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There was a gasp around the hall at this last comment and Murray noticed Ilene turn to Raghnall in shock, saw the colour rise in her face. He tried to keep his voice even and control his anger.
‘Purchase? Are you proposing to…you mean tobuyher? Are you so lawless here on Barra that you would trade women, like livestock in the marketplace.’
‘Tis an old custom here, not unheard of, and it is an arrangement that can separate those who no longer wish to be joined.’
Raghnall looked imploringly at Ilene but she turned pleading eyes to Murray, and he thought he saw an almost imperceptible shake of her head. Raghnall had not asked Ilene if she wanted to be bought, he had not sought her permission to haggle over her, as if she was a possession and could have a price.
Murray knew that entering into a contest of wills with this man would be dangerous. He realised he could not show just how much Ilene meant to him, for any show of weakness would be fatal in these circumstances, with these people.
‘It can be done here, now, between us two and your union can be ended,’ Raghnall continued. ‘I’ll offer a generous sum. She can be free of her torment with you.’
‘She is not for sale, nor am I, and as to her torment, she more than deserves it.’
Raghnall stood up and his voice bellowed through the hall. ‘You arrogant bastard. I could dispense with the formality of payment and just make her a widow.’
‘True, that would be one choice and by far the most foolish. My wife may hate the sight of me but should you get your men to butcher me, in cold blood, she will not think you much of a man after that.’
He moved closer to the table and heard the scrape of blades on scabbards around the hall. He ignored it and locked eyes with Raghnall. ‘Ilene has the gift of making a man care for her good opinion, does she not? She draws you in until you become her fool, living only to please her, it is like a disease.’
‘You’re a fool. I need no help from my men to end you. I can fight you in single combat, name your weapons.’
‘If you fight me alone you will die, Raghnall, be assured of it. Ask yourself this? Is she really worth dying for?
The man didn’t even pause. ‘Yes…she is.’
The silence in the hall deepened. Murray could sense their thoughts. Surely their Laird would not humble himself before this stranger, just for a woman. And why would he do such a thing unless…? Murray turned from Raghnall to Ilene and fixed her with a hard look.
‘Have you been warming his bed, Ilene?’
‘No,’ she replied and, for some reason, he believed her.
‘So, all it takes to lead this poor fool to his doom is your lies?’
‘Murray please, stop this,’ she pleaded.
He turned back to Raghnall with a grim smile. ‘If we are to fight each other, like two dogs squabbling over a bitch in heat, then know this. Should you by some miracle be the victor in a fight and cling on to your misguided affection for this witch, then you would be bringing the full wrath of Clan Campbell down on you.
‘How so?’
‘She didn’t tell you?’ he said triumphantly. ‘She is not only my wife by law, before God, but she is also Laird Duncan Campbell’s daughter and, trust me, you don’t want to get on the wrong side of him.’
Ilene watched the shock suffuse Raghnall’s face, in growing desperation. She had to separate these two at once before there was violence and she had to explain herself to Raghnall. She grabbed his arm and turned her to him.
‘I must speak with you alone, please.’
‘Yes, for you have a lot of explaining to do,Gwen.’ He looked at her and then back at Murray.
‘You will remain here,’ he said grabbing Ilene’s wrist in a fierce grip and dragging her away. Murray stepped forward as if to follow and was confronted with the outraged swords of the Bain clan, pointed directly at his throat. No one knew he was here, and if this went badly he was a feast for the fish. Ilene must know that if she renounced him, then he would die, so he was at her mercy too.
***
Ilene was dragged out of the hall and along the corridor and staircase up to Raghnall’s chamber. She had never been in his private quarters before and it was a bad sign that she was here now. If she didn’t talk some reason into Raghnall, then Murray would not get out of Haggbowe alive.
He flung her inside, closing the door and bolting it. He stood with his back to her. The rapid rise and fall of his ribs told Ilene she should hold her tongue. Having grown accustomed to a man’s anger, she did not stoke Raghall’s now, with excuses. Gripping her hands together to stop them shaking, she flinched when he spun around and looked at her, with a savage longing in his eyes.
‘Stay with me.’
‘I can’t. Murray is my husband, I am bound to him.’
