Chapter 15 #2
“Mine, as well. Still, I canna help thinking Sutherland would be better served to have him home.” He paused and held up a hand.
“No’ that I dinna think ye capable. Clearly ye are.
I see how ye are preparing for trouble to come here, and I am impressed.
I just dinna want to be the last man in my family of my generation left alive—or without Da if aught happens to the twins.
Yer son is years away from stepping into his grandfather’s and father’s place. And my life is now at Rose.”
Mariota pressed her lips together. Any response she might make would sound dismissive, or even disparaging. Cameron was trying to help. She tamped down on her irritation and spoke. “I would like to send Beathan to ye when ’tis time for him to foster away. If ye and Mary are willing, of course.”
Cameron smiled. “We would be honored, and would take care of him as our own.”
“I hoped ye would agree. When he returns home, Stellan will be happy to hear that is settled.”
“May that day be soon,” Cameron said and stood to go.
“One more thing,” Mariota said, stopping him before he stepped away.
“Aye?”
“I appreciate yer counsel, Brother, while we are without yer da and my husband. Thank ye for coming to help us.”
Cameron studied her for a moment, then his lips lifted in a grin. “I see. Putting me in my place, are ye, Sister? Very well. I ken my role and I accept it. Ye have only to ask and I will give ye as much sage advice as I can muster.”
Mariota rewarded him with a grin of her own, relieved that he hadn’t taken offense. “We understand each other.”
He gave her a quick bow and left the solar.
Mariota watched him go, letting her imagination play with the notion that he was Stellan. It was easy to do. Their resemblance was strong. But no man was like her Stellan. She hoped he’d be home soon.
Anders was of two minds about his new accommodation.
He was happy to be with his twin and their men, but unhappy about being behind bars.
Sinclair had effectively pulled his teeth.
He could no longer discern what was going on in the keep, nor could he keep the captive Sutherlands informed and ready to move if a chance presented itself.
And it was cold. Ailsa had provided blankets and Maighread had insisted Anders have several more.
But there was no warming hearth in the space, only torchlight to provide a meager source of heat and light, and fewer of those since the siege started.
Worse, save for one, those torches were removed at night to the area where the guards stayed.
Sinclair had made it clear it wasn’t willing to negotiate the ransom demand except to increase it, since he now knew he held the Sutherland twins.
Anders feared they were in for a long and hungry stay at Sinclair.
He worried that his men, and the men who came with Stellan, would be sacrificed if food stores got too low.
Why feed enemy clansmen ye didn’t need when ye had yer enemy’s most precious pair in your hands?
He couldn’t fault the logic, but it kept him up at night. Ailsa hoped things would never go that far, but he could see doubt in her eyes when she visited, and the beginning twinges of fear that all of this would not be over soon.
It made him love her all the more. Whether she feared for her people or his—or both—it showed that she truly cared about those around her.
And the fact that she spent every spare moment with him, no matter how exhausted she was, warmed his heart.
He wanted her to rest, but even more, he wanted her with him.
“I’ve time to sit with ye a wee,” she told him after she showed up unexpectedly with a basket of apples for the men on the morning after he’d been moved here.
Tasgall stood beyond her shoulder as she passed them out, then kept his distance when she approached Anders and handed him apples for him and Stellan.
So, a guard presence was still required, but at least the guard was one of the few Sinclairs he counted as a friend.
“Murdo may come down, too. Dinna he and Tomas make quite the pair? If they ever talk about anything other than fishing, it’s sailing or sea currents or the weather.
Ye’d think they never spent any time on dry land at all. ”
Both Anders and Tasgall chuckled at that. Stellan smiled when Anders passed him one of the apples, but remained on his bench, alone with his thoughts.
The truth was that Murdo didn’t have much to do since it wasn’t safe to take Sinclair ships out to fish in their bay with Clan Rose patrolling the sea just beyond it. Talking fishing seemed to cheer them and others in the group as well.
Ailsa whispered, “How are ye? I’m so sorry Da insisted on moving ye here.”
“Well enough,” Anders told her. He didn’t want to worry her. “’Tis good to be with family and friends. The more we talk, the more I remember.”
“Ye’ll remember best when ye can return home,” she said, glancing around, then turned to meet his gaze with hers. “I want to help, I want ye out of here, and all yer men. Safely.”
“I dinna want ye to take any risks,” he said, frowning. “Yer father …”
“If ’tis done well, he will never ken who is responsible.”
“’Tis too dangerous, lass. I canna let ye do anything that will jeopardize ye.”
“Ye have nay choice, Anders. Ye will need help to get free of Sinclair.”