Page 67 of Treachery in the Highlands
Guy talk, medieval style?Hmm, I might fit in around here after all.
The two Scots clap each other on the back with enough force to make me wince.As they pull apart, Angus's attention falls on me, and his bushy eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
"And who might this wee laddie be?"he asks, his gaze flickering between Kieran and me.
I open my mouth to introduce myself, but Rachel beats me to it."This is Joey, a friend of the MacTaggart clan.He's come a long way to join us for the gathering."
Angus nails his gaze to me, squinting slightly."A long way, ye say?From where precisely?"
A bead of sweat trickles down my spine as Angus scrutinizes me.Rachel clamps her hand around mine, almost painfully so.
"From across the sea," I blurt out, remembering our hastily concocted cover story."I'm a trader.From Europe."
Angus's bushy eyebrows knit together."Europe, ye say?Ye don't sound like any trader I've ever met."
"Well, I've been traveling for quite some time.Picked up all sorts of accents along the way."
Kieran steps forward, his imposing presence drawing Angus's attention away from me."Aye, and Joey's acquired some valuable skills as well.He has a keen eye for strategy and a quick mind.He'll be a fine addition to our clan during the games."
Angus strokes his beard, watching me intently."Well then, we'll be sure to put those skills to the test.Welcome to the gathering, Joey from across the sea.I hope ye're ready for some Highland hospitality."
"Looking forward to it."
Kieran inserts himself between me and the big guy."It's been good to see you, Angus.But we wish to meet with Clan Grant right now.I'm sure you understand."
Without another word, we march deeper into the gathering, and the crowd parts before us like the Red Sea.I can feel the weight of hundreds of curious stares boring into me.Snippets of whispered conversations reach my ears.
"Who's the stranger?"
"Never seen him before..."
"Doesn't look like he belongs..."
"What an unusual accent he has..."
I do my best to ignore them, focusing instead on the sights and sounds around me.This gathering is so large that I bet I could hike for miles without seeing the same people twice.Kieran informs me that Clan Grant is quite a bit smaller than many of the other families, and that's why the MacTaggarts have become trading partners and even allies with the Grants.
But before we meet up with that clan, first we will spend time with another branch of the MacTaggarts---the ones who had banished Kieran a long time ago.I guess the Big Daddy wants to mend fences.
When I tell Kieran that, he chuckles."Ahmno needing to mend anything.My banishment was lifted long ago.When Rachel was born, the chieftain of all the MacTaggarts visited us at Dùndubhan to inform us that we may attend clan gatherings if we wish.We haven't done so, however---not until now."
"Why did you wait so long?"
"Because my aunts were not invited.Their witchcraft unsettles some."He scratches the back of his neck."But that edict is unfair.I do witchcraft as well.If my whole family cannae attend, then none of us will."
"But you are attending this clan gathering."
"Aye, 'twas time to do so and show our clan, and others, that we mean them no harm."
As we approach the MacTaggart section of the gathering, the tension in the air becomes almost palpable, like an electric charge crackling around us.Kieran's jaw is firmly clenched, a clear sign of his resolve, while he sweeps his gaze over the crowd with a blend of cautious vigilance and steely determination.The atmosphere feels laden with unease.Rachel threads her fingers between mine in a silent promise of support.
"Remember," she whispers, "you're with us.You belong here."
"Yeah, I know."Despite my best efforts to believe my own words, I can't quite do it.
The MacTaggart encampment is a sea of blue and green tartan with slender threads of orange too, and a proud stag emblazoned on their banners.As we draw closer, conversations die down, and all eyes turn to us.I can see the recognition dawning on their faces as Kieran scans the crowd.
An older man with a salt-and-pepper beard steps forward, his gaze narrowing as he regards our small group."Kieran Aulay MacTaggart, we didnae expect to see ye here."
