Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

M agnus walked into Domhnall’s study, where the laird and their two sisters, Enya and Thora, were already sitting. Although Domhnall obviously had the final say in matters, they all had a place and a voice in decisions that affected the clan and often discussed things together as a family Magnus, weary from his travels, walked to the table set against the eastern wall and poured himself a cup of wine and piled roasted meats, cheese, and bread on a plate that had been brought in for him and carried it back to his seat.

He set his cup down on the small table beside his chair but kept the plate in his lap and tucked into the food. Domhnall and his sisters gave him a few minutes of silence to eat but Magnus felt their eyes on him. Eventually, the pressure of their combined gazes became unbearable.

“What?” Magnus asked between bites. “Cannae a man eat in peace?”

“Man?” Thora asked. “Ye look more like an animal eating right now, braither.”

“I’m hungry.”

“Obviously,” Enya chimed in. “Apparently so hungry, ye’ve forgotten yer manners.”

“Truly, braither,” Domhnall said. “I’ve seen animals in the stables with better manners.”

They all laughed as Magnus sighed heavily. Determined to fill his belly, he tried his best to ignore them. After all that time on the road eating nothing but dried meats, cheese, and old bread, he was ravenous. And despite all their sarcastic remarks, they let him eat. For a time. Finally they had had enough.

“Maribel, can ye please clear the plates and tables?” Thora asked.

“I’m nae done eatin’,” Magnus protested.

“Ye are now,” Thora said. “If ye want tae eat more when we’re done here, ye’re welcome tae go eat in the kitchens.”

“Or in the stables with the other animals,” Enya cracked.

Magnus glowered at him but stood and refilled his cup of wine before it was all taken away, then returned to his seat, his appetite sated for the moment.

“All right,” Domhnall said once the servants had gone. “What did ye learn about this woman ye brought back.”

“Shouldnae we wait for Kai?” Magnus asked.

“Kai is on other business right now. We’ll start without him,” Domhnall replied. “Now, tell me what ye ken about this lass.”

“Ciara. Ciara MacDougal,” Magnus replied.

“Fine. Ciara MacDougal. What can ye tell me about her? Is she our spy?”

He shook his head. “I dinnae ken.”

“After spendin’ all that time on the road back tae Dunvegan with her, how can ye nae ken?”

Magnus leaned back in his chair and blew out a long breath as he swirled the wine around in his cup, staring into its deep red depths as if it held the answers.

“Fair of skin, golden hair, emerald eyes,” Thora said.

“Aye, good with a blade and a bow,” Magnus agreed.

“Sounds like the girl ye brought back,” Enya said.

“Aye. Fits her tae the letter. A little too closely, perhaps?” Magnus said.

“What dae ye mean?” Domhnall asked.

“I just mean it kind of sounds like somebody wanted us lookin’ for this specific lass.”

“Aye. Because they say she’s a spy,” Domhnall said. “Workin’ with the English tae destroy our clan.”

“Aye. That’s what they say.”

“Ye sound skeptical, braither,” Domhnall said.

Magnus shrugged. “A spy thrives in the shadows. Relies on bein’ anonymous and nae drawin’ attention to themselves, eh?”

“Aye. Sure,” Domhnall agreed.

“Ciara had nae problem drawin’ attention tae herself,” he said. “Took on all comers in an archery tournament and beat them all. I’d say if she was tryin’ tae stay in the shadows, she did a pretty poor job of it.”

“Daesnae mean she’s nae the woman ye’re lookin’ fer,” Thora offered.

“Aye. She could be,” Magnus agreed. “But what if she’s nae?”

“I dinnae understand. Why would ye say she’s nae the spy we’re lookin’ fer?” Domhnall asked incredulously.

“She told me her faither is Laird Robert MacDougal and she ran away because he’d arranged fer her tae marry Edmund Fairfax…”

Magnus let his words linger, giving them time to sink in. They had all heard of the cruel brutality of Edmund Fairfax. His slaughter of Scots in pursuit of his own power and glory were the stuff of dark legends. He hated their people and wanted nothing more than to rid the world of anybody who carried Scottish blood and claim all their ancestral lands for himself. And for the English crown, of course.

Domhnall looked down into his own cup of wine and Magnus couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking about his own marriage, which had been arranged as well for position and power. King Edward had been determined bring peace and more acceptance of the English rule to Scotland by forcing him to marry an English woman. Fortunately, Domhnall and Katherine had fallen in love, but Magnus knew not all arranged marriages had such a happy outcome, especially between the English and the Scots.

Domhnall finally raised his eyes. “As we all ken, arranging a marriage is a common practice and most of the time, it ish for strategic purposes.”

“Aye. Ciara said her faither was looking to solidify an alliance with the English tae tighten his hold on his lairdship. Needed an army tae dae it.”

“Fairfax would certainly be able give him that,” Domhnall said. “But it would also give Fairfax claim tae the MacDougal lands.”

“I dinnae think Laird Robert cares so long as he remains in power over his clan. At least, that’s what she led me tae believe,” Magnus said. “She said she’s been on the run ever since and is afraid her faither and Fairfax have men out searchin’ fer her.”

“If what she says is true, I’m sure they dae,” Domhnall said.

“Which makes Dunvegan the safest place fer her tae hide,” Enya added.

“Aye. Probably so,” Magnus agreed.

“’Tis a good story,” Domhnall said. “But it seems… convenient.”

“What dae ye mean?” asked Thora.

“It just strikes me as the sort of story somebody we believe is a spy would tell tae worm their way behind our walls,” he explained. “How dae we ken that what she’s sayin’ is true? How dae we ken she wasnae sent here by Fairfax tae kill us all and let him walk intae our home and take it?”

Magnus shook his head. “I dinnae get the sense that she’s got any love for the English. And she fought like a madwoman to get away from us and then me, risking her life in the course of it.”

“Dae ye believe her then?” Domhnall asked.

“I dinnae say that either. I just said I dinnae think she was sent here by Fairfax tae undermine us from within, given the hard time she gave me on the way here” Magnus corrected.

“Ye think she’s sincere?” Domhnall asked.

Magnus thought about it for a long moment then nodded. “Aye. I dae. And I dae think she has nay love fer the English.”

Thora and Enya exchanged a look that made them both smile.

“What?” Magnus asked gruffly. “Why are ye both grinnin’?”

Thora shrugged and couldn’t keep the silly grin off her face. “I just wondered if ye’d think she was bein’ sincere if she was homely?”

“Or if her sincerity is based on her comeliness?” Enya teased.

“Dinnae be stupid,” he grumbled. “I dinnae even notice how comely she is.”

His face reddened as they burst into laughter.

“Why dae ye let them sit in on these meetin’s when they cannae be serious about anythin’?” Magnus asked.

“Because we’re part of the family,” Thora said.

“And because they sometimes amuse me,” Domhnall added, drawing more laughter from their sisters. Magnus simply rolled his eyes but he felt warmness at the sight of his family.

“Personally, I think it’s good that Magnus fancies somebody,” Enya said. “I was beginnin’ tae think he wasnae capable of it.”

“Shut it, Enya,” Magnus grumbled.

Ever since they were kids, his siblings had always teased him about his lack of emotion, often comparing him to a statue or a stone wall. He had emotions, he just knew how to control them. He knew how to compartmentalize and cut through all the emotional noise to see through to the truth of a matter. It was part of the reason he was such a good strategist and one of Domhnall’s most important advisors—logic and clarity, rather than emotions, informed all his decisions. It was something his siblings failed to understand.

“So, she could be on the run from her faither and a forced marriage tae a monster, which could be true given the fight she put up after you kidnapped her” Domhnall said. “Or she could be a spy trying to weaken our clan and make it ripe fer the picking.”

“How are we goin’ tae find out which answer is the right one?” Enya asked.

Domhnall pursed his lips and seemed to think it over for a moment. He took a swallow of wine, his expression thoughtful and focused. After a moment, he raised his gaze to them.

“Well, given that Kai told us that yer gifts didnae work on her, which is a whole different thing tae investigate, I’ll send Kai tae speak tae his informants. See if any of them can give us the truth of the matter,” Domhnall said. “Magnus, I want ye tae shadow Ciara. Right now, she is our guest, so treat her with all due respect. But watch her closely.”

“Braither, I think I should go and try tae verify her story. Let Kai watch Ciara,” Magnus said. “He’s got a better way with people than I dae.”

“I’d have tae agree with that last bit,” Thora said. “If Ciara is our guest, dae ye really want tae inflict this one on that poor lass? Bad enough she’s had tae travel with him.”

Magnus bit back the scathing reply on his lips since she was essentially arguing his position for him, albeit in a way that made him want to thump her upside the head.

“Nay. Kai is the one who brought us the rumor to begin with. He’s our chief scout and has all the contacts out there. He’ll go tae verify this woman’s story,” Domhnall said. “Also, I dinnae trust him around any lass,” he added with a chuckle, that his sisters echoed.

Magnus frowned. “Braither, I think it would be best?—”

“Ye’ve got me decision and me orders and we’ll talk nay more of it. Ye ken I hate forcin’ me word on ye but ye dinnae give me an option, braither.”

“I’m nae a bleedin’ babysitter, Dom,” Magnus said. “Why cannae Thora or Enya watch her? Ciara might feel more comfortable around another lass.”

“Because ye’ve traveled with her. Ye ken her?—”

“I wouldnae say I ken her.”

“But ye’ve got a relationship with her already,” Domhnall said. “She’ll be more comfortable around you than a complete stranger, lass or nae. And ye have more practice and physical strength if she tries to pull another escape or trap.”

“But—”

“Enough, Magnus. Please, respect me word. Stick tae the lass like glue. We have tae be extra careful, as the lass may have powers.”

Magnus sighed. The last thing he wanted was to spend more time with Ciara. She clouded his mind. Clouded his judgment. And she filled him with emotions that were unfamiliar and uncontrollable. But he did have to factor in the fact that she was immune to their gifts.

“Fine,” Magnus said.

He got up, gave both his sisters a kiss on the heads like he often did, and stormed out of the hall. He disagreed with Domhnall vehemently, but he was a loyal soldier and would always follow the orders of his laird, no matter how uncomfortable they made him. And these orders made him plenty uncomfortable.