Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

“I’m Penn, sir, and I wanted you to know that I chose to remain here of my own accord and I will work to prove my worth and my loyalty.”

“Were you taken prisoner and forced to fight?” Royden asked.

Penn shook his head. “No, I joined the mercenaries, hoping to eventually find a place to settle, to call home. I found that here with Emily. I love her and will do whatever is necessary to remain with her.”

“Who is the leader of these mercenaries?” Royden asked.

Penn shrugged. “I don’t know. His identity is known only by a chosen few.”

“So you were part of a group of mercenaries who pillage men’s lands, take what isn’t yours, and you expect me to accept you into my clan?” Royden asked, glaring at the young warrior.

“I have scrounged for my existence since I’ve been eight years and knew hunger long before then. I had little choice but to take what the mercenaries offered me, food and shelter, and in an odd way, family. I wasn’t proud to pillage, but I also wasn’t too proud to survive the best I could. I will do whatever you ask of me to prove my worth to you. I only ask that you give me a chance.”

Royden looked to Bethany. “What say you?”

“He was a help while the last lot of warriors were here and much more help after they left. I think he should be given a chance. Besides, Emily is round with his child and she needs her husband.”

Royden turned a deeper glare on Penn. “I make no decision yet. You’ll go and take stock of what repairs are needed to the village, the storage sheds, and what is needed to be done in the planting fields. You’ll report back to me by nightfall.”

“I can tell you now,” Penn said with a lift of his chin.

“I have no time for you now. I will summon you when I’m ready,” Royden ordered.

“Aye, sir,” Penn said and followed Bethany out of the Great Hall.

“Do you know anything about Penn?” Royden asked Oria once the young warrior was gone from the room.

Oria was reminded of old times when Royden would sometimes ask her opinion and it was like spying the Royden she had once known.

“Only what I have seen on my visits here. He keeps the village fed, makes what repairs he can on his own since it has taken time for the clan to trust him. And he treats Emily well. You can see how much they love each other when they are together. Love shines in their eyes and in their smiles.”

Like ours did once, Royden couldn’t help but think.

“I should go see to the few people who are in need of tending,” Oria said, it growing more painful to sit there and talk with him as if they were nothing more than acquaintances.

“A few more questions and you can be on your way,” Royden said, not that he wanted to let her go, but what choice did he have?

She nodded, though she would have preferred to run from the room, her heart was breaking so badly.

“Do you know Chieftain Galvin of the Clan Macara, his son Bayne or daughter Purity’s fate?” he asked.

“Chieftain Galvin survived. Bayne died in the battle.” She paused a moment before letting a partial lie slip from her lips. “Purity hasn’t been found.”

“And the Macara land? Does Galvin still retain it?” Royden asked.

“Aye, he does. Since Purity was never able to be found and forced to wed, Chieftain Galvin’s land remained with him. He’s encouraged some of your clan members to come join his clan.”

“He what?” Royden snapped. “Did any go?”

“Instead of offering help, he preyed on their fears, saying none of the MacKinnon men would return,” Oria said, recalling the day she had heard him make such a claim and letting him know what she thought about it. “None believed him and no matter what he said, no one would leave here.”

Royden felt ready to kill Galvin Macara. He had searched for answers to the attack that day five years ago. How had the troop of warriors been able to surprise them? Why hadn’t their sentinels alerted them? Had they waited for that specific day, his and Oria’s wedding day, when so many chieftains would be present to purposely attack? And had Galvin, sending a missive to Chieftain Burnell of the Clan Learmonth, been in any way the catalyst that had started the chain of events?

“Chieftain Thurbane. How has he faired?” Royden asked. These men’s lands bordered his land and he needed to know for the safety of his clan. He would take no chances. Not ever again.

“Thurbane does well. The man, Fergus, his daughter Alynn was forced to wed, treats her well. They have two children, a son almost five years and a daughter three years,” Oria said, thinking how she and Royden probably would have had two bairns by now if fate hadn’t been so unkind.