Page 5 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai (The MacKai Brides #5)

“Laird MacKai made his sisters train with weapons because their parents were murdered. He knew he could not guard all seven of them all of the time. Not unless he locked them in the keep tower.”

“That makes some sense. I pity the man being burdened with that many women to protect. However, you said seven. I thought Raeb MacKai had only six sisters.”

“His oldest sister, Sorcha, is wife to Earl Marr. The story of that match is a fascinating one. I believe you became involved in the final events because of your brother’s treason.”

“Ah yes, I recall now. I saw very little of Countess Marr while I was there. They say she is as beautiful as her sisters.”

“There is a reason why the seven of them are called the MacKai jewels. The surprising thing is that they are all more intelligent than any woman has a right to be. Even my beloved Maeve can dream up plots so complex that I have to explain the various parts of her plans to those intended to carry them out. ’Twas she and Artis, the youngest of the sisters, who devised the plan that defeated the army Edward of England sent to Dungarob. Lady Seona played her part as well.”

“I thought that was a false story put about to embarrass the English. ’Tis difficult to believe that six women succeeded in defeating an army without raising a single blade.”

“Almost. Lord Simon Du Grace...”

That would be Lady Jessamyn MacKai’s brother, yes?”

“Indeed. He suffered a wound from Lady Neilina’s sword. No one was aware that he was among the English. It turned out he wasn’t part of the army but had taken passage on one of their ships because he wanted to visit his sister and witness her marriage.”

“’Tis an interesting family.”

“That is to put it ...:

Suddenly Rhuad stood in his stirrups. “Do you smell that?”

Dougal sniffed the air. “Smoke?”

“Aye. If the reivers have attacked the camp in our absence, I’ll not forgive myself.” He urged his horse to a gallop with one hand on the reins. With the other he drew his sword and gave his battle cry “ A Mhic Fhearainn .”

Alerting all in his group to follow and expect a fight.

Sixteen mounted men thundered into the camp. War cries boomed from their throats. Rhuad saw the cookfire before he could take in the entire scene.

Lady Seona and five of the six guards who had remained in the camp ran forward primed to attack.

“Stop!” Rhuad shouted at the same moment as Lady Seona.

He hauled on the reins to halt his destrier’s headlong rush before the horse could trample the lady.

She leapt backward, but her foot caught in the hem of her skirt. She fell to the ground.

“Seona!” Rhuad, jumped from his horse and had the lady in his arms before any of the other men could react.”

Her face was pale, and her gray eyes were shut.

“Are you hurt?”

Her eyes opened, and she shook her head. Then she swallowed before issuing a hoarse ”Nay.”

He dropped her as if she were hot coals.

She managed to gain her feet.

“What in the name of St. Andrew’s bones are you doing?”

“I beg your pardon, Laird MacFearann. Do you always accost your guards in such a manner?”

“You! Are not one of my guards.”

“As it happens, at the moment I am. I took the place of the man helping Mistress Auchmuty with preparations for our evening meal.”

“That man will rue the day he left his post.”

“I ordered him to do it. If you’ve a complaint direct it at me.”

“Oh, I will certainly do that. Dougal,” Rhuad didn’t take his eyes off of Seona. “Have that fire doused immediately.”

“Don’t do that Sir Dougal,” she countermanded.

“Lady Seona. I no longer serve Clan MacKai. Laird Rhuad is right to douse the fire.” Dougal turned away and called one of the men over, then gave him orders to put out the fire.

Around them all activity halted, save the dousing of the fire. The men, Dougal included, stood poised waiting to learn who would emerge victorious from this confrontation.

Seona turned her fury on her husband. “Mistress Auchmuty cannot provide a hot meal without a fire.”

“Then supper must be a cold meal. Did no one tell you there were reivers about?”

“Aye. I was told.” She clenched her teeth, and her hands balled into fists.

“And do you think that reivers might be as capable of scenting smoke as I am?”

Her jaw went slack. “I did not think of that,” she mumbled.

“Did you think at all?” He snarled and loomed over her, arms akimbo.

“Of course, I thought. I reasoned that you and the men would be hungry and appreciate a hot meal after this long day of riding. Obviously, you had a different idea. Did it occur to you to leave an order not to have a fire started? Such a simple precaution might have prevented this entire incident.”

It was Rhuad’s turn to go slack jawed. “I did not think of that,” he mumbled.

She giggled. She actually giggled, before folding her hands together in front of her and primly said, “Did you think at all?

Rhuad laughed so hard he lost his balance and fell at Seona’s feet.

Guffaws bent his wife double, bringing her face very close to his.

A hand on her shoulder and he could tumble her to the ground. She would lie beneath him in a terce. Only the presence of the men prevented him from acting on the idea.

Their audience stared as if their lord and lady were a pair of addlepates.

When the hysteria subsided, Rhuad stood and grinned. “Of course, I thought. I thought of safety for you, your cook and all involved in this journey.”

Seona straightened and held out her hand. “Pax, Laird MacFearann.”

He took her hand in a light clasp, bowed low and kissed the air just above her knuckles. “If you will but call me Rhuad, pax. Lady Seona MacFearann. I promise to do a better job of informing you as to my wishes.”

Reluctantly he released her hand. It wasn’t as soft as a lady’s hand should have been. However, the callouses on her palm and strength in her grip gave him confidence that she could truly wield weapons well enough to protect herself. He admired her for placing safety over vanity.

“I make the same promise to you, sirrah.” She smiled at him. “Now if you will excuse me, I will discover what Mistress Auchmuty can provide for our cold supper.”

Rhuad watched her walk away. He was still watching when Dougal placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Ahem, did I mention that a MacKai woman can be a danger to a man’s sanity?”

Still grinning, Rhuad turned to his friend. “Perhaps, but I’ll take Lady Seona’s variety of insanity over that of more gentile ladies.”

Dougal regarded him with a narrow-eyed stare. “Laird MacKai would be greatly displeased should you use his sister ill.”

“Do you accuse me of dishonorable thoughts, Dougal?”

“Thoughts are one thing. Just be certain not to act on them.”

“As his seneschal, Lady Seona stands in the place of Laird MacKai. He is my ally, and I would not so dishonor an ally.”

Dougal’s mouth thinned, and he nodded. “See that you don’t.”

With that the knight pivoted and walked away to where his bedroll lay.

Rhuad was left to contemplate exactly what the man meant by the words use ill ?

***

A S LUCK WOULD HAVE it, they crossed Scotland without encountering a single reiver. However, the weather did not treat them kindly.

“We should arrive at Castle MacFearann before dusk,” remarked Rhuad. He pushed back his sodden hood.

Seona followed his example. The soggy material did more to obscure her vision than the pelting water.

This morning, he’d invited Seona and her cook to ride with him and Dougal at the head of the group.

She appreciated the courteous gesture which would spare them from breathing the dust raised by twenty mounted men at arms. However, the nearly constant rain had made dust of little concern.

The mud was a different matter. Even at the head of the group, the horses’ hooves threw up enough sludge to thoroughly cover the lower half of her cloak.

The rain had soaked the upper half to the point where she felt as if she were wearing a river.

A number of the men, and worse, the cook had been coughing and sniveling for the past two days.

Seona prayed she could remember the recipe for Maeve’s tonic.

Her sister swore by its healing properties for any illness that did not involve a wound.

However, it would do little good if she could not recall the ingredients.

Long past midday, the rain had transformed into a wet fog.

Rhuad had refused to stop for a meal, insisting they could eat when they arrived at the castle.

A while later they topped a rise to see a fog laden valley beyond.

Rhuad called a halt and ordered the group to take time for water and whatever food they might have left from their breakfasts.

The cook made her way down the line of horsemen, making certain each man had food enough to keep him from hunger until they reached the castle.

Rhuad pointed across the mist shrouded valley.

“Lady Seona wait for a break in the fog and you will see Castle MacFearann.”

Munching on a crust of bread she leaned forward, peering into the murky haze.

She’d nearly finished the bread when the gloom parted like a curtain, and she saw framed on a far slope a great pile of gray stone nearly the same color as the fog.

Only the very slight pinkish cast to the building allowed her to tell the difference.

“You live there?”

“You need not sound so amazed my lady.”

She straightened. “I could lie and tell you I’m not amazed.

However, I prefer the plain speaking we have shared these past few days.

So, yes, I find myself truly stunned. All the stories I’ve ever heard of Clan MacFearann and their laird’s castle describe the building as a dark and desolate place.

A fitting home for the most hated clan in Scotland. ”

“I’m grateful you decided on speaking truth. Do you know the tale of how Clan MacFearann became so hated?”

“If I recall correctly, it had something to do with a land dispute between the Laird MacFearann of the time and a Bishop.”