He shook his head. “I never gave thought to such a proposal.”
“Either did I,” Raven confessed. “But when presented with it, all I could think about was my brothers finally being free, since I feared it would take at least two more years of my thieving to get the money to free them both. And I worried they might not last that long.”
The news troubled him and he didn’t think twice about sharing a secret of his own. “I’m going to tell you something, something that I was warned never to share with anyone. But with this news, I feel it is imperative I share it with you. However, you must give me your word that you will never share it with anyone. It stays between us.”
Raven’s stomach turned with worry, sensing the manipulation she feared had far reaching tentacles. “You have my word.”
“Your brothers were never part of my mercenary group.”
Raven’s mouth dropped open in shock and it took her a moment to speak. “I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “It is common knowledge you have a large band of mercenaries.”
“I do, but your brothers and other men from your clan didn’t join with mine. I don’t force men to join my group. Loyalty is never gained by force.”
Her brow knit tight with question. “Then who did they fight for?”
“Your King David, though it was not made known. As far as anyone was told, it was my mercenaries who fought.”
She stared at him in complete shock.
Wolf continued explaining. “When my king heard of my plans to regain land here that rightfully belonged to me, he made it clear that there were things he wanted me to do since he was in negotiations, though more dispute, with King David over land, including several isles, your King insisted belonged to Scotland. The dispute was causing considerable trouble and my king thought it imperative that I install myself firmly in the area. When he discovered my grandmother’s clan had once extended beyond Learmonth, he ordered me to lay claim to all of it.
“To use in negotiations against King David,” she said, the reason becoming clearer.
“I can’t say I argued against it. I was determined to regain the land that rightfully belonged to my grandmother’s clan and my king’s support made it that much easier.”
“But how did my king wind up with my brothers and those men from the Clan MacKinnon?”
“Actually, King David got not only the men from your clan but all the ones captured from the other clans I claimed. It was part of a proposal struck between your king and mine. King David needed men to fight for him, few wanted to take up sword for him especially on foreign shores. I didn’t object since I foolishly didn’t want my sister marrying your brother. I had other plans for her which I’m glad didn’t work out. Don’t get me wrong, Raven. My king’s plan only enforced mine and gave me opportunities that helped me succeed, so I made no objection to it.”
Raven tried to comprehend all Wolf had said. “So the men who attacked my clan that day when my brother Royden lost his hand, they weren’t your men?”
“Some of them were, but mostly they were the king’s men. I insisted that one of my men be in charge of at least one group of men taken by the king’s men. That way I would have someone who could keep me apprised of what went on. My king agreed. My man, Platt, kept me informed through the years and has returned home, since all the men from the various clans have been released. Thanks to you. Another stipulation you had wisely included in the proposal.”
“That’s how you knew Brynjar had captured Arran. Platt informed you.”
He eyed her suspiciously, though he should have known better. “How did you know about Arran’s capture?”
She smiled cunningly. “I know more than you think.” Her brow suddenly creased in question wiping the smile from her face. “Why rescue Arran if he wasn’t one of yours?”
“I’m beginning to realize you are a woman of vast knowledge,” he said, reminding himself to keep it in mind. “As for your brother, your King would have left him with Brynjar and Arran would have died. Oria would have hated me even more than she did if I allowed that to happen. Besides, Brynjar believed Arran was one of my mercenaries and to not retrieve what belonged to me would have been seen as a surrender. And that is something I do not do.”
Raven thought on all he had said and what she knew, trying to make sense of it. Two powerful men—kings—had thought nothing of playing with their lives as if they were pieces in a game they maneuvered for fun.
“Do you think it was one of the kings who manipulated us into marriage?” she asked.