How to answer that? Kevan, Bodach, and the warriors had gone to MacBeith at his bidding and in good faith. He could scarcely declare he would abandon one of them there. Or that he valued the captured man less than the woman he held.
Kevan was indeed a valued member of his company. Just…not valuable enough.
“We shall ha’ to negotiate further,” he said heavily. “She did no’ like my terms, and I do no’ like hers.”
“What will they do to Kevan there?” Bodach asked.
Leith grunted again. “Captivity at MacBeith is no easy thing.”
Rory glared at him. Leith had come back from such captivity followed by a beautiful woman, had he not? How difficult could it have been for him to consort with her there?
“Wha’ if Moira MacBeith attacks,” Leith asked sourly, “while ye be plotting yer negotiations?”
“Then we’ll march out and meet her, o’ course.” If things went badly, that would be the time for him to drag out the bitch’s sister with his dirk at her throat.
The defenses stood at the ready. If Moira came, she came. And Farlan at her side.
Rory had to master his anger. His disappointment. There was more than one way to conquer the glen.
“Go get some rest,” he told Bodach. “I’ll send orders to Murgor to be on guard.”
Bodach went out, leaving Rory and Leith alone.
Rory gestured roughly at the letter. “This is Farlan’s influence.”
“I doubt it. Ye do no’ ken Moira MacBeith. She has a lot o’ the old chief in her. She is strong.”
“Does she care so little for her sister?”
“She cares. The thing ye do no’ understand, Rory: that land over there, and especially the graves and stones up on the rise—’tis sacred ground to them.”
Again, Rory bared his teeth. “I will no’ raze the stones. I will eventually let them live on their lands in peace. But they will answer to me. There will be but one chief in Glen Bronach.”
“Moira will no’ countenance that.”
“Even if I send her sister back to her slain?”
“Ye will no’ do that. Moira kens so. Farlan kens so.”
“Curse Farlan!”
“Cousin, ye maun think again.”
Rory’s anger flared. “Get ye back to yer woman.”
“Eh?”
“Ye heard me. Get back to yer MacBeith bitch. I will no’ ha’ ye blathering in my ear.”
Leith went out. Rory heard the door close behind him, though he did not turn around, and kept staring fixedly at the letter. The one Farlan had written.
To deter him.
He must think clearly about what reply to send.
He must go and tell Saerla MacBeith she would not be returning home.
*
