Marti Talbott's Highlander Series, Volume 4

by Marti Talbott

  Cobb would not come and this alone would touch the hearts of many a MacGreagor. The steadfastness of an old man might be the meat that brings them all back together, Walrick thought. He wanted to ask what was happening before he left, but Gelson did not offer. Therefore, the strongest of all MacGreagors turned and started to walk away from the exhausted and emotionally drained men.

  There was death in the air...Walrick could feel it.

  Just then, he heard the clash of swords, swung around and grabbed the handle of his. Men scurried out of the way and soon, only Gelson and Silus were facing each other in the middle with their swords drawn.

  CHAPTER XI

  SILUS LOOKED DOWN AT the deep slash across his thigh. “I would sooner die before I give up his name.”

  Gelson jabbed his sword and made Silus jump back. “You protect a father or a brother? Which?”

  Silus gritted his teeth and glared at his opponent. “Neither. Kadick is trouble, needed to die and I am only sorry she escaped. You will rue the day you let her live. Someday you will see I am right and be sorry you murdered me without just cause.”

  Gelson moved left and then quickly went right hoping to throw Silus off his guard, but the man held his ground even with a bad leg. “Trying to torch any MacClurg alive is just cause enough for me. If not a brother or a father, who then? A friend?” Suddenly Gelson remembered something. At last, he had his answer and it was time for Silus to die.

  With unexpected speed, he jabbed and again slashed Silus, only this time across the chest. “You are a coward, Silus. Fight me...fight like a warrior!” His opponent repeatedly jumped back without swinging his sword. Enraged, Gelson ran toward him, jumped, put a foot on his chest and knocked him down. He flipped the sword out of Silus’ hand, put his foot on the man’s chest and started to sink the tip of his sword into Silus’ throat.

  Silus smiled. “Go ahead, kill me. I have always known I would die of a slit throat. No matter, you still will not know the name of the other lad.”

  “Ah, but I do know. He stands just to your left.” Gelson watched Silus search for the man to his left, and when he was not there, Silus turned his head to the right and looked into the eyes of his friend.

  “Did I say left, I meant right.” With one swift move, Gelson swung his sword and sliced Silus’ throat nearly severing his head. Then he raised his bloodied sword into the air, screamed his rage, brought it back down and with both hands shoved it through the heart of the man standing to Silus’ right. Breathing hard, Gelson watched the man crumble to his knees and then fall forward. “I am ashamed to have ever called you friend, Marcus.” Marcus was already dead.

  Gelson wiped his sword off on the kilt of his one-time friend and put it away. Then he walked back toward Walrick. Completely exhausted, he sunk to the ground. “Let them rest.”

  Walrick nodded, ordered the men to rest and took hold of the elder Cobb so he would not fall.

  Cobb waited until Gelson’s rage subsided a bit before he asked, “How did you know it was Marcus?”

  “When we were lads, the three of us swore an oath never to tell on the other. I had forgotten that until just now.”

  Cobb shook his head. “They chose the wrong oath to honor.”

  When he looked back, Walrick noticed Ben bringing a horse to him. “Old lad, that horse is for you. Ben will take you to your bed and you will not argue with me.”

  Begrudgingly, Cobb nodded. As soon as the horse arrived, he let Walrick help him mount and tried not to fall asleep before Ben got him home.

  “Thank you,” muttered Burk. “Cobb is my uncle, you know. He truly thought he was giving us good advice.”

  “I will tell Neil. Our laird is a fair lad, he will not punish unjustly. Sleep. I will send food and when you are rested, we will decide if we are to separate the clans or stay together.”

  AN ODD THING HAPPENED.

  When Neil looked out at the circle of exhausted, sleeping MacClurgs the next morning, there were ten MacGreagor men standing guard to protect them, and the bodies of the two slain men had been taken away. He pulled a chair up to the window and watched for quite a while wondering if the MacGreagors meant to fight.

  After the MacClurgs began to wake, the MacGreagors left and came home. It was a good sign and maybe there was hope that the two clans could live together in peace. Yet of all the things he had to decide each day, this decision was not his. It was up to the people.

  LATER IN THE DAY, NEIL let the women take clean clothing and food to the MacClurgs. Then he let the men go to the loch to bathe. The animals got fed, the eggs were collected, and the new brides were treated to baths and all the meat and honey bread they wanted. Yet the people did not laugh or sing, and often a MacGreagor wife could be seen hugging an upset MacClurg wife.

  Still, the MacClurg and the MacGreagor men remained separated, each doing as Neil instructed - searching their hearts and minds.

  At last, the warm evening breeze rustled the leaves in the trees, the tall grass swayed and Neil gave the signal for the clans to meet in the middle of the glen. Beforehand Glenna asked the English brides to watch over the children and they agreed. None of them understood the language anyway.

  Half of the MacClurg women were already in tears and ran to stand with their men, while the MacGreagor women did the same, until the clans formed two long lines facing each other with Neil and Glenna in the middle.

  Suddenly a MacClurg woman screamed, ran to Neil and threw herself down at his feet. “I did not mean it, I did not! I am so sorry!”

  Neil looked to her husband, “Is she the one?” With pleading eyes for the life of his wife, Blathan MacClurg nodded.

  Neil leaned down to pull her up but Kadick was already there, holding the woman in her arms. “Marisa, do not cry so.”

  The devastated woman lifted her eyes, saw the mark on Kadick’s face and burst into another round of sobs. ”I tried to kill you.”

  “Aye, you did. I knew it was you from the beginning. Your sad eyes gave you away. But was it you who held the torch to my door?”

  Marisa sniffed her nose and wiped her tears with both hands, “Nay, Silus held the torch.”

  “In that case, I would have your troubled heart free of anguish.” Kadick put her marked cheek against Marisa’s. “You have suffered enough and I stand up for you.” She released the woman, took Neil’s hand and got up.

  Then Kadick turned to face the MacClurgs. “I forgive you—all of you. Let this be an end of Kissy Kadick.” She watched them nod, helped Marisa up and then went back to stand beside Donnahail on the MacGreagor side.

  For a second time, Neil was impressed with the actions of the people in each clan. Yet there was still a decision to be made. He turned first to the MacClurgs. “Have you decided?” When they all nodded, he turned to the MacGreagors. “Have you decided?”

  “Aye,” the warriors answered.

  “What say ...?”

  Gill MacGreagor interrupted his laird and stepped forward. “I came here expecting a harsh life with little to eat and no friends. Then the MacClurgs greeted us with food to fill our starving bellies, hot water in which our lasses could bathe, medicine for our sores, and care for our children so we could finally rest. What is more, I found a friend in a lad called Burk MacClurg. I do not want to lose that friend. Therefore I stand up for Burk MacClurg and plead that he be made a MacGreagor.”

  “I do the same for Osgar and Luag,” shouted Slade. “They are good men and I would be honored to fight next to either of them.”

  Soon the air was filled with shouts from MacGreagors and Neil could not have been more pleased. Then he turned to the MacClurgs. “And will you give me a new pledge of honesty?”

  It was the elder Cobb who stepped forward. “I have been chosen to speak on behalf of the MacClurgs.”

  “Briefly,” a man in the back shouted.

  “Aye, briefly I am reminded.” He took just a moment to glare at someone behind him, which made everyone smile. “As I was about to say, when y
ou came to live with us, we...”

  “Cobb, just tell ‘em.”

  This time the elder man turned all the way around and glared at a MacClurg in the back row. “If you wanted to do the talking, you should have said so.” He narrowed his eyes, dared anyone to offer a retort, decided it was not coming and turned back around. “Laird MacGreagor, there is not a reason in the world why you should let us live and we know that. But the MacGreagors are far more honorable men than we. If you will allow it, we pledge all that we have, particularly honesty, and beg to become MacGreagors.”

  Finally, Neil smiled. He let the people cheer for a while and then raised his hand. “Before you are allowed to return home, each lad will stand before me and give his new pledge.”

  The men quickly lined up. The old MacGreagors pledged not to hold a grudge and the new ones pledged honesty.

  At last, they were one again and together they went home to celebrate, rest and formally welcome the English brides.

  CHAPTER XII

  THE GREAT HALL WAS filled with people, the smell of mutton cooking over the hearth hung in the air and it promised to be a good day. Neil and Glorie were speaking English and hardly anyone was paying attention, least of all Glenna.

  Suddenly, there was a tension in the air. The men became deathly quiet, and because both Neil and Glorie were speaking English, Glenna could not understand what was the matter. She did know, however that Glorie had interrupted her husband, and whatever was said caused Neil to clench his jaw and hold his temper. The men in the room needed no interpreter. The English woman had raised her voice to their laird and they were not pleased.

  From behind Glenna, Jessup began to softly interpret.

  Determined to have her way, Glorie stood her ground. “Admit it, Neil. You are wrong!”

  Glenna’s eyes shot open wide, but just as her husband always did, she changed her expression to unreadable. Then she moved from standing beside Neil to standing in front of him. She quickly kissed his lips and then turned to face Glorie.

  Glenna looked around the room at the faces of the men. Burk was not there and she was glad. He was going to be embarrassed enough when he heard what his betrothed had done. Next, she looked for two men who had not yet settled on a woman. “Sionn, you and Osgar will take Glorie back to England.”

  Confused, Glorie looked to Neil. “What did she say?”

  A very pregnant Jessup realized Neil was too furious to answer and stepped forward. “Mistress Glenna is sending you back to England.”

  “What? But I am betrothed. Can she do that?”

  “Aye,” Jessup answered, “She can and she will.”

  “But I have done nothing wrong.”

  Jessup quickly decided to stay out of it and just interpret.

  Glenna tightly folded her arms, “A MacGreagor does not dishonor her laird.”

  “I did not dishonor him, I merely pointed out the error of his ways.”

  “You pointed out the error of his ways loudly and in front of his lads. You have dishonored my husband and you must be gone from us.”

  “A lass has no say in the matters of the clan?”

  “Lasses have plenty to say and often do, but they say it to their husbands and if a husband believes ‘tis necessary, he will bring the matter to the attention of our laird.”

  Glorie was horrified, frustrated and angry. Not knowing exactly what to do, she sunk to her knees and started to pray. “Father, do not let her...”

  A few seconds later, Glenna was on her knees right next to Glorie, “Father, help this heathen understand...”

  “Heathen? You dare call me a heathen?”

  “You dared dishonor my husband? In my eyes that makes you a heathen.”

  Jessup had to talk quickly to keep up.

  “So you will send me away just like all the others? I have expected it.”

  “As you wish.”

  It was not the reaction Glorie hoped for. “I do not wish it.”

  “I do not wish it either, but I cannot allow you to come into my home and dishonor my husband.” Glenna paused to let Jessup catch up and then to let her words sink in. “Greer says you once lived with a storyteller. We do not have a storyteller and I was hoping you might pass the stories on to us.”

  Glorie’s eyes began to light up. “Perhaps I do have a talent other than praying.”

  “I was hoping so.”

  “Then I can stay?”

  “If you promise to learn our ways.”

  Glorie was about to throw her arms around her, when Glenna held up her hand to stop her. “Because you have dishonored your laird, you will not be permitted to marry until spring.”

  “But that is half a year,” said Glorie.

  “Aye.” Glenna reached out, took the hand of the nearest man and let him help her up. Then she went back to stand beside her husband. “Furthermore, you are not to come into my home again until the day after you marry. Only then will I call you a MacGreagor and welcome you to our family.”

  As soon as Glenna nodded, two men pulled Glorie to her feet and took the surprised woman out of the room. Glorie thought about loudly protesting, but...thought better of it for once.

  That night, Neil stretched out beside his wife in their bed and drew her into his arms. “You banished her from our home?”

  “I thought you could use the rest.”

  “I am forever in your debt. I could not have thought of a more fitting punishment myself.”

  “You may not so happily approve once you realize I have also forbidden Burk to marry before spring.”

  “You are right. I will have a very unhappy warrior on my hands come morning.”

  Glenna snuggled closer, “Perhaps in a month or two, you might persuade me to change my mind and let them marry. But she will still not enter my home until spring.”

  “You are a very thoughtful lass.” He was about to kiss her when he heard a ruckus coming from below, and the sound of footsteps racing up the stairs. He made sure they were covered and waited for either Walrick or Gelson to open the door.

  Gelson was nearly breathless, “‘Tis Jessup.”

  “Her baby comes?” asked Glenna.

  “Aye, but she is inconsolable. Word came just now—the King of England is dead.”

  Neil closed his eyes and hung his head. “I will go to her.”

  KADICK AND DONNAHAIL were blissfully happy. They, together with Neil and Glenna enjoyed the warm evening breeze by standing near the river listening to the rushing water, and watching the blue and green curtain of lights dance across the night sky.

  “They remind me of home,” said Glenna. She leaned against Neil and welcomed it when he put his arms around her from behind. “They are called the northern lights and they are even more beautiful when they appear just above the ocean. We see them nearly every year in winter and none of us fear them.”

  “But why would the moon turn yellow?” asked Kadick. She too leaned against the man she loved.

  Glenna smiled. “I can answer that too. Once there was a ship at anchor just off the coast. The ship was very large, the white moon was coming up behind it and never had we seen such a wondrous sight. But then the ship caught fire. It was a candle knocked over, we learned later, but the smoke made the moon turn yellow.”

  “Smoke? It was just smoke.” Kadick reached over and patted Glenna’s arm. “Did Neil tell you? He did not have a headache the whole time we were away.” She turned in Donnahail’s arms and kissed his lips. “I am cold and I hear ‘tis a husband’s duty to keep his wife warm.”

  “You want me in your bed again before we are married?”

  She smacked his arm, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her cottage. “Nay, I want you to build a fire in my hearth.”

  Glenna laughed, watched the wall of bright lights a little longer and then turned to face Neil. “Perhaps there is too much straw in our bed. If your misery returns, we will remove some.”

  He kissed her cheek. “But not if it causes you discomfort.”
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  “Just now I am reminded. What is this I hear about my having the power to force a lass to marry?”

  “I was afraid you might hear about that. It was the best I could come up with and it was for Kadick’s sake.”

  “Well, so long as it was for Kadick.”

  “How is our beloved Jessup?”

  Glenna took a deep breath and let it out. “The baby is fine, but I fear Jessup has cried so much her milk may not come in. She truly loved the king.”

  “Jessup and the King of England have been dear friends for years and he was a good man. He told me he often went to see her, because she was the only one who would tell him the truth instead of showering him with useless flattery. He was sorry to give her up to Patrick and Scotland, but glad to see her happy finally. I do not believe he was much older than I. I wonder what killed him.”

  “I suspect we will hear soon enough. I do so hope it was not some horrible illness.”

  Neil was quiet for a moment. “My love, did I ever tell you about the word?”

  “What word?”

  “The word is ‘hollow.’ It was a secret word between the King of England the laird of the MacGreagors, handed down from my grandmother to my father and then to me. If one needed to speak to the other, he was to send the word and then meet in a clearing on the border. But now the king is dead and the MacGreagors no longer live on the border between the two countries. I fear the word is lost and it prevented several deaths in its time.”

  “Perhaps on a cold day when there is nothing to do, you can tell me all about it.”

  “Perhaps I will. England has enjoyed two good kings in a row. But power, greed and wealth do not often breed good lads. The new King might bring trouble down upon the heads of his own people as well as the Scots.”