The Highlander's Prize by Mary Wine

Author:Mary Wine [Wine, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

“I’m riding out to see Broen MacNicols.”

Donnach Grant sputtered and struggled to his feet. “Ye’ll do nothing of the sort! That man is set on running through every Grant.”

“Exactly why I’m set on clearing up this matter.” Kael Grant already had his mail tunic on, and his gillie followed behind his master with his helmet. “Ye may have given yer word, Father, but I’m… reckless. So I’ll be riding out to set the matter straight, since ye cannae.”

“Ye do nae need to sound so smug. The ploy we’ve employed was to benefit the clan. No’ give ye the freedom to do as ye pleased.” Donnach grunted, his face turning red, but he lost the battle to remain on his feet. He dropped heavily into a chair positioned next to his bed because his leg supported him less and less these days.

“This leg is a curse,” he muttered. “It keeps me from doing the things I need to.”

“This is nae yer duty,” Kael insisted. “By the rules of this ruse we’ve begun, I’m the only one who can make peace with the MacNicols. Ye gave yer word to keep the secret of Laird MacNicols’s death, but I did nae.”

“Aye, I did, and I will nae break me word. I’m grateful ye came home, for ye’re right. Ye are the only one who can ride out and keep Broen MacNicols from spilling our blood. But I do nae like it, no’ a bit.” He slapped the armrest.

“The only part I like is that I’m able to shoulder the duty of serving ye and this clan, Father. I understand it frustrates ye, but I’m proud to be able to assume me duty as yer son.”

Donnach struggled back to his feet. Kael stepped forward so his father could clasp his shoulder.

“I’m proud of ye, Son.”

Once outside the master chamber, Kael frowned. His sister, Nareen, stood there, waiting on him. Her lips were lifted in a satisfied smile.

“Ye have too much cunning for a female,” he announced on his way toward the yard. Nareen laughed, her voice soft and musical. He turned to look at her. “And ye have all the charm of a siren.”

“Ye needn’t sound so surly, Brother mine.” She paused near the doorway to the yard and pulled her arisaid up to shield her head from the rain. “What good would I be to ye today if I were timid? Ye are nae the only member of this family who likes to receive Father’s approval.”

Nareen stepped into the rain without a care for it.

“Fate has a misplaced sense of humor for sending ye to this life as a female,” he remarked. “Ye have the spirit of a Highlander.”

Nareen took the reins of her mare and mounted the animal without any help from the men waiting to ride with them. The mare was a feisty creature and danced in a wide circle before his sister took control. Nareen’s eyes sparkled with enjoyment of the challenge.

“Of course I do. Am I nae riding out with ye and yer men?” She scoffed at him with a pout that made her too fetching by far.

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