Page 39 of Honour Bound
He didn’t even glance in my direction. I wondered whether he was too embarrassed to claim a friendship – of sorts – with a dirty rotten thief like me. The thought stung more than I would have liked.
Fortunately, Lexie had a scarf in the new Adair tartan which she pulled off her shoulders and looped round my neck. It was better than nothing. I untied my hair, shaking it out and letting it fall down my back. Yes, it was white, just like my father’s had been; I wasn’t going to hide my heritage.
‘That’s it,’ Taylor nodded. ‘Don’t let these bastards make you feel anything less than you are.’
‘Was I being that obvious?’
He squeezed my arm. ‘I know you pretty well.’
I tried to smile as an elderly Sidhe official in Carnegie colours cleared his throat and began to speak. ‘Competitors will enter with their individual Clans, parade past the grandstand and halt in front of the royal box where their participation will be verified. Remember, it takes three Clans to validate entry.’
I felt sure he was saying that for my benefit. It didn’t help that several of the other competitors turned in my direction, mocking amusement glinting in their eyes.
‘Clans will enter not in alphabetical order, as was previously stated, but in order of importance.’
I shared a look of disgust with Taylor. Since I’d taken on the Adair name, I’d moved to the top of the pack as far as ABC was concerned but this wasn’t Sesame Street. I had no doubt that despite the tradition attached to the Adairs, and the fact that my blood had been keyed into the Foinse as the sole member of one of the older, supposedly important Clans,I’d be in last place. I shrugged. If nothing else, I’d give this lot something to remember.
Brochan eyed me. ‘You’re planning something,’ he accused.
My mouth twitched. ‘When they throw me out for not being good enough or strong enough or whatever enough, I want to make sure they all realise what a mistake they’re making.’
‘Tegs…’
I grinned, although there wasn’t much humour in it. ‘My new trick is telekinesis. Let them see what I can do when I choose to use it.’
‘Is that a good idea?’
‘The witch inSleeping Beautyis always painted as the villain,’ I murmured. ‘But she was left out in the cold. Depending on which version you read, her invitation was either forgotten or she was deliberately left off the list. She took her revenge ? and then some. I’m not going to curse any Sidhe damsels but I’m not going to let them humiliate me without saying something about it.’
‘Tegs,’ Speck said, looking troubled, ‘the witch inSleeping Beautywas vanquished.’
‘Well,’ I growled, ‘it’s good that we’re not living in a fairy tale.’
Unsurprisingly, the Moncrieffes were called first. There were five of them in total: Byron, Jamie and three others whom I vaguely recognised. Unsurprisingly, neither Maggie nor Roy made an appearance; their attempt to practise in the mountains, which Byron had so admired, had put paid to that. The crowd of competitors fell silent as music sounded.
‘It’s the Moncrieffe anthem,’ Taylor murmured.
‘It’s bloody awful is what it is,’ I replied. I was having a hard time discerning a tune. It was a screeching wail, played on bagpipes to make it sound even worse. ‘I don’t suppose they’ll have the Adair anthem to hand.’
‘It’s disallowed.’
I grunted. Big surprise.
Speck smirked. ‘Don’t worry, Tegs. I’ve got it covered.’
I shot him a grateful look. Screw the Sidhe. I didn’t need them when I had this lot by my side.
The last notes faded away and an imperious voice sounded over a microphone. I recognised it immediately; it belonged to the Carnegie lordling whom I’d seen on the ship where Debbie the Spider was being held. Knowing who he was ? and what a prick he was ? would it make it easier to sneer in his face when he ejected me.
‘Clan Moncrieffe. Who will stand for you?’
‘Clan Scrymgeour,’ boomed the Bull.
‘Clan Calder,’ added another voice.
‘Clan Orrock.’
‘Clan Moncrieffe has the requisite three votes and is permitted to compete.’
