“Aye the council is enough to drive any man into fleeing like the stag,” James said.
They began the walk back toward the castle.
“They’ve been at ye again, have they?” Callum asked.
James exhaled slowly and said, “Aye, they have, and louder than before.”
Callum nodded once, unsurprised, and said, “About Mairead, I take it?”
James muttered, “Pressed upon me as if I’ve nay say in the matter.”
Callum shot him a sideways glance and said, “She’s a fine match by any measure, or so they claim. She is a fine choice. And sent by the Cameron clan to yer castle to be raised by MacAllisters.”
James stopped walking, turning sharply as he said, “I daenae care how fine she is, I’ll nae be steered like livestock to market.”
Callum raised his hands slightly in mock surrender, though his expression held a trace of approval. “Easy, Laird, I’ve nay wish to be gored over it,” he said lightly.
James shook his head, his voice lowering as he added, “I’ve done me duty once, and I ken too well what it cost.”
“This isnae the same,” Callum said more quietly, his tone losing its edge.
“It begins the same, with others decidin' what’s best and callin' it necessity.”
“Then ye’ll have to stand firm, for they’ll nae stop pushin' easy,” Callum said.
“Aye, I ken it,” James said, resuming his stride, though there was tension in every step he took. “But I’ll nae bend to them this time, nae for politics, nor pressure, nor peace. I was a lad then,” he said quietly, “and I’ll carry the weight of that choice all me days.”
“Aye, ye’ve carried it well enough, but there’s nay sense in addin' to it.”
James glanced at him briefly and said, “On that, we’re agreed.”
As they emerged from the treeline, a guard hurried down the path to meet them, his expression tense as he came to a halt.
“Me Laird,” he said quickly, bowing his head, “there’s been a matter while ye were out.”
James frowned slightly and asked, “What kind of matter?”
The guard shifted his weight and replied, “We’ve taken in a woman, found wanderin’ near the stables, she gave nay clear account of herself. She wouldnae come quietly, sir, and we feared she might be a spy or worse.”
James’s gaze sharpened at that, his earlier thoughts pushed aside by the new concern. “A lone woman, wanderin’ the wilds, and ye think her a threat?” he said, his tone edged withskepticism. He turned towards the castle as he asked, “Where is she now?”
“In the great hall, me Laird,” the guard replied, falling into step behind them.
“Let’s see what sort of trouble has found its way to our door,” Callum said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
James did not answer, though his expression had shifted, something more alert, more focused settling over him. “If she’s a threat, we’ll deal with it,” he said. “I'll be the one to decide that.”
CHAPTER TWO
“Set her there,” he said coolly, nodding toward the open space before him, his voice carrying easily through the hall.
Bound at the wrists and hooded, she was guided forward between two guards, her steps unsteady but not weak. James stood near the hearth, one hand resting lightly upon the pommel of his sword as he watched her approach.
The guards obeyed, forcing her to her knees before stepping back at a gesture from him.
“Remove it,” James ordered, his gaze fixed upon her as the hood was pulled away. And in that instant, whatever expectation he had held shifted, for this was no common wanderer dragged from the wilds.
Her hair fell free in a long cascade of brown, tangled from travel yet unmistakably fine, catching the firelight with a muted sheen.Her face, though marked by fatigue and faint scrapes, held a refinement that could not be hidden, her features delicate yet set with quiet strength.
