CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE –Willow–
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
–Willow–
WHILE I WAS GLAD THE Viking blade safely reconnected me and Sloan telepathically again via a hairpin of all things, my heart sank at the thought of why it might do that, because it implied we would soon be separated once more.
That could only mean King Robert was siding with the Sutherlands.
So, when Elspet and Dugal exited the king’s tent and Sloan and I were summoned inside, I braced for the worst. Unlike his demeanor before, however, the king we faced now gave me hope when he clasped Sloan’s arm, hand to elbow, in the way of the Scots, and smiled warmly.
“’Tis good to see ye alive and well, old friend. ”
Then he turned his warm regard my way. “And ‘tis good to finally greet ye properly, Willow, for ‘tis clear enough to those who know Sloan well, he cares a great deal for ye.”
“And I him,” I assured, greeting him in kind, liking this version of him a great deal, but how could I not, considering how fondly he looked at Sloan.
“Please.” Robert poured whisky into three wooden cups. “Whilst we dinnae have a great deal of time for obvious reasons—” he shot us a knowing look— “sit so I might hear the parts of yer story ye two undoubtedly left out.”
So we did, leaving out some of the more personal parts, and I got to see firsthand how close Sloan and King Robert were, and it spoke not only of a good friendship but mutual respect for one another.
Based on my hairpin, though, I had a feeling it might not be enough to keep me out of Dugal’s clutches.
“And now, yer intended, Lorna and her father are with the Sutherlands?” the king said to Sloan at one point, frowning. “Dugal and Elspet failed to mention that.”
“Formerly intended,” Sloan corrected. “And aye, Lorna and her father are there, and they came to an agreement without me or my chieftain knowing, evidently promising her to one of their own.”
“And it was after revealing that, while sitting at dinner no less,” I added, “that they hauled Sloan away and imprisoned him in the dungeons.”
“So it stands to reason they fully intend to defy all, including ye, my king,” Sloan pointed out. “Without question, because they felt Willow was the lass meant to fulfill the pact and they knew they would have the power to do it.”
“And now ‘tis necessary to involve me if they mean to stay in my good graces and get Willow to their castle once and for all,” Robert deduced.
“Aye,” Sloan confirmed. “I would say so.”
“And we can also assume Lorna and her father want to be on the right side of the clan war, if there is one,” Robert said, troubled as Sloan and Lorna’s marital agreement had been brokered not just by their fathers but by him.
“’Tis hard to imagine such deception from Lorna’s father.
” He shook his head. “'Tis truly out of character for him.”
“Aye,” Sloan agreed, hesitating before he pointed out the obvious.
“Especially if the Sutherlands intend to defy ye and use the power they harness to do God knows what, because I promise ye one thing. They may swear their fealty to ye now, but the power they garner will be theirs and theirs alone to wield, and I cannae see them using it as only ye see fit, whether today or many years from now.”
Robert’s troubled gaze settled on the fire as he sipped his whisky and mulled over the difficult position he found himself in.
If he handed me over and it was proven I was the right witch, it would keep peace between the clans at least for now.
If the Sutherlands garnered more power from the pact than anticipated, and it wasn’t just power born of the next generation, the Sutherlands could usurp him or take control in other ways, and there would be no way to stop them.
“So a war now or a war later on a much greater scale betwixt not just two of my most powerful clans but likely the whole of Scotland,” he finally said on a sigh, not trusting the Sutherlands any more than the MacLeods did.
His brow furrowed. “Internal dissent, the Sassenach would undoubtedly take advantage of.” His gaze rose to me.
“And ye believe yer inner dragon might be deceiving everyone?” He cocked his head.
“To what end when ‘tis clear ye and Sloan love each other?”
“I wish we knew.” I frowned. “And it’s unsettling to say the least.”
“Aye,” Sloan agreed, keeping angst from his voice when I knew how torn up he was inside.
Instead, he focused on logic rather than his own emotions, knowing that was the best approach.
“Yet ‘tis enough I would think to keep my mate out of the Sutherlands’ clutches until the gem and marking appears the way the pact clearly states.”
“One might hope ‘tis enough, but we both know ‘tis not,” Robert said, his tone grim as he met Sloan’s eyes. “No matter how much I dislike it, the moment a gem, whether whole or not, appeared on Willow’s dragon upon her first shift, they had grounds to keep her with them lest the time comes when the gem becomes whole. Otherwise, it could be said the MacLeods influenced or tampered with Willow’s dragon. ”
“Yet we didnae,” Sloan exclaimed, his emotions getting the better of him when he realized this might not go in our favor. “I didnae, though I will readily admit I wish I had because Dugal isnae right in the head, and ye know it.”
“I do,” Robert admitted easily enough. “But that doesnae change the facts for all those keeping an eye on this situation and my response to it, because trust me, they are watching closely, and one wrong move by me, the slightest hint of favoritism could send the clans into chaos. And right now, the Sutherlands, despite imprisoning ye, are in the right. Between the gem, no matter its size, and Willow’s attack on the castle, it doesnae look good, and all those Sutherland warriors who died today arenae going to help matters. ”
“He’s right,” I forced myself to say because Sloan needed to hear it.
Be reminded of it because he knew all this, but was thinking with his heart again instead of his head.
I slipped my hand into his and looked at him with the strength he needed to see.
“With everything going on at the English border, the country’s more on edge than ever, and the clans need to know they can trust Robert to lead them and protect their families.
That means he needs to do what’s right and just, in order to maintain stability.
The short-term goal has to mean more than the long-term risk. ”
“Aye,” Robert said softly, giving me a nod of thanks since I not only understood but voiced his plight.
He looked from me to Sloan. “I wish it could be otherwise, my friend, but I dinnae see a way without yer clans going to war here and now, and I cannae have that. Willnae have that because the people under my charge and those fighting for a free Scotland dinnae deserve it.”
Although I sensed Sloan was about to say something he would regret, he squeezed my hand instead, managed a tight nod of acquiescence, and spoke formally, his disappointment in his liege clear enough. “As ye wish, my King.”
“I am sorry, Sloan,” Robert replied gravely. “Truly.” He looked at me and offered me more than he needed to, given his position. “For ye both.” When he gestured at a man standing by the tent entrance, he ducked out. “Yet I willnae be throwing ye to the wolves just yet.”
Before we had a chance to question him, Elspet and Dugal were escorted back in and urged to sit. As they did, Robert’s warm demeanor melted away, and he returned to being their king as he announced how things would proceed, and what he said surprised me.
“Willow should return with ye to Sutherland Castle, so I will see to it that she does,” Robert said to Dugal and Elspet.
“However, Willow willnae belong to Dugal unless the gem on her dragon’s chest matches the pact.
If that doesnae happen, she is free to choose her fated mate.
To that end, I will have both men who might be destined for her close by until we know for sure.
” He looked from me and Sloan back to them.
“That being said, Sloan will be returning with the three of ye to Sutherland Castle along with a small retinue of my most trusted warriors to ensure Willow is not unduly harmed or that Sloan is not thrown in a dungeon again.”
Before anyone could reply, because based on Elspet and Dugal’s tight, troubled expressions, they were about to object, the king went on.
“In addition, it has come to my attention that one of my most favored warriors is visiting ye, Laird Dugal.” Robert perked his eyebrows. “The father of the lass Sloan had been promised to marry, I believe?”
“Aye,” Dugal said gruffly, no doubt ready to come up with a lie about why that had changed, but Robert spoke again before he could.
“Verra good,” the king said. “I look forward to seeing him and his daughter, so I have sent word to Tavish MacLeod putting him in charge whilst I am away so I can return to Sutherland Castle with ye to visit one of my top warriors.” He looked from Elspet to Dugal.
“’Twill only be for a day or so, but I trust I am welcome? ”
I could almost see Elspet’s and Dugal’s mental wheels spinning as they grappled with this unexpected turn of events. See them trying to figure out what to do about whatever sleazy plan they were about to put into action.
“Of course, ye are welcome, my King,” Elspet responded yet again, far too smoothly, with a tight smile, when her son’s cheeks reddened in frustration, and there was no need to guess why.
He thought the king would deliver me to him because he had no choice, but it seemed King Robert wasn’t one to be so easily cornered.
“Verra good.” Robert offered a small, equally tight smile in return. “I look forward to revisiting yer lovely castle and all yer clansfolk. We leave within the hour.”
This meant they would be required to travel with us instead of heading home first, which would keep them from getting ahead of the impromptu visit to hide any secrets they wanted to keep. Some could probably be managed telepathically ahead of time, but who knew how much.
As it turned out, when we departed soon after, King Robert once again surprised not just me but most certainly Dugal, and I couldn’t have been more relieved.