by Mary Wine
The Cameron snorted. “Enough, Lundy. Ye have no right to try and make sure yer cousin remains childless. She’s going to Holyrood alive. I’ve given my word on it, so that is what will be.”
Lundy snarled something in Gaelic, but there were more Camerons in the hall. They clustered around their leader.
“I will nae be forgetting this, Quinton Cameron.”
“Neither will I.” There was a wealth of meaning in those words.
Quinton turned his back on Lundy and pointed Shannon toward the doors behind her. There was a clear warning in his eyes, but Shannon felt Baeth pulling on her arm too. There wasn’t really any choice, except in the manner in which she would be leaving the hall. If she refused, she would be carried away.
Still, part of her wanted to hesitate, because she had learned to love being inside the tower. Leaving it was as bitter as she had feared it would be. But her time was spent, just as she knew it would be, and there was nothing to do but face the justice her father’s actions demanded.
She’d do it with courage, so she turned and walked toward the yard.
The morning was brisk, but the sun was quickly burning it away. Shannon shivered without an arisaid to cut the chill. Or maybe she shivered because of the number of horses in the yard. There were nearly a hundred between Lundy’s McLerens plaids and Cameron’s colors. The men stared at each other, their clan loyalty strong and fierce. It wouldn’t take much to spark a fight. It was suddenly clear why Lundy would think he’d be able to order her death; there were even numbers of his men and Cameron’s. With a child sitting on the throne, it looked as if the regent and lieutenant general didn’t trust anyone. That was the only reason both men would have been sent to fetch her.
“Do nae be worrying about Lundy, lass. I will nae be allowing him to harm ye.” Quinton Cameron considered her for a long moment. “Is it possible ye might be carrying Torin’s babe?”
Shannon drew herself up stiffly. “It is, but it is none of yer concern.”
He was amused by her tone, a slight flicker of admiration appearing in his eyes. But it died when Lundy spoke up behind him.
“The slut has been warming McLeren’s bed, even hung out a soiled sheet, from what I hear.” Lundy appeared with several of his men, and there wasn’t a kind look among them. “Obviously this McBoyd thinks to avoid justice by spreading her thighs.”
“The laird ordered the sheet flown.”
Baeth spoke up without hesitation. There was firm disapproval in her tone. She pointed at Lundy. “Take a good look at my face, for I want ye to remember it. I will nae be frightened into submission. The girl was pure, and the laird wanted to make sure everyone knew that he respects her.”
“Fine, then. She will die a respected traitor.” Lundy sneered at Baeth and made a motion toward her with one hand. Quinton Cameron stepped quickly between him and the head of the McLeren house.
“I have no argument that her father is a traitor, but a daughter has no say in what her father does. Ye will be saving yer accusations, Lundy. I’ll nae see the lass terrorized by yer threats.”
“It would take more than a blustering fool to frighten me.”
Quinton smiled once again, amused by her. Lundy wasn’t, and the man aimed a stare that was smoldering with hatred toward her.
“She needs to die. To wipe this threat to the king away forever.”
“Enough.” Cameron turned and lifted one hand. A portion of his men moved forward, one of them leading a powerful stallion.
“I said it before, Lundy. We were ordered to fetch the lass to Holyrood Palace, and that is all we were told to do.” He stepped up to his horse and fitted one foot into the stirrup. He didn’t linger but swung up onto the back of the animal with solid strength.
“She rides with my men because ye are far too eager to ensure ye inherit the McLeren title by making sure Torin remains childless. If he had a soiled sheet flown, that’s good enough for me. They are hand fasted, to my way of thinking. Torin will wed her soon enough, mark my words. It’s time he married, and that will settle this matter her father began so that it does nae become a feud. That is what we need, peace in the Highlands, nae another slit throat that will bring her kin marching to claim vengeance, and that will in turn see Torin having to repay that bloodletting. He’s a wise man to think to wed to avoid all that killing.”
Many men nodded in agreement, but Lundy became more enraged.
“The only thing that will satisfy me is the death of every McBoyd.”
“I do nae care, Lundy, do ye hear me? The lass rides with me, and that’s the end of it.”
“No, the lieutenant general will be the one deciding what the end of it is.” Lundy pointed a finger at her. “Ye will die with the rest of yer disloyal kin.”
“I will like it better than licking yer boots.” Maybe she should have remained silent. For certain her father would have raised his hand against her, in spite of her words being in his favor. Shannon didn’t care. A sound of approval rippled through the Camerons, but Lundy’s expression turned even darker.
“Lundy, man, that ambition is going to be yer downfall.”
Quinton Cameron spoke quietly, but his words still drifted to some of his men. They held their thoughts behind stony expressions, but their eyes darted between her and Lundy, missing nothing.
Quinton let out a short whistle, and a mare was brought around for her. Baeth grabbed her arm and thrust something toward her. It was a McLeren arisaid, still warm from the head of house’s body.
“Ye cannae go out onto the road without something to cut the chill. Take it, lass. There is no time for quibbles about the colors.”
“Thank you, Baeth.” Shannon didn’t argue but hugged the length of wool to her chest. It was more than an arisaid, it was a symbol to every soul watching that Baeth approved of her. That was something that might never be bought. “For every kindness ye have shown me.”
Baeth snorted. “Ye are worthy of them, and I will be waiting on yer return.”
Brockton pushed his way to the front of those clustered on the steps. With a firm hand, he steadied her mare and offered her a hand in gaining the saddle.
“Stay with the Camerons, mistress. Lundy is a greedy man. He’ll do exactly what he said in a moment if he gains the opportunity. Do nae give it to him.”
She was on the back of the horse before her brain truly registered what Brockton muttered to her. He kept his voice low, so that his words remained between them. Tension rose in her throat so thick it threatened to choke her. The feeling was remarkably similar to how she had felt the first time she stood at the foot of the stairs leading into the tower.
Quinton Cameron watched her and raised one hand up the moment she was holding the reins of her mare.
“Ride.”
He spoke the single word, and the men in the yard surged toward the gate in a rush of leather and hooves. Her mare followed without urging, and the Cameron men closed around her, making it impossible for any of Lundy’s men to ride near her. It was not a simple matter. Lundy’s men guided their horses too close, attempting to get the Cameron retainers to pull up, but they didn’t. Instead the entire mass of horses and men surged through the gate and onto the bridge. Shannon wasn’t given time to lament her departure from Donan Tower; she was swept along by the current of men.
She felt torn away from something that was dear. Pain raked across her heart, and she turned to look back at the place in which she had gotten to know the other side of her captor. The stark difference between Torin and Lundy made her want to retch. She was grateful that she had not broken her fast this morning, else she would have disgraced herself by emptying her stomach in the midst of so many.
They crossed the long bridge and made their way through the village without slowing down.
It would seem that fate was eager to claim another victim.
***
“Allow me to help ye down, mistress.”
Quinton Cameron held up a hand to her, but the man also reached for the bridle and secured it in a firm hand. Shannon stared at his hand for a long moment before sliding down the side of the mare without placing her hand into his. She heard a soft snort from him before he handed off the mare to one of his men.
“I can see what Torin likes about ye.”
She doubted it but held her thoughts behind silence. Making an enemy of the only man standing between her and Lundy wasn’t a wise idea. Here on the road, her body might never be found, not that being discovered mattered if she were long dead. What comfort was there in knowing that her bones rested in church ground? The clergy might argue that her soul was more important, but at the moment she was more interested in remaining alive.
“But that stubbornness must nae encourage ye to leave my sight.” Quinton Cameron’s voice was edged in warning that she didn’t need to hear, because she felt it running down her neck and leaving the tiny hairs raised.
“Ye do nae seem to be allowing me any space to do so.”
Cameron raised one eyebrow. “Any man who thinks himself undefeatable will shortly find himself nursing his injured pride. In yer case, I doubt there will be any need for nursing. Lundy will slay ye if he gets the chance.”
Shannon lifted her chin. “I heard the man clear enough.”
“Good. I hope ye do nae make the mistake of thinking ye can outrun us.”
The warning flickering in his eyes annoyed her.
“Ye all seem to think that I am loath to travel to where this might all be settled.”
Cameron offered her a skeptical look. “Are ye saying ye are content with going to Holyrood?”
Shannon pulled the McLeren arisaid up to cover her chilled neck. “Let us simply say that I am loath to continue on with this waiting. I am nae a coward to hide behind an honorable man like Torin McLeren.”
“Torin is that, which is why I owe him the service of keeping Lundy from ye. If Torin took ye back to Donan Tower, I suspect there is a reason.”
For all that Quinton Cameron seemed to be looking at her, the man was also remarkably aware of his surroundings. He suddenly looked past her and nodded.
“You will be staying within my reach.”
He didn’t allow for any resistance to his command either. He reached out and grasped her upper arm in a grip that promised pain if she tried to refuse. His men had raised a simple tent while they spoke, only two poles driven into the ground with a length of canvas secured to the tops before being pulled down at an angle to the ground. Other such shelters were being erected around them as flint was struck to small piles of wood. Conversation was low and subdued, dying completely when Cameron passed by with her in tow.
“Ye’ll sleep in the back of my tent.”
“With ye?”
The space was small, no bigger than the bed she’d shared with Torin. Flaps fell down on either side to make the space private and keep out the elements.
“Aye. Ye may relieve yerself in back of those rocks, and ye have only a few moments of light left to do it. Once it’s dark, ye will be in the back of my tent, where I can be sure of where ye are.”
She snarled softly, biting back the words she wanted to use to argue with him, but her body urged her to wait until she’d tended to her personal needs first. Cameron didn’t look as though he were open to negotiating how much time she had.
She returned just as night had fallen completely. Quinton pointed toward the tent.
“Go on, do nae make me put ye in there. It’s the only solution that will ensure I complete my duty to see ye delivered to Archibald Douglas. Torin McLeren is a man I call friend. Ye’ll not have any trouble from me, only my protection from Lundy there.” Quinton Cameron suddenly winked at her. “I steal my own women.”
Shannon growled softly but sank to her knees so that she might crawl into the back of the tent. There was a length of canvas spread out to form a floor. It kept the dirt from soiling her but did little to cut the chill. Most of Cameron’s men had pulled their own tartans over their heads now too. Without the sun to warm them, the air grew cold. She went toward the far corner of the tent, seeking some space between her and the man guarding her. It forced her to lie down, but at least she gained what she wanted. Cameron was now separated from her by an arm’s length. The man’s back was wide and thick with muscle just as Torin’s was, but she was not drawn to him. Her gaze didn’t trace those shoulders with the same devotion that it did with Torin. It was very simple to look away. The man was talking to one of his retainers, ignoring her as easily.
But the moment she spread out, her belly growled low and long. He turned to look back toward her. Shannon frowned because she didn’t want him thinking about her needs.
He held out a small pouch and skin, turning to face her more.
“I am well enough.”
His eyes narrowed. “Ye are hungry, because I forgot to feed you. I suppose I’ll have to be learning to remember that when I get to stealing myself a woman.”
He winked at her, but Shannon frowned. “It is nae a good jest, that of stealing women.”
“Ye looked rather happy last night by Torin’s side, for a stolen woman.”
Her cheeks heated slightly. “I was happy.”
The pouch and skin landed near her head with a flick of his wrist. He turned his back on her once he had tossed them to resume talking to his captain. Their voices were low, and she only caught every other word, so she stopped trying to understand them. Her belly cramped and demanded she dispense with her pride. Where the mind might have been willing, the flesh still had needs. At least Cameron seemed willing to allow her to eat in private, or something close to it. His large body kept her out of sight for the most part. When she turned over and faced the end of the tent, she was able to relax her tight control over her expression. The low conversation drifting to her ears from Cameron gave her enough peace to keep her back turned to the rest of the group.
Inside the pouch was a small offering of nuts and dried meat. There were also hard baked biscuits in thin lengths like fingers. They were difficult to chew, but she had nothing else. The skin held water, and it was fresh and sweet, making the biscuits easier to swallow. For all their dryness, they filled her belly remarkably well. Once she drank from the skin, what she’d eaten felt like it was expanding inside her.
“I’ll be telling the Douglas about the sheet.”
Shannon gasped, choking on what was in her mouth. She forced it down before glaring back at Cameron. “That is between Torin and me. I never wanted him to fly that soiled gown.”
Cameron looked amused. “So it was a gown, was it? Not a sheet? Very interesting to hear that bit.”
“’Tis nae interesting. It is my private affair is what it is.”
Quinton’s face became pensive. He studied her for a long moment.
“Nay, lass, it is a matter for more than ye. In fact, that is the driving force behind Lundy’s need to do ye harm. He fears that ye might conceive where all others have failed. Affection can have that effect on a couple.”
Her neck tingled once again. “What do you mean?” She wanted to deny that she harbored affection for Torin, but it would have been a lie, and he deserved better than that. Besides, life was suddenly sweeter today, she could feel the sand running through the hourglass that was her time in this life. She needed to embrace every good moment, not shrug it off. There would be plenty of grief to contend with. Cameron leaned back on one elbow and smirked at her.
“I notice ye didna deny yer feelings for the man.
”
“That is—”
“None of my concern?” His voice was arrogant and mocking, annoying her greatly.
“I liked it better when yer back was to me.” Shannon threw his pouch and skin back toward him. She rolled over onto her back and looked at the canvas above her.
“All right, lass. Ye made yer point rather well. Torin is a lucky man.”
Shannon failed to rein in her curiosity and rolled back onto her side to look at the man. He was studying her once more, this time from beneath lowered eyebrows.
“Aye, ye heard me correctly. I said Torin was lucky because ye clearly do hold affection in yer heart for him. I believe Lundy might be justified in his worry. Ye might just be the one to give Torin a child.” His face darkened, as did his tone. “That’s something that is long past due. Torin McLeren is a good man.”
“His mistresses were all good women if they didn’t allow themselves to conceive.”
And it also meant that Torin had told her the truth about his devotion to whichever woman he considered his at the time. That was something no wife might expect, but that every husband demanded. It made her heart ache for him even more.
“Aye, they were that.” Quinton drew in a stiff breath. “But Lundy swears it is on account that he’s meant to be laird of the McLerens. I think Torin deserves something else.”
“He does.”
“If he flew the proof of yer innocence from the window, ye are something important to him.”
Shannon bit into her lower lip, trying to remain silent. Cameron laughed at her efforts.
“Some couples are favored with love. I envy Torin yers.” Cameron leaned slightly toward her. “I see it in yer eyes and the way ye keep edging away from me.” He narrowed his eyes. “Ye’d be trying to cling to me if ye gave up yer purity to gain Torin’s protection.”
Shannon scoffed at Cameron’s ideas. “Torin is an honorable man, and I am nae a coward. That explains why I am not interested in clinging to ye. Or to Lindsey, when he tried his hand at impressing me.”
She rolled back onto her back to end the conversation. Cameron was correct about one thing: she wasn’t interested in clinging to him, even if it meant facing Lundy. The man she longed for was not near, and she felt the separation keenly. The ones who peered toward the tents through the darkness made her neck tighten with tension. Some of them would kill her if they could. The night stretched out in an endless string of hours that just might be her last.
