Suddenly, a cry of alarm rang out.
The men ran for the door, with Ewan cursing every step due to his head. Braden swung the door wide to show an English messenger entering the bailey on the back of a brown stallion.
Sin shook his head at the sight. By the faces of the Scots around the herald, it was obvious he was the only person they welcomed less than they had him.
As soon as the man spotted Sin and Simon, he relaxed a degree. If Sin hadn’t been concerned about what brought the man into their midst, the gesture would have amused him since it was the first time in his memory that anyone had actually been relieved by his presence.
The herald dismounted and brought a sealed parchment to him. “From my Lord Ranulf who holds the lands of Oxley.”
Sin popped the seal and read the message. His vision turned dark with every word he read. “Did he send word to Henry?”
“Aye, milord. And the king sent word that he will be headed this way to inspect the damage himself.”
“What is it?” Lochlan asked.
Sin looked up to see his wife approaching them from the direction of the kitchens. He waited until she stood before him before he answered Lochlan’s question. “It appears a group of MacNeelys raided Oxley’s lands. He lost almost a score of cows and his village was burned to the ground. His people lost all their harvesting and now will be hard-pressed to make it through the winter.” He gave Callie a hard stare to make her realize the exact gravity of the situation. “On a nearby tree they found a note saying ‘English be gone from Scot’s soil’. And it was signed The MacNeely.”
Callie’s face paled. “Aster didn’t do that. He would never condone such.”
“I know.” Sin folded the message back up. “He knows better than to bring down the wrath of Henry on his head.”
He looked to the messenger. “Tell your lord I shall personally see to the matter and find the man who did this.”
The herald nodded.
“What do you intend to do?” Callie asked.
“I want you to round up every male in your clan over the age of ten-and-four and have them here by day’s end. I want to have words with them.”
He wouldn’t have thought it possible, but she actually paled even more. “I think that would be most unwise. They might attack you.”
Lochlan stiffened. “They attack my brother and they attack us. You let them know that. I doubt there’s a man born in your clan who wants to go to war with the MacAllisters.”
She nodded. “I will do it.”
Sin watched as his wife left to do his bidding. She wore her hair plaited today. Even so, tendrils of it had escaped the tight braids and were curling in a becoming fashion all around her face. As typical, she wore her father’s plaid and made quite an appealing sight as she walked across the yard.
And with every step she took that swayed her hips, he felt himself growing harder and harder for her.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Lochlan asked.
“Like the first day of spring after a long, harsh winter.” The words were out before Sin realized it.
Four pairs of eyes turned to him in astonishment.
“Poetry?” Ewan burst out laughing.
Sin shoved him.
Still, his brothers laughed. “Methinks Sin is smitten,” Braden teased. “Lochlan, you’d best fetch a priest and exorcize him.”
Sin growled at him. “He’d best fetch a priest to perform Last Rites for you before I kill you.”
Braden laughed even harder.
“Oh come now,” Simon said to them. “Let’s be kind to poor Sin.”
Sin inclined his head to him. “Thank you, Simon.”
