Entrusted to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy #2) - Donna Fletcher Page 0,38

him. “ROYDEN!”

He came running, a look of pure fear on his face until he spotted Arran. He ran right to his brother and he stopped in front of him for a moment, then the two men came together in a hug, their eyes shutting tight against tears while relief flooded their faces, and turned Oria and Purity teary-eyed again.

They slapped each other on the back before parting.

“It’s good to finally have you home again,” Royden said.

“It is good to be home, though I won’t be staying long,” Arran said.

“What do you mean you won’t be staying long?” Oria asked, upset. “You just got here. You can’t leave.” She looked to Royden. “You can’t let him leave.

Royden went to his wife and kissed her cheek. “Arran is a grown man. He will do as he pleases.” He turned to his brother. “Though, I do wish you would stay.”

“I won’t be going far,” Arran said, the concern on both their faces stirring something in the pit of his stomach. He stepped next to Purity and took her hand. “Purity and I are wed and I will be making my home with her at Clan Macara.”

Oria broke out in a huge grin and hugged Purity again. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for the both of you.”

“So you heard and agreed to Galvin’s request to wed his daughter?” Royden asked.

Arran knew what was on his wife’s mind as soon as she turned and looked at him and he settled her question before she could ask it. “I know nothing about that. Purity and I wed so I could keep her safe. There is a bounty on her to be returned to the Clan Macara and those who attempted to see it done didn’t have Purity’s safety in mind.”

Royden shook his head, stunned. “Galvin put a bounty on his daughter?”

“We’re not sure who placed the bounty, but I intend to find out,” Arran said.

“We’ll help anyway we can,” Royden said and gave a nod past Arran. “Who lurks a distance behind you?”

“That’s Quiver,” Purity said with a smile. “He serves Arran most faithfully.”

“That’s yet to be determined,” Arran said and received a jab in the side from his wife.

“He’s a good man, who was a bit lost, but not any longer,” Purity explained. “And King, Princess, and Hope like him.”

“Quiver,” Arran called out and the skinny man hurried to him.

Quick introductions were made.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir, and Mistress Oria,” Quiver said with a slight tremble.

“Quiver is an exceptional archer,” Purity said and her praise raised red spots on Quiver’s cheeks.

“Here we are talking when you all must be hungry and tired from your journey,” Oria said. “And your da must be told that you’ve returned. He will be overjoyed.”

“Oria is right,” Royden said with a smile. “Come, it’s time the MacKinnon’s gathered again.”

Oria hooked her arm in Purity’s, talking non-stop as they walked to the keep, King and Princess following along.

“Follow the women, Quiver,” Arran ordered and Quiver gave a nod and hurried off.

Royden ran his hand playfully over his brother’s cropped hair. “You sheered it nearly off.”

“I found long hair a deterrent in battle,” Arran said and pointed to Royden’s dark shoulder-length hair. “You didn’t go quite as short as I did.”

“Just enough not to be in my way,” Royden said, running his fingers through it.

Arran looked to his brother’s left wrist, where his hand would have been if he hadn’t lost it in battle. “You do well?”

“Thanks to you, brother,” Royden said, holding up the leather-clad stump. “If you hadn’t looked after me and helped me overcome those first few months, I don’t know if I would have made it.”

“You would have, but I’m glad you didn’t have to face it alone and I owe you as much for rescuing me from the pit of hell,” Arran reminded. “I never believed such evil could exist until I was captured by Brynjar.”

“It’s over now. We’re home and with what we’ve learned we can prepare and make certain we never suffer such an attack on our clans again,” Royden said.

Arran shook his head. “It’s not over yet.”

Royden nodded, knowing what his brother meant. “Raven, our sister.”

“Until we find her, it isn’t over. Have you learned anything about her?”

“I was about to ask you the same,” Royden said.

“We have to find her. She’s out there somewhere and there’s no telling what she’s been forced to do to survive.”

“I’ve thought the same,” Royden agreed. “What hell has she been through to stay alive