Chapter 15
After Kirsten left her, Islay was shocked to see men coming into her chambers. They carried huge wooden boards and started hammering them to the windows. Two guards stood outside her door, and Islay was incensed.
“What are ye daeing?!” she cried. The men hammered the boards across the window, shutting out the sunlight. Islay had to light a lantern just so she could see properly. Iona came waltzing in, looking as though she had not a care in the world.
“It’s Da’s idea. He said that it’s the only way he can be sure tae stop ye from running away again before the wedding. He doesnae want tae lose ye the night before.”
Islay scowled. She glared at the men and the guards, and perched on her bed like a vulture waiting for a feast. “He should nae dae this. He should trust me,” she said.
Iona skipped towards the bed and jumped up, landing beside Islay.
The men finished their task and left, closing the door behind them.
Although they were alone, Islay could feel the presence of the guards standing outside her door.
Perhaps she had not given her father a reason to trust her, but still, it seemed unfair that he should treat her like this.
Perhaps it would be better to get as far away from home as possible and begin a new life with Callum. Perhaps then she would feel free.
“Ye arenae gaeing tae leave again, are ye?” Iona asked. Uncertainty swam in her eyes and she averted her gaze, gnawing on her lip nervously. Islay smiled and wrapped her arm around her younger sister’s shoulders.
“Nay, I know my place in the world now and I’m nae gaeing tae leave.”
“Good,” Iona said with a firm smile. “I dinnae want ye tae leave. It’s bad enough ye hae tae get married.”
“I wilnae be far. Laird Connall’s castle is only a wee ride away. Soon enough ye will be able tae make the trip yerself. Ye can come and stay with us whenever ye want, and ye dinnae even hae tae ask.”
“I can?!” Iona said excitedly, her eyes widening. Islay nodded and smiled. Guilt stabbed at her heart, for she wondered how she could ever have considered leaving her sister behind. It went some way to showing her again how selfish she had been.
“I wonder what it’s like tae be married. Ye are lucky tae find out. Da haes nae made an arrangement for me yet. I asked him about it and he said he will look to see the possibilities once ye and Callum are married.”
“I’m sure he’ll find someone suitable for ye. When I was yer age, I didnae want tae get married at all.”
“That’s no secret,” Iona said with a sharp, teasing tongue.
Sometimes Islay had to remind herself that Iona wasn’t a child anymore.
She was growing all the time, and she could hold her own in a debate.
The humor fell from her face and her brow furrowed.
“What would hae happened if ye hadnae come back?”
“Well…Da and Callum would hae chosen someone else tae get married. Because the aim is tae join the clans, it would hae been either ye or Kirsten.”
“Really? Which one of us dae ye think they would hae picked?”
Islay shrugged. “I dinnae know. I suppose if Callum wanted children soon they would hae gone with Kirsten, but if they wanted a more secure alliance they would hae picked ye because ye are Da’s daughter.
But ye dinnae hae tae worry about that. Ye can focus on growing up.
I’m the one that’s getting married.” It was the first time she remembered actually speaking it out loud when it was inevitable.
It didn’t seem like poison on her tongue.
She remembered something Callum had said, that even though some things had been decided for them, they could still choose it themselves.
She still had the choice to either accept getting married willingly, or to fight and rail against it, but she knew that only one decision would lead to her happiness.
“Now, hae ye decided what ye are gaeing tae wear tae the wedding?” Islay asked. Iona nodded, describing her outfit, which Islay thought sounded beautiful.
“I want tae wear a flower in my hair as well like I did on my birthday. Can ye pick one for me again?” she asked. Islay nodded, and they left the room. The guards grunted and furrowed their brows. One of them stepped forward and spoke to her in a gruff tone.
“Laird Gallach said that ye are tae stay in yer chambers,” he said in a rough voice. Islay regarded him for a moment and then took on a haughty tone.
“I am gaeing tae pick flowers with Iona. If Da hae a problem with that then he can drag me back tae my chambers himself.” Pulling Iona along with her, Islay marched away, leaving the guard befuddled.
Islay and Iona did not stray far from the main castle.
There were plenty of beautiful flowers to pick around the keep, and they had a lot of fun finding the perfect one.
Iona raced around and laughed happily. Islay realized how much she was going to miss this, even though she knew that she would still see Iona often.
Their basket was soon filled with flowers when she noticed a long shadow approaching.
It was her father; his expression was stern.
Islay looked towards him, blinking as shards of sunlight burst past Laird Gallach.
“I’m sorry, Da. I know ye wanted me tae stay in my room, but Iona wanted tae pick flowers, and I couldnae refuse her. I wilnae get tae spend much time with her after this,” Islay said. She expected another firm rebuke from her father, but he softened and smiled.
“I’m gaeing tae miss the sight of ye two playing taegether as well, even if ye hae caused me nothing but trouble over the years.
” His mouth slanted into a smirk, and his eyes twinkled.
He came to stand beside Islay as they watched Iona run around the field, throwing up flowers and dirt, leaping through the air, and dancing to a song that nobody else could hear.
“I am sorry about what happened. I didnae mean tae worry ye.”
“I know,” Laird Gallach replied. “I am just sae worried about the bandits. The thought of ye out on that road alone, even one as well traveled as that…I couldnae live with myself if anything happened tae ye. At least once this alliance is sealed, the bandits will realize that our clans are working taegether, and they’ll hae tae face the both of us. ”
“Aye…Da…I’m sorry I’ve been sae much trouble over the years. I never wanted tae be a bad daughter.”
“Ye werenae all bad—ye were good! Ye haed tae grow up fast because of what happened with yer ma. I dinnae know if I could hae made it through all of that without ye. Times were hard. I’m sorry that I couldnae be a mother as well as a father.
I know Iona had ye, but who did ye hae?” He shook his head.
“Ye were enough, Da. Ye did right by us, I promise ye that. I fear that I hae been tae stuck in my head. I know that this is important for the region and the two clans. I shall dae my duty. I wilnae let ye down.”
“This pleases me tae hear. I’m sure it will please Callum as well. It was such a tragedy with what happened tae his father.”
“What did actually happen? Callum spoke a wee bit about how hard it was for him after his da died, but he didnae tell me how it happened. I didnae want tae pry.”
Laird Gallach stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“It was a terrible thing, really. Bandits were attacking nearby towns. People begged the laird for help, and he couldnae refuse given his family had pledged tae defend the common people from all threats. Sae out he went, ready with his weapons, confident that he could slay the bandits that were plaguing the area. But maybe he was tae confident given that he only took a small band of men. The bandits had planned for him. They set a trap and ambushed him, descending on him like rats on a corpse. As soon as that was done, they retreated into the forest and only came out now and then, until now, when they seem tae be getting braver. They’re a deadly lot.
They dinnae play by the same rules as the rest of us.
It’s why I dinnae like the idea of ye gaeing out in the world alone.
I hae tried tae protect ye from the world, and perhaps I hae sheltered ye tae much.
It isnae a kind place. When ye are alone, ye are vulnerable tae the men who dinnae respect the laws and justice.
Strength and safety come from being in a clan and a family, from being married tae a strong laird. Callum will protect ye.”
Islay nodded, suddenly very upset about how Laird Connall had died, and upset that she hadn’t been more sympathetic to Callum.
She thought back to when she had been captured by the bandits and how close she had come to being killed.
If things had happened differently, the whole of Kilin might be in mourning now, lamenting her death, and her father would be drowning in grief.
She reached out to her father, clasping his hand.
“I’m glad ye hae nae been taken from us,” she said, smiling sweetly at him.
“I plan tae be around for a wee while yet,” he said with a jovial smile.
Islay grinned. “Aye, ye hae tae arrange a marriage for that one.” She nodded towards Iona. “She already haes thoughts of marriage on her mind. I’m surprised that ye dinnae hae one arranged already.”
“I hae made inquiries tae nearby clans, but in truth, I thought that I would give her a chance tae be a lass, a chance that ye never had. I know that ye struggled with it, and I wanted tae learn from my mistakes.”