The Highlander's Destiny (Highland Rogues #2) - Mary Wine Page 0,87
gatehouses on the wall.
“See what that is about, Yestin.”
The captain nodded. He used a door that was hidden by a tapestry to venture out onto the wall. He came back quickly.
“New arrival at the gate. Yer brother is here, Mistress,” Yestin informed her. “And he rides with Cormac Grant.”
The tension in the room tightened. The McKay Retainers looked between Cora and the two little girls. With blood on their clothing, Cora could see them battling the urge to kill her and the girls just to ensure the safety of their own families.
“Well, let us receive them in the great hall,” Cora said slowly and calmly. “Yestin?”
“Aye, Mistress?”
“Make certain me brother is escorted in with plenty of McKays. Tell him he may bring only six men. We shall suffer no further attacks.”
Her words drew a few more nods of approval. Cora started to turn toward the door but stopped. There was still too much anger in the air. She looked at the two nursemaids.
“Bring the girls and follow me.”
The two nursemaids immediately lowered themselves. They both wrapped their charges up to protect them from the chill of the night before following Cora down the stairs.
“Cover the little ones’ faces,” Yestin said as they neared the place outside the bathhouse.
There was much more light now. It glittered off the surface of the pools of blood. The window shutters had been opened, but the stench of death was still so thick, Cora lifted her hand to her face to stifle the scent.
Ye must be strong.
Suddenly, her unorthodox youth was treasured indeed. All of the strength she had cultivated, all of the confidence in herself was precisely what she needed to weather the night.
And make Faolan proud to call her wife.
*
“Six men?” Buchanan growled. “Why?”
Yestin kept his hands on his wide belt. “A party of Grants got inside the castle an hour past. They ran the laird through in an attempt to put his niece back in the line of succession.”
“Damn Lirkin to hell.” Cormac stepped forward. “I am Cormac Grant. This night’s work was none of my doing.” He took his sword off and offered it to Yestin.
It was a gesture no man missed the gravity of. Yestin nodded with approval. He looked at the third man who had stepped forward.
“Rolfe Munro,” Rolfe provided his name. “We have ridden together in search of Cora Mackenzie. The men at yer towers said she is here.”
“Aye, the mistress will receive ye in the hall.”
“Mistress?” Buchanan questioned. “She’s wed to Malcolm?”
Yestin shook his head. “The new laird, Faolan. Malcolm and Noreen are dead by Noreen’s hand.”
There was a rumbling in the ranks of the men backing Buchanan, Rolfe, and Cormac up.
“Best ye come inside to see,” Yestin said. “To see the mistress.”
Buchanan sent him a hard look. Yestin answered it with one of his own.
“Well, then,” Buchanan responded. “I would like to see me sister.”
Rolfe and Cormac were left to follow. Rolfe chuckled. Cormac turned to look at him.
“Seems ye have lost yer bride,” Rolfe informed Cormac. “A pity.”
“The way I heard it, she was sent to ye for consideration.”
Rolfe grinned. “I never claimed to be smart.”
Cormac grunted. Rolfe chuckled again before his expression tightened.
*
Cora wanted to run to her brother.
Yet, she stayed in the chair as her brother and Rolfe came forward. Her brother would understand duty was more important in this situation, for hadn’t he always reminded her of all the things she needed to learn?
The man wearing the Grant colors claimed her full attention. On the side of his cap there were three feathers standing up. He had blonde hair and green eyes. She’d never laid eyes upon Cormac, but she knew his description well enough.
“I am Cormac Grant,” he announced himself.
There was a rumble from the McKay. Cora held her hand up. She was only half certain there would be obedience. But they settled down, willing to see what she’d do.
“Yer brother Lirkin lies dead in one of our passageways,” Cora said bluntly. “He brought armed men into our home.”
Cormac’s expression was dark. “Lirkin is lucky he is dead. I would not give him a quick death after hearing of his actions here.”
“Ye say he was acting without yer approval?” Cora asked loudly. Behind Cormac, the McKay were still thirsty for Grant blood.
“I have laid down my sword to walk in here and prove it with me own life,” Cormac declared. He raised his voice, clearly understanding that Cora wasn’t the one he had to convince.