He turned to Mairin and took her hands in his. “I want you to take Crispen and remain behind the walls of the keep. Do not come out until I’ve summoned you. Promise me.”
She nodded her understanding, her eyes wide with fright.
He bent and kissed her. “Do not be afraid, Mairin. We will prevail this day. Now go tend to that cut on your arm.”
She touched his face. “I know we will.”
She turned and called for Crispen. Then she issued a sharp order for all the women of the keep to retreat behind the walls.
“We’ll greet our king at the border of my lands,” Ewan declared. He ordered his men to mount their horses and they rode out, the McDonald and the McLauren men behind them.
Ewan was sick at heart but resolute in his position against the crown. The life he was forging for himself and Mairin and their children wasn’t an easy one. Their name would forever be associated with dishonor. A hero to some, an outlaw to most.
If keeping the woman he loved by his side was a cause for dishonor, he was prepared to wear the mantle for the rest of his days.
When they arrived at their border, Ewan was surprised to see the king mounted atop his horse with only an escort of half a dozen men. He waited beyond the border, making no effort to cross over onto Ewan’s lands.
“Is this some trick?” McLauren murmured beside Ewan. “Where are the rest of his men? ’Tis suicide to come without his army.”
“Remain here,” Ewan said grimly. He motioned for his brothers and Gannon and Cormac, and rode forward until he was just before the king but still on McCabe land.
The king looked tired and as if he still suffered the effects of his illness. His face was drawn and pale and his shoulders sagged precariously.
“Your Majesty,” Ewan acknowledged. “Why have you come to my borders?”
“I’ve come to correct a wrong. And to thank you.”
Of all the things Ewan thought his king might say, that wasn’t one of them. He cocked his head to the side but didn’t say anything, instead waiting for the king to explain.
“You come with the might of not only your army, but that of the McDonald and the McLauren clans,” the king said. “Tell me, Laird McCabe, would you have fought me this day had I come under the declaration of war?”
“Aye,” Ewan said without hesitation.
Amusement gleamed in the king’s eyes. “By doing so, you would brand yourself an outcast for the rest of your days?”
“Only if I lost,” Ewan drawled. “And I didn’t plan to lose.”
The king shifted on his saddle. “I would meet my niece, Laird McCabe.”
Ewan leveled a stare at King David, unflustered by the abrupt change in topic. “I’ll not allow Mairin outside my walls.”
The king nodded approvingly. “Which is why I hope you invite me within. We have much to discuss, and as I stated, I have much to thank you for.”
“It could be a trick,” Alaric muttered.
“You’ll enter alone,” Ewan said. “Your men remain outside the walls.”
The king arched one eyebrow. “You’re asking me to have that much trust in a man who’s admitted he has no issue with killing me?”
“If all I wanted was to kill you, you’d already be dead,” Ewan said calmly.
David studied him for a moment longer and then slowly nodded. “Very well then. I’ll ride with you into the keep. My men will escort me as far as your gate.”
Ewan turned and gave his men the signal to hold. Then he motioned for David to follow him. Ewan’s brothers flanked the king as they rode back toward the keep.
True to his word, David signaled his men to halt when they reached the bridge across the loch. The McDonald and the McLauren men remained behind while Ewan’s men tramped across the bridge behind their laird.
They dismounted and David slid from his horse and wavered unsteadily on his feet. Ewan frowned but did nothing to shame his king by offering aid in front of his men.
“Laird, shall I send for Lady McCabe?” Cormac whispered.
Ewan shook his head. “Nay, and in fact, I want you to go to your mistress and make sure she remains in her chamber until I summon her. Protect her well, Cormac, until I know all that transpires here.”
Cormac nodded and hurried away.
The men entered the hall and Ewan called for ale and light refreshment. They sat at the high table and David was quiet as he sipped his ale.
After a moment he looked at Ewan over the rim of his goblet and chewed his lips in a thoughtful measure.
“I’ve need of men of your ilk, Ewan. You had every reason to despise me and yet you warned my guard of your suspicion that I was being weakened by men I trusted. ’Tis because of that warning that I am alive and in front of you today. Archibald indeed plotted against me with Cameron. Archibald slowly poisoned me over time so it would appear as if I sickened and died of natural causes.”
The king sighed and set his goblet down. “I would apologize for the wrongs done to you and especially to your lady wife. I would like to meet my niece with your blessing.”
Ewan regarded his king for a long moment but saw only sincerity reflected in the older man’s eyes. Then he turned to Caelen. “Go and escort Mairin to the hall so that she may meet her uncle.”
Mairin clutched at Caelen’s arm as they started for the stairs. She’d instructed Crispen to remain behind in her chamber with Maddie, but right now she’d give anything to have someone else to hold on to.
Caelen paused at the top of the stairs and then he produced her dagger in the small leather sheathe he’d fashioned to attach to her belt.