Summoning what strength he had left, Bryn twisted and rolled out of the way as the hammer came crashing down. Mud flew up as he scrambled to his feet and struck out with his blade, slicing Malcolm across the back. Malcolm screamed in pain and swung his hammer around. The end of it caught Bryn’s sword. The terrible vibrations almost made Bryn drop the sword. It took all of his stamina to brace himself against the painful sensations that ran all the way up his arm. He gritted his teeth and brought his mind to focus as he braced himself for the next attack.
Again and again, the two men had fought, and none could prevail over the other. And none would prevail today either.
Their vigor and their physical strength were in balance as was the strength of their clans. Deep down both men respected each other. It took a real warrior to recognize one and that was what led them to halt the fight. Whoever won would have no men left to rule over...
“Enough for the day?” Malcolm said, out of breath.
Bryn tilted his head, wondering if this brief interlude was a trap. Perhaps he had wounded Malcolm more heavily than he had first suspected.
* * *
He looked around and realized as well that they would both lose all their men and strength if this went on. He raised his sword and a few men that were close to them came to an halt without letting their guard down.
“Let us meet tomorrow! To negotiate. Enough for the day!” he shouted.
Malcolm nodded.
As the warriors around them slowly stopped, the order spread like a wave until it reached the furthest ends of the battlefield. None of the warriors showed sighs of relief seeing their leaders coming to a halt. But most—if not all—of the men were indeed relieved. Not because they lacked courage, but because they all realized that this battle was leading nowhere.
Malcolm and Bryn met the next morning and nothing indicated that the two men were close to killing each other the previous day. Their conversation began with no introductions as soon as Bryn entered Malcolm’s tent.
“Here we go again.” Bryn sighed. He did not expect much to change. But Malcom had other plans.
“Dae ye remember when we used tae duel as wee ones?” Malcolm asked.
“Hah! Neither one of us could get the upper hand,” Bryn replied, surprised by the words that came out of Malcom’s mouth.
When they had grown up there had been peace between the two clans and the boys had spent quite a lot of time together as they were both of noble blood. They had tested their strength and often fought to a draw. In another life, they may have been friends, but their fathers had reignited the conflict and the heirs had continued the sins of generations. But as they stood there in that tent, they looked at each other and remembered the times they had spent together as children.
“I’m nae sure anything hae changed. We could fight here for forty days and forty nights and still, there would be nae victor,” Malcolm said. “We would lose all our men.”
Bryn was surprised. The mention of childhood had brought to mind nostalgic memories from a time when things were so innocent and simple. Back then there had not been a thought of war or that they would ever fight because they hated each other. In truth, neither man could claim that they hated each other now. They were just fighting because that’s what their families did.
“Dae ye ever wonder what we are fighting for?” Malcolm asked.
“It hae crossed my mind more than once,” Bryn said. “I’m nae sure if anyone knows why this all began in the first place. What dae ye actually hae on ye mind Malcolm?”
“I dinnae ken really, it’s just when we were fighting my mind was taken back tae our childhoods and I just thought…why are we daeing this? Dae I really hate ye? Is this gaeing tae happen tae our children tae? I dinnae ken if I want Rhys tae follow in these footsteps. Is there nae a better way?”
Bryn arched an eyebrow. “I’m surprised tae hear that from ye. I hae never known ye tae turn away from a battle.”
“Aye, I know ye may think this is some trick, but look at this. I enjoy a fight as much as the next, but only when I know what I’m fighting for. Meeting you again in battle like this, it makes me wonder what we’re really daeing. There’s nae honor in fighting an empty war, and that’s what this is. Can ye honestly say ye’d feel good if ye took my head home with ye?”
Bryn shifted uncomfortably and licked his lips.
“I cannae say I hae ever thought of ye dying. The conflict between our clans has gone on for generations.”
“That’s just my point! What’s the point in a war that never ends? We’re leading our men tae death, and one day it’s gaeing tae be our own flesh and blood. Bryn, I think it’s time we changed things,” he said.
Bryn almost laughed because it was so incongruous that the most feared warrior in the land would ever suggest that peace was the only solution to war, but it was something he had considered.
“I suppose I agree with ye tae some extent. As a man who has considered all options I hae thought about peace, but it needs tae be a peace that lasts. We cannae just repeat the mistakes of the past,” Bryn warned.
“Aye,” Malcolm said. He stroked his beard and gave the impression that he was thinking on the spot, although he had been considering this matter for some time. Bryn had always been the better thinker of the two, but Malcolm knew the other man underestimated him. He had to hide his smile as this had all been considered before this battle had even begun. “It haes tae be something that lasts, but the solution tae me is obvious. We both hae firstborn children at an age they could both marry. Since it’s time they wed anyway, why nae tae each other? We can bring the clans together and never hae tae worry about gaeing tae war with each other again.”
Bryn considered the matter. It was, of course, a plan he had thought about before. He had never suggested it because he hadn’t believed that Malcolm would go for it. The fact that Malcolm had suggested it was surprising, considering his reputation for being a brute, but perhaps it showed that he was getting wiser in his old age. Losing all their men is something no wise leader desired.
Bryn thought about all the lives that had been lost because of the conflict with the Frasiers. Because of the history shared between the families, it was difficult to trust Malcolm, but Bryn thought the risk was worth it as they stood to gain peace, and peace meant that they could flourish. He wasn’t sure that Caitlin would enjoy the prospect of marrying Rhys, but he would make her understand that she had a duty to do for the clan.
The only question was whether he trusted Malcolm or not. He looked at him for a few moments and made his decision.
“I agree, Malcolm,” Bryn said. They clasped arms and nodded at each other, sealing their agreement, and soon the air was peaceful again. Generations of warfare and hostility had made tensions rife, but something as monumental as marriage was perhaps the only thing that could save them.
But if this failed then there could never be peace, and neither family would stop until the other was vanquished.
Chapter 1
Caitlin was sitting in the hall of the McClearey home as her mother, Violet, and her aunt, Iris, attended to her. Violet was twining flowers in Caitlin’s auburn hair, while Iris was rushing about making sure that everything was in order. Caitlin pouted and her muscles twitched, for she was restless. Three months had passed since her father had returned from battle in a good mood. At the time she thought he had won and the war would be over for the time being. After all, if there was anything that was certain it was that the Frasiers and the McCleareys would attack each other. That was the saying around these parts. Peace was just a break between the conflict. It seemed inevitable that it would start up again, so when Bryn had sat his family down and explained what had happened, they were all unconvinced.
Violet seemed to be thrilled, while Caitlin’s siblings had mixed feelings. The four brothers were all younger than her and were eager to become warriors. They ranged from nine to sixteen. Caitlin herself was eighteen and had left the flush of youth behind as sh
e entered womanhood. Her skin glowed with a virtuous bloom and the distance between her brothers had never been greater. They were all rough. Mark, her eldest brother, had started to grow a beard. Dominic and Pip would not be too far behind in that regard, while Callum was still just a baby compared to the rest. They raised a ruckus as they disagreed with Bryn’s decision, while Caitlin remained quiet. She glared at the boys to try and get them to be quiet as Bryn explained everything that happened.
“Why would Malcolm agree tae such a thing?” Violet asked.
Bryn pursed his lips. “It seems that when we were fighting his mind was taken back tae our childhood, when we dueled as boys. We looked around and saw all our men dying. The clans hae lost sae much. Eventually, there will be naething left. He speaks sense. This is needed sae we can grow again and flourish.”
“It’ll just last a few years and then one of ye will find a reason tae gae tae war or one of ye lads will,” Iris said, jerking her heads towards the boys. Mark puffed out his chest and nodded, as though it was a thing to be proud of. Caitlin let out a tittering laugh.
“Oh Mark, ye act sae brave at the dinner table, but I dinnae ken what chance ye would hae in a war. Ye cannae even beat me with a sword!”
Mark glared. “I just gae easy on ye because ye are my sister.” His cheeks turned red and the way he spat out his words showed that he had been disturbed by what Caitlin said. She wore a smug smile as though she had proven her point, and turned back to look at her father, who looked aggrieved at the shouting between the people at the table.
“Let’s all calm down.” He opened his palms and made a soothing motion. “Ye dae hae a point, Iris. Peace hae never lasted for tae long between us, which is why we hae something that makes the agreement ironclad.” His gaze fell upon an unsuspecting Caitlin, who was completely unprepared for what Bryn was about to say. When he revealed that he had agreed to marry her off to Rhys Frasier, the future laird of the Frasier clan, she wasn’t sure what to think, although it certainly wasn’t something she was keen on. Not only had she never met the man, but she had always been brought up to hate the old enemy!
But she had acted demurely and accepted the news with a nod, and then excused herself for the evening, returning to her chambers where she flung herself on her bed and wept into her pillow.
There had been much weeping since then as well, although now that her wedding day had arrived, Caitlin was oddly calm. There was a sense of inevitability about it. There was nothing she could do to stop it, so there was no point in trying to escape her fate. It was somewhat akin to being caught in a storm. It wasn’t pleasant being drenched, but she could hardly sweep away the storm with a gesture. It was going to happen whether she liked it or not, so she might as well grin and bear it.
She waited patiently as her mother played with her hair, trying to arrange it in a pretty fashion. Caitlin wasn’t complaining about the fuss that was being placed upon her. She had been given a white dress that had been woven from the finest material the clan could find, and it clung to her body in a way that accentuated all of her natural curves. She had never felt more like a woman than when she had looked down at herself in her dress. Her flawless skin was milky, and she looked the picture of innocence. Beauty radiated from her, but as every moment passed, her heart beat a little more quickly as anxiety rose, fluttering in her stomach.
“I remember when I married ye father,” Violet said, chatting idly as she played with the flowers. “It was the happiest day of my life.”
“Are ye trying tae rub the poor lass’s face in it?” Iris asked indignantly. “Ye didnae hae tae marry a brute!”
Caitlin squirmed at the description of her betrothed. She had never met Rhys Frasier, but she knew the reputation of the clan as big and brutish, not the handsome and charming gentlemen she had always pictured in her mind when she had fantasized about the man she was going to marry.
“Is it true their family were once giants?” Caitlin asked.
Violet scoffed and shook her head. “That is just a story, nae more real than ghouls and goblins. They’re just tall, that’s all, and I’m sure that Rhys will make a good husband.” She gave a pointed glance towards Iris, who muttered something under her breath.
“I just wish I had a chance tae meet him beforehand. At least it may have settled my nerves,” Caitlin admitted.
“Ye’ll be fine my dear.” Violet placed her arms around Caitlin’s shoulders and leaned in to kiss Caitlin’s cheek. “I’m sure ye will be happy, and love will come tae ye as it does tae every husband and wife.”
“And if nae then ye can always sleep with a dagger under ye pillow,” Iris said. Violet looked shocked at her sister-in-law and shook her head.
“Ye should nae be telling her that!” Violet turned to her daughter once again. “Ye will nae hae anything tae worry about. Ye da wouldnae hae made this agreement if he thought anything bad was gaeing tae happen tae ye. He loves ye dearly. Ye are the most precious thing in the world tae him,” Violet said. Caitlin smiled. She would have been lying if she said that Iris’s words did not make her quail with anger. She wanted to believe in the best for her own sanity, but she also feared the worse. The Frasiers were their enemy and it seemed wrong to be forced to give her heart to one of them. Secretly, she had thought of her prowess with the sword, knowing that she could at least rely on that to provide a defense, although she was not sure how proficient it would be against a warrior from the Frasier clan. Their reputation was one of brutality and aggression. Sometimes they were said to be more animals than men, born of giants and beasts, and the thought made her shudder.
The conversation between the three women was interrupted by the arrival of Bryn, who burst through the door and looked upon Caitlin with great adoration. He looked stunned by her beauty and took her hands in his. He turned to Violet and Iris, requesting some time alone with his daughter before she was married. They left, muttering amongst themselves, Violet still irked that Iris would talk about such things in front of Caitlin, and Iris defending herself staunchly, saying that the girl needed to be ready for anything.
Bryn smiled widely and there was a tear in his eye as he looked at Caitlin.
“Ye are sae beautiful, and I am proud tae have ye as a daughter,” he said, beaming. Then, he let out a small chuckle. “There was a time when I would never hae thought ye would end up wearing a dress like this. I remember when you were a wee lass there was naething ye liked more than running through the woods causing trouble, dragging dirt back with ye, ye smudged and ye clothes tattered. Ye ma and I never knew what ye got up tae!”
Caitlin shrugged and smiled at the memory. “I only ever strolled through the forest,” Caitlin said. “I never looked for trouble.”
“Nae, but it always had a way of finding ye,” he said in good humor, and then exhaled deeply. His expression became more serious. “I wanted tae thank ye. I know it is nae easy tae hae ye destiny decided for ye like this, but it is what’s best for the clan.”
“I know, Father, and I am proud tae dae my duty for ye. I hae always known that I would hae tae marry one day. I have faith that ye hae made a good choice.” She cast her gaze to the ground. “But I am unsure about marrying a Frasier. How can I love a man who haes always been my enemy?” Caitlin asked.
Bryn nodded. “I know it is difficult, but I hope that it will come in time. I want ye tae be open with ye mind and ye heart. Give this a chance because the safety of the clan depends on ye.” His expression became grave. “I know it was unexpected, but in truth, I hae wanted a way tae end the war for a long time. Seeing sae many people die…it is never a good thing tae see your friends and family pass on because of a war. I would hate for ye tae hae tae gae through that as well.”
“My brothers think that a war is the only way forward. They tease me and want me tae run away at the altar so that another battle begins.”
“Aye, they are young and dinnae understand, but ye are different. Ye hae always seen the bigger picture. I had nae hesitation in accept
ing this agreement as I knew ye would dae ye duty and represent the clan.”
“Of course, Da. I know that it is more important than any of us. We each hae our duty, and this is mine. I will nae let ye down,” Caitlin said, matching her father’s serious tone. Bryn cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her on the forehead. His pale lips trembled and his eyes glistened with tears. He smiled weakly, and although Caitlin had always thought of her father as a strong, vigorous man, this was perhaps the first time when she thought of him as old. Time turned like a wheel and took everyone along with it. Caitlin wondered if, in time, she would be fussing over her own child as her mother did, but it calmed her to know she wouldn’t have to fear her child being killed in a war with the Frasiers. While it did not sit right in her heart to marry the enemy, she could at least take solace in the knowledge that she was going to do something for the good of the clan.
“I want tae give ye this,” Bryn said. He slipped a ring off his little finger. It was made of dark metal. The jewel was murky, as though clouds swirled within the ring. It was the family jewel and heirloom that had been passed down through generations.
“Da, I cannae take this. It is meant for ye firstborn son.”
“Aye, but sometimes it is necessary tae break with tradition. I believe in this marriage, and I think there should be a symbol so that everyone can see.” He placed the ring in her hand and clasped her palm over it. “Ye embody all the qualities that we revere in this clan: bravery, honor, and duty. I cannae think of anyone I would rather hae wear it.”
Highlander’s Lesser Evil: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance (Highlands' Deceptive Lovers Book 4) Page 18