The Raven's Wish (13 page)

"That wolf pack deserves no courtesy from us," Ewan said. "We would have answered them in good time."

"Wolves they may be," Robert murmured. "And I have given them your best ewe to appease their appetites."

Duncan glanced at the Frasers, while masking his own sudden anger. The MacShimi sucked in a sharp breath. Ewan's face suffused with a dark flush.

"No woman is a sheep," Ewan said. "And our answer, when we chose to give it, would have been a refusal."

"But Hugh agrees," Robert said. "When I arrived today, he told me that he was still considering the marriage offer."

"I was not aware, then, that you had already promised her," Hugh said, his voice hard-edged. "Do not twist my words. I told you that we had not decided. And I have never agreed with you on any matter."

Robert shrugged elegantly. "Regardless, it is done, and will be the best course for all of you. The feud will be quelled after the wedding."

"And you mean to accept credit for that with the Privy Council," Ewan said caustically.

Robert shrugged. "I am pleased to help the Council to resolve this feud." He looked at Duncan. "I understand that you have not yet collected signatures for the letter of caution."

"We are discussing the matter," Duncan said, feeling as much on guard, suddenly, as the Frasers seemed to be.

"I would hear Macrae's legal opinion," Hugh said. "What of Robert's promise to the MacDonalds?"

Aware of Robert's glare, Duncan looked at Hugh. "The signed bond of caution will be the only acceptable legal proof of a truce between the clans," he said. "A marriage is not a formal declaration of truce. Without the bond, the Council members will not care about weddings."

"I need no legal advice from you, a man who has pursued the disaffection of a Highland clan," Robert said to Duncan.

Duncan blinked at this venomous reference to his minor involvement with the Gordon trials. He said nothing.

Robert looked at Hugh. "The Frasers should have forced Elspeth long ago to learn her woman's place. I have only put her in it at last."

"You know what Elspeth is, Robert. She needs our protection, not the force of our will," Ewan said.

"We are the ones who need protection from her will." Robert tipped his head toward Duncan. "Look at Macrae's bruises."

"Elspeth deserves our respect," Hugh said. "Because she is a woman, and because she has the Sight."

"Sight or not, she holds the key to ending the feud. The key is her womanhood. Use it."

"If a key interests you, man, it is whatever key opens doors for you at court," Hugh snapped.

Robert flared his nostrils. "I offer to help you. Take it or not."

Duncan turned away from the tension, and looked out over the hills. The breeze that buffeted his head and shoulders blew away the rest of Robert's sneering commentary as he spoke to Hugh.

Duncan felt a mounting sympathy for Elspeth. Now he understood why Elspeth had been so angry when she had first knocked into him. She had too much pride and too strong a temper to accept Robert's arrogant gesture with the MacDonalds. Perhaps Frasers would not use women willingly, but this Gordon apparently had no qualms about using his own half-sister to gain greater favor for himself. The man clearly had no interest in Elspeth's happiness.

Duncan could only approve of her adamant refusal now. Though the marriage had a distinct political advantage, he no longer thought it feasible. After hearing Robert, he regretted having ever spoken in favor of the arrangement.

He leaned a shoulder against hard stone and looked out. Skimming over the rocky shoulder of a hill, a small figure moved rapidly, her bright plaid and coppery hair catching the sun. Half-listening to the bitter argument which continued behind him, he relaxed against the stone support and watched.

Elspeth ran easily, freely, taking the rocks and tufts in downward leaps. Duncan felt a strange tugging at his insides, not lust, but something more subtle and poignant, as if he wanted, even needed, to be out there with her, rather than here.

He remembered running like that through the hills, a long time ago. He sighed; the queen's representative should fix his attention to the legal quagmire at hand.

As he turned away, he had an impulse to defend the girl against her sneering half-brother. He decided to offer his legal opinion. Whether or not Robert wanted to hear it, the Frasers should know every angle. He cleared his throat.

"This marriage promise can be retracted," he said.

Robert turned to blink at him. "What?"

"Because Robert is not the girl's proper guardian, no binding promise has been made. Send that word to the chief of the MacDonalds. Then it is still up to the MacShimi to decide."

"We will tell them that you only sent your opinion on the matter, and not a binding promise, Robert," Ewan said.

"Tell the MacDonalds that I have made a mistake?" Robert asked. "Are you fools? The MacDonalds are a proud clan. They will not only take Elspeth by force, they will take my head with her!" His glance, narrow and pale, shot around the group. "And all of yours as well!"

Hugh shrugged. "Macrae is right. I will send word to John MacDonald that you have overstepped your authority. My cousin, I think, will not marry a MacDonald after all. She will be promised to another. And quickly."

"What?" Three men swiveled their heads toward the MacShimi.

"Who?" Duncan asked.

Hugh shrugged. "There are many kinsmen who would wed her. Ten lads at least who are distant cousins. Two or three in my own bodyguard at Lovat, good lads. I will find someone."

Duncan frowned at the thought of anyone else marrying the girl. A slight brush of the lips, a whirlpool spin of sudden lust and longing, was no claim to Elspeth. He had best stay out of this. Certainly the clan chief had a full right to assign a husband to her with no further comment from the queen's lawyer.

"We could send word to the chief of the Grants, or to Clan Macintosh," Ewan added. "They must have a kinsman willing to take a wife. But what man is brave enough to wed a girl who has refused a MacDonald?"

"Ruari will not forget this. Elspeth may be in danger," the MacShimi said. "If she is to be married at all, she should be wedded and bedded and taken away from here soon."

Robert snorted contemptuously. "What does it matter to us if she turns up her nose at Ruari MacDonald? She would settle down to her new hearth, and soon enough have babes to worry over. And we would have what we want from it. If we do as Macrae says, we will lose our heads in some night raid."

The others turned to stare at him. "That head of yours," Ewan drawled, "will most likely be taken by your sister."

Chapter 8

Then by it came the Elfin Queen,

And laid her hand on me,

And from that time since ever I mind,

I've been in her companie.

~"Tam Lin"

Smoking torches cast golden pools of light over the table as Duncan stood and moved along the length of the bench to sit between Callum and Flora. He had risen from his seat beside Robert, leaving on the excuse of seeking another cup of the fine French wine that had been served at the supper.

In truth, he could not stay a moment longer beside Robert Gordon. Another dry lecture on suitable physical punishment for particular crimes was not to his liking just now. The subject had once composed a grueling three-day exam that Duncan had endured at St. Andrews; he had no desire to sit through the experience again, especially with a tutor as obtuse and as opinionated as Robert. Although Elspeth had been seated on the other side of Robert, she had been silent so far, with little to say to Duncan or to her half-brother.

Flora smiled at Duncan, her ruddy face framed by a wreath of iron-gray braids, the generous bosom of her dark gown covered by a tartan shawl pinned with a large silver brooch. Much of the evening, she had scuttled back and forth between the great hall and the kitchen that was located across the corridor. Under her direction, serving girls had brought platters of roast chickens and kettles of carrots and onions cooked in broth. Flora had reminded the girls to move
deiseil
, with the sun, around the table, in order to bring luck to those who ate.

Duncan had eaten his fill from his shallow wooden bowl, and had tasted the hot, peat-flavored oatcakes spread with honey.

Flagons of red wine and sheeps' bladders of
uisge beatha
had been poured out into pewter cups all through supper. Duncan sipped wine now, his head spinning a little. He welcomed that, for it numbed the dull ache in his bruised nose. Ewan had been right, earlier today; his eye was now ringed with a dark purple smudge.

He sipped at the wine again. "A fine meal, Flora," he said.

She smiled and nodded her thanks. "Master Gordon of Blackrigg found the roast chickens not to his liking, I think."

Magnus, who sat across from her, leaned forward. "Robert was insulted when hens were served to him. He likely thought a roast steer would have been more to his honor."

"As if Glenran would waste good beef on such as Robert Gordon," Kenneth muttered, sitting nearby.

"
Ach
, you lads," Flora said. Duncan noted the gleam in her eye, and the grin that she pinched down.

"The lawyer Macrae of Dulsie, here, has not complained of our hospitality," Callum said around a mouthful of oatcake. "We offered fish to him the first night he came here, and no complaint from the man." He clapped Duncan on the back.

"Good plain food we offer guests here, no roasted swans painted gold, such as the Sasunnachs eat at the English queen's court," Flora said.

Listening, Duncan looked toward Elspeth, sitting at the other end of the table. In the flickering light, she looked small and delicate. He watched her sip from her cup, and noticed the flat look she sent Robert, as if anger still simmered in her from her encounter with him earlier that day. Duncan intended, tomorrow, to write the letter to the MacDonalds which would retract the marriage promise Robert had made to the MacDonalds; he wondered if Elspeth would still be so angry once the letter was signed by Robert and sent.

Callum slapped Duncan on the back again, spilling over his wine. Righting the cup, Duncan managed to chuckle. Callum laughed too, so heartily that he nearly fell off the wooden bench. Duncan reached out a quick hand to steady him.

"Tch," Flora commented to Duncan. "Look at that lad. He and one or two others are already whey-faced. I will be ministering to sore heads all the day tomorrow." She shook her head and swiped at some crumbs with her large hand.

"Hush," Magnus said. "What is Robert saying to Hugh?"

"I am building a fine new addition to my family's castle at Blackrigg," Robert was saying. "I have commissioned painted ceilings, and I intend to fill the rooms with goods from France and Flanders. Tapestries and candlesticks, mahogany tables, silver cups and bowls. Glass windows, too, and panelling."

"An excessive display for a disgraced Gordon." Hugh rolled his cup between his fingers.

Elspeth frowned and leaned forward. "Where do you get the coin to pay for all of this?"

Robert smiled patronizingly. "Only a Highlander would ask such a question. Sheep, Elspeth. There is good money in raw wool and woven cloth. Scottish wool is in demand in Flanders and France. I buy lengths of cloth from local weavers for a pittance, and ask a high price overseas. A good profit."

"If you are doing so well," Elspeth said as she broke an oatcake in half, "why do you bother with me and my affairs?"

Robert's answer was too low to hear. Callum snorted derisively and leaned toward Duncan. "He bothers because he thinks he will gain favor with the Privy Council. He craves fortune and power, that man."

"I have noticed," Elspeth said loudly, "that you have given up wearing the wrapped plaid. Do you think Highland wool only good enough for trading?"

"If I had stayed with Highland ways, I would never have been able to afford to rebuild my father's castle. Many Lowlanders believe that Highlanders are unintelligent, incapable of a trade, and can only run barefoot through heather chasing cattle. So I have adopted southern ways, and have found that beneficial."

"Too stupid, are we?" Callum called out loudly. Robert and the others turned their heads. "We are smart enough not to wear satins and laces like a woman and act like a damned Sasunnach." Kenneth chuckled, and Magnus looked pleased.

Robert shrugged. "Wear what you like, Callum Fraser. I dress no differently than any man in the queen's private circle. Your lawyer friend, there, wears southern dress. Macrae of Dulsie knows that there is little value in Highland ways. But if this simple life suits you Frasers, do not let my opinions concern you." He smiled again. Duncan was reminded of a small wildcat, golden and sly, patient and very dangerous.

Elspeth scowled. "You have been drinking imported wine here, Robert." She gestured toward the pewter flagon that sat on the tabletop. "And have you seen the cups of gold, set with rubies, that have been at Glenran for three hundred years? King Robert the Bruce drank wine from one of those cups when he visited a Glenran Fraser. Castle Glenran was rebuilt over a hundred years ago. Surely it took money for that," she snapped. "This is a stronghold to be envied."