Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel by Sue-Ellen Welfonder & Allie Mackay

Author:Sue-Ellen Welfonder & Allie Mackay [Welfonder, Sue-Ellen & Mackay, Allie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gruenwald Corporation
Published: 2019-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

In the next glen, far from Kendrew and the three women conspiring against him, Ralla the Victorious held court in the great hall of Duncreag, Clan MacNab’s proud stronghold. A massive, wind-lashed eyrie every bit as daunting as Nought, Duncreag sat so high on a sheer, rocky crag that clouds and mist often hid its walls from view. As at Nought, a steep and narrow path led to the well-guarded gatehouse, but unlike Kendrew’s stone steps, where each tread cut into the cliff-face, access to Duncreag was more like a goat track that wound its way up the bluff.

Visitors were few because Clan MacNab was often at odds with its neighbors.

Any foe who dared to come unannounced would be met with a rain of fire-arrows before he climbed the first twist of the treacherous castle path.

Duncreag’s impregnability suited Ralla well.

He didn’t believe in making life easy for his enemies. Nor was he above having done with one of his own men if he suspected treachery. He wasn’t going to leave this world by a knife between the ribs as he slept.

In truth, he rarely slumbered.

Sleeping wolves didn’t catch much prey.

And Ralla was a hungry man.

This night he was also jovial. Proving it, he rapped his empty ale cup on the high table and leered at a young, bare-breasted slave girl plucking a harp in a shadowy corner of the dais. “You, Breena, fetch us more drink!

“I am thirsty, make haste!” Ralla laughed, banging his cup more vigorously when the slave tried to cover her breasts as she stood. A timid village girl taken during a raid in Ireland, she blushed red as her hair when she had to step out of the corner’s sheltering murk.

“The fate spinners have been kind to us, lass.” He grinned as if she appreciated his triumph. “I am told Mackintosh rode to Haven after all. And” – he looked round at his men – “he took his best warriors with him!”

The hall burst into peals of laughter, though some men snarled slurs and challenges.

Ralla beamed.

“We know what happens when a bear doesn’t watch his den.” He pinched Breena’s hip as she darted past him towards the kitchens passage. “The men we sent back to Nought will ready a fine welcome for his return. Then” – he lifted his voice, looking round – “while he’s spluttering and reeling, we sweep in for the kill.”

“What of the other two clans?” Tor, a crooked-nosed brute of a man, spoke around a beef rib, the juices glistening in his beard. “I’ve my eye on Lady Isobel’s amber necklace. After I’ve plowed her other delights!”

“She’s mine, you arse.” Ban, an equally huge man whose thick arms were lined with gold rings, glowered at Tor. “I’ll have her after Ralla and if you think otherwise, I’ll gut you faster than you can blink. You’ll be raven fodder, good for no woman.”

“Tor! You asked of the other glen curs…” Ralla snatched the ale jug from Breena when she returned and then tipped the ewer to his lips, drinking from the jug.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.