Page 28 of Intrigued By A Highlander (Highland Revenge Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER 28

T ension rippled through Clan MacFadin as riders from the north crested the hill. Lord Torrance’s warriors stood in formation at the entrance to the village, weapons in hand, Brack in front of them.

Knox felt less challenged that the group of ten warriors was no match for Lord Torrance’s twenty warriors or the ten more spread throughout the village. That also didn’t count the sentinels that had yet to show themselves. Of course, the north tribe could have more warriors, hidden in the distance, waiting to advance. But for now, the amount of warriors arriving didn’t pose a significant threat.

Dru stood amongst the crowd that gathered, Knox’s strong, comforting presence close at her back. Her heart beat an anxious rhythm, uncertainty gnawing at her resolve. She feared they had come for her.

At the forefront of the approaching warriors rode a figure cloaked in commanding dignity, his grey beard a stark banner of age and authority. He brought his horse to a stop in front of Brack.

“I am Callan, chieftain of the Northern Clans,” the older man announced, his voice clear, resonating with the gravity of his station. His glance shifted, searching the crowd. “You harbor someone who belongs to me… my granddaughter.”

Knox’s muscles rippled with tension as he stepped from behind Dru to stand at her side.

“What makes you think she is here?” Brack demanded.

“She was seen entering the village. She calls herself Dru, but her mother named her Autumn.”

The crowd’s eyes turned to Dru, not so Torrance’s warriors. Their eyes remained on the ten warriors whose eyes followed the crowd’s and landed on Dru.

If Brack was shocked, he didn’t show it. “Autumn is Lord Torrance’s half-sister. She remains here under his protection.”

“She is of my blood,” Callan protested as if that made a difference.

“And of Lord Torrance’s blood as well,” Brack reminded.

“And she is my wife,” Knox shouted for all to hear.

“That makes no difference to me,” Callan called out and turned a glare on Brack. “We will bargain.”

“I cannot speak for Lord Torrance, but I can present your offer to him,” Brack said. “Have your men stay here and we will talk in the keep.”

“Two of my men come with me,” Callan insisted.

Brack didn’t argue, he turned and issued orders to his warriors. “Keep eyes on them at all times.” He strode through the crowd that parted for him and, spotting Knox, ordered, “You and your wife come with me.”

A breath Dru didn’t realize she’d held escaped and when her husband slipped his hand around hers, she clung to it tightly.

Whispers surrounded them as they headed to the keep, Dru hearing one word over and over again.

Autumn. Autumn. Autumn.

There was no more hiding. Autumn had to reveal herself.

Knox not only felt but saw a change in his wife. She tilted her chin up, drew her shoulders back, pressed her lips in determination, and her green eyes shined brighter. Autumn was no longer going to hide away.

That Brack even chose to hear what Chieftain Callan had to say troubled Knox, though no bargain could be reached without Lord Torrance’s word. He hoped that Brack was just appeasing the man so that he could learn more about his intentions.

Drink and food were brought to the tables, but none sat.

Callan didn’t take his eyes off Dru, finally saying, “You are the image of your grandmother, my Sophia.”

He said it as if in fond remembrance and Dru wasn’t sure how to respond to him. She kept her voice strong as she said, “Forgive me, but my mother told me nothing about her family, so I know nothing of Sophia.”

“My Sophia was a good and honorable woman?—”

Knox interrupted him. “Autumn possesses the same trait.”

That he acknowledged and defended Autumn with the same tenacity and love as he did Dru touched her heart. And she loved him even more if that was possible.

“That is yet to be seen,” Callan said and glared at Dru. “And unfortunately, your mother chose to runaway rather than do the honorable thing. She fled from duty, abandoning her people to ruin for a selfish love.” His voice darkened with bitterness. “Lord Randall was married, bound by vows she willingly ignored. Her folly brought war, death, and dishonor.”

A murmur rose among the two warriors with Callan, whispered curses laced with decades-old grievances.

One of the two warriors stepped forward, his expression hardened by memories of pain. “Your mother’s betrayal cost me my family,” he spat, eyes blazing with raw accusation. “You carry that legacy now.”

Dru’s chest tightened, sorrow and defiance warring within her.

Knox took a quick step forward. “My wife bears no guilt for her mother’s deeds.”

“Honor demands it,” the young warrior spat.

Dru recalled her mum mentioning how she left a bad situation only to discover she had stepped into a worse one.

“What did you ask of my mother that she would choose dishonor over duty?” she demanded.

“Duty and honor come before anything,” Callan said, and his two warriors nodded.

“Enough of this nonsense,” Brack said. “Dru—Autumn—whoever she is will remain here until Lord Torrance returns and can decide her fate. Now, what do you propose?”

“Lord Torrance wants fealty from two northern clans, I can make sure he gets that in exchange for surrendering my granddaughter to me,” Callan said.

It was Knox who said, “Lord Torrance doesn’t surrender.”

“He’s right about that,” Brack agreed.

“And you both forget that Autumn is my wife, bound to me by law and I have no intentions of releasing her from our marriage.”

Brack rubbed his chin in thought. “Did you wed her as Dru or Autumn?”

Dru’s heart felt as if it stopped.

“That makes no difference,” Knox argued. “She is my wife, and she carries my child.”

Silence reigned for a moment, Dru realizing that though they didn’t know if that was true, it could make a difference in what was decided.

“It matters not to the chieftain who has agreed to wed her. He will accept her anyway and the child will be given to a couple in another clan to raise,” Callan said.

Knox’s fury surged, the look in his dark eyes turning lethal. “I will see you and your warriors dead before I let you take my wife and child from me.” He turned to Brack. “And you as well if you allow this.”

“It is not my decision to make but I have a duty to present the offer to Lord Torrance,” Brack insisted.

“You have a duty to protect Lord Torrance’s half-sister,” Knox corrected. “And a duty not to surrender to his threats.”

“Autumn bears her mother’s blood and has a debt to settle for her,” Callan said sharply, then turned to Dru. “But I offer you mercy. Agree to the marriage I recently arranged, and I will remove the death bounty that I placed on you. If not, you die.”

The words echoed starkly in her head, the weight of the offer heavy upon her shoulders.

Knox spoke clearly, though there was anger in his voice as well as fierce protectiveness. “This isn’t my wife’s burden. She owes you nothing.”

“She owes us everything!” the younger warrior snapped.

Knox leveled a steely gaze upon him, unflinching. “Your grievances may be real, but Autumn did not cause them. Punishing her will never heal your wounds.”

Dru felt a touch of Autumn in her, recalling how her mum taught her what was expected of her when she would one day wed and serve a husband, maintain a home, raise children. But she found she preferred the freedom she found in being Dru. She wondered if she could ever be Autumn again or if she even wanted to be.

Dru stepped forward, chin lifted, eyes steady, her voice filled with conviction. “You speak of marriage as though it’s still a question. It’s not. I am already wed and not out of duty or fear. I chose love. I will let nothing or anyone take me away from Knox.”

The declaration rippled through the Great Hall like a stone dropped in still water.

Pride and joy filled Knox’s heart hearing his wife fight for their marriage, their love, their future.

Callan’s face hardened. “Your marriage to him means nothing.”

“My marriage to Knox means everything to me,” she argued with Dru’s unwaivable courage. “ He means everything to me, and I will not lose him.”

Callan’s scowled so sharply it could almost be felt. “Consider your choice wisely, granddaughter. Refuse my generous offer and vengeance will be mine.”

Knox’s hand found hers, fingers intertwining in quiet solidarity. Dru gained strength from the warmth of his touch, understanding fully now the depth of sacrifice and tragedy laid at her feet. She straightened her shoulders and felt Dru’s indominable strength and determination flare strong within her.

“My mother’s choices were hers alone and from what you offer me… I wonder if the choice you gave my mother was just as unreasonable, leaving her to do the unthinkable.” Her voice resonated clearly. “You are a fool if you think that I will wed a stranger to satisfy old debts that are not mine. My honor will be earned through my own deeds.”

Callan’s eyes narrowed, studying her. “You are as foolish as your mother. Let’s hope, for his sake, Lord Torrance is wiser.”

“Like my mother, I don’t allow another to decide my fate. Not you. Not Lord Torrance.”

Callan sneered. “You just have with your decision.”

“Nay, that was your decision. You could let this be, end it, but you choose to pursue it. You’re a tyrant and I wonder if my grandmother, your Sophia, didn’t help my mother escape to get away from a cruel and unloving father.”

Knox caught Callan’s hand before it could hit Dru’s face. “NEVER. Ever think that you can lay a hand on my wife.”

Callan tried to yank his hand free, but Knox held firm for a moment, letting him realize that he didn’t come close to matching his strength or resolve.

“You are as wild and disobedient as your mother, and you will suffer for what she did.” Callan looked at Brack. “I will wait for Lord Torrance’s return. If he is wise, he will give my granddaughter to me. Otherwise, I will see her dead.”

Callan turned and walked out, his two warriors following on his heels and four of Lord Torrance’s warriors keeping pace behind them.

Brack shook his head, his face twisted with anger. “Why, in the Lord’s name, did you marry Lord Torrance’s half-sister?”

Dru was quick to answer. “He didn’t know who I was when we wed.”

“Then your marriage is not valid,” Brack argued.

Knox’s temper remained hot. “It most certainly is valid, and we intend to remain married.”

“I wouldn’t count on that, Knox,” Brack said and hastily backed away from him when he looked ready to lunge, his petite wife stopping him with her hand to his arm. “Lord Torrance, against his father’s last wishes, has plans to wed Autumn to whoever will prove most beneficial to him.”

“Against his father’s wishes, you said?” Dru asked curiously.

Brack went to a nearby table and poured himself a tankard of ale and took a generous swallow before responding to her.

“Aye, he changed his mind just before his death and told his son to arrange a good and safe marriage for you even if it didn’t benefit the clan.”

“He kept his word to my mum,” Dru said, turning to her husband. “Maybe he did love.”

“Lord Randall was madly in love with Cerise.” Brack scrunched his brow and shook his head. “I don’t understand. What Callan said makes no sense. Lord Randall met your mother one day when he visited the small village, part of Clan Glencairn, but one of the further villages on the edge of Glencairn land. He didn’t know her before then.”

“Are you sure?” Dru asked.

“My da was with him when he first met her. I remember hearing him tell my mum about the stunning beauty Lord Randall met and how shy she was when he spoke with her. Lord Randall told him he intended to make her his mistress, though he often told my da that he wished he could have made her his wife. If he had known she was the daughter of a chieftain, especially to a northern clan, he would have found a way to wed her. He believed she was nothing more than a peasant.”

“You’re saying Callan lied?” Knox asked.

“Aye, I am, and I wonder why,” Brack said, “though I will make sure Lord Torrance knows about it.”

“He should honor his father’s request and let our marriage stand since Dru is happy to be my wife and I am beyond pleased to be her husband,” Knox said.

“That is something you will need to speak with him about.”

“When will he return?” Knox asked.

“Not long now,” Brack said. “But until he does, I think it would be best if you and your wife stayed in the keep. You’ll be safer here. I don’t want anything to happen to Autumn, or Torrance will have my head.”

The bedchamber was larger than the one room dwelling, yet Dru preferred the dwelling. It was cozier and more intimate, whereas, the bedchamber seemed cold, though a fire burned in the hearth. Or was it her grandfather’s arrival and ultimatum that made her feel trapped?

She sat on the edge of the bed, thoughts and worries racing endlessly in her head.

Knox joined her, resting his hand on her thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll work this out… Autumn.”

She rested her hand over his. “I thought I could resurrect Autumn—” Sadness filled her eyes as she shook her head. “But she died along with my mum. She exists no more.” A tear slipped from her eye. “I think it is best to leave her laid to rest.”

“You are my wife no matter what name you are called.” He nudged her playfully in the side with his elbow. “Though I admit I would miss, the rash, the bold, and often foolish Dru.”

She turned a challenging grin on him. “Are you sure you can handle such a tenacious woman?”

“I can easily control her,” he boasted with a sly smile.

“You think so?” she asked a spark of playful defiance in her green eyes.

“I know so.” She went to argue, and he kissed her, then kissed her again and again until… they fell back on the bed, and he wrapped her snug in his arms.

“You win that one,” she capitulated with a sigh.

Knox chuckled. “We both win that one.”

They lay there silent for a few moments.

“Callan lied to me about my mother? Why? What purpose would he have after all these years? And why did he suddenly decide to offer me a chance to live after being so determined to see me dead? He sacrificed warriors to see me dead and suddenly he changed his mind. It doesn’t make sense.” Her head lay comfortably on her husband’s chest, and she tilted it back to gaze up at him. “I am sorry I got you involved in all of this.”

“I’m not and if I had the choice I would marry you again without hesitation. I took on this mission to fulfill a dream and that dream has seen fruition far beyond what I ever imagined. You are all I want, all I need, all?—”

“But the land?—”

He hushed her words with a kiss. “I prefer your love to a piece of land that would never truly be mine. You will always be mine. No matter what happens our love will endure and that is something coins can’t buy or be granted by another. We chose to love,” he smiled. “Or perhaps love chose us. Either way no one can take it from us.”

“I do love you, husband,” she said touched by his loving words.

“Enough not to do anything foolish?” he asked in a tone that was more than serious.

She smiled softly. “Worry not. I will do nothing foolish, unless…”

“Unless?” he asked concerned.

Her smile grew. “Unless I have no choice but to save you.”

He laughed. “You can be humorous, wife.” His laughter and smile vanished suddenly. “I forbid you to place yourself in jeopardy to save me.”

“Yet you would?—”

“It matters not what I would do. You will save yourself is necessary, save our child who may be growing inside you.”

His reminder of the possibility had her thinking twice.

They lay in silence wrapped in each other’s arms, holding tight, not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but ready to fight for their love.