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The thrashing went on for some time and, even when it stopped, Will did not relinquish his grip until he saw the legs of Cormac’s horse before him.
‘He has gone. It is time to go.’
‘Morna was not part of your feud with the Gowans. She was innocent,’ snarled Will.
‘Aye, well, ‘tis done now, and you have my thanks. But Bain, just because you killed my enemy, don’t think this makes us friends.’
Will glared up at Cormac, rage still taking the breath from his lungs. ‘I do not need friends.’
‘Everyone does, eventually.’
‘Given that my men and I have bled for Scotland’s freedom, and I have exacted vengeance on those who wronged Morna, you may consider treating our alliance with more respect.’
‘Hear this Bain. If you bring your ships back down the coast, to raid on my lands, I will have something to say about it.’
‘And if you venture onto Skye again, with an army at your back, I will have something to say about that.’
Cormac almost smiled. ‘And my sister? You pledge to keep her safe?’
Will sighed. ‘She may not let me, for Morna told me that if I came to this war, she would not be at Fitheach when I returned. She said she would leave me.’
‘Yet still, you came? I thought you loved her.’
‘It is because I love her that I am here, doing this,’ he said, pointing to Ranulph’s corpse as it bobbed up and down in the gentle waves rippling across the loch.
‘Aye, well, in times of war, we all have hard choices to make, and my sister knows her own mind,’ said Cormac. ‘I’ll not force her to return to you.’
‘Nor will I.’
‘So, it is all said and done between us and I will bid you farewell. Do you have any message for my sister when I return to Beharra?’
‘Will you take it if I say it?’
‘Did I not just say that?’
Will looked out at the water where the seagulls whirled and cawed mournfully, waiting for the storm of anger inside him to abate. Slowly, he unclenched his fists and took a deep breath.
‘Tell her nothing. If she wants me, she knows where I will be, and if she does not, pretty words will not make any difference.’
Cormac turned his horse and rode away. Will watched him until he got to the edge of the trees where he turned and gave a curt nod of his head. It was an acknowledgement of respect, if not trust. Moments later, he was swallowed by the forest.
So here he was. It was done. He had made his sacrifice and earned his revenge, but to what end, slaughtering untrained boys and fat priests in the mud, doing murder for the sake of love? Had he made himself worthy of the Morna, the love of his life or had he just blindly thrown her away?
Chapter Thirty-Three
‘Cormac and Lyall have come,’ shrieked Ravenna, cradling her daughter Fionn in her arms before whirling and rushing back out of the door. Morna ran outside, and there were her brothers, both dismounting stiffly from their horses.
Ravenna flung herself onto Cormac, and he clung to her as if his life depended on it. He kissed his wife and daughter over and over and then Ross spotted his father and sped across the yard to be scooped up into Cormac’s embrace.
With tears running down her face, Morna ran to Lyall and embraced him. His hug was like being crushed by a bear, but it was wonderful. He kissed her on her forehead.
‘Are you well, brother,’ she gasped. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘No, just very dirty and very hungry, don’t fash.’ He sighed and stared into her eyes. ‘Will is alive and well, Morna, and back at camp with his men, organising his return to Skye, when last I saw him.’
‘Oh,’ was all she could say. ‘Were there many losses amongst Clan Bain?’
‘A few, and some wounded, but they made it out mostly unscathed. Will fought like a demon, you should be proud, Morna. He is in favour with the King for his service.’
