by Terry Spear
Fairly racing up the narrow stairs like an over-exuberant lad, he soon reached his chambers. She would be in the bed, the curtains drawn around it. He never knew what kind of sex play she would be interested in, and the anticipation made him all the more randy. He stripped down to his tunic when a knock sounded on his door. Unless a battle raged in the outer bailey, he had made it clear no one was to disturb him here. He headed for the door and yanked it open, his face hot with annoyance.
Scully, black-bearded and eyed, his indomitable advisor, who never looked worried, stood before him, wearing a prominent crease of concern over his brows and said quickly, "One of our men was at Fitzburn Tavern. The chief of the Clan Chattan is looking for his son. From what our man learned, he thought it had to be one of the men manacled in our dungeon. The sick one."
MacRae cursed about the folly of the situation. "How many men does he have?"
"He wasna certain. Several were staying at various crofters' homes. Some in the tavern. Others in the stable. With everyone split up so much, he couldna say."
Damnation. "Aye, let me get dressed. I will meet you below stairs shortly. Wait."
MacRae did not want to give up the men in his dungeon. Worse, he hated the notion anyone would attempt to intimidate him into doing what he didn't wish, particularly when he was within his rights to punish the men. He'd had every intention of letting them rot in hell for the rest of their short lives in the foul place of their making.
"Send men to the tavern and learn as much as you can about Chattan's numbers." MacRae paused. "He doesna know I have them here, does he?"
"Nay. Before our man left, he had witnessed the Chattan chief speaking to the tavern owner. He didna tell him anything."
"Good. Send a man to learn what he can and return here at once with the news." MacRae closed the door and stared at the bed. Even if anyone did learn of the men being held here, it would take time for them to reach the keep.
But he couldn't think of anything else. Making love to Oppida was out of the question for the moment. Cursing aloud, he redressed. He left the room and slammed the door. As he stormed down the corridor, he vowed that the next time some man bothered his woman, MacRae would learn who sired the whelp first. God's wounds, if all the men were brothers? No wonder the chief of the Chattan clan would be looking for them. MacRae would tear down any castle's fortifications himself if he knew his own son was imprisoned inside.
Mayhap they were only the man's friends or some of the chief's men sent to protect him. Even so, if one of the men was his son, that meant trouble.
MacRae ran down the stairs. He had to know the truth.
***
"We are moving much too slowly," Edana said to Angus, wishing they could gallop the whole way to the MacRae keep. "What if he learns we are coming? What if he wishes to get rid of them before we arrive?" She couldn't stop worrying about her brothers.
"Lass, no good will come of stewing about what may happen. We must have faith that all will be settled peaceably."
She eyed Keary then, riding with Tibold ahead of the pack. She was forced to canter in the middle with Angus and Gunnolf and Niall, serving as her dutiful personal bodyguards. They had made Una stay behind in the village—despite her maid's objections. But Tibold hadn't wanted either woman to come along for the journey. Since Edana was Angus's responsibility now, he'd left the decision about taking her with them up to him.
She realized then just how much she appreciated Angus as a husband. Her da would have left her behind. Angus had wanted to keep her safe, but knew how much of a stake she had in being with them, and he had agreed to take her with him based on what she'd wanted. She loved him for it.
"I worry about Keary," she said.
"Aye."
She glanced at Angus. "Do you think it will be enough that we get my brothers back? Do you think Keary will want Oppida's head?"
"Aye, lass. I do believe if he could, he would kill the woman."
"Does my da know?"
"I spoke to him in private about Keary's interest in all of this."
"Good. Mayhap he can stop Keary if he attempts to involve us in a battle." She pondered the chief, MacRae. "Do you know this mon?"
"Nay. I have never met him."
"My da?"
"Once, he said. But he had been busy speaking with others and didna truly get a sense of the man. He said he had a small son, and he seemed devoted to him. But that was it."
"If he is devoted…" She paused. "What if Keary was right in believing that Oppida poisoned his da's two wives? And poisoned his da? What if the woman wants to rid the chief of his son?"
"'Tis possible," Angus said. "I suspect Keary intends to reveal all he knows of the matter to MacRae. Whether the man is blinded by the woman's beauty and will do naught about it is another matter."
Edana gave a soft ladylike snort. "I canna imagine a woman having such an effect on any man to that degree."
Angus smiled warmly at her. "You have that effect on me, my bonny wife. You could tell me anything, and I would believe you."
She smiled at him. "I doubt it."
He chuckled.
The men of their party had spread out across the glen, only tightening their ranks when they encountered woodlands. Again, they did so when they had to ford a river that narrowed at one location and widened in either direction from there.
Once they crossed the river, some commotion ahead of them made her perk up in her saddle. "What is the difficulty? Can you tell?" she asked Angus, as she strained to see around the men riding in front of her.
"I will investigate." He rode up ahead, but when she tried to follow, Niall and Gunnolf cut her off and smiled to see her scowl at them.
She sighed deeply. Maybe a fight was about to ensue and they were right to keep her safe in the center.
Angus quickly returned to her and said, "'Tis one of MacRae's guards. He was told to learn how many of us there are. Now he knows. Only he isna returning to tell MacRae of it."
"Was he the only man sent to scout for us?"
"That he knows of. But all of the men are so spread out, if they come across anymore of MacRae's men, they will apprehend them and bring them to Tibold. The scout was told we didna know that your brothers had been imprisoned at the MacRae holdings, nor did they know how many there are of us. I am certain MacRae will quickly concede, once he realizes he is up against three forces, no' just one clan."
She smiled a little at Angus. He raised his brows. "Aye, though the MacNeills only number two, and Gunnolf is as much a brother to my cousin and me, we call him a MacNeill—but we are powerful, despite our small force. I only have to call on James to strengthen our numbers in short order."
"Have I told you how much I love you?" she asked.
Gunnolf and Niall glanced in their direction.
"Aye, lass, in every way that it counts and then some," Angus said, smiling.
Her cheeks heated, chasing away the chill.
Carrying torches to light their way, they finally reached the MacRae fortifications in the dark. Six towers sat at equal points along the curtain wall, torches lighting a couple of places on the wall walk where only a handful of men appeared to be guarding on top of the walls.
A shout went out as guards quickly assembled to see the number of men on horseback heading for the keep. Tibold and Keary kept their men well out of range of arrowshot.
A man shouted down to someone else and the shouts continued as MacRae men were rallied from their beds.
Between the chilly night air, the brisk breeze, and the impending danger, Edana felt the cold seep into her bones. She was glad Una was not with them, but also relieved they had not had to face another bout of rain.
"What are they waiting for?" she asked Angus, whispering as if the men on the wall walk could hear her from this distance.
"Your da is waiting for all of our combined forces to line up, to show MacRae that he isna dealing with a mere matter of a couple of handfuls of men."
She watc
hed then to see the others lighting torches to show how many men stretched across the dark landscape. She had no knowledge of battle tactics, though she knew they remained this far away to avoid an archer's arrows.
She wished someone would do something. She wanted her brothers released now. She wanted to care for Drummond at once. Despite believing the men knew what they were doing, if she had been in charge, she would have gone straight to the gate and demanded her brothers' freedom.
Then her father rode forth with two of his men. She was surprised Keary didn't accompany him.
"I am here to demand my sons be released at once. I am Tibold, chief of the Clan Chattan. But I am no' the only one here. Two other clans have pledged their men to me in this matter. Tell that to MacRae."
A man disappeared from the wall walk.
"What will he do? This MacRae?" Edana asked Angus.
"If he is smart, he will release your brothers."
She chewed on her bottom lip and squirmed in her saddle. The men had much more patience than she.
Finally, someone joined the others at the wall walk and shouted down, "MacRae said he will speak to Chattan upon the morrow."
"Now!" Tibold shouted. "My son, Drummond, is sick with fever. If he dies, it will be on MacRae's head."
The men on top of the wall walk exchanged looks. Then the one disappeared again.
Edana assumed they wondered how her father would know that.
"Why would he make my da wait until the morrow? Can he no' realize how infuriating that is?" Edana asked.
Angus said, "I am wondering if he is having your brothers fed and clothed. Mayhap attempting to improve their condition before your da sees them."
She ground her teeth, furious with this MacRae chief.
"Edana," her brother, Kayne, whispered across her thoughts.
Tell me, she wanted to say back to him. Tell me what is going on inside MacRae's keep.
"My brother, Kayne, called out my name, or thought of it."
"Anything else?" Angus asked.
She shook her head. "If I could ask him to tell us all we wanted to know, I would."
The same man as before finally reappeared on the wall walk. "He said to let you in, and two of your men. No others."
Not about to be left out, Edana bolted for her father. She would accompany him no matter what.
"Edana!" Angus shouted, commanding, yet concerned as he galloped after her.
Along the wall walk, the guards crowded around to watch.
Tibold turned to see her riding toward him, his face tight with anger. "Edana, return at once to your place behind the men."
"Nay," she said. "I wish to see my brothers."
Angus caught up to her. "Devil have it, Edana. I dinna want you entering this place."
"I must see my brothers," she said. She implored her da, "Kayne called to me. I must see them."
Another rider's approach made them turn to learn who else would join them. Keary.
"I must speak with MacRae as well. I have learned he has a young son who could be in the gravest danger," Keary said.
From Oppida. Edana agreed. Though she hoped that he would not cause them trouble when they were attempting to free her brothers.
The gates were opened and instead of Tibold and his two guards accompanying him, his daughter, Angus, and Keary did.
As soon as they rode inside the bailey, they were disarmed, except for Edana who had her dirk hidden under her skirts. The men dismounted and Angus hurried to help Edana from her horse.
The portcullis ground shut and guards escorted them to the keep.
Her father's face grew hard with anger. Angus's expression appeared just as dark. Keary hid his expression under a mask of indifference. Her heart pounded as they entered the keep and were led to benches placed next to the fire in the hearth.
"Sit here. MacRae will join you in a moment," the guard said.
None of them sat. All stood rigid, her da and Angus's arms folded over their chests. Then Keary copied their stance.
A couple of servants moved through the great hall, not saying a word, eyes downcast, afraid of the fierce-looking men of three clans standing there, watching any movement.
Then a man strode toward them, red haired and bearded, his blue eyes hard, his face flushed with annoyance. He was accompanied by two other men, one whose hair was a light red gold. The other had a head full of brown hair, both wearing scowls just as dark. "I am MacRae," the man said, his voice hardened steel.
"Let me see my sons," Tibold growled, his voice low with threat.
"They are being awakened as we speak," MacRae said. "The one was caught forcing himself on my woman. He deserves to be punished. The others fought my men and had to be taken in hand as well. If the woman had been your wife and the roles had been reversed—"
"My wife is dead, MacRae, and she wouldna have been selling herself off to the highest bidder at some tavern."
"Now wait just a minute," MacRae said, his face turning purple with rage.
"He has the right of it," Keary spoke out, his voice just as dark. "I am Laird Lockton. My da was the laird before me, and Oppida served as his mistress. Ask her how she poisoned my da. Ask her how she murdered both his wives before that. 'Twas easy enough to do as she waited until the women were in childbirth, and she made it appear they died because of that. She didna want the competition. But my da wouldna marry her because she canna have children. Ask her of these things. Did she throw herself willingly at other men? Aye. My youngest brother also, after she murdered my father, thinking Finbar would become laird and she would be his wife. Think you she has a loyal bone in her body? Nay, only to serve her own dark purposes. Once that is accomplished, she is done with you."
"You lie," MacRae growled, his face a deadly scowl. "You lost her to me. You envy what I have."
Keary gave a scornful bark of laughter. "She is the devil, I say. I would have killed her for murdering my da and the women he had called his wives, though neither were my mother. Oppida slipped out of the castle during the fighting when she realized my youngest brother could not beat me. Would you risk your own son's life on such a woman? Ask him if she has ever tried to force some food or drink on him. My half-brothers and sister didna matter to her because we were not his legitimate sons and daughter. My da didna treat us with any respect. But your son still garners your affection, does he no'? She is evil. Anyone who gets in her way can easily be disposed of."
MacRae stared at Keary, the vein in his neck pulsing with anger, but he did not say anything.
"You want proof? I found the herbs she used to poison my da in her chamber. A man doesna resort to poisoning. A woman does," Keary said. "For your own son's sake, listen to what I have to say. Dinna allow her to blind you like she did my da."
"Fetch my son," MacRae said to one of his men. To the other, he commanded, "Bring Oppida down here."
With relief, Edana thought MacRae would be reasonable and learn the truth. But what of her brothers?
He turned his attention to Edana. "Who are you?"
"Edana, sister to the men you hold in your dungeon. And this is Angus MacNeill, my husband."
"MacNeill?" MacRae said, then swore under his breath.
"Aye," Angus said. "Laird James is my brother."
But she suspected MacRae had already guessed that and was concerned the MacNeills would back the Chattan clan in this venture.
Both of the men MacRae sent to retrieve his son and mistress rushed back into the great hall. "They are missing," the one said, short of breath. "Oppida and your son."
Chapter 15
MacRae stared at his men in disbelief. Edana felt sick to her stomach that Oppida could be holding the chief's son hostage, hiding somewhere.
"Their chambers are empty. Both of them," the man elaborated.
"Have everyone search for them. Now!" MacRae ordered.
"Aye."
The two men hurried off to wake the staff.
"Since you seemed to know so much abo
ut her, would Oppida have taken my son somewhere?" MacRae asked Keary.
"Mayhap to buy her time. If she thought you might turn her over to me to mete out her punishment, possibly. Mayhap to silence him if he should be able to corroborate that she has been trying to poison him."
"I have been blind," MacRae said under his breath.
"My brothers," Edana said. She wished she could help MacRae search for the boy, but she had to see to her sick brother.
"Take them to see the Chattan brothers," MacRae said to one of the two guards.
"Nay, lass," Angus said. "I dinna want you to see the filth down there."
"They have been moved to a chamber near mine," MacRae said, verging on apologetic.
"If you wish it, I will help you look for the woman. I know what she looks like," Keary said, his voice dark with threat.
"Leave the woman to me," MacRae said, his voice stern. "But, aye, you may help with the search."
Keary bowed his head a little, but Edana thought if Keary got hold of her, he would dispense with Oppida himself. Edana hoped he would not and would allow MacRae to deal with her instead to keep some semblance of peace between the clans.
The man led Edana, Angus, and her father up a flight of narrow curved stairs, then down a long corridor. When they reached a chamber where a guard stood, the man with them said, "Let them pass."
"Wait here," Edana's da said, and she felt her eyes fill with tears. Angus wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her close.
Tibold quickly returned from the bedchamber and said, "Come, daughter, Angus."
They joined him inside the chamber and found Drummond shivering in a bed, buried in furs, his face pale, sweaty. Her other brothers sat on the mattress, looking thinner than she remembered.
But when they saw her, their expressions brightened and they all hurried to greet her.
She expected them to smell badly, but they'd all been scrubbed clean, though it didn't matter. Too glad to see them all alive and as well as could be expected given the circumstances, she quickly hugged each of them. Then, as if she was their mother, she made them return to their seats on the bed. She quickly went to see Drummond.
