Page 34 of For a Wild Woman’s Heart (Ancient Songs #3)

T he Caledonian party returned a fortnight later with King Caerdoc riding at their head and Urfet close behind. Deathan was himself among the first to sight them, as he was on the walls at the time, and he called out the order to open the gates even as his heart began to pound.

Their answer, his and Darlei’s, was upon them. From the moment they heard what news King Caerdoc had to tell, the fates would lie cast. Everything would change.

He knew very well that Darlei feared so. As the days had stretched out, her apprehension had only grown. Naught he said seemed able to shift it from her, no reassurance, and no promise.

Though she refused to come out and say so, she expected some dark and terrible outcome upon her father’s return. One that would serve to separate them. It was why she would not choose a pup. It was why even when they were alone together, he glimpsed apprehension in her eyes.

“Do no’ borrow trouble,” he’d told her. And yet it came to him that mayhap she borrowed it from the past.

If they had known each other before, on some previous turn of the wheel, and if it had ended badly, would not the fear carry over just like the love?

It did not mean their lives would end the same way this time.

He would make it right. He would, for her, no matter what he had to do. Had he not proven that?

But aye, he understood her fears. He’d been naught but a second son all his life.

Second to a brother he no longer respected as once he had.

For, aye, he had discovered where Rohr had been hiding out all the while—in a private place up the shore, most often with a jug of heather ale and sometimes, he suspected, with Caragh, though Deathan could not prove that last.

He’d expected better of Rohr. Ah, well, he would now have to surrender his hiding place, so Deathan thought as he watched the Caledonian party ride in.

He, like Deathan himself, would have to dree his weird , as the old ones put it. Accept his fate.

But his stomach turned sour as he ran down the narrow steps from the wall and went to meet King Caerdoc. Did the man look grim? Or merely weary?

“Run and get the chief,” he told one of the men standing by. “And Master Rohr.” If they could find him.

And the princess? Och…

Hurrying forward, he caught King Caerdoc’s bridle. The man’s dark gaze swept over him as if he did not exist.

“Send word to the chief we are returned from Forteviot.”

“Word is already sent, King Caerdoc.”

“I will need to meet wi’ him at once. And my daughter.”

The king swung down. Urfet followed and took the pony’s lead from Deathan with a disdainful look. The bailey bustled with activity.

Deathan stepped back. He had to be in that meeting.

His father came hurrying, alarm hovering in his eyes. He shot one look at Deathan and said, “Find your brother.” Swiftly, he stepped to Caerdoc and extended his hand. “Greetings, King Caerdoc. Ye ha’ brought an answer?”

“I have,” Caerdoc replied, very grimly indeed.

“Come, we will meet in the hall.”

Da shot another look at Deathan as they passed, one that made Deathan turn and pelt down toward the shore.

Even though that was not what he wanted to do. Every instinct bade him go to Darlei, seek to reassure her. For, aye, having seen King Caerdoc, he feared she’d been all too right. Something dire came rushing toward them.

He found Rohr lying in his hidey-hole above the shore, half slumped on a stack of cloth used to make sails, the inevitable jug beside him. Not till Deathan tried to revive his brother did he realize Rohr was more than half drunk.

“Wha’ is the matter wi’ ye?” he bellowed, the emotions that roiled in his gut making him impatient. “Lyin’ here wi’ the sun up. Where is yer shirt?” For Rohr lay there in no more than his leggings.

Rohr opened a bleary eye and looked at Deathan. “Leave me be.”

“I will no’. I canna.” Rohr’s hair was uncombed, the front of his leggings untied. It came to Deathan then—while he had been performing his brother’s duties, organizing the guard and drilling the men, Rohr had been here with his woman.

“Where is she?” Sharply, he pushed his brother upright. “Caragh?”

“To be sure, long gone. But she comes here to me.” A besotted smile curved Rohr’s lips. “She is carrying my child, ye ken.”

“I ken it, aye.” It was unfair for Rohr to have a lover and possibly Darlei also. Did he mean to keep Caragh on the side after the marriage?

“She comes,” Rohr reiterated, “so we can decide wha’ to do about our s-situation.”

“Well, ye ha’ run clean out o’ time. Da wants ye.”

“Da?”

“Aye. The Caledonians ha’ returned, no doubt wi’ an answer from the king. Ye canna go looking like that. Where are the rest o’ your clothes?”

“Somewhere about.” Rohr climbed to his feet, looking like a man who’d been struck a hard blow, one that had at least partly cleared his head. “I do no’ wish to wed wi’ that wild woman.”

And I do no’ wish for ye to wed wi’ her. She is mine.

“I do no’ like her.” Rohr wrinkled his nose. “Conceited bitch.”

A little more of Deathan’s patience slipped from his grasp. “Where is yer self-respect, man? Pull yoursel’ together.”

“I wish to wed wi’ Caragh. Even though she often carps at me and leads me on a merry chase. She is the woman I—”

“Aye, well, it scarce matters wha’ ye want, does it? ’Tis all down to the king.”

Deathan was to recall speaking those words a few moments later, after he dragged Rohr up the slope most hastily clad and the object of stares.

Under the guise of bringing his brother into the hall, he lingered. Because he just had to hear.

Darlei was there ahead of them, standing not far from her father, and his. King Caerdoc’s face bore a heavy frown. Several of Da’s advisors stood by.

No one else.

Darlei turned to look at them, and Deathan’s heart fair seized in his chest. Silvery eyes bright, she held hard to her composure, fighting for it with every sinew, but he could feel her apprehension.

“There ye be!” Da cried as Deathan pulled Rohr forward. “Step up, step up. We ha’ an answer from the king.”

Rohr went forward to stand beside Darlei, who cast one more look at Deathan before turning her attention to her father.

“King Kenneth kept us waiting several days before granting us an audience,” Caerdoc said somberly.

“And when he heard me out, he was not best pleased with what I had to tell.” He turned his dark gaze on Rohr, sharply critical.

“I fear, Chief MacMurtray, you and yours have fallen some in the king’s estimation. ”

Da gave a heavy sigh and likewise raked Rohr with a disparaging look.

This is it , Deathan thought. There will be no escaping the decree now. The marriage will follow swiftly. Darlei will be my sister.

“The king pondered well and long over what should be done, and left us waiting several more days before making his decision.”

“And what,” Da asked, “is that decision?”

Deathan could see Darlei trembling now. Her head was still high, but her hands quivered where she clasped them together.

King Caerdoc said, “This marriage will not take place.”

Darlei sagged. Rohr made an inarticulate sound in his throat that smacked of relief, and Deathan’s heart bounded. A good outcome.

But swiftly, King Caerdoc turned to his daughter. “The king has chosen another husband for you, instead. We leave as soon as ever we may and will journey to Killin for the wedding. King Kenneth sends word ahead of us.”

“What?” Darlei gasped.

What? Deathan echoed in his head.

King Caerdoc spoke rapidly to Darlei in their own tongue, as if he feared she had not understood his words.

A dull flush rose from her bosom upward. She did not look at Deathan, though he felt her emotions flying to him.

Nay.

Nay.

“Who?” Darlei asked in Gaelic, like a woman stunned. “Who is this man to whom I am being given?”

“His name is Dunstoch MacNabh, and he lives a goodly distance east of here. Closer to home, it will be for you.”

“I know of Dunstoch MacNabh,” Da spoke up. “He is a widower and a strong chief.”

Darlei began, “I will not—”

Swiftly her father told her, “You will do as the king commands. There has been enough delay, and we can see what comes of it. Chief MacMurtray, we will be ready to leave here in two days, as soon as my men and ponies are rested.”

Two days. They had but two days together.

This was not what Deathan had expected. He’d thought, if the wedding were canceled, Caerdoc would take his daughter home. Deathan would follow and somehow, somehow persuade him they should be together. As, in truth, they already were.

But she was to be swept away. Into the arms of another stranger. How could he stand and let that happen?

“Father—” Darlei began again.

“Hush. I wish to see this settled and done. For once in your life, daughter, you will do as you are told. Now go to your woman. Begin to pack up your things.”

Darlei, too, looked like she’d been struck a hard blow. But she turned to leave the hall. As she walked past Deathan, she sent him one burning look.

I will find ye , he promised silently. I will always find ye.