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“Once they get to know you, they will think differently.”

She shook her head and followed alongside him as he began walking toward the keep. “They will never get to know me since they will not take the chance to speak with me, and you cannot force them to speak with me. Such a decree would only worsen the situation.”

“Keep the kitten, but keep him out of my way,” Slayer said.

“Cats choose who they will befriend.”

“Are you telling me the kitten will not like me?”

“You said yourself that you are not a kind man. The kitten will sense it and avoid you unless…”

“Unless what?” he demanded.

She smiled. “Unless you are not as unkind as you say.” He looked about to lecture her, so she hurried to ask, “The wolfhounds, are they yours?”

Slayer stopped abruptly. “Never go near the wolfhounds’ pen. They are vicious animals, bred to fight in battle and obey only me. Whatever magic you think you have with animals, you do not have with them. Stay away.”

She was glad he continued walking and had not insisted she give her word to him, but then he expected everyone to obey his word so what need was there for a promise?

Seeing Ross sitting at one of the tables upon entering the Great Hall, Slayer asked, “There are a few things I wish to discuss with you before you take your leave?”

Ross went to stand.

“Stay, I will join you there,” Slayer said and was quick to call out to Sky when she did not follow him to the table. “Where are you going?”

“To feed the kitten. I will return shortly,” she said and hurried out of the room.

“You let her bring the kitten she saved into the keep?” Ross asked.

“You know about that already? You have only arrived from the compound.”

Ross nodded. “Word spreads fast throughout the clan. I heard all about the attack and your victory yesterday. The servants are whispering about both, and much blame is being placed on Sky for the kitten incident. To them, she is an outsider, and her affliction does not make it any easier.”

“Do I command this clan or not?”

“You command the Gallowglass. You lead this clan.”

“And the difference?”

“I imagine more patience is needed with one more than the other.”

“One cannot lead without command, and patience is more like indecisiveness and can be fatal to a clan. Patience did not win us endless victories or save the lives of our warriors. I command. It is what I was taught and what I do to keep everyone safe. If I had spared those three lads the consequences of their actions, they would never learn to obey my word. And one day that may cost them their lives.”

Ross raised his tankard. “The reason you lead, and I follow.”

* * *

“Cats don’t usually stayin the keep,” Euniss said, watching the little ball of fur licking up the milk from the bowl she had placed on the floor.

“Why, when they are so good at keeping the mice at bay?” Sky asked and tried to ignore the whispers and stolen glances from the servants.

Euniss appeared hesitant to say, strange for her since she had been blunt with her remarks since Sky had met her.

One of the servants bravely spoke up. “They fear his lordship.”

“Nonsense. Cats know better than to get in his lordship’s way,” Euniss said as if that was an adequate explanation itself.

“We shall see how the kitten fares with his lordship,” Sky said, thinking, like most cats, the little ball of fur would have her own way. “Let her enjoy the milk and I will return for her, if that is all right with you, Euniss.”