“You are happy, I can see it,” her da said, joining her on the bench in the keep’s large kitchen garden.
Heather was pleased to see her da looking so well. “More than I ever thought possible,” she admitted to him and herself as well. “I must ask—did you know the Dark Dragon was Quinn?”
“I had strong suspicions. He materialized suddenly, requesting your hand in marriage and then demanding it. And he seemed to know so much about you. I had to rely on my instincts, though it seemed unlikely that Quinn should return after all these years, something told me otherwise. And so I took a chance. I wanted you to be happy. You deserved it.”
Heather reached out for her father’s hand. “I am so grateful that you did. Now, Da, you need not worry about any of your daughters anymore. We have each found good husbands. It is your turn to enjoy the woman you love.”
His eyes turned wide.
Heather smiled. “Rhys told me of Maura and you and I think it is wonderful. I imagine Emma will too.” She shrugged. “Patience I am not so sure of.”
They laughed together.
Patience came running toward them. “Hurry, Da, Greer has sent a message to you and waits not far from here with an army of warriors.”
Donald hurried off and Heather scooped up Finn, the pup protesting with a small yap as she tucked him under her arm and carried him off to the keep.
* * *
Everyone waited anxiouslyin the Great Hall to learn what the message read that Greer McLaud had sent Donald Macinnes.
Donald shook his head as he finished reading and announced, “Greer declares war on Clan Macinnes for the murder of his wife and demands the release of his brother Rab and Saundra who he claims the Macinnes took as prisoners.”
“So, he does not know what happened to Rab,” Hunter said, “yet he knows his wife is deadand Saundra resides here. I would venture to guess that his assumption that we hold Rab prisoner gave him even more reason to wage war.”
“He says we have until tomorrow at dawn to release Rab and Saundra or he will attack,” Donald said. “I will invite him to come speak with us.”
“You waste your breath,” Rhys said his arm around his wife and the pup snarling and nipping at his boot. “He is not interested in talking. He plans to defeat you and claim your land. He thinks nothing will stop him.”
“Rhys is right,” Hunter said. “Nothing will stop him.” Except a sword, Hunter thought, though would not say so since his mum sat at the table beside Ewan and was still grieving for the death of one son.
“Before dawn tomorrow, Hunter and I will go speak with Greer,” Rhys said.
“Hunter and you can come if you want,” Patience said, “but it will be me, a Macinnes, who rides out there to confront Greer.”
“If your father permits it,” Rhys said.
“I need no permission from my father,” Patience snapped.
“He is still chieftain of Clan Macinnes and you do not go without his permission,” Rhys warned.
Donald raised his hand and Patience wisely kept silent. “Patience is right. A Macinnes needs to ride with you and she will be the one to go.”
“As you say,” Rhys said with a nod. “Few words will be necessary to exchange with him since more of my troops wait on word from me. When he learns that the Dark Dragon is allied with the Clan Macinnes and that he cannot possibly see victory, let us hope he wisely surrenders.”
“I will send a message to Greer, letting him know we wish to speak with him at sunrise,” Donald said.
Ross, Ewan’s youngest son, spoke up “What will happen to Saundra now?” He placed a hand on her shoulder, standing protectively behind where she sat at the table not too far from his father.
“By agreement with her father, Saundra belongs to me now. Her fate is mine,” Rhys announced to startled cries and wide eyes.
Ross squared his shoulders and bravely said, “Then I request her hand in marriage.”
Rhys looked from him to Saundra. “What say you, Saundra?”
“I would like that and be ever so grateful if you would grant permission,” Saundra said and turned a smile on Ross.
“Then so be it, I grant permission,” Rhys said.
