“Here comes Colin now.” Breckin turned on his mount and faced his comrade.
Colin looked ready for war. He wore more chainmail and leather than usual and he had not one but two swords strapped to his back. As he approached, he called out, “Breckin, tell me your message is true. Do I get to cut down a few MacLarens this day?”
“Aye, ye do.”
Colin grinned. “Well then, ’tis a bonny day to be sure.”
Daniel MacNabb approached with several of his followers. “Laird Buchanan…Breckin, ’tis good to see ye this fine day. Are we to war?”
“We certainly are,” Breckin said with a lilt of humor in his tone. “We will surround the fief and attack from all sides. I will go with Gideon and gain entry to find John MacLaren. He has some questions to answer before he meets his maker. I am through with being patient. No one goes against the Buchanans and then sends a woman to do their dirty work.”
Daniel twitched his finger. “What do ye speak of? What happened?”
Breckin filled Daniel and Colin in on the attack at his home and how his sweet wife had to defend herself and save him—and herself—from the horrid woman. “I seek vengeance now. We will take it and by day’s end, will be satisfied with our reward.” He patted his horse’s neck and nodded. “Go on, take your men, and begin the besiegement. MacLaren protects his walls and has a good amount of men within but not enough to thwart us. We will prevail.”
“What are we going to do?” Gideon asked.
“Breach the gate and find John MacLaren. He will tell me to myface that he intended for his daughter to murder me and then…”
“Then?” Gideon said and yanked his sword free.
“Then retribution will be mine.” Breckin rode through a mass of footsoldiers but stopped when the gates opened and a rider appeared, heading straight toward him. He recognized William Stewart and was about to shout out his war cry when the man had the nerve to wave a white piece of cloth above his head. He called for a parlay and Breckin wasn’t sure he was willing to give it. Yet, he would hear what the man had to say.
“Buchanan, ye are attacking my ally. What goes?” William stopped his horse near his and grimaced.
“What goes, William? Your wife is dead. She attacked me and my wife and she fell off the cliffside to her end. Her body is yonder. I was going to bring her to ye once I handled the MacLarens and their demise. Were ye in league with them, William? Tell me true.”
William scratched his head and then shook it. “Nay, I was not. Ye killed Danella?”
“Nay, she stabbed me and my wife. Eva and she struggled, but then she stepped too close to the edge of a cliff during the scuffle and fell to her death. ’Tis no one’s fault but her own, for she tried to murder us.” Breckin shifted his horse closer. “I tell ye this, though, if she had not fallen, we would have sought justice for her action.”
“Why would Danella attack ye? It makes no sense. Och, she acted alone, though, because I know that John never would have gone against ye. The MacLarens had no involvement in what Danella did. I vouch for him. He is a good man, Breckin.”
The fact that the man showed no emotion or care about the death of his wife said much about him, and his marriage. Breckin would have felt pity for Danella, had she not shown such hatred toward his sister, him, and Eva. She had been a cold and calculating woman, and had died because of her own treachery. “So ye say, och I disbelieve ye. Why would she try to kill me then, if not for her clan’s directive? Herfather sent her to murder me and I mean to make him pay for it.”
William scoffed. “Nay, he would not do that. Neither did I, Breckin, and know not what the woman intended. Talk to her da and he shall tell ye that neither of us instigated her. Ye know that I wouldst never raise arms against ye. John wouldst not either. He was a good friend to your da and coveted the union betwixt your clans, as do I.”
Breckin was unsure whether to believe William but he nodded and motioned to him. “Come then, ye will question the MacLaren laird with me and we will get to the bottom of this.” He nudged his horse forward, past the men who took up defensive arms. It wouldn’t take much incitement for his men or his allies’ men to seek vengeance. Especially after what the Buchanans lost in the wake of the MacLaren’s despicable deeds. Breckin forged on toward the main fief.
Gideon held his sword aimed at William Stewart and nodded to him, giving the silent notion that if William was up to no good, he’d protect his back.
At the fief, Breckin dismounted and marched forward. Gideon pressed William Stewart on with his blade at his back. “Go on, follow… And do not try anything because my sword is thirsty for some blood.”
William remained silent as they entered the fief.
Breckin continued until he reached the great hall. The hall was dark with a handful of candles lit and a fire brightening the hearth. He found John MacLaren standing with his son near the blazing warmth. Breckin did not bother to announce himself but listened to their discussion. They seemed oblivious to their presence.
“Tell me why my walls are being breached.” John MacLaren grabbed his son’s tunic, fisted the fabric, and shook his son. “What in bloody hell have ye done?”
“I did naught, Father. ’Tis not me that draws them to our walls. Best ask them.”
“If ye had anything to do with this, I vow I will scuddle ye.” Johnslapped his son’s head and turned with a glare. “Well, it appears we have company. Buchanan, mind telling me why ye breached my walls and ye and your allies have drawn your arms?”
“Aye, I will.” Breckin stepped closer but kept a little distance between him and his enemy. He reiterated what Danella had done and how she met her demise. “Why would ye send your daughter to murder me? Ye said that ye wanted an alliance and did not call off the betrothal—”
John grunted and continued to hold on to his son’s arm. “I did not. Ye know that we set in place a covenant to join our clans.” He turned a scornful gaze to his son. “Did ye have anything to do with this? If ye intended to have your sister murder the Buchanan laird, I swear by God, ye will pay for it. Tell me now.”
“Da,” his son cried out when John gripped him tighter. “Nay, I did not. Danella told me naught about what she was up to.”
