Chapter 15

Breakfast the following morning was tense. Evander could see wariness in everyone’s eyes – wariness and weariness. The weight of it was enough to discourage even his animosity for Laird MacPherson.

The folk of MacPherson Clan had reason to be concerned, and so did he. There was no word back yet from Mackintosh Clan, but scouts had reported men on the border of MacPherson lands, and they all suspected they were being watched by MacDonell soldiers. By now, Scot MacDonell probably knew May had returned home to her clan.

Evander wasn’t too worried about an attack, not from MacDonell. What Laird MacPherson or his son might do if they found out May had been in his bed, however – well, it was a good thing that they’d both woken early enough for her to slip on her clothing and sneak out of his rooms and to her own before anyone discovered them.

“There’s a Council meeting after breakfast. Faither wants ye tae be present, tae help discuss tactics fer handing MacDonell, since yer Mackintosh’s war leader.” Killian’s words dragged him out of his thoughts.

His first inclination was to refuse. But keeping MacPherson safe would also keep May safe, until he’d managed to figure out what to do about their relationship, and the problem of his betrothal to Enna. He nodded and downed the last of his tea, then rose from his chair. “All right, I’m ready whenever ye are.”

Killian led him to the council chamber, where Laird MacPherson and a number of Elders and prominent clan members were already assembled. Evander took the seat Killian motioned him to and listened quietly as the reports were given.

The reports were worrying. Riders roamed along the verge of MacPherson lands, clearly wearing MacDonell colors. There was no sign of Scot MacDonell, though, and that was the most troubling part. There were too many enemy forces arrayed around the border, clearly acting as lookouts, for him not to be planning something. The problem was, they didn’t know what that plan was, and they hadn’t been able to capture any of the outriders to gain further information.

One of the Elders finally asked the obvious question. “Dae ye think he kens that Lady May has returned tae MacPherson Keep?”

Evander spoke up. “Aye. He’ll have tae. We were ambushed on the road, and I dinnae think all the attackers died. Likely as nae, Scot MacDonell kens that May is safe here, and also that she’s aided by Mackintosh. Whether they guess we’ve allied with ye or nae is uncertain, but they’ll nae have missed my involvement.”

He probably should have killed their attackers, but they’d been in a bad position at the time, and his primary goal had been to get May to safety. He hadn’t been sure if there were more trackers hunting them, or more troops lying in wait.

“Dae ye think he’ll try tae take the lass again?”

Killian scowled. “’Tis likely. He’ll dae it tae force us tae concede, and tae have a true claim tae the MacPherson lands. Even if he only claims a small portion o’ our lands as a dower portion, ‘twill hurt Clan MacPherson.”

“If the lass is in danger, then we’ll need tae find some place for her tae hide, until ‘tis safe. We cannae risk MacDonell taking her hostage again. Perhaps she ought tae be sent back tae yer sister’s dwelling, Laird MacPherson.”

Evander felt a brief moment of fury. He couldn’t let May be taken from him again. Not by MacDonell and not by her father. He wouldn’t let it happen. His fingers twitched toward the hilt of his sword, and then he forced the emotions back. Violence wasn’t the answer – not at this moment. Not here.

He cleared his throat. “’Twould be a bad idea tae try and send her anywhere. Being on the road would make her more vulnerable, and ye cannae send enough guards tae keep her safe without leaving yerselves vulnerable here. And it will be far worse if the heir gets taken or killed.”

It wouldn’t be worse, not for him, but he wasn’t going to say that. He was here as a representative of a potential ally clan, and as a war leader, not May’s lover. He had to speak of what was best for the clan, even if he was still more concerned for her safety than anyone else’s.

To his surprise, Laird MacPherson nodded. “Aye. Evander Mackintosh is right. We cannae split our forces that way, nae right now. And I willnae put me daughter in such danger as she’d be, traveling without adequate protection.”

Killian snorted. “Ye’re both missing the fact that May would refuse tae go anyway, and likely as nae create nay end o’ trouble in trying tae stay or sneak back. Better for her tae stay where she feels useful, and we can keep an eye on her.”

Evander put up a hand to hide his smirk. “Aye. There’s that. She is a strong-willed lass.”

“Then what should we dae?”

The fact was, they didn’t know what Scot MacDonell was planning, and had no idea what he wanted, beyond stealing May and destroying Laird MacPherson and his heir. MacDonell wasn’t currently invading MacPherson lands, at least not visibly, and there was no sign of a large force arrayed to cross the border.

In short, they were stuck waiting for his next move, whatever it was. In the meantime, the clan could fortify their walls and prepare for an attack, as well as the arrival of additional troops and support from the Mackintosh clan.

Evander contributed suggestions where he could, and an estimated number of warriors that Mackintosh would be able to spare. What he couldn’t do was answer questions about the terms of the newly forged alliance between the clans.

He knew what he wanted the alliance to be forged by, but there was no denying there were obstacles. Even so, as the meeting finally ended, he stood and made his way to Laird MacPherson’s side. “A word with ye in private, me laird, at yer convenience.”

Laird MacPherson nodded, apparently unsurprised by the request. “We can discuss matters in me study.” He turned, and Evander followed the older man out of the meeting chamber, determined to get some answers and make his position clear once and for all.

May watched her father disappear with Evander and Killian. Her heart ached, and her mind was full of confusion. She wanted to ask her father about what she and Evander had realized in the cave. She was also still uncertain about her future with him.

He said that loving each other was enough, that they would take it one day at a time, but what of his betrothal to Enna? If his clan needed the alliance by marriage, could she and Evander really afford to defy that? Especially if there was a chance it would make enemies of her and her clan?

“Ye seem fair distracted and downcast this morn. Did aught happen tae ye, aside from being kidnapped?” Lillias’s voice was soft and sympathetic, and May turned to her sister-by-marriage with a sigh. Lillias responded by wrapping an arm around her shoulders in silent invitation to share her thoughts.

May leaned into the embrace, absorbing the warmth and steadiness of her brother’s wife and her friend. “I dinnae ken if ‘tis aught tae be fussed about, nae with so much else happening, but... Evander and I, we were close as children, ye ken?”

“I had heard from Killian, aye. But I thought he spurned ye when the feud started, nae wanting tae be involved.”

May blushed. That was what she’d said to Killian, though her brother had counseled her there might be more to the tale. He’d been right. “I thought he had, but I discovered he never received the letter I wrote him afore we were sent away. He didnae ken I asked him tae come fer me. He said he wrote letters tae me in turn, but I never received them.”

“’Tis a strange thing tae be sure. And did ye unravel the mystery, or is that what’s troubling ye?”

May swallowed hard against the old feelings of hurt and rejection. “There’s truly only one answer tae why all our missives went astray. I gave me letter intae me faither’s keeping, and Evander sent all his letters the same way, since he didnae ken where I’d been hidden.”

“Och. Nae wonder ye’re so troubled.” Lillias sighed sympathetically and hugged her a little tighter. “Tae find out yer faither kept ye from yer friend... or was it more than friend?”

May felt tears sting her eyes, and a lump in her throat. “We were talking o’ being married, when the feud began. His father sent mine a request fer alliance and betrothal the same day the feud was declared.”

“Was yer faither against the match?” Lillias frowned. “It seems an odd choice tae make if that were the case, rather than telling ye outright.”

“I ken. That’s what confuses me. I dinnae ken why me faither chose tae act as he did. I never thought he was against me being with Evander. He never seemed tae mind that we spent so much time taegether when we were young. I dinnae understand why he would deliberately keep us apart like that.”

Except, she was afraid she did understand. Her father had never been able to look at her for long. She’d never felt that her father cared for her, and wondered more than once if he hated her. She feared he’d lied to Evander and hidden the letters because he was angry at her, for seeking happiness after she’d caused the death of his beloved wife.

She didn’t want to think that, but she wasn’t sure what other reason there could be. She swallowed hard again. “I fear he did it because he’s never cared fer me, or because I’ve angered him, nae being the daughter, he wanted.”

Or fer being a child he never wanted at all.

“Och, I dinnae believe that. Nae o’ ye or him. But when it comes tae it, I’m thinking that ye’ll have tae ask him about the matter, fer I cannae tell ye what he’s thinking. More than that, I’m thinking ye must ask him fer the truth, fer ‘tis the only way ye’ll ever have any peace o’ mind.” Lillias’s voice was soothing, and her words were calming.

May took a deep breath, considering what her sister-by-marriage had said. She’d never felt strong enough to confront her father about the way he avoided her. But avoidance was one thing, deliberately setting out to interfere with her happiness was another. She wanted to understand why he’d done something so cruel, rather than simply telling them he was against the match, if that was how he felt.

She hugged Lillias back, then released her and stood up. “Ye’re right. ‘Tis better tae confront him and get the answer direct, rather than wonder what he might have been thinking. Until I understand why he did what he did, I’ll nae be able tae decide what I want tae dae.”

May left the hall and headed for the council chamber. She wasn’t sure if the meeting would be over yet, but she was determined to confront her father as soon as he and Evander were released from the necessity of battle planning and their efforts to protect the clan.

The minutes passed with agonizing slowness as she waited, and it was all she could do to not charge inside and demand answers from her father there and then. By the time the doors opened and the members of the Council began to trickle out, May was almost beside herself with anxiety and distress.

Her father and Evander were the last to emerge, and seeing them walking together broke the last of May’s control over her whirling emotions. She stepped forward to block her father’s path, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks as she spoke. “I want tae ken why. Why did ye try tae keep me and Evander apart?”