Chapter 17
Fergus accompanied the guards down the steps and into the great hall without further protest.
As he did, he could not help but wonder what would happen if he challenged their orders.
They were bound to obey Laird Oliver, certainly, and there was little doubt that Oliver had told them to prepare for the eventuality that Fergus might challenge them.
Even so, Fergus was a noble, and they were not, which might make them hesitate in carrying out their orders against his wishes.
What would happen then?
Would the guards attempt to overpower him? Would they be willing to harm him in carrying out the old man’s demands?
Fergus had no way of knowing, but given the fact that they were armed while he was not, he was in no hurry to find out. He had not expected to face his father so quickly; he’d thought he would have ample time to fetch his own sword first.
He considered himself a good fighter, especially after leading so many charges against the Wallaces. But unarmed and outnumbered? Even if they were determined not to kill him, he still did not like his odds of success or the potential risk to Darina’s life and limb.
Besides, he would need to conserve all of his strength for the fight against his father.
As they entered the great hall, Fergus saw both of his brothers and his sister waiting by Oliver’s side. All of the siblings looked deeply concerned, and none of them seemed willing to meet his gaze or Darina’s either.
For his part, however, Oliver looked so delighted with himself that he looked as though he might dance a jig at any moment.
“Ah, sure enough, ye were with her!” he crowed.
“Of course ye were! Ye’re so enamored with her, aren’t ye?
Ye’d want tae make sure ye got as much time with her as ye could, knowin’ what was aboot tae happen tae her.
Tell me, lad, did ye have adequate time tae deflower her before the guards arrived?
Was she every bit as luscious as she looks, mmm? ”
“I have done nay such thing,” Fergus replied. “I have too much respect for her honor tae make such advances when we are nae yet married.”
“Nae yet married, eh?” Oliver snickered. “Well, the time for that proposition has long passed, it seems tae me!”
“How can that possibly be true?” Fergus demanded. “She has only been here a day. Ye have given her nay time tae deliberate on such an important decision. Surely ye can at least allow her time enough until the Wallaces arrive?”
“So that she can stall, ye mean, and let them overtake us while she continues tae act undecided?” the old man answered mockingly. “What sort of eejit do ye take me fer that I would nae allow myself the chance tae see her suffer in the precious hours before we are overrun by Wallaces?”
“Why must ye see her suffer, Father, when she has done nothin’ tae ye?
” his son challenged. “She is an innocent lass who has never taken up arms against ye or any of our people! Moreover, keepin’ her alive is perhaps the only chance we have to prevent further bloodshed between the clans.
Why harm her needlessly, then? How would ye profit from such a thing other than as an exercise in wanton cruelty and malice? ”
“I do it because I wish tae do it,” Oliver snarled. “Because I lead this clan, and my will is law! My lightest whim is tae be obeyed without question or hesitation. That is the nature of power, a fact ye have always failed tae understand, which is why ye will never be a worthy laird!”
“Ye are wrong indeed, Sir,” Darina informed him coldly.
“The nature of true power is nae just aboot makin’ a great show of strength or always gettin’ what ye want.
Rather, it lies in the qualities of charity, mercy, tolerance, and forbearance.
My father has always known that, and I am fortunate indeed that he has passed those lessons on tae me.
For ye, however, I feel nothin’ but pity and contempt, for yer soul is as parched and barren as a desert. ”
“Silence, whelp!” Oliver snapped, pointing a finger at her. “Ye had yer chance tae end this when ye were given the choice of marryin’ my son! Ye squandered that chance, and now I intend tae have ye entertain me while I wait for yer father tae arrive!”
“Entertain you?” Fergus peered at him incredulously. “What on Earth is that supposed tae mean?”
“Do ye truly believe ye are the only one who has noticed her fair features and bountiful bosom?” Oliver taunted.
“Do ye think ye are the only one permitted tae lust after her, eh? Do ye expect me tae believe that yer reasons for bein’ in her chamber just now were innocent?
Of course nae. Ye wished tae have a taste of her before death comes for her, and now so do I.
First, I shall make a meal of her myself, and then, Fergus, ye will be the one who chops her tae bits so that we can toss them over the rampart and down upon her brothers’ heads! ”
“Must ye, Father?” James asked quietly. “Do ye truly mean tae degrade and humiliate her like this prior tae killin’ her? And in front of yer own children, nae less? What point is there in such senseless violence?”
“That was nae why Fergus came tae my room!” Darina insisted. “His intentions were entirely honorable!”
“I warned ye tae be silent!” Oliver shrieked, advancing on her. “Yer words mean nothin’ now. Ye are entirely at my mercy!”
“Nay, she is nae,” Fergus intoned.
Oliver’s bushy eyebrows went up. “Oh nay? And why is that, pray tell? Are ye goin’ tae give me more idiotic arguments aboot why she should be allowed tae live and used as a bargainin’ chip?
Or more brayin’ and squealin’ aboot how sweet and innocent she is and what a monster I am for threatenin’ her? ”
“Nothin’ of the kind,” his son replied. “I have seen how little effect such things have on ye, and so I dinnae intend tae waste any more of my breath in attemptin’ tae reason with ye.”
He crossed the room to a display of swords upon the wall, seized one by the handle, and pulled it down to arm himself.
“Rather,” he went on, baring his teeth, “I intend tae put an end tae ye once and for all.”
Oliver gazed at him incredulously for a long moment, then threw his head back and laughed loudly. “Have ye taken leave of your senses entirely? Do ye honestly mean tae kill yer own father—and in front of the rest of yer family, nay less?”
“Aye,” Fergus answered with a nod. “It is the only way tae end yer reign of misery, and by God, it is long overdue as I see it. The time has come for this clan tae have new leadership. Ye doubt my worthiness? Fine. Let us see how dubious I appear tae ye when I am deliverin’ the killin’ blow ye so richly deserve. ”
The smile began to fade from Oliver’s face as he realized that his son was serious. He turned to his guardsmen. “Well? Oughtn’t ye put a stop tae this and protect yer laird?”
The guardsman with the bad teeth looked from Oliver to Fergus and back again.
“He is a formidable soldier, Laird Oliver, who has proved himself in battle time and again. I am nae ashamed tae say that his skills with a sword are far greater than my own. More than that, his challenge seems tae be a valid one in the tradition of our clan. It is for ye tae accept or nae, as ye see fit. However…”
“What?” Oliver demanded furiously. “Go on, say it! If I refuse the challenge, then I will nae be seen as a fit leader, is that it?”
The man did not answer, but from the look in his eyes, Oliver had spoken the truth of it.
The laird turned to his other sons. “And ye two? Do ye intend tae defend yer father against this…this treachery?”
James and Alasdair exchanged glances. “As the guardsman pointed out, Father,” James said, “the challenge is between ye and the man who issued it. It would be grossly inappropriate for us tae intervene, on either side.”
“Besides,” Alasdair said with a smirk, “surely ye can best him? Or do ye seriously intend tae tell us that ye are afraid of yer own son, who ye have spent so many years beatin’ and belittlin’?”
“Bah, ye worthless imbeciles!” Oliver growled. “So be it, then. If Fergus has grown weary of livin’ and seeks tae forfeit his meaningless existence over a lass he’s known for barely two days, then let him come forward and cross swords with me if he dares!”
Oliver likewise went to the wall and removed a sword, brandishing it.
Fergus was gratified to see that although the blade was not rusty, his father’s skill with it certainly seemed to be.
And why not? He had remained safe at home for years as he’d sent Fergus and the others to do his fighting for him.
Even though Oliver had age and experience on his side, Fergus was beginning to like his chances, but he did not relish the idea of killing his father in front of his siblings, no matter how hateful and gruesome the man was or how much he deserved to die.
Still, there was nothing else for it. It simply had to be done.
Before their blades could touch, though, another guardsman appeared in the doorway of the great hall. He was red-faced and out of breath.
“Laird Oliver, they are here! The Wallaces are at the gates. What shall we do?”