“Good God, have you grown that lazy in thought that you don’t know my voice?” the female challenged.
Royden broke out in a huge grin.
“OH MY, GOD, you haven’t changed a bit, Raven!” Arran called out, a big smile breaking out across his face.
“Raven?” Parlan asked as if not sure he’d heard right as tears sprang to his eyes, and he hurried forward.
The woman dismounted with speed and agility and she pushed her hood back as she rushed to her da.
Parlan stopped in his tracks, his hand going to cover his mouth as tears ran down his cheeks. His hand fell away to spread his arms wide. “My God, Raven, you’re even more beautiful than your mother.”
Royden stared at their sister. Raven had barely been entering womanhood when the attack on the clan occurred. She’d been full of mischief and curiosity, and a good amount of stubbornness. And her features then gave evidence to the beauty she might become, but she had surpassed what Royden expected. Raven’s beauty was breathtaking. Her long, black hair shined like the wings of a raven, which had earned her, her name. One look at the thatch of shiny black hair when Raven was born had her mum naming her after the beautiful bird. Her stunning blue eyes captivated, adding to her overall beauty. She’d also grown, standing taller than most women and from what he could see, she was slender. She showed no signs of physical suffering. Quite the opposite, she appeared fit. And his heart swelled with relief when he watched his sister fall into their da’s arms.
Overwhelming joy filled Raven, feeling her da’s arms wrap tight around her. She had hoped, dreamed, and planned for this day, the bittersweet thought of it always tearing at her heart. This time it was real. Her da’s arms were actually around her. It wasn’t a dream. He was hugging her tight as he had done countless times when she was a young lass.
“You’re home. You’re finally home,” Parlan said, keeping his daughter snug in his arms, fearful of letting her go, fearful of losing her again.
Raven lingered in her da’s embrace, it having been far too long since she’d felt his warmth and love. She had hungered for it over the past five years and she wanted to linger in it as long as she could since time was short.
“Give her over, Da,” Royden said and her da reluctantly let her go to share her with the family.
Raven found herself wrapped in her oldest brother’s large, muscled arms and she fought back tears, refusing to cry. She also fought against the memory of that day of the attack. The day that was meant to be joyous. The day meant to unite Royden and Oria in marriage, but never got the chance. The day she had watched her brother lose his hand.
“You are good, Raven?” Royden asked, easing her at arm’s length to look her over and see for himself.
“Aye, Royden. I’m good,” she confirmed, but saw doubt in his eyes and she knew that he wondered how much truth there was to her words.
She was suddenly grabbed out of Royden’s grasp and wrapped in her brother Arran’s arms. He was lean and more muscular than she recalled, but still the handsome devil he’d always been.
“This motley crew of yours better not have done you harm in anyway or they will not live to see another day,” he whispered in her ear.
Raven struggled to free herself enough from her brother’s tight grasp to look him in the eye. “I will not see them harmed. They were, and continue to be, the family I missed and longed for these last five years.”
It was answer enough for now, though Arran didn’t like that she had avoided confirming that no one had harmed her. In time, he’d learn the truth and make anyone who caused her pain suffer.
“My turn,” Oria said and hurried her arms around Raven. “I am so happy you are finally home. I have missed you.”
Raven forced a smile. She’d let them be happy for this short time. They would learn soon enough.
“I have missed you as well,” Raven said and patted Oria’s protruding stomach. “You and my brother have been busy.”
Oria blushed. “The first of many.”
“It’s good to know the MacKinnon Clan will grow and flourish,” Raven said and looked to Wren. “And that you will have a wise healer here to see that you deliver safely.”
Wren stepped forward with a smile that faded when Raven hugged her.
“I can see you know. Say nothing,” Raven warned with a whisper.
Wren nodded to confirm as she said, “It is so good to have you home.”
Raven turned to Purity, standing off on her own and the two young woman hurried to each other, their arms reaching out and grabbing hold to hug tight.
“You remained a good friend, Purity,” Raven whispered.
“Always,” Purity said, not able to stop her tears from falling. “And somehow I got the man I loved. Your brother Arran and I are wed.”
Raven stepped away from Purity and turned a wicked grin on Arran. “You know you don’t deserve her.”
“Aye, but she took pity on my poor soul and wed me anyway,” Arran said with a chuckle.
“Lucky you,” Raven said.
Arran’s warm and loving glance went to his wife. “Something I tell myself every day.”
“Praise the Lord, you’re home!”
Raven turned her attention to the top of the keep steps and ran up them to give and receive another loving hug, this time from Bethany. She might be the keep cook, but she was more than that to Raven. She was the closest thing to the mother she never got to know, her mum living only long enough after giving birth to bestow a name on her.
“You are beautiful just like your mum,” Bethany said through tears. “She would have been as proud of you as I am. I knew you’d survive and return home. You’re too stubborn not to.”
Raven walked down the steps with Bethany in tow. She glanced around to all of them as questions fell rapidly from their lips and she answered vaguely, at least for now. The years had changed them just as they had changed her. Her da looked good, though he was thinner than she remembered and he had aged enough for her to notice. Arran’s tongue wasn’t as charming and witty as it had once been. More serious thought had left permanent lines on his brow, a reminder of the pain he had suffered. Royden was bigger, more muscular than he’d once been and his dark eyes more attuned to all that went on around him. He would not be caught unware again. Oria’s face bore the scar she had seen her get during the attack on the clan and her bravery still astonished Raven as did Purity’s. If it hadn’t been for Purity’s courage Raven’s da would have died.
“Enough! Enough!” Parlan announced. “We go inside and celebrate Raven’s return home.”
“There’s food aplenty,” Bethany said and rushed up the steps and into the keep to see it served.
“My crew will join us. I want you to meet them,” Raven said with a nod to the men who dismounted at her signal.
The sudden clang of the bell had everyone jumping, except Raven’s crew. The five men stepped forward and circled behind her.
Someone came yelling through the village. “The Beast! The Beast rides on the village with a large troop of warriors.”
Parlan couldn’t hide his fear when he looked to Royden. “The clan isn’t strong enough to defend against him.”
“He’s not here to attack, Da. He wouldn’t dare do that to Oria, his sister,” Royden said, looking to his wife.
“Royden’s right, Da,” Raven said.
“How would you know that?” Arran asked, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
“Because I know why he’s here,” Raven said.
Royden’s gut stirred wondering how his sister would know such a thing and why she hadn’t looked surprised when he mentioned Oria was the Beast’s sister, and he asked, “Why is he here?”
“For me,” she whispered, not intending for anyone to hear her.
“Did you say something, Raven?” Arran asked.
“Aye, I did.” She lifted her chin with courage as she had done so many times when she’d been young and was about to admit to something her fathe
r wouldn’t like. “The Beast is here to collect me… I’m his wife.”
Highlander Oath of the Beast Chapter 2
“NO! NO! NO!” Royden’s words echoed his brother’s.
Raven let her two brothers protest and argue that there was no way she was the wife of the man who had brought such pain and suffering to the Clan MacKinnon.
“You’ll not be wife to our enemy,” Royden yelled, shaking his leather-clad stump at her.
“Royden’s right. I’ll gut him before I let him lay a hand on you,” Arran argued.
Raven remained silent through their tirade as did her crew. They kept their vigil around her without uttering a word.
Tears pooled in Oria’s eyes and Purity had turned pale and, strangely enough, Raven felt the two women—her friends—understood.
“Enough!” Her da’s strong command silenced his sons and he went to his daughter. “You paid a high price.”
Her da realized what she had done. “I listened outside the solar door that day when you and my brothers made a promise to see us all safe. I made that promise along with you, though you never heard it, and I, like you, honor my word.” She tilted her chin not in defiance but with pride.
“You didn’t,” Arran said, shaking his head as he realized what she meant.
Royden shut his eyes tight for a brief moment, it dawning on him as well.
“You secured mine and Royden’s freedom from the mercenaries by agreeing to wed Wolf,” Arran said and waited for her to confirm what was painfully obvious.
“It was a small price to pay,” Raven said.
“No, it wasn’t,” Royden said. “You may have freed us, but you’ve condemned yourself to a life with a beast of a man.”
“We can’t let you do that,” Arran said and saw that Royden agreed with a nod.
“It’s already done and do you really want to leave your wives and return to the mercenaries never to know your bairns? Because that is what will happen if you attempt to defy what has been agreed upon,” Raven said, looking from Royden to Arran.
Oria took hold of Royden’s arm, letting him know she wouldn’t let him go, and Purity was quick to do the same to Arran.
“Your wives have no intentions of letting either of you go. They are the wise ones,” Raven said. “Besides, it is done, the marriage documents confirmed.”
“But not the consummation,” Arran argued.
Raven squared her shoulders. “This is done, Arran. There is no changing it and I would advise you to keep Purity and your unborn bairn in mind before you do something foolish.”
“It wouldn’t be any more foolish than what you’ve done,” Arran accused.
Raven forced a smile. “Is that the thanks I get for freeing you to return home?”
“It’s no excuse I give,” Purity said, speaking up before her husband could and keeping hold of his arm. “But he’s angry that you saved him and Royden when it should have been them who saved you.”
“I don’t need you to speak for me, wife,” Arran snapped.
“Then admit it yourself, since it’s the truth,” Purity scolded.
“You as well,” Oria urged, tugging at her husband’s arm.
Arran and Royden exchanged scowls.
“There is nothing that can be done to change this?” her da asked.
Raven shook her head. “No, Da. If I don’t keep this agreement, Royden and Arran will be returned to the mercenaries to live out their lives.” Gasps were heard from Oria and Purity and Raven wasn’t surprised to see them tighten their hold on their husbands.
“And how is that any different from you being condemned to spend your life with the Beast, if you live that long. What’s to keep him from doing away with you?” Arran asked, rumbling anger sounding along with his words.
“You think I’m foolish enough to agree to such a union without taking precautions? I have more sense than that,” Raven said and shook her head. “This is done. There is no changing it and at least I will be close, living at Learmonth.”
“We can visit often,” Oria said, her smile, though forced, a welcome relief to the scowls of Raven’s brothers.
“Not with winter approaching,” Royden argued. “The first good snow will block any form of travel.”
“You both,” —Purity looked from her husband to Royden— “need to see this more clearly. You worry about Raven being wife to the Beast, perhaps you should worry for the Beast being wed to your sister.”
Raven smiled at her friend for having such confidence in her.
There was no more time to talk, the Beast and his men were not far from the keep.
Parlan took hold of Raven’s hand. “Please tell me I have at least a few days to talk with you before you’re gone from me again.”
“You have today and more days to come since I will visit here often,” Raven assured him.
“I will hold you to that, daughter,” Parlan said, squeezing her hand.
“And I will make sure of it,” Raven said, finding it difficult to believe it had been five years since she’d last seen her da. She promised herself she’d never let that happen again.
Silence surrounded them when the Beast and six of his warriors drew close, the remainder of his troop waiting on the outskirts of the village.
All of the men were large, the Beast being the largest of them all, though not as one would expect. Some warriors were thicker and broader in the chest, not so the Beast. He was leaner and harder with muscles. His skin was fair, his long hair dark and his eyes were as dark as Raven’s hair. His features were more than fine. They rivaled even Arran’s and her brother Arran was a man of extra fine features. Though, unlike Arran, the Beast wore a beard that was cropped short. He wore the furs and leather garments of the tribes across the North Sea. He was a Northman and enemy of the Clan MacKinnon. And from what her inquires about him had taught her, like the Northmen, his name was an indication of his nature, hence the name-—Wolf the Mighty Beast— and the reason many referred to him as the Beast.
Raven had learned all she could about him even before the chance had risen to free her brothers and she wondered if she knew more about him than he did himself. She had prepared herself well and she was ready to take on the Beast.
The warriors waited until Wolf dismounted, then they followed and remained standing by their horses, their large size and their empty stares causing the villagers who had followed them to keep their distance.
Raven wasn’t surprised that when she stepped forward, her brothers did the same.
Raven offered no greeting. “You weren’t to arrive until tomorrow.”
“It matters not. We leave now,” Wolf ordered.
“Not likely,” she said and catching, out of the corner of her eye, Arran’s slight smile.
“You’re my wife and you’ll obey my command,” Wolf demanded.
“I may be your wife, but as far as me obeying your command—that’s never going to happen,” Raven said and turned her back on him. “Tomorrow was when you were to arrive here and I was to go with you, and I will leave here no sooner than that. Stay if you wish, camp outside the village. I care not what you do. I will see you tomorrow.” She heard her men chuckle as she took her da’s arm. “Come, Da, we’ll talk, drink, eat, and celebrate my return home.”
Raven nodded to her men as she walked up the steps to the keep and they followed behind her. She smiled when she heard Arran’s hardy laughter and the words that tumbled out with it.
“You might just have gotten what you deserve foolishly marrying my sister.”
Raven sat at a table by the hearth with her da and Wren who had followed along with them into the Great Hall. Her men settled at the table to her right, the reason she ignored the dais. She wanted her crew close by.
“They go with you tomorrow?” her da asked, turning to the five men.
“We go where she goes,” the man with good features said.
Raven smiled with pride as she introduced the man. “That’s Fyn, Da, a good friend an
d skilled warrior.”
“I’m relieved and grateful to hear that,” her da said.
Raven continued to introduce her men. “The red-haired fellow is Iver, an exceptional tracker and archer. The wiry fellow at the far end of the table is Brod. I believe you know Clive, the merchant who stopped here often, and George is the scholar among us. They are all good men and they are all like family to me.”
It wasn’t lost on her father that she hadn’t mentioned Brod’s skill and he wondered if it had been on purpose.
Royden and Arran had entered the Great Hall with their wives and joined them at the table, listening to the introductions.
Royden looked directly at his sister still startled by the beauty she’d become. He went to speak and felt his wife squeeze his thigh under the table. He bit back the words he was about to say and instead said, “It’s good to finally have you home and it’s good to have your friends join us.”
Raven smiled, her rigid shoulders easing some. “I’m so happy to be here with all of you again, and happy for you to meet my men.”
“To your safe return,” Arran said, raising his tankard and everyone raised their tankards with a cheer.
“I’m thrilled you’re home and that we’ll be able to visit often,” Purity said when the cheering died.
“My wife will visit when I allow her to.”
Everyone turned to see Wolf standing just inside the Great Hall, his men fanning out to his sides.
“You should know now I don’t take well to orders,” Raven said.
“And you should know I don’t take well to being disobeyed,” Wolf countered.
Arran stood. “And you should know that I’ll cut your heart out if you hurt my sister.”
“Enough!” Oria said, jumping to her feet, to her husband’s surprise. She looked to Wolf. “You and your men are welcome to join us if you can be civil.”
Wolf recounted with a stern scowl and a sharp tone. “I expected my sister to at least show me respect.”
Again Royden noticed that Raven didn’t appear surprised or confused by his words. She knew Oria and Wolf were siblings. He shouldn’t be surprised. Raven always had a way of finding things out.
Entrusted to a Highlander Page 30
