Entrusted to a Highlander

by Donna Fletcher

  Purity grinned. “He’s falling in love with me but doesn’t realize it yet.”

  “I wondered if you realized that.”

  Purity’s eyes grew bright. “You realized it too?”

  “It was obvious, though more to a woman than a man,” Oria said with a chuckle.

  Purity’s smile softened. “It is good to be home and have a friend to talk with.” Her smile faded slowly. “I wish Raven could be here with us.”

  “From what we’ve learned, Raven is alive,” Oria said, needing to remind herself.

  “Raven will find her way home,” Purity said with confidence that was born of knowledge. Knowledge she couldn’t share for fear of bringing harm on Raven. She just wished for her swift return so that her family would not suffer any longer.

  They talked more and of many things, including Purity’s clan and it wasn’t until a servant knocked at the door letting Oria know Wren needed her help with a delivery that the women left the solar.

  Princess and King sniffed the air as they stepped out of the keep and Purity let Oria know she’d see her later before looking to each of the animals. “Hurry and get done, it will rain soon.”

  They both took off and Purity strolled through the village, knowing they would find her scent and return to her when done. She smiled, taking in all the changes. New storage sheds had been erected, cottages had been repaired and some wore new thatched roofs while forest wreaths graced many doors. It was obvious hope had returned to the Clan MacKinnon.

  Could her marriage to Arran bring hope and good change to her clan? She prayed it would. She didn’t want her children raised in the dismal surroundings that she’d been raised in.

  Purity turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt, seeing Arran speaking with Flora. The woman wore a generous smile and she touched Arran on the arm with far too much familiarity. Why wouldn’t she? The two had shared many an enjoyable poke in the barn, and Purity knew that for sure since she’d been in the barn when they stumbled in and tumbled down on a pile of hay. She had remained quiet as a mouse for fear of being discovered and she had listened to Flora’s moans of pleasure and Arran’s loving encouragement.

  She couldn’t see if her husband smiled at Flora, though the woman’s smile never faltered and after a few moments, Flora patted him on the arm and turned to hurry away. Arran turned then and his eyes fell directly on her.

  She didn’t like the sting of jealousy she felt and she was sure he saw it in her eyes since she felt the heat of it herself. To avoid saying something she might regret, she turned and hurried to the keep. When she caught sight of Quiver, she hurried to say as she passed him, “Please see to King and Princess for me. They are off on a walk.”

  Quivered nodded and when his eyes went wide as he looked past her, Purity knew her husband was close behind her.

  She snatched her garment up enough to give her feet better flight and ran for the keep. She didn’t stop once inside. She went straight to the stairs, rushing up them and into the bedchamber she had slept alone in last night.

  She went to shut the door and her husband was suddenly there. His hand caught the edge of the door, stopping it from closing on him. He wore no smile and his eyes settled on her questioningly.

  “Did seeing me with Flora upset you?” he asked.

  He sounded more curious than anything and that perturbed Purity. She stepped away from him, warning herself to hold her tongue, ready to snap at him. Unfortunately, jealousy reigned and her tongue let loose. “She has no right touching you the way she did. That right is mine and mine alone.” Her chin went up. “What if I let another man touch me like that?” She regretted asking when a spark of anger brought a scrunch to his brow and a glare to his eyes.

  He stepped in the room, closing the door behind him, then his hand shot out and grabbed hold of her arm to yank her up against him. “I wouldn’t like it at all and believe me when I tell you that any man who dares to touch you would suffer for it.”

  She got annoyed she’d allowed herself to feel such jealousy and cause such unnecessary anger in her husband. “It won’t be necessary since I would never let a man touch me with such familiarity.”

  “I will see that Flora never does it again,” he said. “She simply wanted to tell me how glad she was I made it home and congratulate me on my marriage to you. She also told me, quite joyfully, that she was now happily wed, on which I congratulated her.”

  Purity felt foolish. “I am sor—”

  He pressed his fingers to her lips and silenced her apology. “You had every right to get angry, feel jealous, especially with what you’ve witnessed between me and Flora in the past. But I gave you my word that I would remain faithful to you and I meant it.”

  “You always have been a man of your word,” she said, continuing to feel foolish.

  “And that hasn’t changed, nor will it,” he assured her and wondered why her jealousy sent a strange stirring in him. It was almost as if he was pleased to know she was jealous. That she truly wanted him, no other, for herself alone. At one time, he had never thought of having only one woman. He never thought one woman would be enough, and yet now the thought of having any woman other than Purity didn’t appeal to him. He found no interest or felt no desire for any other woman, but his wife.

  “You realize you are committing to years with me,” she said, making it clear what such a commitment meant.

  He suffered a sharp twist to his gut when he said, “Now until the day we die.” The thought that one day he would lose her tore at him as it had done earlier when he hadn’t been able to find her. He cared deeply for her, the thought startling him, though his next thought was even more shocking to him. Could he actually be falling in love with his wife?

  “That isn’t long enough for me,” she whispered and kissed him.

  His arm shot around her waist and he twirled her around to brace her back against the door as he deepened their kiss. The more he kissed her the more he wanted to kiss her. He’d always found women enjoyable, but never had he found a woman irresistible, one who he couldn’t wait to return to again and again, one that made him ache for her—until his wife. He kissed her with a need, a desire that was foreign to him, but one he ached to explore.

  Purity’s head bounced against the door from the pounding on the other side, and Arran quickly pulled her away from it and into the crook of his arm.

  “Arran? Are you in there? You need to come with me right away,” his da shouted.

  Arran kept Purity close as he yanked the door open.

  “Come! Hurry!” his da ordered and Arran followed along with Purity without question and when they reached the Great Hall, Parlan turned to Purity. “Wait here.”

  “No!” Purity said, taking tight hold of her husband’s hand. “I will not be left to sit and worry. I will hear what is said.”

  “She will join us,” Arran commanded.

  “If that is what Arran wants, so be it,” Royden said from the entrance to the hallway that led to his solar. “Come, I’ve received important news.”

  They all followed him to the solar, Purity wondering, hoping, praying it was good news about Raven, though the tightness in Royden’s shoulders told her otherwise.

  They all took seats at the table, Purity keeping hold of her husband’s hand, sensing whatever news Royden was about to share with them was not good.

  Royden looked to Arran. “Trevor sent a message. Brynjar is on Scottish soil.”

  Chapter 13

  Arran kept calm, much calmer than he felt. That the man who caused him and so many others such suffering was now on his home soil should worry him, yet all he felt was that he would now have a chance for revenge.

  “How did Trevor learn this and where exactly is Brynjar?” Arran asked.

  A knock sounded at the door before Royden could answer. “Enter, Penn.”

  Arran took stock of the man who entered; light colored, long hair, lean, solid body, a knife tucked in his boot, and eyes that took in the room in one glanc
e. He looked to be a skilled and prepared warrior. He was also one of Wolf’s warrior’s, the one left behind when Wolf had withdrawn his men from the Clan MacKinnon.

  “Penn was tasked with delivering the message to me after delivering some healing potions Wren had prepared for Trevor’s wife,” Royden explained. “Tell them what you told me, Penn.”

  Arran took note that Penn didn’t hesitate to do as Royden commanded.

  “Word came while I was there,” Penn said, as he remained standing. “Wolf sent a message, alerting Trevor that Brynjar was here and had been for a couple of days. His reason for being here is unknown, though it is believed that his arrival here was prearranged.”

  “Meaning someone sent for him,” Arran said. “Where is Brynjar?”

  “That is presently being determined. Trevor assumes you well know that Wolf is no friend of Brynjar,” Penn said. “Brynjar has no friends, those who follow him do so out of fear or are as evil as Brynjar himself. Wolf is trying to find out why he’s here, but it isn’t easy. If he rides on his camp uninvited, Brynjar will attack and a battle will ensue and endless lives will be lost. If he sends one of his warriors with a message to meet, he risks the man suffering a horrible death. Wolf believes it is a wait and see situation.”

  “He could attack any of the clans without cause or provocation,” Arran advised.

  “Wolf doesn’t believe that’s his intention. He believes Brynjar has a specific reason to be here, possibly an invite from someone. Until that can be established, Wolf commands that we all wait and see what transpires,” Penn said.

  “And what if we wait until it’s too late?” Royden asked what he assumed they all must be thinking, recalling the attack five years ago.

  “Wolf will not lose the land and clans he has gained here,” Penn said. “His troops are far greater in number than anyone realizes.”

  “So he would ride on Brynjar if he should attack any of the surrounding clans?” Arran asked.

  “He would,” Penn confirmed. “And he would put an end to Brynjar.”

  Arran wanted that satisfaction. He wanted to feel his sword slice through the man until there was nothing left of him.

  “So what you’re telling us is to leave ourselves vulnerable once again,” Parlan said an edge of anger to his tone.

  “It is different now,” Penn said. “The oath of the beast protects you now. Wolf will let nothing happen to those under his protection. His men will descend on the area like the hounds from hell until nothing is left of those who go against him.”

  “Wolf may send the hounds of hell, but Brynjar is the devil himself and will swallow them whole,” Arran said and felt his wife’s hand tremble in his.

  Penn had no response for Arran. He turned to Royden. “Trevor says that as soon as he receives more news he will let you know.”

  “Thank you, Penn,” Royden said, dismissing the man.

  “As much as I don’t like agreeing with Wolf, on this, it is a wait and see situation,” Arran said. “If Brynjar’s intention was to invade, it would have been when his feet touched soil. That means someone extended him an invitation and who invited him and his intentions behind it are what matters more. There could be far more to his presence on our home soil than imagined.”

  “Perhaps you and Purity should remain with us until this is settled,” Royden suggested.

  “As it is your responsibility to protect the Clan MacKinnon, it is now my responsibility to protect the Clan Macara,” Arran said. “And with Galvin absent at the moment, it falls to me to make sure the clan is protected. We will need to leave sooner than planned.” His wife’s hand tensed in his. He knew she wasn’t keen on returning home, but this couldn’t be helped.

  “I fear there is not enough warriors between us to defeat Brynjar,” Royden said, not pleased to admit it. “We would have no choice but to depend on Wolf to protect us.”

  “You believe Penn speaks the truth when he says that Wolf has a far greater number of warriors here than anyone realizes?” Parlan asked.

  “It would be foolish not to believe him,” Royden said. “Endless warriors can be brought in through Learmonth land without anyone knowing it until it’s too late.”

  “Which must have been what happened the last time,” Arran said. “At least we know that Brynjar doesn’t approach from that area since it’s obvious that Wolf controls it.”

  “I would think when the King learns of Brynjar’s arrival, he will not be pleased, though he did nothing to stop Wolf from claiming land in this area,” Royden said, the thought having always disturbed him.

  “Unless he was aware of it and didn’t object,” Arran said. “He had been in talks with the King of Norway disputing claims on various isles. Could he have surrendered part of this area in return for something?”

  Parlan shook his head. “I doubt that. Monarchs don’t surrender land easily, though they may grant it in exchange for help.”

  The possibilities disturbed Arran and he was quick to voice his concern. “We need to learn more.”

  Purity listened as they went back and forth, keeping silent. She had little knowledge to offer, though she knew something was brewing and had been for a while now. However, she’d been told it was better she didn’t know the why and way of it, and she had trusted it was for the best. But had it been? It was the reason she had spoken up when Parlan had told her to wait in the Great Hall while the men talked. She didn’t want to remain ignorant of what went on. It hadn’t helped the last time. She had been left completely unprepared and she wouldn’t let that happen again.

  A snippet of the conversation caught her attention, drawing her out of her musings.

  “This is true, Da? You were no way involved with our release?” Arran asked. “When I learned you were alive, I thought you were the one who paid dearly for Royden and me to be released, though I did wonder how it could be possible when we’d been left with nothing.”

  “I thought the same myself that it was Da who got us freed,” Royden said.

  “I wish it had been me,” Parlan said. “It broke my heart when I learned your freedom could be bought and I had no coin, nothing of value to barter for your freedom.”

  “Then who did?” Arran questioned.

  “My thought as well,” Royden said. “And I suspect you worry as I do that someday someone may demand something from us in exchange for the price that was paid.”

  Another worry. Will it never stop? Purity wondered.

  Arran sat alone in the Great Hall after it had emptied for the night, thinking of brutal ways he could kill Brynjar. He had sent his wife to bed, telling her he’d join her shortly. That was hours ago. How did he go to her at all when such vicious thoughts ruled his mind?

  Arran sensed someone entering the room and, catching a shadow out of the corner of his eye, knew it was his brother.

  “Something keeps you from your bed?” Royden asked when he reached the table, swinging his legs over the bench to join Arran.

  “I could ask the same of you.”

  Royden filled a tankard from the jug on the table. “I’ve already been to my bed and pleased my wife. Something tells me my brother has yet to do the same. Brynjar still haunts you?”

  “Tell me. How do you not want revenge on Wolf for what he has done to our family, our clan—to you?” Arran asked with a nod to his stump.

  “Who said I didn’t want revenge against him? I wouldn’t mind cutting off one of his limbs, but then he didn’t cut off my hand. I lost it in battle, defending my home and the ones I love.”

  “Wolf brought that battle down on us,” Arran argued.

  “He did and what of the battles we fought and lives we took before we were captured? And what of the ones yet to come with various kings making demands on us? It seems the way of life. Endless battles. Endless death. Senselessness.” Royden shook his head. “Still, though, I’ve thought like you, and rightfully so, that vengeance would serve me well. How, though, do I kill my wife’s brother?”

  “
He didn’t consider that when he had our clan attacked,” Arran continued to argue. “And by then he knew Oria was his sister and was to wed you. Yet he had our clan attacked anyway. He owes his sister for his wrongdoing.”

  “And I owe him for helping me to save my wife’s life. He didn’t hesitate to come to her aid and without it, I would have lost her. Also, if it wasn’t for Wolf ordering yours and the other men’s rescue from Brynjar, you would have died,” Royden said before Arran could continue to argue. “Wolf is a warrior and fights like one, not so Brynjar. He is pure evil. So whatever you choose to do, know I will fight by your side, brother.”

  “He is not fighting Brynjar. I FORBID IT!” Purity commanded, having entered the Great Hall without being heard, but then she was barefoot and dressed only in a linen nightdress that barely reached her ankles. “I will not lose a husband that I’m barely wed to. I forbid it! I absolutely forbid it, husband!”

  “I’ll leave you to this,” Royden said with a chuckle and hurried out of the room and to his bedchamber.

  “This is something you have no say in, wife,” Arran said, tempering his response since anger still stirred in him.

  Purity stood directly in front of the table, her hands planted on her hips. “I most certainly do. I am your wife and I won’t leave you to die from foolishness.”

  “Foolishness?” he snapped sharply. “It is foolish to want to make the man taste the same suffering he took such pleasure in forcing on others. Brynjar would gorge himself on food and drink as he watched men being tortured, and he’d laugh at their screams.” He quickly bit his tongue, keeping himself from saying more. He didn’t want to leave images in his wife’s head that most certainly would leave her with nightmares.

  Purity cringed at his words and shook her head. “That is beyond horrible and I thank God you escaped him, and I can understand your need for revenge. But I beg you, Arran, not to take any unnecessary chance with this evil man. If you should be captured again, it would force me to plead with the devil himself for your release.”