“You’re chieftain now, you can order him to wed,” Galvin reminded him.
Actually, he wasn’t chieftain, not with the news that his da still lived, though that wasn’t news he would share with Galvin.
“I won’t do that, Galvin,” Royden informed him. “Arran has a right to choose who he weds.”
“Even when our land is at stake?” Galvin argued. “What if I die with no heir? Does this mysterious man who has taken so much from us sweep in and take my land and disperse my clan? And what of your clan, Oria? It should belong to your husband now with your father gone and yet you are told you have no right to it? And what of Clan Learmonth? We are told that a distant relative will inherit, yet Burnell had mentioned time and again he had no family. So who truly is laying claim to his land? Then there’s the Clan MacDonnegal that now has—Fergus—forced upon the old Chieftain Thurbane. And what of the warriors left among the clans, like Penn was left here and Freen was left with my clan? Is this man who swept in here and tried to lay claim to all the land in the area actually succeeding? Will he eventually surround your land, Royden, and you will have no choice but to pledge your allegiance to him?”
Royden detested the thought and was annoyed that Galvin actually made some sense. Was this man that Fergus had said many called the Beast, biding his time to eventually get what he wanted?
He always gets what he wants.
The memory of Penn’s remark sounded clear in Royden’s head.
“Your words certainly have relevance and are well worth considering,” Royden said.
“Aye, but we don’t have sufficient warriors to stop him and there’s something else we should consider. King David continues his desire to control the far north, Orkney and Caithness is already in his control. What if he has hired the mercenaries to take control of our land so they will swear allegiance to him and fight with him against the Highlanders if it comes to that?”
“I don’t think the Norse people will give up that area they have settled so easily. He will continue to have his hands full there,” Royden said. “As for the King hiring mercenaries, I suppose it’s possible, since he’s been spread thin with trying to get a foothold into northern England.”
“I tell you the King has made a pact with the devil,” Galvin insisted. “Please, I beg you, find Purity and explain the importance to Arran of him marrying my daughter when he returns. He’ll be chieftain of an established clan and have land and the wealth and importance that goes with it.”
“I will discuss it with Arran when he arrives home, but as I’ve said, it will be his decision. I will not force him to wed,” Royden said, making it as clear as he could to Galvin.
Oria sat contemplating what had just been discussed while Royden saw Galvin to his horse. By her da having had her wed Burnell, and Raven and Purity unable to be found, it had no doubt upset the plan of whoever had devised the whole plot. Elsewise, she, Raven, and Purity would have been married to men that had been chosen for them and the clans and their lands would have been lost to the chieftains. But whose rule would the chieftain then had been under?
Royden entered the keep and went straight to his wife and kissed her. “I don’t want to think any more on this. I just want to be with you, feel you naked in my arms, and know it’s real and not a dream.”
Oria smiled. “I’ll race you to the bedchamber.”
Royden laughed. You always lost when we raced.”
“I think this time you just might let me win.”
He laughed again. “You’re right. I will.”
Oria got to her feet and was about to run when Angus hurried into the Great Hall. Her husband looked ready to kill him until he spoke.
“Some of our warriors and women return home,” Angus shouted with joy.
Chapter 16
“Have you a count?” Royden asked as he watched the group of people enter the village to smiles and warm welcomes.
“Fifteen of our warriors have returned and all are in fine shape,” Angus said. “A few brought women they’ve wed. I was glad to see Cadell, the metal worker, among the group.”
“Aye, that is good, we need his skills,” Royden agreed.
“He brought a wife with him, Huberta and their two children, two lads three years and one year,” Angus said, nodding at the woman standing beside Cadell, a sleeping bairn lying against her chest and a little lad clinging to her tunic. “Lona, the lass who spun such fine wool returned with a husband, Wilfred.” Angus nodded toward a tall, thin man.”
“He appears uncomfortable and not at all sturdy,” Royden said, the man’s eyes wide and darting about as he kept close to his smiling wife, who barely reached his shoulder.