Highland Flame by Mary Wine

Author:Mary Wine [Wine, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2017-09-04T18:30:00+00:00

Five

The Gordon stronghold was dark.

Jane had seen other castles with stone the same color, but there was something ominous about the twin towers Diocail took her toward. The feeling might have been partly caused by the dark clouds swirling around behind the castle too; she simply didn’t know. The combination hit her like a blow to the midsection.

At last someone started to ring a bell. It was a lone sound in the afternoon and brought swift attention to the arriving party. People began to come out of the buildings, climbing onto the steps that led into the larger keep to get a better view as they rode closer.

What sent a shiver down her back was the way only some of them smiled in welcome.

Diocail’s words from the day of their wedding rose from her memory.

“The clan will split, and there will be fighting over who is to take the lairdship. After me, there are at least five men with claims equal to one another. Blood will flow in the spring until one faction takes enough lives to silence the others.”

His position was not secure. It was evident in the way many of his people watched them arrive. The dark, brooding stares sent a shiver down her spine. The wagon came to a stop, and she couldn’t help but be relieved to know she was going to climb out of it for the last time.

Niven was quick to make sure he offered her his hand. Curious looks were cast her way as she alighted.

“Mistress,” Niven spoke clearly.

A man arrived wearing a bonnet with one feather sticking straight up. Another captain then. He reached up and tugged on the corner of his bonnet before Diocail offered him a hand. They clasped each other’s forearms.

“We’ve been busy whilst ye were away,” the man began. “Have the kitchen weathertight now, and the hearth’s in good order.”

He might have been talking to Diocail, but the man was looking past his laird at Jane.

Diocail turned and held out his hand to her. “May I present me wife.”

The announcement drew gasps and more than one narrow look. All eyes were on them. Jane placed her hand into Diocail’s and held her chin steady. She’d not shame him.

“Me captain, Sorley.”

Jane nodded to the man before Diocail took her up the stairs into the larger keep. She was only two steps inside before she caught the stench. It was the scent of urine, no mistake, making her narrow her own eyes as she looked around at the men who were clearly too lazy to make their way to the jakes.

But what made her pause was the accumulation of animal skins on the walls. There didn’t appear to be an inch to spare. The entire great hall was draped in hides, most of them covered in thick layers of dust. It was a barbaric display of hunting skills and a wasteful one because those hides could have been put to much better use. Now time had rendered them dry and wasted.

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