Heart of the Highlander

by Robbins, Kate

  “Then I am not safe anywhere.”

  Muren tried to make sense of their conversation. Was she really at the root cause of all of this conflict? Just because she had chosen love over an arranged marriage of the king’s choosing? If it were even half true, she could not bear it.

  “There is one way we can be safe,” she said.

  Rorie shook his head. “No. You are not going back there. We are married now, and I forbid it.”

  Muren couldn’t believe her ears. Was this how he was going to be? “You cannot forbid me to see my own family.”

  “Aye, I can and I will if it means you are in danger. What do you think Sutherland will do if he gets his hands on you?”

  “He will let me explain, and then he will let me return to you.”

  “No, he will put you before the bishop, and he will have our marriage annulled and you married to the Douglas within a sennight. You cannot go home.”

  Muren’s body shook with anger. How dare he dictate to her that she could no longer see her family. “You spoke nothing of banning me from my family before we wed. And now that the deed is done, you will treat me as all the others have treated me, like a possession? I will not have it.”

  Rorie stood. “MacLeod, if there is nothing else, I must speak with my wife alone.”

  “There is one more thing, MacKenzie. You have not yet given me your blessing to court Mairi.”

  “And nor will I give it until I am certain all of this business has settled down. We are all in danger now, and I intend to keep my family very close to me.”

  “You cannot do that if you are dead,” MacLeod said.

  “Is that a threat?”

  “Don’t be daft, man. You know it’s not a threat from me. But it very much is from the king, her brother, and the Black Douglas.”

  With that, MacLeod went to the door and opened it. “I hope you reconsider about Mairi. I wish to link our clans, and she is my choice.”

  When the door closed, Rorie turned to Muren. For a few moments, he said nothing but just stared at her. He opened his mouth once and then shook his head and walked to the bedchamber.

  Muren waited as she heard the clanging of his sword, and when he returned he placed his weapon, belt, and plaid on the table. As he dressed, he said nothing. The silence stretched between them, and Muren’s heart beat hard with every agonizing second that passed.

  After what seemed like an age, he said, “Do you really want to leave me to return to your brother?”

  She did not. But he had to admit it would resolve much. “I do not see a better solution.”

  * * *

  Rorie could not believe his ears. After what they had shared and what they had confessed to one another, she did not trust that he would protect her? Well, by God, she was not leaving him again. He’d do whatever it took to keep her with him, even if it meant she never spoke to him again.

  Rorie finished dressing and left the lodge. He walked up the path toward the watch tower and further beyond to the other dwelling. Halfway there, he realized he’d been so caught up in his anger that he’d left her alone with no protection. He turned back to collect her, and it was only then he discovered that she had followed him.

  “I was about to return to you.”

  “I know,” she said in a small voice.

  His heart squeezed. “Muren, I do not want to lose you,” he said.

  “I don’t want that either, but you have to admit, this would all be easier if I just did what they wanted.”

  “No, it would not. The king would find another reason to strip us of our rights, and besides,” he said, and pulled her into an embrace, “you are mine now in the eyes of God and the eyes of man. I do not care what this king says. You are my wife and may even be carrying my child. I will not let anyone come between us.”

  Even as he said the words, doubt entered his heart. Something still was not right about the situation. As soon as he had mentioned a child, Muren had stiffened. He thought he understood why. While they could go into hiding for a time, it would be much more challenging with a small child or children in tow, and it was a rough way to raise a family. And then there was the matter of his family and his clan. He was responsible for far more people than she allowed for. There was no way he could hide any longer. It was time to put an end to this business one way or another.

  Holding her hand, they walked together to the other dwelling. Once there, they found Morag up, with the fire stoked and something cooking in the pot.

  Her brows were raised as she turned toward them at the door. “I do not think there has ever been a newly-wedded couple who’s left the marriage bed so early. You either dislike one another completely, or something is amiss.”

  “You’re very perceptive,” Rorie said.

  She sat at the table and folded her hands. “Then tell me. It’s Ronan, isn’t it? I curse the day his father took him from me.”

  “ ’Tis the king. He’s amassed an army and is heading north. We must return to Eilean Donan and prepare for a siege.”

  “God’s bones,” Morag said. “We can be ready to leave within the hour.”

  “Good,” Rorie said. “The sooner we are behind the stone walls of the castle the better.”

  Rorie left Muren to help her mother and his sisters pack. He rounded up all the men, who were tasked with gathering up their belongings. Within an hour, they were aboard two birlinns and heading east to Loch Duich. Rorie watched the scenery pass by and contemplated on how many disputes had occurred over land and property. In this case, Muren was that property, and much of what she said about being a part of decisions that affected her life made sense. Still, it did not change the fact that she was his wife and his to protect, like the many people who worked at Eilean Donan and those who lived in the nearby villages.

  By the time they docked, Rorie was more than ready to dive into preparations for the upcoming confrontation with the king. If the estimations were correct, the army would be there within four days; much closer than he had originally thought.

  He ordered Ewen to assemble his war council. They would need to reinforce a portion of the back courtyard and block off access to the bridge. The great thing about the bridge was that it would bottleneck an army and, in the meantime, their ships would be docked and waiting should the king use stronger force than the castle could withhold.

  Once his council had convened, Rorie took stock of his assets.

  “Our walls are thick enough to keep men out, but will not withstand cannon fire,” he said to Ewen.

  “Aye, we have stocked the larder and can remain here for months. Besides, our birlinns will provide escape should the siege last for longer than our stores.”

  “Have we heard from MacDonald?”

  “Not yet.”

  “We need him onside. It is possible for us to be blocked in if MacDonald sails against us. We absolutely need him not to take up arms against us.”

  “And if he does?”

  “Then we will have to sail to Skye and seek shelter with the MacLeods. I’ve already spoken to William, and he agrees that now is the time for the clans to band together. We cannot allow this king to pit us against the other. Sutherland’s and MacDonald’s crimes against this clan are great, and they should pay for them. But I will not start a war with either of them while this threat from the king exists.”

  The more Rorie thought about it, the angrier he became. His family had worked hard to build the clan and thrive, and the king should not have the right to pick and choose whose life he changed nor who he wished to reward. The whole thing was a gnarly mess. And none of it was Rorie’s or the MacKenzies’ doing.

  “We must fight back instead of retreat,” Rorie finally said.

  Ewen’s eyes grew wide. “I thought you wanted to avoid confrontation.”

  “I did. But enough is enough. The elder Sutherland and MacDonald destroyed an entire village in order to blame MacKay so that Sutherland could gain control over his lands. I see the king as no better in what
he is doing here. He offered me MacDonald lands as compensation for Muren. Lands he does not own. He cannot be allowed to continue on this path.”

  “We’re prepared for a siege, Rorie, but not for war,” Ewen said.

  “Then get every able-bodied man to come here and fight. If we don’t have the numbers, we’ll make the numbers. Send a missive to MacLeod. Tell him to block the seaways. I have a bad feeling about MacDonald. His wife is the queen’s cousin. It was always a stretch that they would help us.”

  Ewen grinned. “Aye, Rorie. I will do all of that. What about Fergus?”

  “Send a missive to him, too. Tell him we need his army to march south.”

  Rorie looked at the map laid out before them. He would have reinforcements by sea and from the north. If only he could secure MacDonald’s from the south, but he was sure that would not happen. And then he looked farther east.

  He looked up at the oldest man in the hall. Hugh Ross.

  “Hugh. What about your kin?”

  The man was as strong as an ox in his day, and could still wield an axe when needed. He’d been indebted to Rorie’s father, and so ended up in service to him. He was a great asset to Rorie’s council, but Rorie would award the man anything he wanted if he could secure the chieftain’s aid. In essence, they could cut off Sutherland’s access and lessen the king’s presence. Rorie was certain that’s what the king intended.

  Hugh smiled. “I believe, in this case, they will gladly come to your aid.”

  “I don’t need them to go anywhere. I just need them to keep Sutherland’s army separate from the king’s.”

  Ewen came closer as Rorie’s finger positioned the Ross army. “If only we had another ally to the south who could keep the king from crossing Loch Ness.”

  “That would take Grant and Cameron, and we both know that’s not going to happen. Nor can we count on MacIntosh. He was convinced once to stand in unison, to make a point against the king, but we can ask no more of James MacIntosh. He’s too loyal. What about Fraser?”

  Rorie looked at the map again and shook his head. “We have the vantage point in terms of a siege. But we do not as far as a battle. We cannot let him come to us. We must go to him.”

  “Where?” Ewen asked.

  “On the southern edge of Loch Ness.”

  Rorie instructed Ewen to send missives to MacLeod, MacKay, Ross, Fraser, and Grant. They had little time, but just enough if they left on the morrow. In that case, he had a lot of work to do.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Muren stood at the top of the tower and looked at the way three lochs met pretty much right where the castle was situated. She was anxious to learn of the results of the war council. She did not know much about the ways of war but, looking around, she did not think that it made much sense sitting here and waiting for the king and her brother to show up with their armies. While the larder was well stocked and they could stay here comfortably for quite some time, what if the king brought cannons? What if sailing vessels came in from the sea, belonging to someone with whom they were not allied?

  The more she thought about it, the more staying here made little sense. She must find Rorie and talk to him about it.

  As she turned to retreat down the stairs, she saw him coming up.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” he said.

  “Aye, I was just looking around at the location of the castle.”

  Rorie’s brows raised. “And what did you conclude in your examination?”

  “That staying here does not make sense if the king truly is bringing his army to attack us.”

  He smiled, and her heart fluttered a little. “You have a keen mind for strategy. How did I miss that before?”

  While she was pleased that he admired her, she was even more pleased that she did not need his admiration. The old Muren would have longed for his approval, but the new one was more concerned with pleasing herself. She liked this.

  “Mayhap you were not paying close enough attention,” she said with a grin.

  Rorie slipped his arms around her waist and drew her closer. She slid her hands up and behind his neck, drawing him down for a kiss.

  Just as his lips were about to touch hers, he said, “I promise to pay much closer attention from now on.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I want to spend the rest of the day watching your face as you reach your pleasure.”

  Muren’s body pulsed at his words. He could bring her excitement to the surface in seconds and, if he wanted to, he could have her right then and there. She was ready.

  He deepened his kiss and Muren slid her hands into his hair, pulling him closer.

  After a moment or two, he said, “I have much to tell you, and we have little time.”

  She smiled and took his hand, leading him downstairs to their chamber. “Do you have at least a little time?”

  “Aye, lass. I will make time.” At the bottom of the stairs, he drew her toward the bed and lifted her skirt. “Bend over,” he said.

  Muren hesitated. What did he mean to do?

  Rorie cupped her face with his hands and kissed her sweetly. “Trust me, love. You will enjoy this, I promise.”

  She let him bend her over the large bed, and waited as he lifted her skirts. Muren’s heart pounded as he exposed her bottom and gently spread her legs.

  “Rorie,” she whispered, as he stroked the back of her thighs and brushed his hand across her now quivering flesh.

  “I am here, love,” he said, as he slipped the tip of his hard erection into her.

  Muren gasped at the sensation and the wicked, wanton feeling of making love with their clothes on in the middle of the day.

  “Are you ready for me?” he asked.

  She was always ready for him. Biting down on her finger, she pushed her hips back, taking more of him inside of her in response.

  Rorie grabbed hold of her hips to slow her movement. He thrust hard and deep, and her body shook as desire flooded her veins. He pulled out agonizingly slowly and thrust hard and deep within her again.

  “Oh God, you feel so good,” he whispered. “Muren, you feel so good.”

  On the third thrust, Muren could not take the slow pace any longer and pushed back against him. “Faster, Rorie, please.”

  He obeyed and increased the pace of his thrusts. Two, three more, and Muren’s orgasm overtook her. Her body shook as he pounded into her deeper than she ever thought possible, stroking her to her very core.

  One final thrust and Rorie stiffened behind her. His body trembled and quaked as their climaxes took hold. He did not remove himself from her until the last wave of her pleasure had passed, then he gently lowered her skirts and lifted her from the bed.

  Embracing her and burying his face in her hair, he asked, “Did you like it that way?”

  She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. “Aye, very much. Can we do that again?” And she really did mean now. “And can we do that in other places besides our chamber?”

  Rorie leaned back and gazed into her eyes with a grin. “We can do that anywhere you like any time. Mayhap even in the guards’ room above the great hall, when people are there but do not know we are.”

  Muren loved the delicious feeling the image of that gave her. Desire washed over her again. God, how much she loved him. But reality dawned on her when he frowned.

  “What is it?”

  “Your calculation of our location was correct. We cannot stay here and wait for the king to bring his army to us.”

  “What does that mean? Where will we go?”

  Rorie shook his head. “You will stay here, and I will take our army east to meet the king somewhere that will give us an advantage in the fight.”

  “I do not want you to go,” she said and squeezed his arms. “Rorie, what if something happens to you?”

  “Nothing will happen to me, Muren. We are calling on the clans to come to our aid. If they all reply in favour, we will have the numbers to meet the king.”

  “But can they assemble
in time?”

  “Aye, but just barely.”

  “I do not understand how,” she said.

  “Come, and I will show you,” he said and took her hand.

  He led her to the great hall where a large map was laid out. Wooden carvings lay on it with inscriptions she did not recognize, but the symbols she did. Her own Sutherland clan crest lay near the water on the east coast. Underneath it was a drawing of a castle. Dunrobin.

  “Tell me what you see,” Rorie said.

  She pointed. “That’s Dunrobin, and the clan crest on that piece is Sutherland’s.”

  “Aye, what else?”

  She scanned the map.

  “I see a lion on that piece and a unicorn. That represents the king, and you have him on one side of a long loch.”

  “Loch Ness, aye. And what else?”

  She peered closer at all the pieces together and saw a crest with a fire on a hill, another with a hand holding a knife, one with a stag’s head, and one with rocks and a flame. “Which one is you?”

  “Our crest is the fire on the hill. Our motto is I Shine Not Burn. Do you understand what that means?”

  “Aye, it means you’re not a hothead like my brother.”

  Rorie smiled. “The other pieces represent MacKay, Fraser, and Grant.” As he said each name, he held up the piece.

  There was one piece he had not yet mentioned. The one just beneath Sutherland.

  She pointed to it. “And what is this one?”

  “That’s Ross.”

  “Why do they not join you in the battle?”

  “Muren,” he said in a low voice, “they are tasked with preventing your brother from joining his army with the king’s, against us.”

  “Do you really think he would fight you?”

  “I cannot risk thinking anything else.”

  Muren noticed the quiet tone his voice had taken. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

  “I do not wish to upset you. He is your brother.”

  “Aye, that he is. And even though he made a bad decision regarding my betrothal to you, he is still my family, and I would not see him harmed.”

  “I understand that, Muren. Believe me, I do. But if we do not act, I cannot guarantee that you will not still end up in the clutches of the king. Even though we are married and that marriage properly consummated. I do not trust the man, and I have to do everything to protect those for whom I am responsible.”