Highland Oath

by Donna Fletcher

  “Bayne hasn’t bothered you, has he?” Arran asked with a note of anger.

  “Nay, he stares at me with a strange glare as if he knows something I don’t, but keeps his distance. I have no use for the likes of him.”

  “Keep yourself out of his sight while he’s here. I don’t trust him,” Arran said.

  “You voice my own thoughts,” Raven said and once inside the keep hurried off to her room.

  Arran made his way to his father’s solar and wasn’t surprised to hear raised voices as he neared the closed door.

  “The King will not tolerate those who oppose him.”

  Galvin’s loud, booming voice was easy to recognize and Arran didn’t bother to knock, he opened the door and entered. That brought the conversation to a halt.

  “What have I missed?” Arran asked with a grin.

  “Your charm will not serve you well when the King comes to claim you for service,” Galvin warned.

  “So you’ve heard the rumors,” Royden challenged.

  “They’re not rumors. They’re coming for us,” Galvin said.

  Parlan shook his head. “We have no argument with the King.”

  “It doesn’t seem to matter. The King is asking no permission,” Galvin cautioned.

  A knock sounded at the door and Parlan bid entrance.

  Arran was surprised to see Purity enter.

  “You wished to see me, Father?” she asked, her eyes downcast.

  “Aye, but not hear you,” Galvin chastised and turned to Parlan. “I worry for my daughter if attacked. She has no courage, fears everything, and has no strength to protect herself. I ask—I beg—that you accept my proposal for Arran to wed her. At least then she will be protected.”

  Arran knew no other way to put this to rest than to be blunt. “I want no wife.”

  “I told you this was a fool’s errand,” Bayne said, stepping forward.

  He was a sizeable man, taller than them all and lean and fit with muscles. There was no doubt he was strong, tales saying he could best ten men by himself and an arrogance and commanding nature that all avoided when possible.

  “Even if attacked the enemy will not want Purity, she’s worthless and nothing to look at,” Bayne said.

  Purity turned to take her leave.

  “Where do you think you go? You were not dismissed,” Bayne yelled and Purity stopped abruptly, her eyes avoiding her brother.

  “She listens well, a rarity in most Highland women. She’ll say little and obey. What more could you ask for in a wife?” Bayne asked.

  “He doesn’t want me,” Purity cried out and fire sparked in her brother’s eyes. She cringed, when her brother roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him.

  “You don’t need to be so rough with her,” Arran warned with a murderous growl.

  “Mind your business,” Bayne warned.

  “It is my business when a man treats a woman so poorly and his sister at that,” Arran said.

  “You protect her already,” Galvin said. “Why not make her your wife?”

  “I told you. I don’t want a wife.”

  “That’s enough, Galvin,” Parlan ordered. “My son has made it clear that he won’t wed your daughter, and we have more important matters to discuss than that.”

  “Go away with you,” Galvin ordered his daughter with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  Purity scurried off, hurrying out the door after sending Arran a sorrowful glance.

  “What have you heard, Galvin?” Parlan asked.

  “Nothing and that’s what worries me. Where do these men suddenly come from that claim land for the King and why do they take captive some of the Highland men?

  “If the King needs to fight the Northmen to keep the land he took from them, he’ll need men who know this landscape and how to survive it,” Royden said.

  “It is only a matter of time before the King demands from all of us,” Galvin said. “Are you willing to pay the price, Parlan?”

  “Leave us,” Parlan said to his sons and Galvin nodded to Bayne to do the same.

  Royden took Bayne to bargain over a horse he had shown interest in and Arran took himself off to the practice field, concerned for what might await them all and wanting to be prepared. Later he would talk with his father and brother about a plan in case they were attacked.

  “Arran.”

  He stopped, not sure if he heard his name or not, it was spoken so lightly.

  “Arran.”

  That time he heard it and turned to see Purity tucked against the side of the storehouse, the black and white kitten tucked in the crook of her arm sleeping contentedly.

  “What is it, Purity?” he asked, approaching her.

  Her cheeks blushed a rosy red and she turned her head away from him as she spoke. “I know you don’t want a wife, that you want to be free, but if you wed me you could remain free. I would force no restrictions on you, make no demands on you, care not what you do as long as you do not raise a hand to me and you keep me safe.”

  His heart went out to her. He hated to see women mistreated, but he wanted no wife, especially one who needed such care. And one who, in all probability, would be too frightened to couple. He hated to deny her plea, but he couldn’t—in good truthfulness—wed her.

  “I’m sorry, Purity, but as I told your da, I’m not interested in a wife.”

  “I understand,” she said and went to turn away.

  He mumbled a curse beneath his breath, having seen tears in her eyes. “You’ll find a good man who will make you a good husband one day, Purity.”

  She shook her head and without turning, said, “Nay, a husband will be forced on me and I fear what he might do to me.”

  Damn if he didn’t feel guilty about not marrying her, but she wasn’t what he wanted in a wife.

  “What do you think, Da?” Royden asked later that evening while in his da’s solar.

  “I’m not sure what to think,” Parlan said, refilling his goblet with ale. “Nothing seems to make sense. Why would the King have warriors attack various clans in the Highland when he’s been busy trying to reclaim land from the King of Norway? And he still battles with England.”

  “That says it right there. He weakens his troops spreading them too far apart and needs men for his army,” Arran suggested.

  “He has an army of warriors,” Royden said.

  “None that know these parts and land like Highlanders do,” Arran said.

  “Good point,” Royden said. “Still, I agree with Da. Something just doesn’t seem right.”

  “Then we keep a keen eye on things, post extra men, and be prepared,” Arran said.

  “The problem is who do we trust?” his da asked. “King David knows little of the Highlands and I wonder if he truly cares about this area. It supplies him with nothing—”

  Royden interrupted, “Except strong able-bodied warriors—”

  “Who aren’t all supportive of the King,” Arran finished.

  “That begs the question, who here in the Highlands would benefit from helping the King?” their father asked.

  “Someone who seeks more land and along with it power and influence,” Royden said.

  Arran was quick to give his thought on it. “That could be any number of lords or chieftains.”

  “We’re in the dark here with this. There’s no telling who could be involved, who could be greedy enough to betray friends and neighbors.” His da rubbed his chin. “This whole situation troubles me and if we don’t take it seriously we could lose what the Clan MacKinnon has worked and fought so hard to keep… our heritage. Our name and all we have would disappear along with all those who came before us. It would be as if we never existed,” Parlan said with the anger of a warrior ready to defend his clan.

  “That won’t happen,” Royden claimed. “I will wed Oria and she will soon carry your first among many grandchildren to carry on the Clan MacKinnon and make sure the name lives on.”

  “I’ll sacrifice and marry and produce m
any children, if necessary, so the clan will live on for endless years to come,” Arran said.

  “Purity?” Royden asked with a raised brow.

  Arran cringed. “I feel for the young lass. I truly do. No one wants her.”

  “It doesn’t help that her left hand resembles a claw or that she gets on well with animals more than humans,” Royden said.

  Parlan turned to Arran. “If necessary, you would wed who I asked?”

  His own pledge had trapped him in this one. “Aye, Da, I would wed Purity if necessary, but only if there was no other choice.” Arran hoped it would never come to that. “Though it’s Bayne who should concern us. He has an eye for Raven.”

  “It’s not Raven. It’s joining with our clan. The Clan Mackinnon and Clan Macara are two of the largest clans in this area of the Highlands. If we were joined through marriage, it would create powerful allies few could defeat.”

  “And Bayne is all about power,” Arran said and raised his goblet as if in a toast. “And that’s why they want a marriage between me and Purity.”

  “And if he can’t get it through his sister, he’ll sacrifice and get it through a marriage to Raven,” Royden said.

  “As much as I hate to admit it, Bayne might be right,” their da said, sending both brothers lurching forward in their chairs.

  “You can’t be serious,” Royden said.

  “Or foolish,” Arran threw in.

  “Bayne thinks of the future and what might be. He sees the strength in not only friends and neighbors but in numbers. An alliance of our clans could prove not only beneficial for our clans but the surrounding clans as well. If the Highland clans don’t stand united, the Highlands will be lost to us.”

  “You talk as if dire times approach,” Royden said.

  “Something is in the wind and I don’t want to get caught in the storm unprepared,” his da said.

  “We’ve weathered difficult times and survived,” Arran reminded.

  “True,” his da said with a nod. “Somehow, though, this feels different. Someone plots something and I don’t have a good feeling about it.”

  Chapter 4

  Oria was beyond pleased that she and Royden would wed. He had been her hero from as long as she could remember and that was how long she had been in love with him—as long as she could remember. She had never thought of another man the way she thought about Royden.

  She smiled recalling how she would think what it would be like to kiss him and when she finally did, it was better than she had imagined. Soon they would be husband and wife and share more intimate touches and while a bit apprehensive, she trusted Royden. He would never hurt her or speak rudely to her. He was a good, honorable man.

  Her heart grew a bit heavy at the thought of leaving her da. He had only her, her parents having no other children and her mum having died when Oria was eight years. He told her not to worry about him, but she did anyway. She wished he would meet a woman and fall in love again, but her da insisted any love would pale compared to the love he had for his wife.

  It was easy to understand what he meant after falling in love with Royden. She could never love another as she loved him.

  Oria entered the kitchen of the keep, her smile growing and her stomach gurgling at the delicious scents that greeted her. Venison was cooking on a spit in the large stone fireplace and servants were busy kneading dough that would soon be ready to bake.

  Parlan MacKinnon fed his clan well. She had seen the huntsmen earlier, returning with rabbits, birds, and deer.

  “Mistress Oria,” a jovial voice called out.

  Oria spotted Bethany, the MacKinnon cook. It amazed her at how slim the woman stayed when there was so much food to tempt her. She had a sprinkle of gray in her dark hair that was always piled haphazardly on the top of her head, strands constantly falling loose to tease along her face and neck.

  “Got your honey bread,” Bethany said with a wave of her hand.

  Her mouth watered for the sweet bread, and she hurried over to Bethany.

  “Are you going to share it this time?” Bethany asked with a laugh, handing two thick slices to her.

  “Maybe a little,” Oria said, sounding reluctant to share.

  “He’s always shares with you,” Bethany said.

  “Royden is very giving that way.”

  “You both are. That’s why everyone is so happy that you two will wed. One look at you both and you know that you and Royden were made for each other. Now go off with you and enjoy your treat.”

  Oria gave the woman a quick hug as she had done since she’d been young and Royden would sneak her into the kitchen for a treat.

  “It will be a pleasure to have you as lady of the house,” Bethany said a glisten of tears in her eyes. “Now off with you. I have work to get done.”

  Oria left the kitchen going outside to find herself a spot to sit and enjoy her treat. She maneuvered around the large kitchen garden overflowing with blossoming plants and servants who tended it. She was as familiar with MacKinnon land as she was with her own, having spent so much time here. There were two spots she favored. One gave a view of the village that stretched out a few feet in front of the keep and the other was under an enormous, old oak tree that stood near the edge of the woods.

  Oria was about to sit down when she thought she heard someone talking. She strained to listen and the soft voice came again. She followed the gentle sound.

  “It’s all right. It doesn’t matter if no one cares for us. We have each other.”

  Oria recognized the voice. It was Purity of the Clan Macara. Her heart went out to the young woman. She was always alone, except for whatever animal was with her.

  She had witnessed a scene between Purity and Bayne, her brother, that almost had her speaking her mind, but it hadn’t been her place to interfere. Raven had thought differently.

  She recalled the exchange between the two.

  “Arran MacKinnon does not want you as a wife. Don’t ever let me hear that you begged him to marry you, especially after he’d just turned down Da’s generous proposal,” Bayne cautioned.

  “I thought I was helping,” Purity said softly, clinging to the kitten in her arms.

  “You’re not helping. You never do. You spend more time with these useless animals than you should,” he scolded and swatted the kitten out of her arms.

  Tears rushed to Purity’s eyes as the kitten ran off.

  “Animals are a far sight better to spend time with than you are,” Raven said.

  Bayne whipped around to glare at Raven. “This isn’t your concern, Raven.”

  “My home. My concern.”

  “My family. My concern,” Bayne threw back. “You’re nothing but a child. Stay out of it.”

  Raven walked right up to Bayne, leaving barely a space between them and forcing her to tilt her head back to look up at him. “I can’t. Arseholes irritate me.”

  “Raven!” Royden called out.

  She didn’t budge.

  “Your sister needs to learn manners, Royden,” Bayne said, though didn’t take his eyes off Raven.

  “So do you,” Raven challenged.

  Oria shook her head. Royden all but had to drag Raven away. She had admired Raven her strength and courage to speak up, not caring what others thought. Though, Raven did have two older brothers and her da to protect her.

  She heard Purity again.

  “I love you and I’ll take care of you and keep you safe.”

  Oria’s heart ached for the young woman. She was giving to animals what no one gave to her—love.

  It took only a few steps for her to reach Purity, and the young woman jumped in fright, keeping the kitten snug in her arms, when she saw Oria.

  “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I heard you and thought you’d like to share some honey bread with me.” Oria handed a slice of bread to Purity.

  The kitten perked his head up and sniffed the air.

  “Looks like the kitten wouldn’t mind some,” Oria said and sat, hop
ing Purity would join her.

  Purity seemed skeptical, but when the kitten struggled to get out of her arms, she sat and accepted the slice of honey bread from Oria to share with the kitten.

  “I’m sure Royden MacKinnon wouldn’t mind if you took the kitten home,” Oria said.

  Purity shook her head and finished the piece of bread in her mouth before she spoke. “I’d rather come here and visit the kitten.”

  “You’re welcome any time,” Oria said.

  “If your brother lets you come here,” Raven said, appearing as if out of nowhere and plopping herself down to join them.

  “Bayne doesn’t bother much with me,” Purity said.

  Oria wondered if Raven heard the sadness in Purity’s voice.

  “That’s not much of a loss and it proves my point that Bayne is an arsehole,” Raven quipped.

  Purity pressed her hand to her chest. “I can’t believe you had the courage to speak to him like that.”

  “Sometimes, Raven lacks manners,” Oria said, raising a brow at Raven for speaking improperly.

  Raven laughed, her whole face beaming with it. “Royden told you to keep an eye on me and correct me when necessary, right?”

  “He wants—”

  “Me perfectly mannered so my da can arrange a good marriage for me.” Raven sighed dramatically. “I’m going to choose the man I want to wed and there’s nothing or no one that can stop me from doing that.” Raven shook her finger at Oria when she went to speak. “You’re one of the lucky ones. You have loved my brother as long as I can remember and you want to marry him. Purity and I aren’t so lucky. We get stuck with whoever our das choose for us.” Raven turned to Purity and continued shaking her finger at her. “Don’t let that happen, Purity. Choose the man you want to wed.”

  “He doesn’t want me,” Purity said, blotches of red staining her cheeks and spreading over her pale face.

  “Arran doesn’t want to wed anyone,” Raven said. “No one woman will ever satisfy him.”

  “Raven!” Oria scolded again.

  “I’m only repeating what I hear Royden and Da say about him, and Arran admits it himself,” Raven defended.

  “It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve seen how nice Arran is to women. I’d be safe with him,” Purity said.