A Price to Be Paid: A Scottish Highlander Romance (Legacy of the Laird Book 2)

Chapter 13

Mathe sat on the bed and looked down into his coin purse with a frown.

Even with the money he would earn from finishing the table, it was still a paltry sum. Certainly enough for him, but it would never make a significant contribution to a house for Lilidh and the boy.

He lay back with a groan. Yesterday had been such an amazing day, and it ended on a perfect note. Mathe closed his eyes and smiled at the memory of kissing his wife, and how right it felt. So strange and yet still so familiar. So exciting, and yet it filled him with such fear. He wanted her more than words could express, and that need had seen him survive six years in the darkness. He didn’t know if he could go on without her.

And she had kissed him back.

Mathe laughed to himself, imagining he could still taste her. She had kissed him back.

But a kiss wouldn’t buy a house, so once again Mathe sat up and considered his options. There was only one thing to do, he knew, even as he shied away from it. Building tables and fixing chairs would make more than enough coin if they already had a house together, but it wasn’t going to be enough to save for one.

No, Mathe knew he needed something more. And he had only one card on the table.

With a sigh, he rose and dressed, then ducked out of the West Gate and started towards the castle.

Mathe paused at the base of the hill and looked up, stretching his neck to the imposing fortress above. This was as close as he’d walked since returning to Dun Lagaidh, and the thought of going up to the castle brought an acute sense of dread. He’d made this walk many times as MacBrennan, in the arrogant gait that he’d trained and practiced in the mirror for more hours than he could remember. People would part at the sight of him, stepping quickly to either side of the road to allow him to sweep past, his eyes taking them all in one by one as they dropped their gazes. MacBrennan’s true power was fear, and Mathe cultivated it every time he stepped outside.

The memory pained him as he started the long road uphill. The cobbled avenue was busy with people coming to and from the castle, and Mathe picked his way through them carefully, weaving and moving through the crowd. He didn’t remember the hill as being quite so steep, nor so long, but eventually he reached the top and stood at one end of the long stone bridge that ran to the main gate. For the last time Mathe asked himself if he was resolved on this course of action, and once again he knew that there was no other way. He needed to do the right thing for Lilidh and Fynn.

“State yer business,” the guard said as he approached.

“I’m here to see the laird,” Mathe replied.

The guard frowned. “Is he expecting ye?”

“Nay,” Mathe replied, “although he’ll want to see me.”

“Ye cannae just walk up here and expect to see the laird,” the guard said. “He’s a busy man. Ye need an appointment, and there’s a waiting list.”

“Fine,” Mathe said. “Can I see the steward, then? Fergus may be able to help.”

“Ye know Fergus?”

“Aye, and Blaine, actually.”

The guard looked closely at him. “What did ye say yer name was?”

“I didnae, but it’s auld Mathe.”

“Just auld Mathe?”

“Aye,” Mathe replied. “Just that.”

The guard pulled a servant over and whispered to him. The young girl nodded once and disappeared into the castle, and the man turned back. “We’ll try to find the steward for ye.”

Mathe nodded. “My thanks.” He walked over to the edge of the parapet and looked down over the town, noting the location of the West Gate and Lilidh’s house. It looked even worse from up here; a small shantytown of houses in a natural depression of the earth. The end of the cobbled street was stark in the way it suddenly gave way to the mud that sparkled in the light. He was doing the right thing, he told himself.

“Mathe,” a voice called, and he turned to see the steward walking towards him.

“Fergus,” he said in greeting. “I’d like to speak to Blaine.”

“About what?”

“I’ve reconsidered his offer.”

Fergus nodded and looked at him for a long moment. “Well, in that case,” he finally said, “let’s get inside, shall we?”

* * *

“Why?”Blaine asked, leaning back in his chair. The fireplace beside them roared.

“Because I need something from ye,” Mathe said.

“I already told ye there would be generous compensation.”

He shook his head. “I need something specific. No” just compensation.”

The laird frowned. “Then name yer price, and I’ll decide if it’s appropriate.”

Mathe nodded, feeling himself sweat in the heat. He didn’t want to move or show his discomfort though; he needed to appear in total control of the situation. He hadn’t bartered for a long time and had an inkling that his old methods of intimidation wouldn’t get very far with Blaine McCaskill.

“I need a house,” he said.

“A house?” Blaine asked, blinking in surprise. Behind him, Fergus looked down at Mathe and shook his head.

“Aye,” Mathe replied, “but no” for me.”

“For yer wife and son.”

“For them. Ye know why I’ve come home, and what I need to do. Lilidh and Fynn live in one of the houses on the western wall; the auld timber things in the ditch.”

Blaine twisted to look at Fergus. “I thought we knocked those down,” he muttered. “They were never meant to be permanent.”

Fergus shrugged. “They’re all full. We cannae exactly put the residents out on the streets, can we?”

“Ye know those houses arenae fit for anyone,” Mathe said, “let alone a woman and child. I need to see them moved to a place of safety and security, large enough for the lad to have his own space.”

“Ye ask a lot,” Blaine said. “Even the fairest compensation for yer time wouldnae come close to the price of a house.”

“As do ye. If ye could get those names any other way, we wouldnae be having this conversation.”

“It’s too much,” Blaine said.

Mathe shrugged. “It’s my price. A house for Lilidh and Fynn, and I’ll get ye the names ye need. Take it or leave it.”

“Ye cannae afford to leave it,” the laird said. “And neither can I.”

“I can help Lilidh in other ways,” Mathe said. “It might take longer, but I’ll see that she gets a house, one way or another.”

“And maybe I’ll find another way to get what I need,” Blaine said. “Despite what ye think, there are always other ways.”

“Maybe there is. It will take longer for ye as well, though. Maybe too long, with the mood of the town being what it is.”

The laird considered him in silence, and Mathe could see the offer roll around in his mind. Would he take it? Mathe was bluffing about being able to help Lilidh in other ways; aside from this chance, the only path forward was many long years of labour; years living in that godforsaken house while it fell down around them.

“Fine,” Blaine said, and Fergus looked down sharply.

“Ye accept?” Mathe asked, not trusting himself to believe it.

“Aye, I accept. A house for Lilidh and Fynn, in return for the names of the primary instigators who work against me.”

Mathe nodded and tried to hide his satisfaction. “There is one thing I need to be clear on.”

Blaine’s mouth thinned. “Ye”re pushing yer luck, MacBrennan. Push it too far and I might just change my mind.”

“Only one thing.”

“So, speak up.”

“I just want it to be clear that I willnae do anything - anything - to risk what I’ve come back for. A house for Lilidh and the lad are important, but making amends with them is even more so. I’ll do whatever I can to get those names, within reason, but if it will put my relationship with Lilidh at risk, then I’ll need to stop.”

“I ken,” Blaine said. “I’m no” a monster, and I’m no” about to put ye in a position that ye feel ye cannae get out of. I’m only asking for information, and only if it’s given to ye freely. Dinnae dig around in yer past, Mathe; that’s a place better left alone. If ye think ye need to do something ye”d regret, then I’d rather ye did naught at all.”

Mathe nodded. “Aye, so we’re in agreement?”

“We’re in agreement. If ye get me the names, then ye’ll get yer house. Any idea how long it might take?”

“Maybe a few days,” Mathe said. “Maybe even a week. I need to lay a bit of groundwork first, make myself known to them. I cannae look too hasty.”

“I’d like regular updates,” Blaine said.

“How regular?”

“Every few days. Ye dinnae need to come here; we can organise somewhere for ye to meet Fergus discretely down in town.”

Mathe considered it. He didn’t like the idea, and wasn’t sure if he’d have much to share after such a short amount of time, but he also didn’t want to risk the bargain he’d just struck. After all, the laird was right; he was pushing his luck.

“Fine, every few days,” he said. “But no” in town. Make it down at the auld mill by the Dundonnell. Less chance anyone will see us, and I have a plausible reason for being there.”

“Oh?”

“I’m going to teach the lad how to fish,” Mathe explained. “Rabby gave me two auld fishing rods that need a bit of work, but should come good. Fynn loves playing with his toy rods, so I want to take him down to the river and try the real thing. Perhaps the auld jetty is still there.”

Blaine gave the ghost of a smile. “It is.”

“Let’s say mid-morning?” he asked.

From behind Blaine, Fergus nodded. “Two days, down by the auld mill, mid-morning.”

Blaine stood and reached his hand out. His arm rippled with muscle in the firelight, and Mathe again wondered how the boy he once knew had turned into the man before him. He stood slowly, and they shook. Blaine’s grip was firm, but Mathe still held considerable strength in his own sinewy arms, and matched it. They looked at each other for a long moment, then Blaine nodded once and withdrew his hand.

“Farewell,” he said. “Mathe MacBrennan.”