Highlander Enchanted(36)

“Cade.”

He lowered the practice swords, unable to snap at Father Adam.

“Niall returned from court.”

Interest flooded him. He turned and strode to the eaves where Father Adam stood with a messenger’s bag still dripping with water. “What does it say?” he asked eagerly.

“Lady Isabel’s claim is merited,” Father Adam replied. “She is the sole heir to the MacCosse lands.”

Cade’s mind began to race once more as he considered what it could mean for his clan. She had refused his proposal, but he could force the issue.

The only problem: he had no warriors to stake the claim and defend it once he had.

“Ye traveled the Highlands,” he said. “What d’ye ken of the MacCosse lands?”

“They are vast but the last keep was burnt upon their laird’s death.”

“We would need gold.”

“Much of it,” Father Adam agreed. “The lands be easier to d’fend, for the laird who had the means to do so.”

Learning more only seemed to muddy his decision. “Where is Niall?”

“Here,” his cousin called from down the hallway. The ugly seillie warrior trotted towards them. “Ye told him, priest?”

“Yea.”

“I brought ye wine.” Niall pulled a pitcher from his saddlebags. “The king’s own.”

Father Adam’s eyes lit up. “No swill fer me tonight!” he exclaimed and took it, leaving them at a quick shuffle.

“Now ye ken,” Niall said, studying Cade. “What do ye think?”

Cade shook his head. “No matter what I think, we need gold. We canna stay here without it. We canna go there without it. We canna house the MacDonald’s much longer without it.”

“Brian told me of Laird Duncan’s demands.”

“I canna ignore him for long.”

“What will ye do?”

Cade was quiet, recalling how his cousin was rutting with the MacDonald lass. It was one more matter to discuss, one he did not feel ready to address yet. They needed no discord among them when their clan was in danger. “I doona ken,” he said finally. “Did ye learn more at court?”

Niall snorted. “Lady Isabel … yer certain she isna one of us?”

“She is not. Why?”

“When I asked about the MacCosse lands, I was sent straight t’the king’s stewart and given a private audience. The stewart asked after her so oft, I’d think they were wed, if he were not too old.”

Cade frowned. “How is an English noble of interest to the Scottish crown?”

“I doona ken. But she is.”

“Enough fer them t’secure her claim, once she makes it?”

“I doona ken this, cousin,” Niall said. “I saw him but briefly. But he was concerned for her, had heard she left Saxony and was wandering the Highlands.”

“We may have an ally,” Cade murmured. “If she were to stay.”

Niall’s eyebrows shot up. “Ye still consider this madness of wedding her?”

Cade shrugged.

“I, too, am guilty fer leaving her brother, but we owe her nothing. Ye’ve protected her, risked yer life fer hers. Let her go, Cade.”

He heard the wisdom in Niall’s advice but it ran adrift of what his magic wished him to do. “I have much to think on,” he said instead. “Go rest. I feel the unseillie in me stirring.” Cade flipped the swords and strode into the lists once more.

No sooner had he begun than he sensed her silent approach.

She is here. His magic spoke loudest when it involved the beguiling woman.

“What is it, Lady Cade?” he asked, facing her direction.

She stood beside the entrance to the keep with a stole wrapped around her shoulders, lit from behind by the torches from the corridor. She was watching him with no small amount of unease, as if she had never seen a warrior fight before.

“The evening hunting party has departed. I directed Brian to down as many animals as they could. You need meat,” she said. “Were you aware of how low your grain stocks were?”

“Yea.” He flung one sword across the lists at the reminder. “I am aware.”

She considered him. “And you have no gold.”

He laughed, a harsh, short sound. “’ave ye anything t’say I doona already ken?” he demanded with more heat than he intended.

Her cheeks turned pink, but she did not look away.

“This keep is ours until the weather turns,” he added. “No grain, no land, no gold.”

“This is why you are out here beating dolls,” she murmured. “But this is not why I came. I came to ask you a question.”

Cade retrieved both swords and dropped them into the barrel where they were stored. He approached her, taking shelter beneath the eaves. Isabel’s eyes went to his chest – and stuck. Drenched, his tunic outlined every muscles of his torso.

She cleared her throat and took two steps away, uneasy with his size and nearness.

“I wanted to ask you if what you said the other night was true. That you do not recall the names of those you slayed,” she said, meeting his gaze once more.

“What does it matter?” he asked roughly.

“Brian remembered my brother. I thought you may as well.”