Purity couldn’t keep the tug from her heart when her husband took his leave. She had gotten far too used to being with him. She closed her eyes a moment and prayed the hours that separated them would go fast.
It took hours to reach the campsite and though Arran had been hoping there would be some way for him to return home sooner than planned, he realized that wasn’t a possibility.
He patted his mare’s neck. “The first hint of light in the morning and we’re on our way home, Hope.”
The mare snorted as if agreeing.
The campsite was smaller than Arran expected, but the look of the warriors there warned they were far superior to a larger group. Every eye was aware, every weapon near, everyone poised to attack in an instant. These were well-trained warriors, ones who were highly efficient, ones who made no mistakes.
Night had brought the cold with it, though it didn’t seem to bother the Northmen. He had grown accustomed to the cold himself, but unlike the warriors, he wore his wool cloak and was glad for it.
Arran knew who Wolf was without an introduction. He stood out from the rest of the men, tall, broad, a fine body born of endless practice and battles, and a demeanor that spoke of authority in every sense of the word. A dark beard added to his fine features and his stance let all know he feared nothing.
Arran greeted the man with a glare when he stopped in front of him.
“Have you come only to show your disdain for me?” Wolf asked and didn’t give him a chance to respond. “For if you have, you waste your time. I could care less how you feel.”
“That’s obvious by the way you’ve treated my family,” Arran said, his tone more than hostile.
“My family was treated no differently,” Wolf snapped. “But the past will serve neither one of us well. A far greater threat looms.”
“Brynjar,” Arran said, reminding himself why he was there.
“The man does nothing without a reason.”
“And the reason must serve him in some way,” Arran said.
“Which makes one wonder why he is here?” Wolf pointed to a campfire where they could sit.
No sooner as Arran sat, he spoke, “I assume you keep a watch on Brynjar.”
“I have two trackers following him. If he wasn’t on foreign soil I would fear for my men’s safety, but Brynjar and his men don’t know this land so they are at a disadvantage.”
“A place Brynjar doesn’t like to be,” Arran said.
“Which leads me to wonder his purpose for being here. If he plans no attack, no chaos, then why is he here?’ Wolf shook his head as if annoyed he had no answer.
“He has a shrewd mind and a thirst for chaos and destruction.”
“Yet he arrives here with a small troop of men.” Again Wolf shook his head. “It makes no sense.”
“Where have you tracked him so far?”
“Moving in this direction,” Wolf said.
“Could he be here to settle something with you?”
“We have disputes with each other as well as a dislike for each other. We both know it is inevitable that one day we will come to blows… and one of us will die.”
“Could he be here for that, to conquer you on foreign soil?” Arran asked.
“Something that would more than please you and your brother.”
“If it were any other man, I would be pleased, but not Brynjar,” Arran admitted. “He is not a man I would want to be beholden to.”
“A wise decision,” Wolf said with a hint of admiration.
“And what decision have you come to concerning him?” Arran asked.
“I will keep a close eye on him and see what he reveals. That will determine my course of action. I’m sure Freen told you I protect what is mine.”
“MacKinnon land isn’t yours,” Arran challenged.
“No, but Oria is my sister and I will protect her when necessary.”
“Macara land isn’t yours either,” Arran reminded.
“No, unfortunately your marriage to Purity caused me to lose that swath of land, but since it borders other land of mine and MacKinnon land, and you and your brother presently don’t have enough warriors to keep your clans safe against invaders, I will see both protected,” Wolf said, making it clear that Arran truly didn’t have a choice.
Arran wished he could have argued otherwise, but Wolf was right and he couldn’t let his own pride get in the way of protecting the Clan Macara or seeing MacKinnon land protected.
Arran almost choked on his response. “Royden and I appreciate your help.”
“No, you don’t, but you’re both wise enough to know it’s necessary, a sign of a good leader,” Wolf said.
“Well at least we’ve established that we’ll tolerate each other,” Arran said.
“We have no choice in the matter,” Wolf agreed. “Now tell me what you’ve learned from being held captive by Brynjar, anything, even the smallest detail. It may help us to make sense of his presence here.”