Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

Fergus turned a grin on Royden. “My men can see to that while we talk and drink.”

It was an opportunity to possibly learn more about the mysterious leader. One he couldn’t turn down. But first he would have a few words with Angus and John.

“Keep watch over the lot of them, Penn as well,” Royden ordered. “I’ll see that ale and food are sent to you.”

Both men nodded and, though tired, did their duty without complaint.

Royden had had one of the damaged trestle tables from the Great Hall brought outside and placed under the large oak tree. One of the four corners had broken off and a section of the top had a split running down a piece of the wood. It might not serve well in the Great Hall, but it would do outside. Two damaged benches sat on either side and Royden took the side where he could watch over the village. Fergus was stuck with his back to the village or anyone who approached.

As soon as they sat a servant lass placed a pitcher of ale and two tankards on the table, then left only to return moments later with a bowl of salted meat.

Fergus ran the back of his hand over his mouth after downing a whole tankard of ale. “Nectar of the gods.” He refilled his tankard and drank half of it. “I have no fight with you, Royden.”

“Then tell me who I do have a fight with.”

“It’s over and done. Let it be,” Fergus advised.

“I lost far too much to let it go, including five years of my life,” Royden said with a bitterness he didn’t try to hide.

“And it took me ten to find a life,” Fergus argued.

“You mean rob another of his land.”

“And who did Thurbane rob it from?” Fergus spat back. “The strong and the ones willing to fight, to survive, Royden. You fought and survived. You’re back home now. Build a clan no one can destroy and friendships that will help you defend it. That’s my plan.”

Royden glanced toward the village. “I already had that.”

“Did you?”

Royden was about to ask him what he meant when he spotted Oria walking toward the keep, Angus holding the reins of her horse as he walked beside her.

“Over here, Angus,” Royden called out and he and Oria turned toward him, though Oria alone approached, Angus walked off leaving the horse to nibble at a patch of grass.

“It’s wonderful to see that some of the men have returned home,” Oria said with a genuine smile.

He’d forgotten how beautiful she was when she smiled. He thought he had seared the memory of that smile in his mind, but seeing it now, he hadn’t truly remembered the beauty of it or the joy it had always brought him. And he hadn’t felt that sense of joy in five years.

Royden stood and Fergus did the same.

“It is good to see you once again, Lady Learmonth,” Fergus said.

“And you as well, Fergus,” Oria said.

That she retained her smile while greeting Fergus proved that she truly was pleased to see the man and had Royden asking, “You greet this man as a friend?”

“Lady Oria is a good friend to my wife and to me as well. She helped in the birth of our bairns and Alynn was there for her when Burnell died six months ago, God rest his soul,” Fergus said.

Royden’s eye went to Oria at that news to see what she would do and her remark annoyed him.

“Burnell was a good man and a good husband.”

“And it’s another good husband you’ll have soon,” Fergus said. “The King himself has seen to it.”

Royden felt as if a sword had been thrust through his heart. While he thought himself unworthy of her, there was still a spark of hope that in time they could recover what had been lost to them, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Now there was no more time. She’d been given to another once again.

“I will not be forced to marry again,” Oria said with an annoyance of someone who was tired of repeating herself.

A slight smile poked at the corners of Royden’s mouth at the way her soft green eyes deepened in color when they flared with anger.

“You don’t have a choice. Learmonth’s land and title pass to his relative,” Fergus said. “And you won’t retain your title, but I never thought the title meant anything to you anyway.”

“It doesn’t, and how can I be homeless when my da’s keep sits empty?” she asked.

“Your family’s land is no longer yours. It belongs to another now,” Fergus said. “It’s done, the documents signed. You’re as good as wed. All that’s left are the vows and, of course, the consummation to seal it all.”

The idea of Oria lying with yet another man infuriated Royden and he didn’t give thought. The words shot out of his mouth with force. “I’ll wed Oria.”