Chapter Sixteen #2
“Ye have a great skill at sorely trying a mon’s patience. I thought ye were as eager as I to make Iver pay for the murder of our friends.”
“I am and I already prepare to go after that foul kinsmon of ours. There was no need to trouble ye with such preparation. Ye ken what must be done to ready oneself for such a battle, but so do I. Why waste our time discussing such unimportant things?”
“Fine, I could agree with that if we were taking that extra time to discuss something else. I thought the information I got from Iver’s mon would help us plot some battle plan. I would have preferred to have gotten my hands on that murdering swine Andrew, but this mon was useful.”
“It did help us. Did we not already decide how many men we will need? Ye ken that I dinnae like to make my plans too exact, as matters can change rapidly between the time ye make the plan and when ye must carry it out. Soon the men I sent to gather more information on our traitorous cousin will return. Once we have their reports to add to what Iver’s mon said, we can discuss our fight with Iver in more detail.
Aye and we hold the added advantage of kenning Drumdearg as weel, as thoroughly, as Iver. ”
Tavig relaxed a little, annoyed that Mungan was the one to see that and not him.
He had become so intensely determined to make Iver pay for his crimes and to get Drumdearg back that he had become somewhat blinded.
It would not be easy, but he would have to try to concentrate on his battle with Iver as if it were just another battle and not such a deeply personal one.
“We have another advantage,” Tavig said.
“Many of the people of Drumdearg will come to our side. Iver surrounds himself with hard men whose loyalty is bought, not given, because he kens he cannae depend on the loyalty of the people he tries to rule. I think he kens they will desert him, turn against him, the moment the chance arises.”
“Aye, and my men will be seeing just how much of an advantage that will give us. He will be testing the people’s loyalty to you and warning those who can be trusted to be prepared for our arrival.” Mungan smiled toward the doors of the great hall. “Ah, the ladies arrive.”
Inwardly cursing because he knew that would end any further talk about how they would take back Drumdearg, Tavig turned to look at Moira.
Una was several paces in front of Moira, and it was clear to even the most casual observer that there was far more than a physical separation between the pair.
He had had little chance to speak to Moira today, but it was clear that she was already suffering some of the troubles he had foreseen.
Although he felt bad for her, he could not completely repress a surge of hope and delight over her predicament.
Such turmoil would serve to push her where he wanted her—standing in front of a priest saying her marriage vows.
He stood up, brushing a kiss over her cheek as she moved to sit next to him.
Una kissed Mungan’s cheek as she sat down next to him. “Ye look verra pleased to see me.”
“Aye,” Mungan agreed. “Now we may eat our meal.”
Moira winced, then sighed when Una glared at her. “As if I am responsible for the mon’s boorish behavior.”
“What did ye say, lass?” Tavig asked, leaning closer to her so that he could speak softly without a scowling Mungan overhearing him.
“Nothing of any importance.” She forced a smile. “How has your day passed? Ye have been verra busy.”
“Aye. Iver’s hired dog was slow to talk, but when he did he was verra helpful. Mungan has sent a few of his men to Drumdearg to gather even more information. When they return, we will finalize our plans.”
“And then ye will go to battle.” She was not sure she completely disguised her shiver of fear.
“That is how it must be. Iver will fight to hold what he has stolen from me.” He took her hand in his, kissing her palm. “Dinnae fret o’er me, dearling. I can win this.”
She tugged her hand free of his as the pages and maids set the food on the table. “I wasnae worried about you in particular, Sir Tavig. I but dislike the idea of men hacking away at each other with swords.”
“Sometimes men are given no other choice. How did ye pass your day? I ken that ye visited with Adair, for ’tis where I saw ye the last time I was able to exchange a few brief words with you.”
“Weel, I was dragged about the keep by your cousin. He wished to show me what a fine life he could offer me.” She put some venison on her plate, covertly watching Tavig, who scowled darkly at Mungan.
“So that is why he so amiably allowed me to talk to Iver’s mon alone. I sought to keep Mungan from too vehemently questioning the mon, perhaps injuring him too much, so we would get nothing from him. Mungan sought to steal some time to court ye, then?”
“Aye, I suppose ye can call it courting.” Moira decided she would not tell Tavig about Mungan’s pursuit of her. The man had hunted her down several times during the day until she had given serious consideration to hiding.
“And that is why your cousin is so angry with you.”
“Una is certain that I am trying to take Mungan away. There is no talking sense to her. She even asked me to give her the tower house so that Mungan will hie after her. She has plagued me about that all day. In her eyes I am selfish beyond words because I will not give away the tower house.” She sent him a cross look when he opened his mouth to speak.
“If ye say ye warned me about this, I shall hit you.”
“Ye would deprive a mon of the chance to boast that he was right?”
“I would. I have no wish to suffer your gloating. That scowling pair at the head of the table is as much as I can bear for the moment. There is no talking to either of them. They are stubborn, and at times during this verra long day I began to think they might be deaf as weel.”
Tavig laughed, and her disapproving look did nothing to end his amusement. “Now, sweet Moira, ye must see how funny it all is.” When she glared at him, he cleared his throat. “Weel, mayhap not just now.”
“Nay, not now. All I wish to do now is crawl into a hole and stay there until our cousins sort themselves out. Mungan may want my lands, but he doesnae want me. He wants Una, and she wants him.”
“Aye, ’tis clear to see, although methinks Mungan doesnae ken it.
He is too intent upon getting that tower house.
I understand what ails him for I have just discovered that I have been briefly blinded by my urgent need to regain my holdings, to avenge myself against Iver.
’Tis all I thought about and nearly missed noting one or two of the advantages Mungan and I have over Iver.
Being so intent upon one thing can be dangerous.
’Tis certainly unwise. I now see the danger and will be wary.
The question is, how do we get Mungan to see it? ”
“After what I have been through today I cannae believe that will be easy.”
“Nay, nor quick, and your kinsmen will soon be here.”
Moira silently cursed and turned her attention to her meal.
She had a strong urge to scream or bang her head against the heavy oak table.
She felt as if she were being pulled in many different directions.
Everyone was demanding something of her, but no one was considering her feelings at all.
Not even Tavig, she mused, stabbing at a piece of venison with her eating knife.
He spoke of marriage as a solution to the problems she now faced, and those problems would disappear if she agreed to marry him, but he had his own reasons, too.
She could not believe he would take such a large step to satisfy some whim of fate, but he spoke of nothing else.
It all gave her a throbbing ache in her head.
She wished they would all go away and leave her alone.
It was not to be, and, glancing at Tavig, she admitted that she did not wish to lose any of what little time she might have left with Tavig, no matter how he might annoy her on occasion.
She dearly wished they would give her time to think, however.
So much had changed in her life since yesterday, since the moment Mungan had shown her the tower house she owned, that she needed to think about it all.
One quick peek at Una, Mungan, and Tavig told her she would not get that time.
They all had their own games to play, and for the moment she was little more than a pawn.
Such inconsideration on Una’s and Mungan’s part annoyed her. On Tavig’s part, however, it hurt her.