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Noble had no doubt that while she gathered food for Cecil, she would also spread word in the kitchen that would quickly spread throughout the clan that they would all eat well today.

Haig pulled his sword from its sheath. “I am ready to claim this clan.”

Noble felt an uncomfortable nag in his gut. Something was wrong. He cast a glance around the room. His warriors still chuckled over his wife’s comment while talking amongst themselves while the few men that had been sitting at one of the tables when they first entered the room kept watch on them. Cecil waited by one of the tables for the food Calla was fetching for him. Noble hurried to look at Haig, the man headed toward the door, though not in a direct path, a path that took him too close to Leora.

“MOVE, WIFE!” Noble bellowed, drawing his sword and knowing his warriors would immediately reach for their weapons.

Leora reacted instinctively at her husband’s blaring command. She hugged the pup to her chest and fell back off the bench, the bowl of milk splashing in her face as it toppled with her.

Haig’s blade was about to hit the table when Noble’s blade went through his back and out through his stomach. The sword fell from Haig’s hand and when Noble yanked his sword out of Haig, the man fell to the floor. A quick glance showed that Noble’s men had easily subdued Haig’s few warriors.

Noble hurried around the table to see to his wife. She lay on her back, the pup licking at the milk spilled on her face. He reached down and eased her to her feet, the pup tight against her chest as he continued to lick the milk.

“Are you hurt?” Noble asked concerned, wondering how she could be even more appealing with milk dripping from her face or perhaps it was the way she put the pup’s needs before her own.

“Nay, I am fine,” she said.

“You did good, wife,” Noble praised.

“Matters not,” Haig said with a struggle.

Noble rested his hand on his wife’s back as he eased her around the table for them both to glance down at Haig.

“She will die,” Haig said and coughed, blood gurgling from his mouth.

Leora said the obvious. “You are the one who dies.”

“Regret my failure,” he hurried to say. “Cannot inherit… not worthy.”

“I want no inheritance,” Leora said, angry at the trouble it was causing and fearful for her future.”

“Your claim to Clan Skirling was nothing more than a ruse,” Noble said. “You somehow learned Leora would eventually show up here, so you came here to wait and what better way than to lay claim to the title.”

Haig continued to struggle to speak, fighting against death that was creeping ever closer.

“She—” Haig coughed, blood spewing from his mouth. “Never inherit. He will make sure of—” His head lolled to the side, death finally the victor.

Noble’s men were already clearing the Great Hall of the bodies of the fallen warriors, and he gently eased his wife aside so the men could see to Haig as well.

Cecil approached Noble cautiously. “I knew nothing about this, Chieftain Noble.”

“What do you know about Haig?” Noble asked, seeing the man’s hands tremble and noting how he made certain to address him with respect.

“I only met him when I arrived here, and only after hearing the servant lass say that he arrived the day Argus was buried did I know we arrived on the same day since he adamantly disputed otherwise. When I received word that Argus was close to death, I journeyed here since I am his only relative. I was shocked when Haig claimed he was the rightful heir to Clan Skirling. I had not heard of him before then.” Cecil shook his head. “I cannot believe this was all a ruse, Haig’s only intention—to kill your wife. You must believe me, Chieftain Noble. I had no idea of Haig’s intention.”

“You are welcome to remain the night if you wish, Cecil,” Noble offered, believing the man no threat, though that did not mean he would not send a couple of warriors to follow discreetly behind him when he took his leave and make sure that he was no threat.

“I appreciate the offer, but I prefer to take my leave immediately. My brother will be pleased at my return since I help him manage the clan. Clan Skirling was once a thriving clan and I thought I could appoint someone to take charge of it so that my brother and I could benefit from it. I was shocked to see how much it had fallen into disrepair since my last visit many years ago. You have far more resources in the area to revive the clan than I do, and I would not dare go against Lord Slayer’s command.”

“Then friends we are, Cecil,” Noble said.

“A friendship I will cherish, Chieftain Noble.”

Cecil left with a sack of food and the few men who had come with him.

Noble turned to his wife and could not help but smile. Most of the milk was gone from her face, licked off, and the pup slept curled contentedly in her arm.

“What will you name him?” Noble asked, running a gentle finger over the pup’s black fur.