Surrender (39 page)

Elyne settled back in her saddle and waited
patiently. Muriele had told her about Chief Olaf's raid and the
fight between his son Feradoch and Magnus.

Excitement welled in the pit of Elyne's
stomach. Never before had she been this far from Raptor Castle. At
first, she had missed the lands around Raptor, not to mention all
her family there. But now, she was becoming used to it.

She didn't have long to wait. Within twelve
heartbeats, they rode out onto the level ground. A small, round
tower stood close to the edge of the hill, where a guard could
watch both the shoreline and the road coming down from the top of
the hill. He stood atop it now with a square of polished metal
turned to catch the light and bounce it down to the guards atop the
corner turret of the castle below.

Once he had an answering signal, the guard in
the hill tower scrambled down and burst out the door to greet
Magnus, Graemme and his friends. After a few words, Graemme turned
in his saddle and motioned for the two women to join them. When she
edged her mount alongside his, the sight took her breath away.

Clibrick Castle was every bit as huge as
Raptor, but where her home looked more like the dark fortress it
was, this had a softer glow from the sun shining on the surrounding
great walls and keep.

"Are there always tall grass and wildflowers
on the open grounds?"

"Nay. Winter takes its toll. The wind is icy
coming off the Loch. But in months as warm as this, the land seems
to glory in it."

"Look! Someone is coming over the
drawbridge," Elyne said. She shaded her eyes with a hand and
stared. "It's a woman with long black hair."

Sweyn let out a war cry and kicked his horse
into a gallop.

"Well, cruddy Hades! Why is he yelling at
her?" She poked Graemme on the arm. "Stop him afore he hurts
her."

Muriele chuckled. "I dinna believe Sweyn is
mad. Watch."

Elyne caught her breath, for the two horses
looked like they would collide, surely killing both riders. To
Elyne's amazement, the woman was riding without a saddle and
scrambled to stand on the horses back. At the last breath, Sweyn's
horse skidded to a stop, digging its hooves into the earth. The man
stood in his stirrups and the woman leapt off her horse into the
air. Sweyn's arms reached out and plucked her to his chest.

"Oh," Elyne whispered, amazed.

'Twas easy to see they were kissing like
they'd never let each other go.

"'Tis my friend Esa who I told you about.
Only a Welshwoman can ride a horse like a demon and sing with the
enchanting voice of a Siren." Pride in her friend sounded in
Muriele's voice.

As they raced down the hill, Elyne's heart
pounded. The warriors followed at a slower pace taking care not to
upset the cart of women or the wagons. Elyne slowed down halfway to
the greeting party spilling out of the barbican. Sweyn and Esa
stopped kissing long enough to look sheepish as they caught up to
them.

When an imposing man with gray on the sides
of his temples rode ahead, she knew she was seeing Chief Angus, her
new father-by-law, for the first time. The three looked so alike
there could be no doubt Magnus and Graemme were his sons. Age had
softened the sharp angles of their father's face and etched small
lines beside his eyes and lips.

The three men dismounted and clasped each
other's shoulders. She watched their eyes and faces and noted the
difference in how they viewed each other. Never had she seen the
same expressions on Chief Broccin's face when he greeted Ranald or
herself.

This father clearly showed love and respect
for his sons.

Graemme breathed a sigh of relief for they'd
made the journey without any unexpected attacks. Thieves and louts
had spotted them, for truth, but thought better about attacking
when they saw the wolf banners known to belong to the sons of the
chief of the Morgan clan. They may have been stupid louts, but they
were not so stupid they had a death wish.

"Well, now we have greeted each other, I
should like to greet my daughters," Chief Angus said.

His eyes had already picked out Elyne riding
astride beside Muriele. Magnus and Graemme went to help their wives
dismount. Elyne surprised Graemme by waiting politely for him to
aid her. Knowing her, he realized she was following Muriele's
example. He didn't know whether it was relief or pride he felt for
his new wife. She seemed to be on her best behavior. How long it
would last, he didn't know. But he could hope she wouldn't do
anything foolish—at least for this first day.

Magnus helped Muriele down from her spirited
horse. She immediately went to Chief Angus and put her arms around
him. He hugged and patted her on the back.

"I am pleased to see ye, Father Angus," she
said as she kissed him on the cheek.

'Twas obvious she was already fond of Magnus'
father.

"Graemme has married one of my best friends!
It will be like home having her within a day or two's ride,"
Muriele said.

Graemme near held his breath, wondering what
mischief Elyne would get into. Still, he couldna help but tease
her. She looked so tense in trying to be the reserved lady.

"Father, this is my comely and dutiful wife,
Elyne."

As his hands closed around her waist and he
lifted her from the saddle, her muscles tightened in rebellion.

"She wishes to please me in all things and
vows to obey my every wish," he said as he near dragged her off the
saddle and stood her in front of him.

Elyne put her hands on his shoulder and
shoved. Hard. He nearly rocked back on his heels. Not being a fool,
he released her. Instantly angry, she raised her hand to swat at
him, but his father intervened.

Chief Angus caught her upraised hand, bowed
and brought it to his lips to kiss.

"I am delighted to meet ye. Graemme didna
disappoint me by bringing some vapid plaything as his bride, but
another spirited lass like Muriele."

Elyne's eyes opened wide as an owl at
midnight when the chief wrapped her in a hug. Graemme had seen
Ranald give her affection and love, but he wondered how many times
her own father had shown her he loved her other than the day she
rode away.

Squat brought everyone back to the present by
barking and charging across the ground ready to pounce on the man
who held his mistress in an embrace. Chief Angus dropped his arms,
turned to the running dog and patted his thighs. To Graemme's
surprise, Squat jumped at the last minute and his father caught him
in his arms. Never had he heard his father laugh with such abandon.
After rubbing the scruffy head, he turned sparkling eyes to
Elyne.

"This must be yer companion. Aye?"

"Aye. His name is Squat." She looked at
Graemme, a smile fighting with her lips. "Yer son named him."

He had never seen Elyne show a touch of
shyness afore!

"'Tis true. We could not go around calling
him
Dog
or
Ugly Cur
. But be careful. He tends to
do, er, strange things now and again."

Chief Angus bent and placed him on the
ground, giving him one last pat. "Come. Everyone has been waiting
with great eagerness for my sons and daughters to return."

As they walked through the barbican and into
the massive front bailey, women and soldiers called greetings to
the brothers. They didn't ignore the women, either. Some knew
Ysabel and went to greet her. Ysabel held Ada's arm and introduced
her to everyone as Elyne's friend and helper.

Grunda needed no introduction, for they
respectfully whispered "the Seer of Blackbriar" amongst them. They
all eyed her as if she would climb to the top turret and declare
some prophesy at any moment. Instead, her gaze roamed amongst them,
sometimes stopping to study and then moving on. She seemed most
interested in a lass who hung back from the crowd, the hood of her
cloak pulled low over her face. Before long, the unknown young
woman edged backward to disappear amongst the servants standing
near the orchard.

Graemme wondered who the girl in the cloak
was, but soon forgot about her. Elyne stood amongst the women with
Muriele. The other women seemed most interested in whether she
carried as many weapons as Muriele did. When they became too bold,
he walked over and put his arm across Elyne's shoulders.

"My sweet tempered bride can handle a mace, a
sword, bow and arrows and, er, some herbs which will cause grown
men to cry out in anguish."

She gave him a look that would crush most
men, but not Graemme.

"When I'm in my cups, remind me to tell ye
about the curse she put upon me the first night we met."

When they all asked him to tell them
immediately, he laughed and grabbed his bride's fist to lead her
away afore she could show them just how good she was at
hand-to-hand combat.

Elyne pulled as hard as she could, but
Graemme didn't let her go. He walked companionably beside his
father with Magnus and Muriele on the other side. Once inside the
keep, a serving girl led Ada to Graemme's bedchamber so she could
start making the room comfortable for her mistress. Men were
already carrying in clothing trunks and trudging up the stairways
with them.

"Well, now, let our travelers settle in. My
sons will have five days to catch up on everything here at Clibrick
afore Magnus leaves for Blackbriar this coming Monday. They must
rest, for we have a grand banquet to prepare for on Saturday."

With no further words, Chief Angus took both
brothers into his solar, along with Fergus, his commander, Sweyn
and Brian, who acted as chief squires to Magnus and Graemme.

The door no sooner shut than Chief Angus'
body became stiff with tension. His eyes took on a worried look and
his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Magnus, I think 'tis best ye leave at first
light. I have heard rumors about someone planning to waylay ye when
ye leave for Blackbriar. It will take their spy a day at least to
advise him ye are here. He willna expect ye to leave so abruptly
since I said ye'd be here 'till Monday."

"Who could wish me dead? Feradoch was my only
known enemy."

"Someone who covets Blackbriar perhaps? Or
Muriele?" Sweyn asked.

"Guards have warned me someone has used the
postern gate, though they have tried to cover their tracks on the
ground," Fergus said. "I have doubled the sentries along the wall
walks."

"Tell the men to pretend they have no time to
remove my things from the cart tonight, since dusk will soon be
upon us. We will leave before first light on the morrow."

"Ye've traveled the same route for nigh on
twenty years, on returning to Kinbrace. They will not expect ye to
change," his father advised. "Go south to Loch Choire then
south-east through the Ben Armine Forest and circle down through
Strath Skinsdale. 'Tis wide and shallow and easy riding. Ye'll come
up south of Blackbriar."

Graemme rubbed his chin, trying to find a
reason for anyone wanting to kill Magnus. He was well-feared by
most of the Highlands, so whoever it was had to have a terrible
grudge. What it was, he didn't know. Though the Highlanders called
his brother Magnus the Ruthless, he was always fair in his dealings
with people. 'Twas only vicious men who brought out the
ruthlessness in him.

The Clibrick men all offered suggestions, and
finally Graemme pulled them all together to make a workable
solution.

"My men and I will rise afore ye," Graemme
said. "I'll send out two patrols, one to search yer old route to
catch anyone hiding to waylay ye. Another will trail behind ye to
be sure the ruse works."

"Thank ye, Graemme. Will not yer new wife
suspect something when ye leave her bed afore she is sated?"
Deviltry gleamed in Magnus' eyes. "Ye are usually swiving until the
wee hours of the morn!"

"Do ye never get sleep?" Brian teased. "'Tis
no wonder yer eyes have such deep shadows beneath them. "Yer tent
near turned over more than one night on our way here."

"Would ye like some lessons on pleasing a
lass 'till she begs for more each night?" Graemme's lips lifted in
a wide grin.

"Mayhap 'tis not pleasing her but lack of it?
She must try again and again to reach her peak?"

"Humph! Ye heard her caterwauling loud enough
to wake all the forest creatures. And even when I had my hand o'er
her mouth!"

"The proof if whether yer seed took root will
be in the harvesting come nine months from now," Chief Angus
laughed. He stood and put his arms across each son's shoulder and
led them to the door. "We had best show up else anyone watching
will get suspicious. All of ye take note of any uneasy diners or
anyone who leaves afore the food and drink are gone."

He squeezed each son's shoulder. "Both of ye
be on yer best watch on the morrow. I dinna want harm to come to
either of ye."

They left the solar acting as if they'd had a
good chat and several pitchers of ale.

o0o

During the evening meal, mead, ale and wine
flowed freely. Everyone seemed quite the worse for it by mid-meal.
In conversation, Chief Angus became boisterous about his two
magnificent sons and mentioned again, come Monday, Magnus would be
leaving for good to take over Blackbriar.

"Who do ye search for? Is there someone ye
wish to see?" Elyne asked when his gaze roved over the diners.

"If I said an old leman, would ye be
jealous?"

"Ye'd best not! If I dinna satisfy ye, say so
now. Two can play at this, ye know. If ye fail to satisfy my needs,
I will also look elsewhere."

Graemme's hand shot out and grabbed her
slender wrist. Her gaze met his, and what she saw there must have
shocked her for she stiffened and her eyes widened. Hot rage
broiled through his gut, thinking of her with another man between
her long, muscular legs. She could lock them around his waist until
he was nigh unable to move. He smiled wickedly, sending her a
message of unspeakable consequences if she dared betray him.