Page 29 of Highland Dove

The door to the room burst opened and Malmuira slipped inside. “It’s time,” she announced.

“Time to break the fast?” asked Angus. “Guid, because I’m famished.”

“Nay, ye fool, it is time for ye to read Eideard’s palm. He is in the great hall askin’ for ye. Now hurry.”

“What?” Panic showed on Angus’ face. He swallowed deeply. “Nay, I canna do it.” He shook his head hard. “I ken nothin’ about readin’ palms. He’s goin’ to see right through me.”

“Ye have to do it,” said Mari, slipping into her shoes. “Too many lives are at stake and we are all countin’ on ye.”

“Then let me do it as myself. I’ll confront Eideard man to man, no’ dressed like a wench.” Angus pulled off the wig and threw it down. “Where the hell is my sword?” He made a full circle and patted down his gown looking for it.

“Angus MacLean, ye are bein’ selfish!” spat Tillie, picking up the wig and slapping it back on his head. “Now get yer arse out there and play yer part in findin’ yer mathair. And help to save the castle and my sister as well. We are all countin’ on ye so dinna let us down.”

“Blethers, why’d ye’d have to put it that way?” asked Angus with a sigh. He straightened his wig and fixed his wimple. Then he hoisted the breasts back into place. “All right, let’s get this over with.” He headed to the door.

“Just be sure to talk about his four major lines. There’s the heart, head, life, and fate lines,” the old gypsy told him.

“The lines?” Angus asked, looking very confused.

“Come on, I’ll explain as we walk.” Malmuira took him by the arm and dragged him out of the room with the others following.

* * *

“Our chieftain seems better today, and he is askin’ for ye,” Forba told Duncan, holding open the door to the hut.

“Guid,” said Duncan with a sigh of relief, walking inside to find Mari and Tillie’s father, Daniel, propped up on pillows, sipping some liquid in a cup.

“Duncan MacLean. Ye’re a sight for sore eyes,” said the man, handing the cup to Forba. “I thought ye were dead.”

“I could say the same for ye,” said Duncan. “I’m glad to see ye are goin’ to recover.”

“No thanks to Eideard,” the man scoffed. “I should have kent he was up to no guid when he arrived here wantin’ to wed Mari.”

“Did ye really sign the agreement?” asked Duncan, taking a seat on a chair next to him.

“Sadly, I did,” the man admitted. “And I’m no’ proud of it. But he convinced me ye and yer faither and brathair were dead. He said this was a way we could keep the alliance with yer clan if he married Mari. He told me he was the new chieftain. I thought it was best. For Mari’s sake, too. I had no idea that as soon as I signed the paper his men would attack us and he’d try to kill me.”

“That’s what I need to talk to ye about,” said Duncan. “The MacKeefes have joined forces with me and some of yer men as well. I’m goin’ to take back MacLean Castle and also Mari.”

“But she is betrothed to Eideard,” said Daniel.

“Nay, she is already married to him.”

“How is that so?”

“Eideard tricked her into it, threatenin’ to kill my mathair. But they’ve yet to consummate the marriage, so it should be easy to get it annulled.”

“I’ll do anythin’ I can to help. I want to stop Eideard and get him away from my daughters. Duncan, I want ye to marry Mari. I always did.”

“And I will,” Duncan assured him. “Just as soon as Angus finds out where Eideard has taken Mathair, we are goin’ to attack.”

“But how is Angus goin’ to find out?” asked Daniel. “I’m sure Eideard will never tell him.”

“He will, but he willna ken he’s doin’ it.”

“What do ye mean?”

“What I mean is that right now, my brathair is my secret weapon. I’m countin’ on him and I hope he willna let me down.”