All the magical light of her had fled him. And aye, he remained mired in darkness.
He knew very well that Leith’s arm was better. He left off waiting for an answer. “When we go to battle, ye will tak’ the place at my side.”
Leith’s lips twisted. The look did not suit him. His should be an open, sunny face. “Ye mean Farlan’s place?”
Farlan, aye, had always fought at Rory’s side, ever since first they’d entered battle together. After Da died, Rory had trusted Leith with one flank, and Murgor with the other. All that must now change.
Farlan would be standing against him, not with him. As might Saerla.
She was a warrior. She went to battle with a sword in her hand. He had met her so before, and if he did again…
Suddenly he could not breathe.
Leith stared at him. “Cousin, what is it?”
“Naught.”Naught.
“Rory.” Leith clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Will ye no’ at least consider—”
Rory turned on him. “If the word ‘peace’ crosses yer lips, I swear I will out wi’ my dirk and stab ye through the heart.”
“All right. All right!”
“I ha’ made a promise to our people. Is that to mean naught? Did my da no’ keep his promises, always?”
Leith said nothing.
“Wha’ sort o’ chief would I be that did no’ follow through on his word? I want all o’ Glen Bronach in my hands by the end o’ this season.”
“Aye, so ye ha’ said.”
“So”—Rory whirled to face Leith full-on—“will ye tak’ the place at my side? And do no’ say ye maun ask yer woman first. Has she got yer balls hanging fro’ her belt?”
A rare spark of anger took light in Leith’s eyes. “My balls are where they belong.”
“Then gi’ me yer vow o’ fealty.”
“I ha’ already sworn fealty to ye!”
“Then best show it. I need ye and yer sword at my right hand. ’Tis where ye will be.”
Leith’s head came up. “Ye offer me no true choice, then. Rory, only think. If we march out, I may well be killed. My arm is better than it was, aye, but I ha’ no’ the strength I had in my hand before, and ’tis no’ yet completely healed. If I fall, where will that leave Rhian?”
“Wi’ yer brat in her belly, it seems.” Had Rory given Saerla, tiny Saerla, his child? Did she even now carry a part of him?
“She will be alone among strangers.”
“Will yer mother and sister no’ look after her, and the brat?”
“My son is no’ a brat.” Leith grew angry, and no mistake.
Rory spat into his face, “Ye ha’ a choice, Leith. Ye can answer my call upon ye for service, or ye can abandon yer clan as Farlan has done.”
“Ye would let me leave? I might tak’ Rhian and go?” A new light took hold in Leith’s gaze.
Once more, Rory felt as if he could not draw breath, though for a different reason. He’d been socked in the gut.Wouldhe let Leith take his woman and leave? Turn his coat and fight for MacBeith, against him?
He could not do that.
