The Highlander's Destiny (Highland Rogues #2) - Mary Wine Page 0,47

tried to reach for his lady, but Fate wasn’t going to aid them. A collective scream came before the sound of bodies hitting the ground followed. Cora felt her insides heave in response, horror gripping her.

Faolan turned, his face slick with perspiration, but he didn’t mop it away. Instead, he stared at the length of torn material in his hand. Self-loathing twisted his features.

Footsteps came pounding up the stairs. McKay Retainers flooded into the room, their teeth bared.

“Ye killed the laird!”

“Do nae think yer relationship will save ye!”

“Hang him!”

“Faolan tried to save them,” Cora cried in Faolan’s defense.

“There was a dagger wound on the laird’s neck!” one of the McKay declared. On the side of his knitted bonnet, there were three feathers. One of them stood upright, declaring him to be a captain. The rest of the McKay men were silent, confirming that they recognized his authority.

“Lady McKay stabbed her husband after he coveted his brother’s wife.”

The new voice was low and controlled. The men crowded around Faolan were confused for a moment before they realized the person speaking was behind them.

Back near the door, standing quietly, was the priest. His face was frozen in disapproval as he raised a shaking finger and pointed at the window. “This was God’s judgment. His judgment comes and right soon…’”

Silence stretched across the chamber. The captain looked toward Faolan. Cora watched the man struggle to accept the change which had just occurred. But a priest’s word was absolute. Even so, the man looked around, making eye contact with every Retainer in the room. One by one, they all nodded.

“Laird.”

The captain was the first to reach up and tug on the corner of his cap. The rest of the men followed suit.

Their voices were low, but the weight they carried was extreme. Faolan’s expression tightened. He nodded once before he locked gazes with the priest. “Ye followed us?”

The priest frowned. “Ye might have been intent on intimidating the women of this clan to bear witness for ye. I thought to hear their truest words when ye approached them.” He looked toward the window. “Indeed, I received what I set out to find.”

The priest drew in a deep breath. He tucked his hands into his robe and faced the men of the McKay clan.

“I will offer a pardon for both their souls. But they should be buried immediately and not mourned. Neither is worthy.” The priest turned and left.

The McKays followed him, their loyalty still clinging to Malcolm and his wife. Faolan and Cora went along, and the priest began the blessing over the two people who had just been so intent on seeing Faolan broken to their will.

Malcolm and Noreen were lying in the yard. Someone had straightened them, but there was no dismissing the fact that both were dead. Cora found herself venturing closer, unable to grasp just how suddenly circumstances had changed. Faolan caught her wrist, preventing her from advancing further.

It was a wise move. Even with the priest to witness the matter, she and Faolan were deep inside the McKay stronghold. If the clan turned hostile, there would be no way to prevent them from doing whatever they would.

Faolan stepped in front of her. Cora drew in a breath. It was a little reaction that simply happened in response to the way he sheltered her. She might have expected that her pride would rebel, but she couldn’t lie to herself.

She liked the way he shielded her.

“This was a crime of lust and wrath,” the priest declared. “Pray for mercy for their souls and take heed of the lesson the Lord has shown ye. To covet is to listen willingly to the devil.”

The McKays were hushed. They muttered their prayers through their shock as the priest gave his testimony. When it was over, there was only the sound of the wind in the yard. Over two hundred clansmen stood still, uncertain of what to do next. The laird’s shame was theirs. The name of the McKay stained just as surely as the yard was splashed with the blood of their laird and lady.

Faolan muttered a prayer, and Gainor suddenly appeared at his side.

“Complete the burial as the priest instructed,” Faolan commanded.

Cora held her breath, waiting to see if the Retainers would obey. A gust of wind tore through the yard, almost as if Malcolm was attempting to intercede from beyond the grave. If he was, the Retainers decided to choose the living over a ghost. They nodded and moved forward to hoist