Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

Oria didn’t wish to argue. She took the piece of cheese she had returned to the platter and nibbled on it.

“How long did the mercenaries remain on Burnell’s land?” Royden asked, needing to turn the conversation away from them.

“A few remained while a majority of them left after a year. They just packed up and one day were gone.” Oria said and shook her head. “It was so strange, though Burnell didn’t seem surprised.”

“You think he knew they had plans to leave?”

“Many thought him feeble, but I believe he had his wits about him and he knew more than he said.”

“Do you know what relative inherited his land?” Royden asked.

“I had no idea he even had a relative. I thought he was the last of his line.”

“Too bad you didn’t give him a son. At least then you could have remained there.”

“I didn’t want to remain there. It was never truly my home. I wanted to go home to my clan after Burnell died, but I was forbidden to return there. I was told the King had given it to someone else. All I had known—my family—it was all gone.”

“You have me now,” Royden said as if it made all the difference.

“And I am grateful,” Oria said more than he knew. “Were you ever able to find out who was responsible for all that happened here?”

“No, but I have thoughts,” he said.

“Tell me,” she urged, “for I have given it much thought myself.”

“The leader of the mercenaries seems to be a powerful man, but to attack this area and particular clans had to relate to something—revenge perhaps.”

“And he had to have knowledge of this area and the clans,” Oria added.

“Or he had to have had help,” Royden said.

“A thought I didn’t want to consider, but made sense,” Oria said, munching on a piece of meat.

Royden was glad she was eating and glad they had found a shared interest to discuss. It also told him that she hadn’t accepted her fate as easily as he had thought she had. She had been questioning what had happened just as he had.

“I don’t like to think that one of the clans had betrayed the others. But how this was carried out without little trouble tells me otherwise.”

Oria looked over to the flames in the hearth.

“What is it, Oria?” Royden asked after a few moments of silence.

“Did you ever wonder if whoever attacked here that day knew in advance that most of the chieftains and lords would be attending our wedding?”

“Are you suggesting our wedding was used as a trap?” he asked, never having considered it.

“Don’t you think it too convenient that so many heads of clans were here that day?”

“All but two,” Royden said. “Chieftain Thurbane of the Clan MacDonnegal and—”

“My now deceased husband, Lord Learmonth.”

They both grew silent at the implications at what that could mean.

“Lord Learmonth sent his apologies for not being able to attend when invited. He explained he was not feeling well,” Royden said. “I need to find out why and who destroyed my family and the other clans around us.”

“I’ve felt the same. This wasn’t a random attack or unwise decision on someone’s part. This took planning and a large contingent of warriors. Warriors who fought for what they could gain, not out of duty,” Oria said.

He could see the eagerness in her green eyes for answers, her thirst to solve this as desperate as his own. This had left scars on them both and to heal, they had to solve this puzzle and they had to see that the person responsible paid for it.

“You should come see Learmonth for yourself. Burnell’s relative isn’t expected there for a month or more,” she suggested. “It might do well for you to also visit Chieftain Thurbane and get to know Fergus better.”

“I don’t trust him or Penn. They fought willingly for the leader of the mercenaries. Their allegiance was to him and I believe it still is. I don’t believe this mysterious leader is finished here. He’s planted his men wisely and when the time comes there is no telling what they will do.”

“I must admit, I thought the same myself, but isn’t it better you keep your foe close, know what goes on with them and let them know only what you wish them to know about your plans?”

She had a point and a good one since it was what he had done with Platt. He disliked the man greatly, but he had made sure to keep a good eye on him and engage with him now and again.

“We’ll go to Learmonth when this weather dries out,” Royden ordered.

“And we’ll plan a visit to the MacDonnegal clan. I’ll visit with Alynn while you talk with Fergus and Thurbane.”

“I need to visit with Galvin as well.”

“He’s turned bitter, Royden,” Oria said.