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“Yes, I am going there now. Once ye have given her the message, meet me there,” Ronin instructed.
“I want ye to think once again, Ronin. This step ye are about tae take is unchangeable,” Lachlan said; placing a hand on his shoulder.
“I have thought about it, and I am certain about my decision,” Ronin assured him.
Lachlan nodded, and the two of them exited the bedchamber to fetchtheir horses. Ronin watched his friend head toward Edna'shouse, while he took the opposite route to the church. He was well aware that persuading the pastor would be difficult. The idea of a secret marriage for the future lairdwould disgust him. He would ask himto notify his mother, but Ronin would have to persuade him against doing so.
His mind was burdened with everything that might go wrong but he needed to stay optimistic. The entire clan was already surrounded with the gloom and stench that the murder had brought with it. This was going to be a happy moment for him, a time when he would be able to escape from the gruesome reality that encircled him and simply be happy with Edna beside him.
It was true that they were marrying in secret, but they had no intention of keeping it so for long. They would both tell their mothers when the time was right and things had settled down a little bit. This was something that mattered immensely to both of them, and they wanted their loved ones to be a part of it as well. He finally reached the church and tied his horse outside before stepping in.
The church was dimly lit. Ronin scanned the large hall and noticed that it was mostly empty. Probably because it was still quite early in the morning.
“Pastor, are you here?” Ronin called out as his voice echoed through the room; followed by nothing but silence. “Pastor?”
This time, he heard hurried footsteps and a door somewhere in the back opened. He looked around, perplexed, unable to pinpoint the source of the noise. Soon after, another front door opened, and out walked a tall, heavily built man. The wrinkles on his face revealed his age, but his movements were fluid, and he could easily have been mistaken for a middle-aged man.
“How can I help ye, son?” the pastor asked. His voice was raspy but kind.
“You are the pastor, I assume?” Ronin asked. He couldn't recall who the pastor was before he left for France, but he knew it wasn't this man. Ronin had never been particularly religious, and his parents had never forced him to participate in any rituals.
“I am,” the man replied with a smile and Ronin suddenly felt uneasy.
“I need a favor.”
“Tell me.”
“I wish to get married today,” Ronin finally blurted out; looking at the pastor closely. The man's face was emotionless, and his smile remained intact. Ronin was confused because he couldn't figure out what he was thinking. He could read people well but not this man.
“What is yer name, son?”
“Ronin McKenzie,” he said flatly; knowing that there was no point in hiding his identity. He was certain that the pastor already knew Edna, and that after seeing Lachlan, he would learn who Ronin was. Such information could not be kept hidden in clans.
“So ye are the heir to the lairdship. I dinnae ken ye had returned home,” the pastor said; his face still a picture of serenity with a soft smile. Ronin had assumed that this news would elicit a reaction from the priest, but he had been mistaken. The man stood firm, no emotion visible on his face.
Ronin remained silent.
“Is this a secret wedding that nae one, including the lairdess, kens about?” the pastor finally asked; finally getting to the point.
“Yes. I would like to keep it that way until I am ready to disclose it myself,” Ronin replied honestly; making sure that there was no room for questioning.
“Who is the bride?”
“Her name is Edna, the only daughter of Freya the healer.”
“She is also the daughter of Duncan, the man who was killed by yer father,” the priest said; his voice still neutral. Ronin raised an eyebrow at the priest but did not reply. His expression was hard as well. “I have been in this clan for a very long time, son. I ken all that goes on here.”
“I am sure you do but that does not concern Edna and me at all. We love each other,” Ronin said; hoping his words would be enough to convince the man.
“If it is truly love, why can’t ye tell yer families and marry with the entire clan around ye?” the pastor asked.
“We both know the reason behind that pastor.” Ronin said; knowing fully well that he was smart enough to understand that this age-old enmity was a very strong factor between the two families and contributed greatly to the reasons why a match between them would not be accepted so easily.
“If that reason is not stopping ye both from loving and marrying each other, then it certainly won’t become a hindrance in yer path even after ye tell yer families,” the priest countered. “Forgive me, son, I cannot officiate a marriage held in secret; especially that of the future laird of my clan.”
Ronin sighed deeply as the pastor started walking away. He expected this to happen but couldn't anticipate he would be so hard to persuade. It appeared that the man was certain of his decision and was steadfast in his refusal to marry them. Ronin, on the other hand, was not going to back down. He'd made up his mind to marry herand had given her his word. He followed the pastor, and when he heard Ronin's footsteps, he stopped and turned around.
“Ye cannae change my mind, son. Don’t waste yer time and mine,” he said.
