Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

T hree months later, autumn 1705

MacLean Keep

The cards in her hand weren’t the best, but Lyla MacDougall had no intention of revealing that – not if she could get away with bluffing. She was the only representative of her clan at the table, and she had to uphold the honor of her family. Even against her elder sister.

Her eyes slid to her left, where Laird Darren MacLean sat, studying his cards with lazy focus that she couldn’t read now any better than she’d been able to the first time they played. As far as Lyla was concerned, the intricate pattern of tattoos the eldest MacLean had gave him an unfair advantage. They not only helped mask his expressions, but they were distracting – Celtic knotwork connected symbols with meanings and stories only Darren knew in a lattice of flowing lines that drew the eye and interrupted concentration.

Then there was her sister, sitting across from her. Erin was far more transparent, but her husband had been teaching her about duplicity, and Lyla knew better than to trust that little quirk of a smile. It might mean anything, these days, and Erin had never been a bad card player, even before Marcus had taught her more about masking her emotions.

Then there was Marcus himself. Marcus had an expressive face, never still, and he bluffed as easily as he spoke. He was looking at his cards with a bland, intent expression that could mean anything, or nothing at all. Marcus would be a MacDougall soon, when he and Erin returned to MacDougall Keep and he claimed his official position as her father’s heir.

There was no hurry, though, not when Lyla and Erin’s father, Kaelin, was still hale and healthy. That was why Lyla had elected to stay in MacLean castle with her sister and her new kin-by-marriage while his replacement as war leader was trained, and Marcus himself was taught some of the basics of lairdship by his brother. He’d learn more with her father, and Erin could also help him learn to manage MacDougall clan, but none of them begrudged the brothers the time with each other.

Lyla was the first to bid. “Five coppers.” They weren’t playing for large stakes, not among family, and five coppers raised eyebrows.

“Raise ye two.” Darren tossed the coins in.

“Fold.” Erin shook her head.

“Raise another five.” Marcus threw twelve coppers into the pot.

“Call.” Her hand didn’t warrant such a bet, but she wasn’t going to back down. She thought Marcus was bluffing.

“Fold.” Darren shook his head.

“Raise two.” Marcus grinned a challenge at her, and Lyla grinned back.

“Call.” She tossed the chips in, then added another. “And raise a copper.”

“Matched.” Marcus tossed in his coin. “Show.”

Lyla laid down her cards. “Two pair. Queen high.”

Marcus laid down his cards, and Lyla sighed. “Flush. O’ course ye would. Are ye sure ye’re nae cheating?” She smirked to take the sting out of the words, and Marcus grinned easily back.

“Nae at all. I’m just a lucky bastard.” Marcus’s gaze slid to Erin, who blushed under her husband’s gaze and the admiration in it.

“That ye are.” Darren nodded. “And I’m hoping that luck will shadow us all.” He looked to Lyla. “Are ye sure ye’ll be all right with nae more than a guard as escort? Ye’re welcome to stay the month, and longer if ye need, until I can spare Marcus... or I can ask Keegan…”

“Dinnae drag Keegan from his duties.” Marcus shook his head at the mention of their youngest brother. “Lyla’s welcome tae stay, o’ course, but I’ll nae be leaving ye with an untrained war leader, even one as skilled as Adrian, if Clan Ranald is on the move again.”

“We dinnae ken they are.”

“We didnae ken they were on the move until near tae late last time. And I’ll nae be rescuing ye from that keep twice, even if I thought the new laird left the weaknesses we used afore.” Marcus shook his head. “And Donall Ranald has reason tae feud with us, even if we had our reasons tae act as well.”

“I ken. But I thought they’d accepted the fact that we had tae kill Connor Ranald, for the sake o’ both our clans. Keegan didnae have any other choice, with Ranald threatening his lass.” Darren scowled.

“Aye. But I’m thinking the lad bears equal grudge tae ye fer threatening his sister. Certain sure she doesnae appreciate having a man who was supposed tae be her betrothed put a sword tae her neck.” Marcus shook his head. “I ken why ye did it, but…”

“It was that or risk losing Isobel.” Darren grunted. “But they’ve been quiet for so long... I thought they’d done their mourning and got on with life when I didnae receive a challenge letter in the first month.”

Marcus snorted. “More fool ye. A grudge born in blood cannae fade so fast, nae among the clans. A year could pass and the anger would burn hot, or a decade, as well ye ken. And even if Donall kent his father was the world’s biggest bastard, still honor demands he avenge the man.” He considered his words, then amended them. “Or at least make the attempt.”

“Well enough. But that’s why I asked if Lyla will be all right with only an escort o’ two or three guards.”

“I’ll be fine.” Lyla smiled at the older man. “I’ve traveled alone afore, and come tae nae harm. Faith, even Coire didnae catch me on the road when I was watchful. And as I’ll be riding with MacDougall men, there’s nae reason fer any man tae come after me.”

“I hope that’s truth, and Donall will have the sense tae leave yer clan out o’ the feud, though I fear ‘tis a fools hope.” Darren exhaled. “But there’s little enough tae be done about it, and if ye’re certain ye want tae make the journey, then best we end the cards here and let ye prepare tae start out with the morning ferry.”

Lyla nodded and scooped her coppers into her purse. There was more than enough for the short journey home. “Aye.”

“I’ll help ye.” Erin rose from the table as well, gathering her own coin – she had the least of any of them – as her husband excused himself. Her eyes were sparkling. “Unless ye’d like Darren tae assist ye.”

Lyla blushed. Darren was a good man, and she’d come to know him well over the past month. Still, they were only friends, and she didn’t need him seeing all her things. “Thank ye, but nay.”

Erin shrugged, a smile still teasing her features. “Ye and Darren seem tae like tae plan things taegether... I’d hate tae deprive ye o’ more match-making opportunities. Though there’s only the two o’ ye still single, save for some o’ the servants…” She trailed off with a raised eyebrow that made Lyla blush again.

“Och, nay. We’re good friends, but Lyla and I arenae more than that.” Darren shook his head. “Nay offense tae ye lass, ye’re nae me type and I’m nae fer marrying right at the moment in any case.”

“I’m nae offended.” Lyla responded. She glared at her sister. “And ye cannae think I’d want such a stern suitor, nae matter how good a man he is. I’m nae one fer the rough, barbarian fellows, nae even one so personable as ye, Darren MacLean.”

“Nae even a little?”

“Nae even.” Lyla folded her arms. “The only man I’ve less interest in than Darren is someone of the likes of Daemon MacMillan.” She shivered. Daemon MacMillan wasn’t a bad man, she knew that, but his ice-pale hair and stern features made him look fierce. And there was a reason he was known to his enemies as ‘The Devil’s Servant’ . “Ever since Rowan, he’s become cold and hard…”

“He’s mourning, like the rest o’ us who kent her.” Erin came around the table to embrace her. “He’ll thaw with time, I’m hoping.” She sighed.

They stood for a moment, with Darren tactfully ignoring them and working at his desk. Then Erin straightened. “Well, enough o’ that. If ye’re tae leave with the morning ferry, then we’d best get the majority o’ yer things packed taenight.”

Lyla nodded and rose from her seat. She was halfway to the door when Darren spoke her name. “Lyla. A moment please?”

She waved Erin to go on ahead of her and turned back. “Aye?”

Darren held a message in his hand, already sealed. “When ye were speaking o’ Daemon MacMillan it made me think of the alliance we made a few months ago. If Clan Ranald is moving, we’ll need our allies at our side. I’ve written him a letter, and I’d like tae ask ye tae deliver it. I ken it will be safe with ye, and like as nae, safer than with a messenger. If Donall Ranald is moving against us, he’ll have men watching for Clan MacLean runners.”

It would take her a little out of her way, and she wasn’t eager to see Daemon MacMillan again. Not after their encounter at Erin’s wedding. Still, it was a small enough favor, and she was fond of Darren. She nodded. “I’ll take it.”

He handed her the message in a sealed tube to protect it from the elements, and she tucked it into her belt pouch. With a last smile, she turned and left the office.

It was tempting to stay at MacLean Keep, but she had duties at home she’d neglected for far too long. And now, she had another duty as well – a message to deliver to her once brother-by-marriage.