Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

A fter the evening meal, Stellan joined his father in his solar. "Ye asked to see me, Da?" None of the MacKays had attended the meal, and Mariota had sent word that she would remain in her chamber. He expected his father knew what was going on. Given the confrontation earlier in the day, and despite how it had ended, he didn't expect the news to be anything good. On the other hand, MacKay might simply have taken his men and gone across the glen to have the meal where the rest of his men were camped.

Sutherland gestured him to a seat. "MacKay informed me that he and his men are leaving with Mariota in the morning. At her request, he has asked for Sutherlands to accompany them. Since she has agreed to go, I see no way to prevent him. Have ye seen any further sign of her attacker? If he's going to try to cause trouble for us between the clans, tonight is his last chance."

Stellan's heart dropped into his belly. He wasn't ready for her to leave, nor was he ready to accept the idea that he go as his twin, and Anders remain here as the heir. But his father had asked a question. At least it was one he could answer. "Naught, Da. Our men are keeping him in their sights. So far, they report that he has remained in the camp across the glen."

"Good. Good." Sutherland nodded. "Double the guard on her chamber and in her hall. I dinna want any surprises during the night."

"Why would he try something now? He'll have a better chance of getting to her on the way to MacKay."

"Aye, but let's no' make it easy for him."

Increasing the guard suited Stellan. Could he stand watch outside her door, too? Or better, inside it? He pushed the thought aside. "I'll take care of that now."

"And send yer brother to me," Sutherland added.

Stellan knew why their father wanted Anders. He would be among the Sutherland guards to accompany Mariota back to MacKay. The thought tightened Stellan's gut. There were many reasons why Anders was the right choice to make the trip. Even the right choice to wed with Mariota. And one major reason why not. Stellan's blood heated around her, and his brother's did not.

Though many marriages were made by families among total strangers, it didn't feel right to treat Mariota that way. She was no shy lass dependent on a husband to care for and protect her. She was a skillful hunter and wicked with a bow according to what she'd said. Having seen how well she'd trained Valkyrie, he could believe her capable of anything she set her mind to.

She was supposed to become the next MacKay laird. She deserved to have a man at her side who truly cared about her and supported her. He had to admit that Anders would be good to her— and for her.

But Stellan couldn't accept that.

He found his twin by the hearth and gave him the summons. "I'll want to talk to ye once ye are done with Da," Stellan said.

Anders nodded, his expression grim, mouth tight and brows creased. "As will I," he replied and headed for the solar.

Stellan posted guards on Mariota's chamber as his father had directed, then returned to the great hall to await the news his brother brought. He could feel a sense of submission from Anders, but it was tinged with something else. Defiance. Definitely.

When Anders returned, he wasted no time mincing words. "This is yer last chance to rethink the switch," he said. "I ken ye are nay fond of deception, and this will be an important one, but if one of us goes, despite saying her da changed his mind about an alliance with us, he could still force a wedding at MacKay, thinking he has Sutherland's approval."

"He does have it, at least for the betrothal, with some details to be worked out," Stellan said after a moment's thought. His belly churned with the idea of the risk they contemplated, but he couldn't let circumstances dictate that Anders would have this woman. It might be different if he wanted her, but he did not.

Stellan had to go to prove to himself that he wanted only her, that she was worth the trouble they would cause both their clans. Anders, remaining behind as Stellan, deceiving their father on such an important and fraught issue, would take the brunt of it here. Still, there were obstacles. "If I go as ye, 'twill make nay difference. Save that I would have to admit the deception, and all hell would break loose. I could be forced to stand as yer proxy to wed her."

"I could feign illness," Anders suggested, "then ye could go as yerself."

"Ye would have to involve the healer. She could betray ye if she deemed it important to do so. And do ye think da would send me? I dinna."

Anders glanced toward the solar, then shook his head. "He's sending Sutherlands to protect her on the journey, at least. She's more vulnerable while they travel than she is at home. And have ye considered that there may be some at MacKay who dinna think a lass should be laird? Alber may no' be her only threat. I think we need to find out."

"Her da would say 'tis none of our business." Stellan wanted to agree with Anders rather than argue with him, but they had to think this through, and they'd always been good at debating both sides of the issue. "She's made no mention of anything else. Or of her da seeking to replace her as heir."

Or had she, in an indirect way, with her musings about what her life could be if she were free of that responsibility? If the MacKay did name someone else, it would solve Stellan's problem with Mariota's heritage. She could be with him at Sutherland without causing a clan war. Perhaps.

"It could be why she's no' been trained. He is thinking of replacing her," Anders said, as if hearing his thoughts.

"It may have crossed his mind," Stellan agreed. "But has he done aught about it? Or will he? At any rate, 'tis no' her immediate danger."

"Aye. Alber will be riding with her. I dinna see any alternative to me— or ye —going with her. MacKay might be willing to sacrifice Sutherland guards, but he'll think twice before harming the Sutherland's son."

Stellan shook his head. "I'm nay certain of that. Still, the Sutherland heir could be a convenient target. Or hostage. 'Tis less likely he'd see the second son the same way."

"Then it must be Anders on the trip. 'Tis been years since we switched identities."

"And never for anything so important," Stellan said in agreement, feeling the weight of inevitability settling on his shoulders. He shifted them, not liking the sensation, but seeing no other way.

"I can be ye easily," Anders continued. "Can ye be me? Friendly, fun-loving, with an eye for the lasses?"

Stellan copied Anders' grin. "'Twill take everything in me, but I must."

Mariota looked to her left, hoping to find Anders among the Sutherlands riding near her, but she didn't see him. Where could he have gone? She looked over her right shoulder and behind her. Ah, there he was, talking to Seamus. Relief let her exhale, but curiosity kept her twisting about to glance their way. What were they talking about? Possible dangers? Or her? Thankfully, her da rode at the head of their troop, out of earshot of whatever they or any of the Sutherland guards might discuss. She'd already gotten Seamus into trouble with her da. She didn't want to do that to him again.

Seamus glanced up, met her gaze and gave her a quick grin which caught Anders' attention. When he looked her way, he added his own cheeky grin. That was so like him. Mariota rolled her eyes, grinned back at them, and turned her gaze forward again. With those two to look at, the view was definitely better behind her. But her horse, the one she'd borrowed the night she escaped from her chamber and needed to return to its rightful owner, was starting to shift underneath her, reacting to her twisting in the saddle. And the MacKay guards on either side had noticed her mount's behavior. She didn't need to be seen staring at either Anders or Seamus. Ahead, her view encompassed the glen they traversed, the woods and hills beyond it, and several MacKay guards with her da and Alber among them.

At the moment, Valkyrie flew lazy circles above them, which caused Mariota's belly to clench with anxiety any time she lost sight of Alber. Her da seemed to keep him close, but she didn't trust his surveillance to be absolute. Still, he appeared to try to adhere to the bargain she'd struck with him. So was he trying to keep Alber under control? Or keeping him close because he remained a favorite? The question burned at her, but as long as he remained tethered to her da, he could not use his bow to shoot Valkyrie out of the sky.

But if her da let him scout ahead, she'd call Valkyrie down and keep her close. Alber could be canny when he chose to be, and she couldn't hear what he said to her da, what ideas he put into his head. Alber had yet to succeed in doing her or Valkyrie permanent harm. Still, she didn't want her father to finally have to believe her complaints while standing over her or Valkyrie's bloody, cold body.

At midday, they stopped by a stream to rest the horses. She shared a simple meal with Seamus, Anders and the other four Sutherlands her father had agreed to allow to accompany them. Valkyrie had provided her own meal— a young coney she dispatched with abrupt skill, dropped it near Mariota, then settled her feathers and ignored the men surrounding her mistress.

"She's trusting," Anders remarked while he picked at his food, his gaze on the hawk.

"I'm here, she kens Seamus, and I think she expects if I am comfortable with ye, she has nay reason for concern."

"I hope she's right," Anders said and resumed eating his own meal. Had the sight of Valkyrie tearing into the coney diminished his appetite?

Mariota thought he'd seemed more subdued this morning than was his usual demeanor, more like Stellan, but she'd never been on a long ride with him, so she couldn't judge. The other men with him seemed content with their own thoughts, though she was aware they had placed themselves around and across from her so they could see in all directions. No one would be able to sneak up on her. She appreciated their vigilance, especially as understated as it was. They kept their weapons to hand, but on the ground or tucked into belt or boot, as much a part of them as their fingers and toes.

She held in a chuckle at the image that filled her mind of the Sutherlands and Seamus sitting around her barefooted, wiggling their fingers and toes to scare off anyone who came too close. She took another bite of cheese to hide her mouth behind her hand. They took their duty seriously. She should, too.

Her da approached and announced, "We ride in ten minutes. Take care of yer needs before then."

Before Mariota could even nod in acknowledgement, he turned and walked away.

"No' in a friendly mood, aye?" One of the Sutherlands whose name she hadn't yet learned said and followed her father with his gaze. "Or is he always so terse?"

She should defend her da, but she had to agree with the man's assessment.

Seamus saved her from having to form a reply.

"He is when he's off MacKay land." He shrugged. "We've a long way to go before his mood will improve."

Seamus glanced at her.

Mariota understood what that gesture meant. They were a long way off MacKay land because of her. She didn't see censure in his glance, but it was too brief for her to interpret it. Still, it raised the specter of guilt within her. If she hadn't run, all these MacKays and the handful of Sutherlands would not be here, camped out in the woods, tense and subdued as her father sent disapproving glares at everyone.

She shook herself. Alber was to blame, not her. Any other lad would have taken her rejection years ago for what it was and moved on, but he took it as a challenge and came at her again and again, each time escalating the violence and threats, with some daft idea of using her to become laird. And she was letting her da force her home to confront more of the same.

Why had she agreed to this?

One look at Anders' sympathetic gaze on her answered her own question. It seemed he understood where her mind had gone and wanted to help. Everyone at Sutherland had wanted to help, but there was only so much they could do without causing even more trouble, for her and for them. And nothing her friends there could do once she left Dunrobin.

For a long moment, she wished she'd left Valkyrie in the care of the Sutherland hawk master and run for Sterling.

Still, that was the coward's way out, and she refused to be a coward. If she had to be the MacKay heir and someday its laird, she could not indulge her worst imaginings. She had to take charge of her fate, her da, Alber, and anything or anyone else who stood in her way. And with friends like Seamus and, possibly, a husband like Anders at her side, she would do it.

Anders must have seen the resolve in her eyes, or perhaps her clenched jaw gave away her thoughts. He nodded and gave her a brief smile, looking more like Stellan than Anders' usual affable self. Somehow, he seemed to know she was thinking serious thoughts. Nothing to laugh over. She nodded back and stood to make her way out of the midday camp to a convenient clump of bushes.

Seamus and Anders stood, too.

She started to tell them to stay where they were, but realized she couldn't see Alber anywhere. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked up searching. When she spotted Valkyrie doing lazy turns above her, she took a breath, kicking herself for not being aware when Valkyrie had finished her meal and taken flight.

Mariota nodded and let her friends take up positions behind her, at a discrete distance, backs turned, while she took care of herself. They escorted her to the burn to wash up, then back to her horse where she replaced the leather glove that protected her hand from Valkyrie's talons and called her hawk down from the sky. She'd feel better keeping Valkyrie close by until they stopped for the night.

That evening, the group built several small fires for the men to huddle around. Mariota refused her father's demand that she sleep near him after she judged Alber too close, and her father's snores disruptive enough to keep everyone near him awake and fuming. Instead, she bedded down at another fire, gratified when Seamus, Anders and the other Sutherlands as well as several MacKays formed a defensive ring around her.

Alber would not get near her.

She hooded Valkyrie and tied her jesses to a thistle between her and where Anders stretched out. The plant was low enough to see beyond but rooted deep enough to keep Valkyrie close by, but not so strong that the hawk could not pull free if threatened. Mariota debated leaving her without the hood, but decided she'd pass the night more quietly with it on. Normally she'd tie her to her perch on her horse, but there, she'd be outside the Sutherland circle of protection and in danger from Alber.

The night passed uneventfully until near dawn. Something spooked the horses into shifting and snorting where they were tied. The noise woke Mariota and much of the camp. Several of the men got up to check on them. Her father sent men to get reports from the perimeter guards.

"Likely a wildcat," the nearest said when he came back into the camp. "The guards didna see anyone."

Mariota caught Seamus' eye. "Where's Alber?"

He got up and walked casually around the camp, but returned in moments. "In his plaid on the far side of the second fire," he told her. "'Twasna him to spook the horses."

Later that morning, they crossed a narrow glen and once they reached the woods on the other side, she realized Alber was not at the front of their group with her father. Where had he gone? She'd kept Valkyrie with her so far this morning, but knew Alber could circle back and pace alongside her but out of sight behind trees. Waiting for his chance. To shoot arrows at Valkyrie from the trees? Or her?

"Anders, Seamus," she said softly. Once she had their attention, she nodded toward the front. "Alber is missing. Do ye see him behind us?"

Both men shook their heads.

"He may be alongside us, out of sight," she told them.

"Damn the man," Seamus muttered and pulled his reins to turn his horse.

"Wait," Anders called. Seamus turned back.

"If we move away from Mariota, she'll be a clear target. If he's out there, that's what he's hoping for. So we stay by her." He signaled to the two closest Sutherlands. "Elias, Erik, form up with us. Elias, in front of Mariota, Erik, directly behind her."

Seamus called for MacKay guards to close in as well.

Mariota appreciated the wall they formed around her, but she didn't want them to get hurt. Her father had promised to keep Alber under control. "Da," she called out, attracting his attention. He frowned at the close guard around her and rode back.

"What are ye men doing?"

She didn't give any of them time to answer. "Where's Alber, Da?"

MacKay frowned and looked around. He pointed at two of this men among the guard around her. "Find him."

"Nay," Anders objected. "We stay with Mariota. Send some of yer other men to find him."

"My men do as I command," MacKay responded, going red in the face.

"Not this time," Mariota told him. "He's after me. He's in these woods, somewhere close. These men stay with me."

"Damn it, lass," MacKay started, but Mariota stared him down. She was pleased to see that her father also didn't trust Alber, perhaps even that he wasn't choosing Alber over her.

But that would mean there was another reason for always keeping him near. She couldn't think of a reason that didn't make her father's actions seem suspect— that he knew all along what Alber had been doing, and had allowed it. Or worse, that Alber had some hold over him that stayed her father's hand. She didn't like the alternatives.

"Fine. Ye two, back there, search along our back trail," he ordered, pointing at his men following Mariota's group. "And ye two, go left, two more, go right. Five of ye scout ahead. Find the bastard."

As the men began dividing up and moving out as their laird directed, Alber rode out of the nearby trees. "What's amiss?"

"Where have ye been?" MacKay snarled.

"What? Can a man no' take a piss without causing— whatever this is?"

"With me," MacKay demanded turned his horse and kicked it forward.

Alber let his gaze slide over the men around Mariota, then settle on her like a veil of slime. He gave her a nasty grin, eyes slitted but teeth exposed, kicked his horse and followed her father to the front.

"I'm going to have to kill that man," Seamus said.

"After I do," Anders told him.

"Nay, lads. After I finish with him," Mariota told them, giving in to the shudder his gaze had raised from her chest to her fingertips. "He's going to make a mistake he canna recover from. I'll see that he doesna."

They arrived at the MacKay keep later that day. Mariota dismounted and, escorted by Seamus and Anders, took Valkyrie to the mews and the care of the hawk master. He would keep her safe.

Out in the bailey, Mariota paused and looked around. This was the only home she'd ever known. It was familiar. She had a few friends here, though. Her closest childhood girlfriends had married into other clans and were gone. Was she glad to be back? She wasn't ready to answer that question. Too many issues remained unresolved.

She remembered her manners and turned to Seamus. "Will ye please find the steward and see where the Sutherlands can sleep?" She and the MacKay guards with her father were home, but the Sutherlands were not.

Anders shook his head. "We'll be in the corridor outside yer chamber."

Seamus's eyes widened. "The MacKay will never allow that."

"If he objects, we'll bed down in the great hall. All Mariota will have to do is scream and we'll be moments away."

How long would it take Alber to assault her and claim she was now his, or get his hands around her throat and kill her? "I'll lock my door," she promised as they reached the door to the keep. Her father met them inside.

"Daughter, get ye to yer chamber. I only want to see ye out of it at meals, and if anything happens, I'll have meals brought to ye."

"And Alber? Is he also confined?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

He met her challenge with a frown. "'Tis naught of yer concern."

"'Tis every bit my concern," she replied, aghast. He still refused to understand. "Who more than me has he threatened?"

"He's been warned to keep his distance or suffer the consequences, and with yer personal Sutherland guard," he said and glanced aside at Anders, "he kens better than to try anything."

"Ah, so ye do acknowledge that he is a danger to me."

MacKay's brow drew down. "I willna discuss this," he growled. "Go to yer chamber."

Mariota pressed her lips together, fuming. How much did Alber care about consequences? In her experience, he did not care at all. And with good reason. He'd never faced any that she herself had not delivered.

She'd best stay close to Anders and his men, the MacKay men who disposed of Alber after his last attack, Seamus, and groups of women. She could not let Alber get her alone again. Ever. She didn't want to have to try to escape her chamber the same way she did the last time. The guards would have learned to look for anything hanging out of her window. She had no choice but to obey— for now.

Inside the great hall, her father took Anders to his solar, probably to give him the limits of what he and his men could do here. Two waited nearby to attend her, and the others, she assumed, remained outside taking care of the Sutherland horses and the one she had used when she escaped. She was debating going straight to her chamber or taking pity on the men and staying where she was for some food when her friend Genevra rushed to her.

"Where have ye been? I've been so worried. Ye disappeared, and yer da lit out of here with a lot of the men, and now ye are back again. Did that Alber steal ye away? Are ye well? Did he harm ye?"

Mariota hugged her friend to silence her. "I've been to Sutherland. Da fetched me back, and though he brought Alber with him among all those men, he promised to keep him away from me. I decided to give him another chance. Da, nay Alber."

"Ye must tell me all about it!"

"Come upstairs with me. Da wants me to stay in my chamber."

"Nay! Ye willna, will ye?"

"For a while, until he settles down. No' for long."

She led Genevra to her chamber, certain that her chatty friend had not noticed the strange men following them up the stairs. Once she and Genevra entered her chamber, she closed and locked the door behind them. The Sutherlands would have to take turns getting some food, she supposed. As soon as Anders got away from her father, he'd figure out where his men were. Seamus would see them taken care of.

Genevra took a seat by the hearth, then pointed out that no one had lit a fire in it. "'Tis cold in here. We should send for someone to take care of this."

"I'll ask the steward to have it lighted while I'm at supper," Mariota said. The chamber was cool, but Genevra was one of those lasses who never seemed to get warm enough.

"Very well. Tell me what happened to ye."

Mariota told her what happened the last time Alber accosted her, and why she left, but not how.

"Were ye well treated at Dunrobin?"

"Aye, very well. So well, in fact, that there are five Sutherlands among my guards now." She didn't dare mention her interest in Stellan, or that his twin was one of the men who came to MacKay with her, or the news would be all over the clan in moments. Genevra would see Anders soon enough. The thought nearly made Mariota laugh out loud. She could imagine the comments her friend would make about him and the other Sutherland men. Handsome and strong would only be her first attempt to describe them. Mariota would add kind, courteous, and careful, but that would be only the start of a long list of positive attributes she would use. And that was before she got to describing Stellan. Nay, those attributes, she'd keep to herself.

Genevra shivered and Mariota wrapped one of her shawls around her friend's shoulders. She couldn't imagine her friend riding for days and camping overnight in the woods with more than fifty men around her, trying to stay warm by a small campfire. She didn't know which would get her friend first, the cold or the mortification of sleeping near so many men. Or even one of them. Mariota knew which one she would have preferred, but sadly he had not made the trip with her. Stellan remained behind at Sutherland with his da, in the heir's rightful place. That thought made her frown. Where was her rightful place at MacKay?