Highland Oath
Prequel to Highland Promise Trilogy
Donna Fletcher
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
10. Pledged to a Highlander
Also by Donna Fletcher
Also by Donna Fletcher
About the Author
No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to being stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the author.
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This is a book of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Highland Oath Prequel to Highland Promise Trilogy
All rights reserved.
Copyright March 2020 by Donna Fletcher
Cover art
Kim Killion Group
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Visit Donna’s Web site
www.donnafletcher.com
http://www.facebook.com/donna.fletcher.author
Chapter 1
Scotland, The Highlands, 12th century
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“Do you love Oria?’ Raven asked her brother Royden.
“It doesn’t matter if he does or doesn’t. A marriage agreement has been signed and it’s his duty to marry her.” Arran grinned and jabbed his brother in the arm. “Lucky for him that he’s pined for Oria for years.”
“She does seem to favor Royden,” Raven said, playfully wrinkling her nose in distaste.
“You’re astute for only ten and four years, little sister,” Arran said with a wink at her.
“Soon-to-be ten and five years,” Raven boasted, her birthday not far off.
Royden’s dark eyes fixed on his sister. “More like noisy and bothersome. She thinks I don’t see her lurking nearby when Oria visits with me.”
Raven wrinkled her nose again. “At least I haven’t told anyone that you’ve kissed her.”
“You shouldn’t be seeing that,” Arran scolded with a smile.
“How else am I going to know how to kiss?” Raven argued.
“You’ll not be kissing anyone but your husband and he will teach you what you need to know,” Royden warned like a parent reprimanding a child.
“What if I don’t like the man Da chooses for me?” Raven asked, not that she had to worry about that at the moment. She hadn’t started her monthly bleeding yet and Bethany, the cook and the woman who had been more like a mum to her since she’d been born—her mum having died in childbirth—had told her that she wasn’t a woman until she got her monthly bleeding.
“I’d be more concerned about finding a man who would agree to marry you,” Arran said with a laugh.
Raven punched him in the arm, not that it hurt her brother Arran. His arms were too lean with hard muscles, earned from spending so much time on the practice field.
“No need to worry about that, Raven. Da will not see you wed to a man you dislike,” Royden said. “He wants you to be happy and safe.”
“I’m happy and safe here with Da and both of you, and here is where I prefer to stay,” Raven said with a stubborn raise of her chin.
“A husband won’t tolerate a stubborn wife or the raised chin that goes with it,” Arran cautioned.
“And how will Da ever find you a wife when your eyes are forever roving over every woman that passes by you?” Raven asked with a smile that dripped with false sweetness.
Both brothers sat straight up in their chairs at the dais in the Great Hall and glared at Raven.
“And what have you seen lurking around Arran?” Royden demanded.
“Enough about kissing to make me sick, and a few other things I would never want done to me,” Raven said and pretended to gag.
“Da needs to keep a firmer hand on you,” Arran snapped.
“Both of you need to keep a better eye on your sister, since she can trail after you both without being noticed,” Parlan MacKinnon said, shaking his head. “If you were a son, I’d say good work, but since you’re my daughter, you won’t be doing that again. Understand, Raven?”
“Aye, Da,” she said with another false, sweet smile.
“I’ll have your word on that, daughter,” Parlan ordered.
Raven responded reluctantly. “You have my word.”
“Good. Now take yourself off to bed. I have things to discuss with you brothers,” Parlan said, his command leaving no room for her to argue.
Raven hurried to her da and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek, something she did every night. She loved when his strong arms wrapped around her and squeezed her tight. It was like he was squeezing all his love into her.
“See you on the morrow,” she called out to her brothers and rushed off, though as soon as she reached the shadows she stopped and let them swallow her up. She hated when she was dismissed, left out of important clan matters because she was a lass. She had a good mind and hoped to grow it wiser and how was she to do that if she wasn’t included in clan discussions?
It was her da and brothers’ fault that she had to sneak about. It was the only way for her to learn things. Like now, she watched her brothers follow her da out of the Great Hall. She knew where they were going and she waited, fighting her impatience, until their footfalls faded, then followed after them.
Raven crept silently along the sturdy stone walls, clinging to the shadows as she made her way to her da’s solar. When she arrived at the closed door, she tucked herself into the darkest shadow and kept herself as still as she could.
She didn’t have to strain to hear them talk, all three had strong, commanding voices, from her da who was Chieftain of the Clan MacKinnon and a man whose age, four ten and six years, had yet to define him. His hair showed not a strand of gray and his body remained firm with muscle. Wrinkles and lines didn’t distract from his fine features and many a woman in the clan vied for his attention, but he claimed he could never love another as he had loved his wife, Margaret.
Royden had his da’s fine features and his dark hair and dark eyes that could often intimidate. He was slightly taller and broader with the strength of two men. And while Raven would never admit it, there were times when he got angry, truly angry, that he frightened her. Not that Royden would ever harm her, he’d always protected her. It was just that he seemed more feral than human at those times. But she supposed that’s what made him a fierce warrior, known to battle several men with ease and always be victorious.
Arran was of good height and if a man could be called beautiful, then Arran was beautiful. He inherited the best of their mum and da’s features. Understandably, women flocked to him, though it wasn’t only his good looks that drew them, it was his skill at making people smile and feel good. Whenever Raven felt gloomy, she’d find Arran and he’d have her smiling and laughing in no time. He was built leaner than Royden and their da, but his muscles were just as hard and abundant.
She loved them all dearly and never wanted to leave them. It was why the thought of marriage so frightened her.
“King David is too concerned about holding on to Orkney and the Caithness area besides dealing with the unrest with England that he pays little attention to anything else in the Highlands,” her da said, and Raven thought she heard concern in his voice.
“We’ve heard,” Royden said.
“Unfortunately, there have been some incidents
of land wealth grab among the clans,” her da said.
The concern she had thought she heard was now clear in her father’s stern voice. Something was wrong, and it sent a shiver through her. Land was king in the Highlands. The more land a man owned, the more prosperous and important he was, the more power he had. That’s what Raven heard her da say time and again.
“Rumors have started suggesting that some clans are not as loyal to the King as they have claimed to be and is the reason behind the attacks. Though the accusations are false, there is one clan that has already lost its lands to this intentional lie, and tongues whisper about another clan that will soon fall,” her da said.
“I would ask how this is possible, but lies and greed can do much damage,” Royden said.
Hearing a touch of anger along with concern in her brother’s voice worried Raven even more.
“King David surely knows who is loyal to him,” Arran said.
Raven’s stomach tightened hearing Arran sound so serious.
“King David knows what others tell him or whisper in his ear. I have spoken with a couple of chieftains who believe one or more of the Highland clans are using the King’s push in the far north to claim more land and wealth for themselves, in the false claim that they’re protecting the King’s sovereignty,” her da explained.
“Then we need to send a missive to the King and assure him of our loyalty,” Arran said.
“I thought the same myself, then I learned that Chieftain Thurbane of the Clan MacDonnegal did just that before his land was confiscated,” her da said.
“Then we go see the King and assure him of our loyalty,” Arran said.
“Or we prepare for battle in case we’re falsely accused,” Royden said.
Raven bit at her lower lip to stop it from trembling. They had never suffered an attack, but Raven recalled her da and brothers returning after helping neighboring clans battle. She had been young and it had left a lasting impression on her. There were times she could still smell the stench of sweat and blood that had been on them when they returned home. While they’d been victorious, the warriors jubilant, there also had been sorrow for those lost. And she had cried along with the woman whose man would never return home to them.
That’s what she feared most from battle, that her da and brothers would never return home and her heart would be forever broken.
“What do the other chieftains plan to do?” Arran asked.
“To fight if necessary,” her da said. “If we don’t fight, then whoever has seen this as an opportunity to gain more land, wealth, and along with it power, won’t stop. His greed will grow and he will continue to feed it, confiscating and claiming as much land as he can.”
“By then the King himself might see it as a victory for the throne,” Arran said.
“How long have you known about this, Da?” Royden asked.
“If you want to know why I haven’t mentioned it sooner, it’s because I’ve only learned of it a few days ago. At first, I thought it nonsense, but even nonsense has to be considered if a chieftain is to keep his clan safe and keep hold of his land. It was my visit to the Clan MacGlennen that alerted me to it. Chieftain William voiced his concerns to me and told me about Thurbane’s lands being confiscated. He also told me that Thurbane’s warriors were forced to go off and fight for the King.”
“What happened to Chieftain Thurbane?” Arran asked.
“He remains on his land but with no control and his daughter was forced to wed the man that was declared the new chieftain of the clan.”
Raven hurried her arms around herself to hug herself tight, tears ready to fall for the chieftain’s daughter, Alynn. She didn’t see Alynn often but when they did get to see each other, their visits were always filled with fun and laughter.
“That will never happen to Raven!”
Raven smiled, hearing Royden declare it as if it were law. Her smile soon faded, thinking that her brother would take up arms against any who tried to harm her and protecting her could cost him his life. Tears spilled down her cheeks at the horrifying thought.
“I’ll see that sentinels are sent farther out over our land so we can be alerted to any advancing troops. And I’ll make sure the village is prepared as well,” Arran said.
“Why didn’t Thurbane reach out to the other clans for help?” Royden asked.
“He had no knowledge, no forewarning, of what was about to happen. A troop of warriors showed up one day and it was done. Thurbane doesn’t even know who is truly behind this. A man, unknown to him, declared the confiscation of his land for the King and told him what he had to do if he wanted his clan left unharmed and if he wanted to live. There was no choice left to him.”
“William will be arriving tomorrow to discuss this further with me,” her da said. “And that’s not the only thing he’s coming to discuss. He wants the marriage agreement between you and Oria signed and for you to wed soon after. He fears if his clan is attacked Oria would be forced to wed someone else.”
Raven shivered when she heard Royden respond with an anger that frightened her.
“That will never happen. I will see the man dead first.”
“Then tomorrow the documents will be signed and the ceremony arranged for—”
“No more than three days’ time,” Royden finished. “I will not lose the woman I love.”
Her brother’s words brought a small smile to her face. She was glad Royden and Oria would wed soon. She would have a sister who would help defend her against her brothers.
“I fear dark times are about to descend on the area. If clans continue to fall and daughters are forced to wed men of a stranger’s choosing, then I will have no choice but to send Raven to the Abbey for protection.”
Raven hurried her hand over her mouth to stop her gasp from rushing out.
She heard a loud burst of laughter and knew it was her brother Arran and smiled at his remark, pierced with more laughter.
“Good luck with that.”
“Raven will obey me,” her da insisted.
“How often does she truly obey you or anyone, Da?” Arran asked.
“She has a mind of her own,” Royden said. “You might be better off finding her a husband of your choice so she will be safe and protected.”
Raven wanted to punch Royden and Arran too when he spoke again.
“Royden’s right, not that Raven would ever agree to a marriage, but it is the one way of seeing her protected and kept safe.”
“We make a promise here and now,” her da said. “Whatever happens, if only one is left, we swear an oath to do whatever is necessary to see that Raven is kept from harm. I swore to your mum I’d keep our daughter safe and I will not break that promise to her.”
“I swear an oath,” Royden said and Arran quickly followed.
“I swear an oath the same for all of you,” Raven whispered. “I will do whatever is necessary to keep you all safe.”
Chapter 2
Royden stood at the top of the keep stairs watching his sister Raven run to the woman he loved, and who he fully intended to make his wife, and hug her fiercely. Both women had his heart. Oria would be his wife, he would have no other. They had loved each other since they’d been young. There was no other woman for him and he wanted no other woman. His heart belonged to Oria and always would. He couldn’t wait until they wed and shared a bed, a home, a life.
Arran had teased Oria senseless when they’d been young, telling her she was too plain and quiet for his brother who would one day rule the clan, and he’d received many a beating from Royden for it. That all changed when Oria grew into a woman who stole every man’s eye.
She had soft green eyes filled with joy that made you feel good and happy in her presence, and a beautiful, heart-shaped face. Her honey blonde hair complimented her pale, unmarried skin that was so smooth he always wanted to touch it. Her head reached past his shoulder and he was tall so she was of good height, for him at least. She was shapely, having felt the curve of her wais
t when he’d lift her on and off her horse. And he loved the feel of her full breasts when she planted herself against him in a huge hug. On occasion, he’d let his hand drift down over her rounded hips, but he would go no farther, not wanting to disrespect her. Or it could have been that he feared she wouldn’t have stopped him if he had and if that was so, he wouldn’t have stopped. He was eager to make love with the woman he loved. He didn’t, however, stop from kissing her. He so enjoyed kissing her, their lips made for each other. He had felt it so from their first kiss when they’d both been young and he had gotten the courage to kiss her quick. She had smiled, giggled, and ran away from him and he had chased her ever since.
They belonged to each other then as they did now, and he was impatient to make her his wife.
As for the other woman he loved—he looked to see Raven—chattering away with Oria as she took her arm and approached the stairs. She was far different from Oria. Raven had been a beauty from the time she was born, her rich, shiny black hair the reason for her name. Their mum had bestowed her name on her with her last words. She had held her newborn daughter in her arms and whispered, “My Raven.”
She resembled their mum, stunning blue eyes, long, dark, wavy hair, pale complexion, and since she was tall for her ten and four years, though only two months from ten and five, she would probably be tall when a woman full grown. He was glad she had yet to grow shapely, fearing when she did there wasn’t a man around who would keep his eyes off her. He and Arran would forever be beating someone.
She had a mind of her own and strong opinions for one so young and a lass at that. Arran often commented that it wouldn’t be easy to find her a husband and their da agreed. What all three of them had agreed upon was that Raven would never be forced to wed. That Da would do his best to find her someone she liked and who would treat her well.
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