In the silence that fell, the Mackintosh said, “Who are ye, then, that ye call yourself Fin of the Battles? I must say, ye’ve a certain look about ye that I find familiar. But my memory nae longer serves me as well as it once did.”
Although he had been expecting a demand for his antecedents, Fin realized as he met that fierce gaze that he had no ready answer. He knew that he resembled his famous father, but due to one thing and another, many others in Lochaber also resembled Teàrlach MacGillony.
At last, he said, “I bear safe conduct from Davy Stewart, Duke of Rothesay and Governor of the Realm, my lord. He would ask a boon of you.”
“Would he?” the Mackintosh said dryly. “We’ll need whisky then, I trow.”
Chapter 3
Catriona would have liked to change her clothing. But when she emerged from the inner chamber, her mother, grandmother, and good-sister were on the dais just outside it. And she knew from the curiosity on all three faces that she would be wearing her old kirtle for a while yet.
“Who is he, my love, and why does he call himself ‘Fin of the Battles’?” Lady Ealga asked. In much the same breath, Lady Annis snapped, “Where does he hail from, Granddaughter? Who are his parents?”
Stifling a sigh, Catriona said, “I wish that one of you had asked him, because I ken no more than what I’ve told you. I was walking with Boreas when we found him. In troth, I worried more about the man’s injury than his antecedents.”
“In faith, Catriona, you should take more care,” her good-sister said sternly.
“Aye, Morag is right,” Lady Annis said. “One should always ken a man’s roots before approaching him. Sithee, Granddaughter, one day your impetuous nature will land ye deep in the suds.”
“He is handsome, is he not?” Ealga said. “It would have been hard to leave him lying on the ground without trying to aid him—sadly inconsiderate, too. And whilst I might have been too cowardly to help him, Annis, I believe that you would have done just as our Catriona did.”
“If I did, it would be because I ken fine that I can defend myself. Can you say as much, Catriona?”
Lady Ealga said, “You do have your wee dirk, do you not, my love?”
“I do, aye,” Catriona said, slipping her right hand through the slit—or fitchet—in her skirt, which let her take the weapon from the sheath strapped to her thigh. Seeing her grandmother’s eyes widen, she said, “My brothers taught me to use it, madam, and said to do so only if I feared for my life. I did not need it.”
Morag shook her head, ever disapproving, and Lady Annis pressed her lips together. Then a twinkle lit the older woman’s pale blue eyes, and she said, “I am not surprised that ye carry a weapon, dear one. And it was both wise and kind of James and Ivor to teach ye to use it properly. However, in my experience, guile and her own claws make better weapons for a woman than aught else.”
Catriona’s mind offered an instant image of her attempt to slap Fin, and she could think of nothing to reply. Despite her grandmother’s own words, Lady Annis would instantly condemn such rudeness to a guest—and rightly so.
Tactfully, Ealga said, “Ye’ll want to change that dress afore we sup, my love.”
“Aye, Mam, but I doubt that our guest will trouble Granddad much longer. I said I would show him to a chamber when they have finished talking.”
“Ye go and change,” her mother said. “Aodán can put him in that room across the landing from the one I am using at present. Will he stay just the one night?”
“I had to persuade him to stay at all,” Catriona said. “But that was before I learned that he was seeking the Mackintosh. When I told him that Granddad was here, he agreed to come. But he gave me no more information.”
“Ye may be sure that I will learn all he can tell us about himself,” her grandmother said. “I want to know who his parents are and much more, forbye.”
Determined to witness that confrontation, Catriona excused herself and hurried upstairs, calling for her maidservant as she went.
At the Mackintosh’s command, Fin took a jug of whisky and two goblets from a niche, poured whisky into each goblet, set one before his host, and left the other where it was. “Shall I put the