emily and they have a son, Morgan, only a few months old. He claims he loves Emily and claims to be loyal to me.”
“But you’re not sure,” Arran said, sensing his brother’s doubt.
“He hasn’t shown me otherwise, but knowing how ruthless Wolf can be, demands could be made on Penn leaving him no choice of what side he is on. Galvin warned me that there was one of Wolf’s warriors at Clan Macara. There could be more, but he knew of only one. Freen is his name. I can’t tell you anything about him since I never met him.”
“What of the Clan Learmonth? Who rules there?’ Arran asked.
“No one so fa
r, but from what we learned it would seem Wolf will rule there,” Royden said.
“And over all the clans he conquered.” Arran grew annoyed. “So the man responsible for tearing our family apart is Oria’s brother and will be our neighbor.”
“It seems that way,” Royden said.
“So we are to make a friend of our enemy or battle him, leaving many more to suffer and die.” Arran looked away from his brother for a moment. “I’ve spilled enough blood, took enough lives, and seen enough suffering.” He looked back at his brother. “I want no more of it. If it is peace we must make with our enemy, then let it be done and over. Then maybe it will help get Raven home safely to us.”
Royden and Parlan nodded in agreement.
“Now tell me about your earlier remark about Galvin requesting I marry Purity,” Arran said.
“Galvin came to me, demanding as usual, worried about Purity being found and forced to wed one of Wolf’s warriors. His land would no longer be his, but belong to a Northman and his legacy would be gone forever. I told him the decision was yours to make.”
“Then he should be relieved and pleased that he finally got what he wanted,” Arran said, recalling all the times Galvin had badgered his da for a marriage between him and Purity. Strange that the woman he had repeatedly refused to wed was now his wife.
“Galvin is rarely satisfied with anything,” Parlan said. “He also dictates to all around him, so be prepared, son.”
“The first time he dictates to me will be his last time,” Arran cautioned.
“Tell us about this bounty on Purity,” Royden said.
Arran detailed each attack since he’d first come upon Purity, even admitting that at first he hadn’t recognized her. “Whoever issued the bounty has kept his identity hidden.”
“Perhaps it is Wolf’s doing, trying to secure the last clan, the last piece of land for him to claim victory,” Parlan suggested.
“Then he failed,” Arran said. “Purity is my wife and will stay my wife. And now that she’s home, there should be no more attempts to abduct her.”
“You are good with this marriage, Arran?” his da asked.
Entrusted to a Highlander Page 10
