Highland Oath

by Donna Fletcher

  It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy coupling. He did, though there was something missing that he couldn’t quite grasp. He wondered if it was the reason he coupled so often with different women. He couldn’t say what it was, but he damn well hoped to find it.

  Arran gave a good hard thrust, making sure Flora climaxed, only then did he pull out of her to spill his seed on the ground. He didn’t intend to sire any bastard children. He’d seen the fate of too many and he wouldn’t do that to his own child. Besides, he knew he wasn’t the only one who Flora was poking and if she got with child, he’d know he wasn’t the da.

  He rolled off Flora onto his back, his breathing hard. The thought that Flora poked other men had him asking, “Does Bayne show you any favors, Flora?”

  Flora turned on her side, picking some of the hay from the pile they rested in off her shoulder. “Funny you should ask that. The lassies and I were just talking about him. You would expect a virile man like him to be sniffing after the lassies, but he pays not a one of us a bit of attention.” She lowered her voice almost as though she was afraid to speak. “Honestly, the women aren’t interested in him. Ann is friends with one of the women in his clan and she told Ann that he’s as demanding and commanding in bed as he is out of it.” She smiled as she picked hay out of his hair. “Why do you ask, Arran? Are you jealous?”

  Arran turned on his side to face her. “My dear Flora, we both know I’m not your only poking partner.”

  She laughed. “I’m a hungry one, but you do please me more than the lot of them and you’re more considerate, making sure I’m satisfied. Most of them only care about their own needs. I’m guessing your interest in Bayne is because he’s proposed a union between him and Raven.” His raised brow had her smiling. “You wonder how I know. He was heard saying it to your da and news like that spreads fast. Besides, many of us got upset when Raven was spotted crying and running into the keep. She’s a fighter that lass, but she appeared truly shaken.”

  Arran wanted to rush out of there, find his sister, and let her know there was no chance that their da would marry her off to Bayne. And he would as soon as he finished with Flora.

  “It says something about a man when two fathers refuse him marriage to their daughters,” Flora said, sitting up and adjusting her garments.

  Arran shot up beside her. “Bayne was denied a union with someone?”

  Flora nodded. “Alynn, Chieftain Thurbane’s daughter.”

  That news stirred Arran’s gut and he waited, knowing Flora’s tongue would keep going.

  “From what I heard, it seems Chieftain Thurbane had plans or at least hope of wedding his daughter, Alynn, to Royden or you. And all know how Royden and Oria feel about each other, so I’d say he had his sights set on you.”

  “He never approached my da.”

  Flora shrugged. “Your da knows how you feel about marriage. Maybe he did talk with your da, but your da told him what he knew you would say.”

  “I’m not ready for marriage yet,” Arran said what he had repeated to anyone who mentioned marriage to him.” He kissed Flora on the cheek. “I love you, Flora.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Be careful how easily you spill those words. One day you might mean it and no one will believe you.”

  He kissed her cheek again. “Then know I love you like a dear friend and I cherish our friendship. And thanks for the sage advice.” He helped her to her feet.

  “You’re a good man, Arran, and I cherish our friendship as well and I do hope that someday you say I love you to someone and mean it with all your heart.” She hurried to press her fingers to his lips to stop him from responding. “Never say never, Arran. Let fate hear my hope for you and respond wisely.”

  Arran took hold of her hand and kissed her palm. “It’s in fate’s hands, but I also wish the same for you.”

  “While I would argue that, I’ll leave your wish with fate as well,” she said. “Now be off with you and find your sister and comfort and reassure her that she has nothing to fear. She will never wed Bayne.”

  After giving Flora a quick peck on the cheek he hurried out of the barn and spotted Royden walking toward the keep. He hurried his steps to catch up with him.

  “Have you seen Raven?” Arran asked once beside him.

  “No. Isn’t she in her bedchamber where Da ordered her to go and you were going to make sure she did?” Royden laughed and brushed hay off his brother’s shoulder. “Got sidetracked, did you?”

  Arran shoved his brother’s hand away. “Flora told me Raven was seen crying.”

  That stopped Royden dead. “She never cries.”

  “So what made her cry?” Arran asked, his stomach stirring worse. “It can’t be about Bayne. Raven knows Da would never force her to wed the man.”

  “Maybe she heard something about being sent to the convent,” Royden suggested.

  “That would anger her and she’d fight with Da. It has to be something—”

  “That she feels would leave her no choice. Something she has no control over,” Royden finished.

  They both hurried into the keep in search of their sister.

  “Enter,” Parlan called out when a knock sounded on his solar door. His eyes shot up when he saw his daughter. She never knocked. She simply burst into the room.

  “I know I’m supposed to be in my bedchamber but I need to talk with you,” Raven said, fighting the tears that she’d only been able to stop from falling.

  Parlan’s heart slammed in his chest when he saw that his daughter had been crying. She never cried. He hurried to her and took her in his arms. “What’s wrong? Have you been hurt? Did someone hurt you?”

  She shook her head against her father’s firm chest, relishing the sense of safety she felt with his strong arms snug around her.

  Royden and Arran burst into the room. “We can’t find—”

  They stopped shocked at seeing their sister crying in their da’s arms.

  “What’s wrong? Tell me. I’ll kill whoever hurt her,” Arran demanded, clenching his hands, ready to fight.

  “And I’ll kill him again,” Royden said, fury raging in his eyes.

  Hearing her brothers, having her da’s arms around her, and recalling what the witch had said—nothing will be as it once was and it will take years before those torn apart are reunited—kept her tears falling. She couldn’t bear the thought of her family being torn apart and that it would be years before she would see them again. She never felt such pain and at that moment she knew how it must feel to have one’s heart break.

  “Raven,” her da said gently. “You must tell us why you’re crying.” He nodded toward Royden. “Get her some wine.”

  Royden went to the round table and grabbed one of the decanters of wine in the middle and filled a goblet halfway.

  Her da walked her past the round table to a chair close to the hearth and eased her down to sit. He took the goblet that Royden handed him and placed it in his daughter’s hand. “Drink some. It will calm you.”

  Raven took a sip, sniffed back her tears, then took another sip. She wiped at her wet cheeks and looked to each of them. “I don’t want to lose any of you.”

  “Why do you think you’ll lose anyone of us?” Arran asked.

  She whispered softly, “The witch.”

  “You went to see the witch?” Royden asked.

  “I warned you against seeking her out,” her da said, though with worry, not anger.

  “She sought me out,” Raven defended.

  “She came to you?” Arran asked, bewildered. “She’s rarely seen. She mostly keeps to herself.”

  “She was at the edge of the woods and beckoned me to her,” Raven explained.

  “And you went to her?” Royden shook his head. “Of course, you would. You’re curious.”

  “That doesn’t matter at the moment,” their da said. “What did she say to you that upset you?”

  “Maybe the witch put a curse on her,” Arran chimed in.

  Raven was qu
ick to deny she’d been cursed. “She blessed me and told me to stay strong.”

  “Then what upset you?” her da asked.

  Raven repeated the words the witch had spoken. “Her words were… ‘a terrible storm brews and when it finishes thrashing this land and people, nothing will be as it once was and it will take years before those torn apart are reunited.’”

  Silence so heavy filled the room that the crackle of the flames in the hearth sounded deafening.

  “She speaks nonsense,” her da finally said, quieting the sound of the flames.

  “Does she?” Raven asked. “I hear your worry when you talk about what happened to the Clan MacDonnegal. Or when you discuss what is happening with Chieftain William or Chieftain Galvin and Bayne. The witch is right about one thing. A terrible storm brews in the Highlands and I fear its approach.”

  “We have taken precautions,” Royden said, attempting to reassure her.

  “I know. I just hope it’s enough,” she said.

  “We won’t let anything happen to you, Raven,” her da said as if it was a command.

  “Da is right, Raven,” Arran said. “We’ll protect you.”

  “We’ll keep you safe,” Royden added.

  “I want to believe that, truly I do.” A single tear slipped down her cheek. “But what if what comes is far worse than what we’ve prepared for? What if we can’t stop it?”

  Chapter 7

  Raven was already on the practice field when Arran arrived the next morning, shortly after dawn. Arran had taken Raven aside last night after supper and told her to meet him there after the sun had risen and he would teach her how to protect and defend herself.

  She had pestered him about teaching her over a year now and he was sorry he hadn’t. By now she would have been well-schooled in how to defend herself. He would teach her what he could from this day on and hope it was enough to help her if the time should ever come that she needed it.

  “I’m ready,” she said enthusiastically.

  His guilt had him saying, “I should have taught you sooner.”

  “You teach me now and that’s all that matters,” she said with a smile. “So let’s not waste any more time.”

  Arran agreed and got right to it. “First, some basic instructions. Men have much more physical strength than women, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t vulnerable. It’s knowing where to strike them that can save you from being harmed. Depending how anyone grabs hold of you, there are different things you can do. Go for his eyes, rake them good, so it gives you a chance to run. Punch him in the throat hard, he’ll gasp for breath and if you’re lucky you may cut off his breathing entirely, but take off as soon as you do. Running from your opponent is not being cowardly, it allows you to survive.”

  “A man wouldn’t run,” she argued.

  “No. A man would battle to the death or surrender. A woman needs to run.”

  “What if she has a weapon?” Raven asked.

  “That would depend on how skilled a woman is with it. You need to remember the strength a man has over you. If he grabs your wrist before you can use a knife on him, he’ll take it away from you easily and can use it on you just as easily. Your main objective when attacked is to survive and get away from him.”

  “What if I can’t get away from him?” she asked, fear in her eyes.

  He took hold of her hand and squeezed it. “You survive until me, Royden, or Da can find you. Never doubt we wouldn’t come for you, wouldn’t stop searching for you.”

  “I know, and you should know I’d do the same for you.”

  “No, you won’t. Never put yourself in danger for me, Royden, or Da. It is for us to protect you. We can take care of ourselves,” he ordered sternly.

  Raven gave a dismissive nod.

  “I mean it, Raven,” he said even more sternly.

  “As you say, Arran,” she said, but silently swore she would do whatever was necessary if the time ever came that her brothers needed her help.

  “There’s a spot on a man that is extremely vulnerable,” Arran said.

  “His balls,” Raven said with a grin.

  “Good Lord, Raven. You don’t speak like that,” Arran chastised. “And how do you know that?”

  “I have ears and eyes,” Raven said with a dramatic sigh.

  “Lenna,” Arran said, shaking his head, the irritating woman coming to mind.

  “She’s always kneeing her husband in his bal—” Arran’s deep scowl had Raven quickly correcting herself. “In his private parts when he drinks too much. I don’t understand why he doesn’t drink less.”

  “Probably because he’s married to her,” Arran mumbled.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing, let’s get back to teaching you what you need to know to defend yourself,” Arran said.

  Two hours later, Raven was jubilant as she made her way to the barn to get King. Fear of what might come still lingered in her, but now she had the knowledge to protect herself, if not the skill—yet. Arran had promised he would work with her every day, starting the day after the wedding, after tomorrow, and show her all she needed to know. He even promised he would teach her how to handle a sword. She was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of one day having her own sword.

  As soon as the kitten saw her, he tripped over his own paws hurrying to her. She scooped him up. “Ready to see, Purity?” He meowed as if understanding her. She headed to the kitchen first to get some treats and stopped when she saw Royden and Oria in what looked to be an argument. It worried her since they never argued.

  She marched up to them and demanded, “You never fight. What’s the matter?”

  “It doesn’t concern you,” Royden snapped.

  “I’m going to stay right here until you tell me. Better yet, I’ll go get Arran and tell him you two are fighting,” Raven threatened.

  “And I’ll tell Da that you’re going into the woods to meet Purity,” Royden threatened back, pointing to the kitten.

  “I already told him,” Raven shot back.

  “No you didn’t,” Royden accused.

  “Enough you two,” Oria snapped. “Your brother and I are having words because he insists I stay here tonight and that wouldn’t be at all proper for me to do.”

  “Proper or not, Royden’s right. What if your clan was attacked tonight? He’d never reach you in time. Here, he can keep you safe.”

  Royden was quick to praise his sister. “Raven sees the wisdom in it and so should you.”

  Oria relented. “If my father agrees—”

  “I’ll go speak with him now. He’s with my da in the fields.” Royden took off before anyone could say a word.

  “Come see Purity with me,” Raven offered. “I’m going to stop at the kitchen first and get some honey bread.”

  “I don’t know if I should. There’s so much yet to do for the wedding.”

  “A few minutes then you can leave and when I finish my visit with her I’ll help you with whatever you need,” Raven said, though almost cringed at the thought.

  “You promise?” Oria asked.

  Raven debated whether it was worth it, then thought how much Purity would enjoy seeing Oria. “I promise.”

  Oria smiled. “I would have gone just for the honey bread.”

  “You tricked me.” Raven grinned. “We just might have some fun together after all.”

  King leapt out of Raven’s arms when he spotted Purity and jumped into her outstretched ones to snuggle in the crook of her neck and offer comforting purrs as Purity cried.

  “What’s wrong?” Raven asked worried something dreadful had happened.

  “I’m being sent to the convent the day after Oria’s wedding,” Purity said and hugged King tighter to her. “Bayne says your da may send you as well. Please go with me, Raven. I can’t stand the thought of being locked in that place alone.”

  Raven was stunned by the terrible news and that her da had even discussed it with Bayne. She hadn’t been spying enough on the convers
ations in his solar or she would have known about this. She’d change that soon enough.

  “I can’t be locked away like that, Purity. I’d never be able to obey their rigid rules,” Raven said, shuddering at the thought.

  “I don’t believe your father would send you there, Raven,” Oria said.

  “I wouldn’t go and my da knows that, though Arran might have had a hand in this,” Raven said, thinking about what he’d said yesterday. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter I wouldn’t go no matter what they said and I’d escape if they sent me there.”

  “My brother would force me to return if I escaped, not that I’d have the courage to,” Purity said and lowered herself to sit on the ground.

  Oria and Raven followed suit and joined her.

  “I finally have friends and now I have to leave them. It’s not fair,” Purity said.

  Raven reached out and squeezed Purity’s deformed hand. “We’ll still be friends. Nothing can change that. Besides, with the recent problems maybe you’d be safer at the convent where you wouldn’t be forced to wed anyone.”

  Purity wiped at her wet cheeks, her tears having stopped. “My da and brother insist troubling times are headed this way.”

  “So does the witch,” Raven whispered.

  “The witch?” Purity asked along with Oria.

  “She was by the edge of the woods yesterday and beckoned me to her. She warned me of destruction and that it would take years for those torn apart to be reunited.” Raven shivered, her fear returning, and prayed the witch was wrong.

  “Have you told Royden about this?” Oria asked.

  Knowing her brother Royden, he probably had no intention of telling Oria so that she wouldn’t worry. And she certainly didn’t want them fighting again. “I only told him last night. He probably hasn’t had time to tell you about it yet.”

  “Or he doesn’t plan to so it doesn’t worry me,” Oria said.