Page 1 of Bride Takes a Laird

Chapter One

Lochaber

Highlands, Scotland

Mid-March 1260

The body wasfound on the ground in the shadow of the great mountain just before the sun rose over its peak. High atop the mound, wisps of mist stretched downward like fingers reaching over the pinnacle. Magnus stood beside his brother’s body and gazed forlornly at the sight of the ghastly remains. His brother had been missing for over a month. Searches had ensued when no one had recalled seeing Ned in over a fortnight.

Magnus, as the laird of the Cameron Clan, had been busy helping with the sowing of the harvest and handling other important clan matters. He hadn’t noticed Ned was absent until he visited his cottage to gain an accounting of their coins and stores. Ned, their clan’s steward, kept their clan’s accounts and records of all the land’s holdings.

Magnus’s brethren stood silent as the winds from the high crags whipped at their tartans. It was a bonny place to die, where the valley sprouted with the first buds of the season. The sound of the waterfalls cascading over the rocky expanse lent to its serenity. Beyond them, pinewoods stood proudly towering high above, watching over his brother’s body and protecting him from the sun and elements. Dying at such a place would allow one’s soul to enter heaven even if theywere besmirched by minor sins. At least that was the conviction of those within his clan.

He stood rigidly, peering at what remained of his brother. If only he had noticed his brother had gone missing sooner. The trek from their land was laborious and it had taken them most of the morning to reach the isolated location. Beside him, Clarence knelt and surveyed Ned’s body. A healer of renowned ability, Clarence could tell how a person died and whether there was foulness involved. With no others to rival his skills, Clarence was unsurpassed in his vocation. The man was somewhat eccentric in his abilities. Nevertheless, he was an important member of their clan.

“What say ye, Clarence? Was Ned murdered or did he perish from the elements? I must have your answer.” Magnus waited impatiently for the healer to respond, but the cantankerous man scoffed.

Clarence’s bushy eyebrows rose as if the answer eluded him. “I cannot tell ye that, Laird, by viewing him in this condition. He is nearly all bones now and there is very wee insect activity so the death was not recent. There is little to show if he was cut for his blood dried up. Aye, what with the way the wind blows here, ’tis likely he has lain here for nearly a month.”

“It does not appear that he was disturbed by animals and the body is intact.” Magnus found that odd since the area was known to be visited by wolves and other roaming animals.

“’Tis strange indeed but perhaps none caught the scent of his corpse. He was shielded by the mountain too. I shall inspect his garments later when I get him back and try to assess if he received any wounds.” Clarence rose and stood beside him but he continued to stare at the ground. “’Tis something odd about your brother’s death for he was not alone when he died.”

Magnus frowned and tried to discern what Clarence was looking at. “I see naught. How can ye tell that?”

Clarence motioned to the ground. “Ye see the hoof prints? Therewere more than one horse in the area. Aye, he was left to die. Might have been dead already afore he was placed.” He shrugged. “I shall inspect his body at my cottage and might have an answer for ye in a day or two. Och, I suspect treachery, Laird.”

Magnus grunted.Was his brother murdered? Why would anyone want to kill Ned?“I want an answer at the soonest. Until we know the truth, we cannot retaliate.”

Clarence mumbled, “Aye, aye, there will be vengeance if Ned was indeed murdered.”

“Aye, vengeance,” Magnus stated with vigor. “I want to know if there is an enemy about.” He wasn’t aware of Ned’s involvement in anything untoward. Ned rarely left their clan’s holding and he knew of no one his brother might have visited in the area. Though Ned was fond of drink and overimbibing, Magnus trusted his brother. Yet it was only at their father’s insistence that he had given Ned the position as their steward. At the time, he had been uncertain if Ned could handle such a tiresome and important duty.

Clarence motioned to the soldiers beyond him. “Easy now. Take care when ye lift him onto the cloth and cart. Have him taken to my cottage.” He turned back to him. “My condolences, Laird, on the loss of your brother. I will work hard to get ye an answer at the soonest.” With that, the old healer turned on his foot and marched to the lane that took them around the high bluff of the mountain.

Magnus stood there for a time, saddened by the loss, and perplexed by what had happened to his brother. He couldn’t take much time to mourn Ned because there were too many duties awaiting him and, as laird, those came first. With that thought, he mounted his horse and followed the trail of soldiers on the path. On the trek back home, he considered how he would tell his parents and other siblings about Ned’s death. They would take the news hard, especially his mother, who adored Ned.

Crossing the wooden bridge over the waters of Loch Eil that led tohis home,Eilean nan Craobh, he stopped by the gates and dismounted. Their fortification was located on the island of the trees, home to all Clan Cameron, where a small tower sat within a large walled enclosure. Enemies were kept at bay by a deep trench of water surrounding the stone curtain. Numerous cottages speckled the hills between the trees within the walls on the small island but their clan spread far beyond the fief and island.

When necessary, his clan retreated inside the walls for its protection. His family had held the lands as long as anyone could remember, since the inception of their clan. Now that Magnus was laird, he hoped to enrich the fortification and make his home even more impenetrable. Their land’s location put them in a perilous position, being centered betwixt many northern clans that would sooner war with them than make an alliance. Wars arose over the simplest matters from a stolen sheep to an overtaking of land. No matter was too trivial for any clan to rise up against their rivals.

There was one clan in particular that instigated Magnus’s ire—the Chattans. That clan was a thorn in his arse because they squabbled over land that had long been held in the hands of Camerons. The ongoing disagreement caused minor scuffles so far, but the Chattan’s audacity was becoming more irritating by the day and their strife would escalate. Even if he wished for peace, Magnus was certain it would take a great deal to accept any offer of a treaty from that knavish clan.

Magnus paced before the gate and the noise from his clansmen and women, animals that scurried on the lane, the horses hitched to carts and reins held by his soldiers, all muted. He paid no attention to those around him, the weight of his news sat heavy upon his chest. He suspected that once he crossed the threshold, life would be forever changed. Their clan would be affected by the loss of his brother. Until they knew what happened to Ned, suspicions and rumors would abound. He detested the thought of the turmoil that would erupt buthe’d deal with his clan’s disorder.

“Laird, there ye be,” Craig, one of his trusted guardsmen, called. “Ye received a missive from the king. The messenger arrived early this morn.” The gate watchman held out a sealed parchment.

“My thanks.” Absently, he took the parchment from his guard. Magnus continued to peer beyond the tall, blond-haired man whose beard was trimmed short. His soldier’s dark eyes scrutinized him.

Craig cleared his throat. “Laird, is there anything I can do…?”

“Keep the gates closed. Until we know what happened to Ned, we will be guarded and diligent. And I want to know who comes and who goes.” Magnus regarded the grim face of his soldier as he shoved the missive inside his tunic. He would read the message later and didn’t consider it important, at least, not as significant as the burden he now faced. By now, the news had spread like wildfire through his clan and probably beyond his borders.

“Aye, Laird. Do ye believe the Chattans were behind Ned’s death?”

“I know not but if they were, they’ll regret it.” Magnus couldn’t reason why the Chattans would harm one of their clansmen. Their rift hadn’t escalated to war yet, but would eventually. There was no cause for the Chattans to want to murder his brother.

Craig waited for him to pass and signaled to the guardsmen to close the gate. The creak of the iron and grunts from his soldiers sounded and both gave Magnus the solace of protection. He couldn’t give thought to their strife with the Chattans until he knew how his brother had died and so he put aside his conversation with Craig.