A loud roar echoed over the land, agreeing with Parlan.
Royden went to protest but his da’s strong whisper stopped him.
“You will see when we talk that this is for the best.” His da looked to the leather cuff covering Royden’s stump. “You more than earned this.”
“What is the witch doing here?” a man called out, pointing.
“Shut your foolish lips, Coyle,” Flora called out. “Wren saved our old chieftain’s life and others as well.”
Royden half-listened to the two bicker, his attention drawn to the woman his da rushed to. She was nearly as tall as his da and had flaming red hair sprinkled with white, yet her pretty face showed little signs of age. Her green eyes brightened with joy when she looked upon his da, the way Oria’s did when she looked at him. The woman loved his father and from the way his da took the witch in his arms and held her close, it seemed his da felt the same way.
Royden wasn’t surprised when his da’s voice took on the tone of one in command, and he was glad to see his da still commanded with strength and confidence.
“Wren is not a witch, she is a healer, and will soon be my wife.”
Gasps mingled with cheers and Royden didn’t hide his own surprise. He turned when his wife’s hand closed around his.
“How wonderful that your da has finally found love again. Your mum would be so happy that he isn’t alone.”
Oria was right. His mum would want that for her husband, though it had Royden thinking and asking, “If anything should happen to me—”
Oria’s smile faded and she leaned against him to whisper, “I have loved you since I was a young bairn. I could never, would never, love another as I love you.” Her smiled returned and she kept her voice low. “Besides, I doubt there’s a man alive who is as talented as you are in bed.”
Royden gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and whispered, “I wouldn’t want you to be alone, but I can’t stand the thought of another man touching you. Like you, I’ve loved you since we’ve been young. There could never be another woman for me. And you’re not so bad in bed yourself.”
“I think there’s more you could teach me,” she said with a teasing smile.
“I’ll teach you something new tonight,” he whispered and felt her shudder against him.
His da’s booming voice echoed over the people and had Royden and Oria listening. “You will give Wren the respect you give me. I will not tolerate anyone treating her poorly or intending her harm.”
Heads bobbed throughout the crowd, while some skeptical faces could be seen.
“Wren saved my da’s life,” Royden called out. “I’m sure we all are grateful to have such a skilled healer among us.”
The approving nod his da sent him, like the many he had done in the past, had Royden feeling—for a sheer moment—that life, at least a glimpse of it, was returning as it once was to the clan. And that was a huge sign of hope.
“Now it’s time to get everyone settled in homes and fed, and in a few days we will have a fine feast to celebrate,” —Royden raised his voice with strength and pride— “the return of the Clan MacKinnon.”
The people cheered and when all quieted, Royden didn’t need to issue orders. Angus let him know he’d take count and help John and Stuart with seeing everyone settled and to the cart that had followed behind them with their belongings. This time, however, he motioned Penn to him.
“You’ll help John and Stuart, then report to me how things go.”
Penn looked surprised, but pleased. “Aye, sir, I’ll see it done.”
Royden looked around for his wife, not realizing she had left his side, and smiled when he saw her with his da and Wren. He went and joined them.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you and Oria have finally wed,” his da said. “I only wish the whole family could have been here for it.”
“We’ll wed again and hold a huge celebration when the whole family is reunited,” Royden said.
“That will be wonderful, a joyous day indeed,” Wren said.
Royden didn’t know if he heard what he wanted to hear in Wren’s remark or if she spoke to let them know that it would be so. That one day such a celebration would take place.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Royden,” Wren said. “Your da spoke often of you and Oria, and Arran and Raven as well. I feel I already know all of you.”
“I hope to get to know you as well as you know all of us,” Royden said, her gentle voice quite soothing to the ear.
“Let’s get you some food and settled in the keep,” Oria said.
Royden wasn’t surprised that it took a while to reach the keep, since many in the clan stopped his da to personally welcome him home. He was well-loved and well-respected by the clan that he’d led with honor, and seeing him well and in fine shape had surely been a sign of hope to everyone.