Page 9 of The Highlander’s Iron Hold

The lass was not his concern at that moment. Laird MacDuff had sent his head strong daughter to him, no doubt to be rid of her stubbornness, and come what may, the marriage will stand.

By the time he walked across the castle into the great hall, Colin found his most trusted men gathered around the long oak table. Candlelight flickered across weathered faces. These were men who'd fought beside him through lean years and bitter winters, who'd bled for Armstrong lands and would do so again without question.

“Gentlemen," Colin said without preamble, "Me bride, Lady Morag's escort, was attacked this evenin’ on our lands. Fraser raiders ambushed her carriage less than a half hour's ride from our borders."

Sharp intakes of breath echoed around the table. MacLeod, his grizzled captain, leaned forward. "Is the lady safe?"

"Aye, she's safe. I managed tae intercept the attack before they could carry her off." Colin's voice was grim. "But her entire MacDuff escort is dead. Three good men who died defending her."

"Fraser," spat young Jamie Armstrong, Colin's cousin. "That bastard has to be taught a lesson."

"I agree. This wasnae random cattle raiding," Colin continued, his voice carrying the hard edge of command. "Fraser's men were specifically after Lady Morag. They kent who she was, kent she was coming tae wed me. It was an act of war."

Murmurs of anger rippled around the table. The men understood the implications. An attack on a wedding party was not just an insult, but a declaration that Fraser considered the Armstrong-MacDuff alliance a threat worth destroying.

"We need tae secure our borders immediately," Colin continued, his voice carrying the hard edge of command. "Double the patrols, especially along the northern reaches where Fraser territory borders ours. I want sentries posted at every crossing, and I want tae know the moment Fraser's men so much as water their horses on our lands."

"Aye, me laird," said MacLeod, his grizzled captain. "We'll see it done."

"It was fortunate I was out riding close tae the borders and I was in time tae prevent Lady Morag's capture," Colin went on, "but the attack should never have happened at all. Fraser caught us unprepared once. It willnae happen again."

The men spent the next hour discussing patrol routes, defensive positions, and the logistics of maintaining a heightened state of readiness. When the last of them finally filed out, only Niven Reid remained. He was Colin's right hand, the one man who could speak freely without fear of retribution.

Niven poured himself a measure of dram from the bottle on Colin's desk and settled back in his chair. "So," he said without preamble, "what are ye going tae dae now that ye have the lass?"

Colin's jaw tightened slightly. "What dae ye mean?"

"I mean," Niven said dryly, "dae ye still think this marriage arrangement will benefit the clan? Because from where I'm sitting, it's brought war tae our doorstep before the wedding's even taken place."

"Fraser would have found an excuse eventually," Colin replied, moving to pour his own drink. "He's been looking fer a reason tae move against us since his faither died. The marriage just gave him one."

"Aye, but now we're committed tae protecting nae just our own lands, but the MacDuff alliance as well. That's a heavy burden fer a clan that's already stretched thin."

Colin turned to face his oldest friend, his expression unreadable. "In time, Niven, this arrangement will prove tae be exactly what we need. The MacDuff dowry will help us rebuild our defenses, and their alliance will give us the strength tae crush Fraser once and fer all."

"And the lass herself?" Niven asked quietly. "Did she seem... willing when she arrived?"

Colin's mouth curved in what might have been a smile. "Nae. She certainly wasnae."

"That could be a problem."

"Or," Colin said, taking a sip of dram, "it could be exactly what this clan needs."