Chapter 6
When they returned to the keep, Nik happily stabled the horses and relayed the messages waiting for them.
Kylie and Moira were waiting for Jean, and Liam’s father was waiting for him.
Liam couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. His mother was no doubt eager to talk to Jean and discover how their hunting went, not because she was curious about what they would be having for dinner but because she was hoping Jean and Liam were growing closer.
And the fact that his father wanted to speak to him might mean that Donal had returned, and Liam was eager to speak to him. He directed Nik to stable the horses and get a few guards to prep the meat for the kitchens.
“Liam, are ye certain that ye are all right?” Jean asked quietly as they made their way back to the keep. “If there is something bothering ye, ye can tell me. Ye know that, right?”
From the moment they’d entered the forest earlier, all Liam had been able to do was think of that poor woman who’d been killed. As the images flashed in his mind, the dead woman became Jean. Liam couldn’t stop the images or the fear coursing through his head.
He couldn’t bring himself to tell Jean, though. She would just laugh and tell him that he was being ridiculous. She could take care of herself.
But Liam would be laird one day. He was supposed to take care of her. He was supposed to take care of everyone.
“Aye, I know,” he said as he forced a grin. “At the moment, I am just trying to figure out how I am going to explain losing to such a bonnie face.”
As predicted, that immediately distracted her. “Hey! I’ll show you a bonnie face!” She launched herself playfully at him, and he caught her easily, twirled her around, and placed her back on her feet, but he didn’t immediately let her go. There was something comforting about holding her.
“Dinnae think this bonnie face is so easily swayed, Liam Armstrong. Ye are keeping secrets from me, and I dinnae approve. I shall get them out of you, one way or another,” she vowed before pulling away and skipping back to the keep.
Ruefully, Liam shook his head. She seemed so delicate and feminine, and yet, when she took aim at that deer, there was a keen intelligence in her eye when she adjusted her aim to hit her moving target head-on.
She would never make it as a warrior. Not the way she imagined.
All the training in the world was against her when it came to most of the weapons in the armory, but he knew without a doubt that any opponent who underestimated her would regret it.
“Is that why ye dinnae want to stay?” A playful voice said suddenly. “Ye are keeping the Sinclair hellion from me?”
At first, Liam startled at Donal’s joke. The Sinclair Hellion was the name reserved for her Aunt Grace, but it didn’t surprise him that people were now calling Jean that behind her back.
Jean would love it, so Liam didn’t take offense. Instead, he greeted his friend fiercely. “There is no keeping her from anything. She does as she wants. It is mighty good to see ye, Donal. I’ve worried fiercely for ye.”
“Worried the monster might eat me?” Donal teased before immediately sobering. “I should not have said that. I am sorry. I am fine. Fit and healthy and happy to be home. I went to report to the laird, but he asked me to wait for ye. Did I hear him right when he said ye were taking the lass hunting?”
“Join us for dinner tonight, and ye will see just what that lass brought down.”
Donal chuckled. “I’ve spent too long away from my bed. I intend to sleep as soon as I make my report and not leave my bed for a week. I traveled straight through.”
Liam frowned. “Why? Are things that bad?”
“Something in yer ears? I just said I’ve spent too long away from my bed.” With a grin, Donal clapped him on the shoulder. “And ye are keeping me from that.”
Chuckling, Liam gestured with his head. “All right. Let’s go talk to the laird.”
The keep was busy with activity as they walked through.
As with most peaceful clan-to-clan meetings, the guards were enjoying themselves trying to one-up each other.
Warriors jostling each other tended to get loud and violent.
Most of it was in good spirit, but tempers could run high.
Liam noticed a small gathering in one of the corners and noted the rising level of noise.
Stopping, he cleared his throat. Immediately, the noise stopped and the crowd parted. In the corner, two men, one of his guards and one of Sinclair’s guards had set up a table. A knife gleamed in the middle.
“What is this?” Liam asked.
“The Sinclair man here says he can hit any target with his eyes closed, no matter what.”
“And the table is for…”
“We thought we’d put him on it and spin him around a little.” The boast was followed by shouts of encouragement. The Sinclair guard beat his chest and roared.
“Aye. As much as I would like to see it, I dinnae think the keep, where people are rushing back and forth is the place to do it. Take it outside,” Liam ordered.
“And if blood is drawn, it best be cleaned up by dinner. The Sinclair daughter took down the center piece for the dinner, and I’ll find it a personal affront if ‘tis ruined by gushing blood. Understand?”
The Sinclair guard’s eyes widened. “We will do the challenge another day.”
“Good.”
Liam smiled as he walked away, and Donal gave him a questioning look. “I find it hard to believe that the woman I saw would care about a little blood.”
“She would not, however her father would. He dotes on his daughter, and he’ll be proud of her kill. Anything that takes away from that will displease him.”
“Ah.”
Liam opened the doors to his father’s room. It didn’t surprise him to see that Connor Sinclair was there as well. No matter what they claimed, there was no way Connor decided to visit just when things were heating up with the Gibson clan.
He was here to show his weight.
“M’Laird,” Donal said slowly as he nodded his head. “Laird Sinclair.”
“Donal,” Creighton greeted. “We will make this quick. Report what is happening and give yer recommendation if we should send another guard.”
“Aye, sir. There is a sense of grief following the death of Amelia. ‘Tis my belief that her death is feeding a sense of suspicion.”
“Suspicion?” Liam frowned. “Why?”
“There have been some fires,” Donal admitted. “Two homes destroyed. They are being rebuilt, and no one was harmed, but there have been some whispers about the fire.”
Alarm sliced through Liam, and he stepped forward. “Whispers about what?”
“There was no one around the house when the fire began. No storms with lightning strikes. No reasons for the fire to have started.”
Connor straightened. “Then the people are lying. If it was no accident or storm, then ‘twas started deliberately.”
A red flash creeped up to Donal’s face, but he didn’t say anything. Liam sighed. “Donal, did ye see one of the fires?”
“Aye. ‘Twas Mara’s. I stopped late at night to see how she was doing. Amelia was her sister. She was outside. She’d been having trouble sleeping.
I circled her home to reach her. She was the only person there.
I spoke to her for a few minutes. I was aware of our surroundings.
The fire began by the door, only feet from me.
There was no one to set it. The night was clear. ”
Connor narrowed his eyes but didn’t respond. Creighton, however, leaned forward. “And the second fire?”
“Gordon. The first night that I was there, a fire destroyed his home at midday. He was out fishing.”
Liam’s head whipped around. There was no leader except his father, but because the area was so remote, Gordon had taken the local clansmen under his wing, with Creighton’s approval.
He took care of issues when he could, and when he couldn’t, he managed whatever issue until Creighton or Liam visited.
He was an older man, widowed young. No children and never remarried. A solid Armstrong.
“Is there any evidence that Gibson is responsible for the fires?” Liam demanded.
Donal shook his head. “Nay. I am sorry, but there is no evidence of anything. There have been no outsiders on the land.”
“Verra well, Donal. Do they require additional support at the time?” Creighton asked.
“Aye. A guard or two. Extra hands for the building and extra eyes in case the fires continue to occur.”
Liam’s father thanked him and dismissed him. When the door closed, Liam turned to his father. “Permission to join the guards tomorrow?”
“Nay, Liam. Ye have duties here, as well,” Creighton said gently. “But ye may pick three to four guards to leave tomorrow for yer peace of mind.”
“Two Armstrong guards and two Sinclair guards,” Connor suggested. “Might as well use ‘em while they are here.”
Liam wasn’t ready to give up that easy. “That is generous of ye, Laird Sinclair, but I would still like to?—”
“My mind is made up, Liam. As of right now, Clan Gibson is doing no more than bluffing. Ye have duties here. See to them before the feast,” Creighton said quietly.
It was rare that Liam and Creighton didn’t see eye-to-eye, and every time it happened, it took Liam aback. He wanted to be a great laird, and there were none greater than his father. If they didn’t agree, did that just mean that he wasn’t ready to be laird?
“Aye,” he said stiffly as he nodded his head and left the chambers.
Perhaps it wouldn’t burn him quite as much if he didn’t suspect that his main duty currently was to woo Jean Sinclair.
The dinner feast was magnificent. Platters of steaming potatoes and seasoned vegetables. Great cauldrons of stew and baskets of bread and cheese. Sliced boar, roasted chicken, and fresh fish.
And in the middle of it all, the beautifully cooked venison.
It was a feast fit for kings, but Creighton Armstrong was never one to gorge himself.
Neither was Jean’s father, so she was not surprised to see that the great hall was lined up with people.
Warriors and clansfolk alike. Any who wanted to join was welcome, and if there was no place to sit, they were welcome to take their plates outside and eat, which many did.
It was nothing but playful jostling and laughter as the Sinclair and Armstrong guards mixed. Creighton sat at the head, his wife, Kylie, on the right, and Connor on his left. Moira sat next to her husband, and Jean sat next to her.
On the other side of the table, was Liam, sitting next to his mother. Since they’d returned from the hunt, he’d disappeared.
When she searched his face, there was no sign of what was going on inside his head. She thought he’d be pleased with the feast, but he was quiet and stiff.
She’d have to fix that immediately.
Clearing her throat, she stood and put on her brightest smile.
Conversations began to cease. “Thank ye, Laird Armstrong, for hosting me and my family. The last time I was here, I was much younger, but I’ve always been struck by the beauty here.
‘Tis lovely to see that it has only grown more beautiful.
Now, it would be remiss of me if I didnae also thank ye for this lovely feast. However, I believe there was a wager involved with the stag in the middle of the table. I was on a hunt this morning, and I won the wager, so if my competitor would kindly pay up.”
There was some laughter at the table, and Liam cleared his throat and stood. “Thank ye, Lady Jean, for that humble speech of gratitude.”
Her grin widened as he shook his head and raised his glass.
“The lovely stag on the table before ye was taken down by Lady Jean Sinclair, and because she did bring down the biggest game of the morning, ‘tis my duty to acknowledge that and…” He cleared his throat and shook his head ruefully. “She is, by far, the greatest bowman I’ve ever had to pleasure to hunt with.”
Everyone clapped, and Jean couldn’t help but giggle a little as she sat down. A few light-hearted taunts were tossed Liam’s way as he sat, but he took it good-naturedly.
“So do tell us how ye took down that stag,” Connor asked.
Seeing Liam’s mischievous smile, Jean couldn’t help but feel relieved. Whatever was going on in his head, he was more relaxed and smiling. “I suppose I should admit that I had help,” Jean admitted. “We tracked the stag, but when it stopped, we were unable to get a clear shot. Liam offered?—“
“Offered?” Liam interrupted in a teasing voice. “Is that what I did?”
The table laughed, and Jean narrowed her eyes. “Verra well. Perhaps I suggested that ye rustle the stag out.”
“That is more like it.”
Everyone roared, and Jean grinned. “Ah, but ye have to admit that I was seamless in the shot.”
“That ye were,” he admitted with a twinkle in his eye. “And I will admit that I couldnae have brought this beast down so easily. She has my admiration, and she deserves yers.”
Everyone clapped, and Jean felt her cheeks turning red as she sat back down. She knew that he wouldn’t welch on their deal, but his words were genuine, and that made her heart flutter.
“Connor Sinclair has been my friend for many years now,” Creighton announced. “Our bond goes further than our alliance, and so ‘tis no wonder that our children work so well together. Through them, I know that our alliance will be strong for many years to come.”
“Aye,” Connor interjected with a smile. “A blossoming relationship that is pleasing to witness, indeed. To our future generation.”
He raised his glass and everyone followed suit. Not wanting to seem out of place, Jean lifted hers as well, but she couldn’t quite decipher the sly looks everyone was giving her.
She caught Liam’s look, and it wasn’t sly at all.
There was something heated in his gaze, something that made her blush.
She broke the look first and lifted her goblet of water, draining it in one go.
When she put her goblet back down, Liam wasn’t looking at her at all.
He had blended back into the background, chatting to someone who had stopped to speak to him.
For a moment, she wondered if she’d just imagined the look.