I joined in the chuckles. “No’ today, ye havenae.”
“I’m so glad ye’re home, Kragorn!” he called out in all sincerity, and my grin grew.
With only the one eye, I had to turn my head to take in the sight of the Bloodfire clan welcoming me home, but ‘twas worth it. Hells, losing the eye—although I was still acclimating to the lack of depth perception—was worth it, to be back home.
I allowed my gaze to settle on each council member, and as they quieted once more, I nodded to each of them.
“Vartok was wise to ask you to join this council, and I am proud of him for thinking of such a thing. ‘Tis unusual, aye, for a chief to share power, but I think it important to listen to the advice and wisdom from my clan. I plan to not only continue these council meetings, but to listen to your thoughts.”
“Bloodfire!” roared Torvolk, and the cry was taken up by the others as they realized the changes I was implementing.
“Bloodfire! Bloodfire!”
Grinning, I raised my palms, and when I was allowed to speak, I told them the truth.
“I hesitated, uncertain if I should break from tradition. Every other chief in the Highlands expects his orders followed, after all, but my Mate convinced me of the wisdom of following my brother’s example.”
There was silence for a few moments as my words sunk in, and then the Hall erupted in cheers and bellows as they understood my claim. MyMate.
“Lillian? Lillian’s yer Mate?” Vartok whooped, slapping me on my back. Then my cousins were there, offering their congratulations—Mkaalad tried to lift me in his hug—and even Auld Klorbkal called out unhelpful wooing tips.
Nan was the one to tug on my arm until I bent and she could place a kiss on my cheek.
“Welcome home, chief. We’ll begin the preparations for yer claiming, and the clan will ken their future is secure.”
I was grinning when I straightened, the new scars on my face tugging at my cheek just enough to remind me ‘twere there. But as the council began to disperse, and my friends and cousins offered to raise a toast to me, a new voice came out of the darkness.
“I see we chose the correct time to visit.”
I swung about, my good eye taking a moment to place the strangers in my memory. And when I did, I sucked in an angry breath, then made a chopping motion to the warriors surrounding me.
“Leave us. Vartok, you stay.”
I dismissed them from my mind as I settled back into my chair, my jaw tight as I surveyed the newcomers.
“Ye have ballocks of steel, coming here, Stormseeker.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kragorn
My knuckles tightenedon the arms of my chair as Vrogul Stormseeker, laird of the Islay Battleborn, stepped into the weak firelight, followed by a giant of a warrior. Neither of them was armed, which was interesting, considering my brother’s story of his twin swords. Mayhap the Bloodfire guards had persuaded them to come with honor and not bloodshed to my council hall.
The light from the firepit flared as Vartok threw more wood on it before coming to stand at my side. His voice was deceptively mild when he nodded to the laird.
“I owe ye a favor, Stormseeker, so I’m not punching ye for what ye did to my brother.”
The other man, his rings of status glinting in his ears, inclined his head to my brother, a look of…was thatamusementon his face?
“Thank ye, Blacksmith. How is yer Mate?”
At my side, Vartok growled, and I held up my hand to halt whatever violence he was contemplating. I knew my brother and his Mate had recently had an altercation with the Battleborn, and Stormseeker had not only spared their lives, but given them word of my predicament.
So I kept my tone steady when I spoke to Vartok, although my gaze didn’t leave the two warriors.
“The Stormseeker did me nae harm.”
“He didnae help ye, either,” growled Vartok.
