Sleat gave a short laugh. "I didn't attempt to rape anyone."
Lying bastard! No one abused his wee sister and then laughed about it. A sudden heated rage burned through Neacal. The urge to fling his dirk into the whoreson's throat near overwhelmed him. He ground his teeth, trying to force the anger back.
"My sister would not lie!" Neacal said through clenched teeth, fury beating hard against his throat and his ears, urging him to kill the knave.
Dunn's growl intensified. Neacal grabbed his leather collar.
"Aye, you'd best keep your cur off me or I'll gut him," Sleat said.
"Touch my dog and I'll gutyou!" Neacal growled. And he would. No empty threats here.
Steel hissed against leather as the men behind him drew their weapons.
Sleat forced out a chuckle. "I was jesting with you, lad." His gaze ran over the men behind Neacal. "Can we talk in private?"
"I have no need to hear anything you have to say."
"Aye, I'm thinking you do." Sleat smirked. "While I'm mightily impressed by these fifteen soldiers you have here, I'm wondering if that's all you've got."
Neacal clenched his fist, forcing himself not to draw his sword. The glimmer of battle rage was taking hold inside him. "Want to find out how many more soldiers wait just inside the gate?"
Sleat snorted and shook his head. "Despite what you believe, I'm nay here to fight you, lad. I liked your da. We're still allies, are we not, you and I? We're both MacDonalds."
The man must be more insane than Neacal, if he thought anyone could believe that line of horse dung. "No one mistreats my sister."
Sleat sighed. "We're back to that, are we? Did no one tell you? I was betrothed to the lass. We were practically married. I was merely pursuing my husbandly rights."
"That is a lie!" Neacal's whole body tensed, his instincts demanding that he palm the hilt of his sword and run the man through. "Maili didn't agree to the match."
"But Elrick did and that's all that mattered. He was chief at the time."
His elder brother had been cut from the same cloth as Sleat. No wonder the two had gotten on so well. "Women have a right to refuse when they ken the man will be an unfit husband."
Ruthlessness again glinted in Sleat's narrowed eyes before he forced a tight mock smile. "Well, cousin, I'm here to make amends and help you."
"Help me?" Neacal snorted. With friends like him, who needed enemies?
"Aye. Many in your clan were killed during the MacKenzies' siege. I've brought you two dozen of my best-trained soldiers. They'll help you defend the castle until you can rebuild your own garrison."
If any of his other allies had made the offer, Neacal would've taken him up on it, but he would never trust Sleat. Did the man think him daft? He often wondered if Sleat coveted Bearach Castle. Aye, something in his gut told him the man was greedy beyond measure. One of Sleat's sons stood beside him, looking like a younger version of his father. He was no better than Sleat. Mayhap worse, in truth. Knaves, the lot of them.
"I thank you but I cannot possibly accept your offer," Neacal said. He could pretend diplomacy as well as the blackguard. 'Twas obvious he wanted to get a couple dozen of his own men into Bearach.
"And why not?" Sleat demanded. "What will you do if a larger clan attacks?"
"I do not make enemies as readily as you do."
"Very few would dare to be my enemy," Sleat sneered.
Neacal barely held back a laugh. "You've wasted your time coming here. I have many allies. Have no worries about the strength of my clan."
"You're making a mistake, lad. If your da were here, he'd tell you the same. 'Tis dishonorable to insult another branch of the MacDonald clan."
"Do not dare bring up my da! We both ken what he thought of you." Neacal glowered at the whoreson. If his da were here, he'd tell him to chase the bastard back to his galleys. "You don't ken the meaning of honor. If you did, you wouldn't have treated my sister as you did. 'Twas you who insulted another branch of the MacDonald clan. Ours."
Sleat laughed. "You're weak, Neacal, allowing a wee lass to dictate who your friends and enemies are, letting her interfere in the business of running a clan and castle. The truth is you have few skilled soldiers. If you wish the castle to remain undefended, then so be it. Send no urgent missives begging me for help when someone lays siege to this place."
"Have no fear of it."
