by Terry Spear
“Why is that, do you think?”
“I dinna know. I’ve questioned several of our kinsmen, trying to learn the truth. If any know, they wouldna say.”
“And yet you didna leave when it would behoove you.”
“Aye. I was still loyal to him, and to the clan.”
“You saved my daughter’s life.”
“Aye.”
“Twice,” Avelina said, and her da looked sharply at her as if rebuking her for speaking at all. But she only looked piercingly back at him, her chin lifted, defiant, unyielding, and Quinn contained the smile that was fighting to be set free.
He didn’t want her to get into any trouble if her da should see that Quinn approved of her action regarding him. “Aye, if I may be so bold to say so. Twice. The lass is right.”
Her da’s attention swung back to Quinn. “If I am to be chief, she will wed your brother. Will you have a problem with this? If so, speak your mind now. I will allow no one to interfere in my rule.”
Quinn suspected he spoke to the gathered clan with respect to his untenable position right now, as much as he was speaking to Quinn about this matter. Quinn glanced at Avelina. She was barely breathing, her eyes wide. He could state what her da wanted him to say, or he could be honest. He was not a political man, and, though honesty had gotten him into trouble more than once, he would not lie about this. Avelina was too important to him.
“Aye, I will have a problem with this, but I hope to change your mind about me and wedding your daughter, rather than marrying her off to either Cormac or Ewen.”
Her da narrowed his eyes. “You wish to marry my daughter?” Baudwin practically bellowed, yet there was a twinkle in his eye, and Quinn suspected he had surprised her da to such a degree, he approved. Else, he would have just had Quinn killed now. “What have you to offer, that I canna get from powerful clans?”
“My undying loyalty to you, to your people, and to Avelina.”
Several men grumbled, three shouted their disapproval. One said, “She has to make an alliance. What good is a single man to help aid us in battle?”
“He is hard to kill,” Baudwin said, smirking. “So I’ve been told.”
Her da had a bit of a sense of humor. That was good.
“We can see about that,” Odran said, standing.
God’s knees, Quinn was afraid someone might challenge him to a fight, just to see how invincible he was.
“After the celebration. Eat, drink. We fought long and hard. Some of us didna make it, but they were good men who fought fiercely, and died hard. We will celebrate in their memory.” He motioned for Hamish to take Quinn to one of the lower tables where the other men joined them.
Quinn suspected they were his guards for now.
Hamish shook his head at Quinn as they took their seats and conversation filled the air. “You may no’ live through the eve here, Highlander. You could’ve said you were agreeable to Avelina marrying one of the men who will provide us support in upcoming battles. Even if neither of you wish it. If Baudwin did agree to allow you to wed his daughter, he would be removed from his position at once. Our clan would see that as a weakness on his part. Clan alliances can mean the difference between losing your life and everything you hold dear, and beating the odds. You canna have her.”
“Odran will kill him to make a point,” Dar said. “Quinn is foolhardy to believe this would go his way.”
There was only one way Quinn could think to make it work then. He would have to accuse his brother of trying to murder him. But he would need eyewitnesses who would corroborate his claim. Many of his clan approved of Quinn. They knew of his leadership and fighting skills. They would follow him, if Cormac was no longer in power. Except he had to do this right. And Cormac still had a core of men he counted on to watch his back. If Quinn could fight Cormac one on one, without his men interfering, he stood a good chance to win. Though he’d never beaten his brother ever in practice combat. The likelihood that his brother would risk having a fair fight between them was slim, Quinn thought. Otherwise, Cormac would have fought him long ago and would have tried to finish him off on his own. Instead, he had to try and get rid of him in some sneaky, despicable way.
“My brother canna have her,” Quinn said with resolve. “Neither can Ewen.”
Hamish chuckled then, as if pleased to hear Quinn was determined to pursue this. “She is well worth it. Though I doubt you will live long enough to enjoy the fruits of your labor.” Then he narrowed his eyes at Quinn. “Unless you have already done so.”
Quinn didn’t respond, drinking his mead, then eating some of his stew.
“No’ for lack of wanting, aye?” Hamish asked.
Quinn continued to eat, not responding to Hamish before he got himself into more trouble than he was in already. The man who challenged him would fight him, and Quinn suspected he’d kill him if he could. But Quinn knew he couldna kill the man. Only fight him the best he could and knock him out if he was able.
“Odran is vying to be the chief, aye?” Quinn finally asked.
“Aye, and he has a strong following. He’s a strong leader. You would have done well no’ to have created an issue between the two of you.”
“He can fight me to the death?”
“Aye, naturally. He is eager to prove to the others that you are mortal.”
“What if I have to kill him to prevent him from killing me?” Quinn knew the answer before Hamish offered it, but he had to ask.
“You may have to fight several others at the same time.”
“I will try my best no’ to kill him then.”
The other two men were watching Quinn and grinning. “If you think you can best Odran, think again,” Dar said. “Only Baudwin and his brother have ever beaten him.”
Which didn’t bode well, not that he expected anything less. They didn’t know about his own fighting skills, so no one who wasn’t well-trained would challenge him, he suspected. Not until they saw how he fought.
“Which is why Odran is vying to be chief,” Hamish said. “And if anyone beats him, others will follow to try and take you down. They’ll wear you down until there is no chance that you can win. Not as an outsider. And not as one who means to ruin our chance at an alliance with another clan.”
“You mean that if I win against them all, I still willna be offered the position of chief?” Quinn was jesting, of course, and the three men laughed. At least they enjoyed his company before their clansmen tried to kill him.
He glanced over at the head table to look at Avelina. She was watching him, quiet, anxious, saddened. He didn’t want to see her like that. He wanted her to be happy, to be with him. He hoped he didn’t accidentally kill her clansmen. He hoped he could best one or two of them, and the rest would worry that he might be truly invincible and leave him be.
Her da caught Quinn’s eye, then glanced over at Avelina. He spoke to her, and she shook her head.
Quinn considered telling her da what he planned to do concerning his brother, but he would have to wait and see. First, Quinn had to prove himself to her kin. They had no idea the kind of fighter he was, so why should they even want him to be part of their clan? Though he didn’t know their strengths or weaknesses either.
Hamish watched Odran for a moment. “I see you are no’ drinking the whiskey.” He pointed his bread toward Odran. “Only the honeyed mead. He can drink barrels of the harder stuff and still be steady on his feet. Any mon worth his salt could.”
Not true. It could numb the pain the fighter was feeling in battle, but it could make him slower on his feet, and that’s what Quinn was hoping for. He had to use every trick to his advantage, if he was to succeed.
“He has a mighty swing,” Hamish said. “If you can stay beyond one of his killing blows, you might stand a chance, for a little longer.”
“He favors his left shoulder,” Dar said, “because of an old injury he suffered.” Then he frowned at Quinn. “You had suffered injuries from the shipwreck, hadna you? The wound on y
our head looks fresh.”
“Aye.”
Hamish and the other men shook their heads.
Dar said, “You will never last. Even on his worst days, Odran is a real killer.”
It was true that if Odran hit Quinn in the ribs, he’d probably howl in pain, incapacitating him, and the man would have a good chance at beating him. Even his arm was aching from all the work and paddling, and swimming he’d done. He knew it would take more than a few days to completely heal. Though he wasn’t one to rest when there was work or training to be done.
“My daughter says you are still recovering from injuries you received when you were shipwrecked. Can you fight?” her da suddenly asked Quinn, speaking over the loud conversation in the great hall.
Everyone grew quiet.
“Aye.” Any man born and bred to fight had to be able to do so even when injured. Quinn couldn’t back down from the challenge.
Most of the men nodded in approval.
Avelina was scowling at Quinn, but she had to know he had to fight. Then he smiled at her. Had she mentioned this just so that if he were to lose, her da could stop the fight before the man killed him, and he’d still save face? To say if he had been at full fighting strength, the man may never have beaten him? To remind everyone he was like so many of her people, recovering from injuries?
He adored her.
She looked away from him, appearing distraught. He wished he could hold her close, kiss her, and chase away her fears. The only way he’d be able to was to prove his worth to her da and her clan was to fight whoever challenged him though.
“You can fight in any manner that gets the job done,” Fagin said to Quinn.
Quinn wondered if he was only giving him a tip now because Avelina had said how he was still recovering from his own injuries. But fighting men couldn’t afford to be sentimental in this business.
He nodded his thanks to Fagin. Odran was still pouring the whiskey down his gullet. Quinn could do many things well, but drink like that. When Quinn had too much to drink, he’d been on his arse, babbling some nonsense, and thinking his words were as clever as could be. Which, to others in the same inebriated condition, probably were. But to any sober man, not.
When the meal was done, they headed out of the keep to the outer bailey, but Hamish allowed Avelina to speak with Quinn for a moment before the fight began, everyone looking on, and eager to see a new man fight their own.
“If you manage to take him down—” she said.
“When.”
“If…he will have three of his friends—the ones seated at the table with him—try next. But my da willna allow them to attack all at once. It willna matter. You willna be able to take Odran down. My da says he is limping on his left side, but he feigns naught is wrong. Mayhap you can use that to your advantage.”
Quinn glanced at her da. He was looking as stern as before, but Quinn appreciated that he would attempt to aid him in the fight. Maybe because he knew his daughter cared for Quinn. Maybe because Baudwin knew, if Quinn could make short work of Odran, her da would stand a better chance of claiming the position of chief. “Hamish and the other two men gave me a couple of tips also.”
Avelina’s eyes rounded, then she glanced at them and thanked them with an incline of her head.
“We stand by your da, lass,” Hamish said, “And if Quinn can knock Odran down a peg or two, it canna hurt.”
“If he doesna kill Quinn,” she said, reminding them this was not a game.
Quinn knew it wasn’t. He would have to make the best of it. Then he cupped Avelina’s face and kissed her, wanting everyone to know he loved her with all his heart. That she wasn’t chattel to offer for an alliance. “I will confront my brother, we will fight, and should I win, I will take over the clan. And then I will be your da’s ally.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Then he released her and kissed her forehead. “We will do this.”
“If you get yourself killed, I will never forgive you.”
“Neither will I.” Then he turned to hear what her da had to say.
Looking stony-faced, her da ordered, “Last man standing is the winner. Begin.”
12
Fenella took Avelina up to the ramparts, so she could watch from the wall-walk. They could be trampled down below, as wild as all the men were. She would think they’d had enough fighting to last their lifetimes. Not men. They were always eager to fight, even after suffering their own recent injuries in battle.
“You were brilliant to mention Quinn is still healing from his injuries. Odran will think him weak and leave himself open to attack.”
“Aye,” Avelina said, but she had no stomach for this. Quinn was her husband. Could he truly win her da over if Quinn was able to fight his brother and take over his clan? She worried that his own injuries could sabotage his fighting abilities here.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her da joining them. He stood next to them and leaned over the wall to watch.
“Thank you, Da, for trying to aid him.”
Her da snorted. “If he bests Odran, that will aid me.” Then he looked down at her. “You love him, dinna you?”
“Aye. Da, he said he’d fight his brother and rule his clan. Then you would have an alliance with him, no’ Cormac. Quinn would be true to his word.”
Her da shook his head. “That is a lot to expect. I wouldna get my hopes up.” He frowned as they watched Quinn dodge Odran’s killer blows. “He is quick as a bunny.”
But Quinn would have to strike decisive blows to take Odran down. Dodging him wouldn’t be enough.
“Quinn doesna want to lose faith with you, or me, or our people, should he kill Odran,” she said.
Her da chuckled. “He will never best Odran.” But then he was frowning again.
Avelina was frowning just as much as she saw Quinn leap at Odran, striking his padded vest at the shoulder. Odran actually stumbled back and fell on his arse.
Everyone was quiet, then low conversation filled the outer bailey, several nodding their heads at Quinn’s decisive blow.
Odran sat on his arse and didn’t get up right away, breathing heavily.
“Quinn dances like a deer,” her da said.
Then Odran was on his feet, staggered, and lunged forward, trying to kill Quinn with one pivotal blow. But Quinn was too quick. He feinted like he was falling back, but dodged to the right of the warrior instead, and kicked out with his booted foot, striking Odran in the leg.
Odran howled in pain and fell back on his arse, dropping his sword, and holding his leg.
“Odran had suffered an injury to his leg during battle, but no one saw to it?” Avelina guessed.
“He said he had no injuries, though some of us saw him attempting to hide a limp,” Fenella said.
“Serves him right,” her da said, smirking. “Here he planned to prove he should be in charge because I had been wounded.”
“He has won. Odran isna getting up. Tell our people Quinn is the winner,” Avelina commanded her da, not that her da would do what she ordered. But she didn’t want anyone else to step in to fight Quinn.
“Quinn hasna proven himself yet.”
She scowled at her da. “What? He has to die before he has proven he is a remarkable swordsman? He is injured, for heaven’s sake, Da. And he bested the man, when no one thought he could!”
“He has to fight whoever is willing to take him to task. ‘Tis our way, lass.” Her da motioned in the direction of another man who was heading toward Quinn, his sword in hand. “Padruig is up next.”
“This is barbaric.”
“’Tis the only way to prove who is the strongest and can lead the clan.”
“So if he wins, he can lead the clan!” Avelina said, not believing it for a moment. Her da had to be speaking in generalities.
Her da gave her a small smile.
“Truly?” She didn’t believe it! This was her da’s plan? She didn’t
think the council would agree to a stranger taking over their clan though. “Are you jesting?”
“Nay. If he is as invincible as you say he is, then he could lead us to victory.”
“Och, that is ludicrous.” She still believed her da was jesting. If she hadn’t saved Quinn from the sea, he would have died. He was not invincible.
“Aye, but you only have to make others believe it and it will influence the way people view him.”
His comment made her wonder if her da really did believe the council would consider Quinn for the position. She wasn’t sure the other men would support him though.
Quinn was preparing himself for the next man’s assault, as a couple of other men moved Odran out of the way. The injured clansman was howling the whole time.
“We didna give him any tips on how to fight Padruig,” Avelina said, angry with herself for not having given Quinn more information about the other men who might fight him.
“We didna need to. Quinn appears to be a skilled tactician. Consider the way he observes Padruig’s movements. He’s studying him, watching to see if he favors any old wounds or new injuries. Or if he will give away his tactics before he fights. Odran is so big and his blows so dangerous, he uses his brute force to attack and intimidate his opponent. Quinn could see that and used it to his advantage. He is like your wolf. Observant and careful. Other men might see Quinn as too cautious, but he has to use whatever techniques he can to survive. He is at a strong disadvantage, everyone wanting to see the stranger fail, and so he might have to fight numerous opponents, when he is suffering from his own injuries as well. Padruig willna be the last to challenge him. Of that I am certain.” Her da pointed out another man. “Braddach might appear relaxed, but he’s just itching to get into the battle.”
“Then you will allow it until all have fought him and Quinn is dead!”
“Silence, Daughter! He wouldna be the one for you if he canna fight well.”
She was about to tell her da that she was married to Quinn, but if her da thought her husband couldn’t fight well, then he would be glad to see him die, eager to have her married off to someone who was more powerful than him in men and supplies.
