Page 34 of Her Scot of the Morrow
“Willow should return with ye to Sutherland Castle, so I will see to it that she does,” Robert said to Dugal and Elspet. “However, Willow willnae belong to Dugal unless the gem on her dragon’s chest matches the pact. If that doesnae happen, she is free to choose her fated mate. To that end, I will havebothmen who might be destined for her close by until we know for sure.” He looked from me and Sloan back to them. “That being said, Sloan will be returning with the three of ye to Sutherland Castle along with a small retinue of my most trusted warriors to ensure Willow is not unduly harmed or that Sloan is not thrown in a dungeon again.”
Before anyone could reply, because based on Elspet and Dugal’s tight, troubled expressions, they were about to object, the king went on.
“In addition, it has come to my attention that one of my most favored warriors is visiting ye, Laird Dugal.” Robert perked his eyebrows. “The father of the lass Sloan had been promised to marry, I believe?”
“Aye,” Dugal said gruffly, no doubt ready to come up with a lie about why that had changed, but Robert spoke again before he could.
“Verra good,” the king said. “I look forward to seeing him and his daughter, so I have sent word to Tavish MacLeod puttinghim in charge whilst I am away so I can return to Sutherland Castle with ye to visit one of my top warriors.” He looked from Elspet to Dugal. “’Twill only be for a day or so, but I trust I am welcome?”
I could almost see Elspet’s and Dugal’s mental wheels spinning as they grappled with this unexpected turn of events. See them trying to figure out what to do about whatever sleazy plan they were about to put into action.
“Of course, ye are welcome, my King,” Elspet responded yet again, far too smoothly, with a tight smile, when her son’s cheeks reddened in frustration, and there was no need to guess why. He thought the king would deliver me to him because he had no choice, but it seemed King Robert wasn’t one to be so easily cornered.
“Verra good.” Robert offered a small, equally tight smile in return. “I look forward to revisiting yer lovely castle and all yer clansfolk. We leave within the hour.”
This meant they would be required to travel with us instead of heading home first, which would keep them from getting ahead of the impromptu visit to hide any secrets they wanted to keep. Some could probably be managed telepathically ahead of time, but who knew how much.
As it turned out, when we departed soon after, King Robert once again surprised not just me but most certainly Dugal, and I couldn’t have been more relieved.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
–Sloan–
WHILE I ANTICIPATED King Robert would not allow Willow to ride with either Dugal or me, he surprised me when he requested that she be given her own horse to ride beside him at the front of his retinue.
Fortunately, she remembered what I had taught her about riding, because she kept reassuring me telepathically that she was doing well so far. Reassurances she was able to make, thanks to the Viking sword creating a hairpin that kept us discreetly in touch even on Sutherland territory.
Although frustrated that Robert decided Willow had no choice but to return to the Sutherlands until the gem on her dragon’s heart made up its mind, I understood he had no other choice. Deep down, despite my fear of losing Willow to a monster like Dugal, I knew he would never put me and Willow before his duty to our country.
Yet in the end, he had not thrown us to the wolves entirely when he ordered several of his favored warriors to keep Willow safe. If that were not enough, he told the Sutherlands I would be coming back to their castle as a guest until the gem did what it was supposed to do, and better still, he’d decided to join us for a day or so, making sure Elspet and Dugal were on their best behavior.
Smart enough to realize the Sutherlands could likely follow his conversation with Willow, King Robert spoke little, but I knew from what had been said, it was enough to get a feel for the kind of lass Willow was. I also knew he already liked her a greatdeal, but then, how could he not? She set aside her fears for the greater good, and he could only respect that.
Hell,Irespected that despite the looming castle ahead.
Elspet had assured us that the willow tree was still there and solid as ever, as if it finally emerged from the Morrow for good, and she was right. It swayed in an ever-gustier wind beneath the waning moonlight, every bit as stunning now as it was in the Morrow, yet I feared its secrets. More than that, how much Elspet had gleaned from it.Hadshe tapped into its magic? I could only pray not, because its powers were tied to Willow, and that terrified me.
I could tell by the number of warriors on the battlements and those standing in an impressive formation as the portcullises were raised and the gates opened, that Dugal had warned his fellow dragons within the mind that the king was coming.
“Wow,”Willow said into my mind.“This is quite the display of brute strength, yet where are all the other people?”
“My guess is ordered into their cottages or away from the castle for fear of your arrival,”I replied, disgusted.“Whether they saw you save me or not, or were even frightened by what they saw, I dinnae doubt they have been ordered to play the part.”
“Super,”she muttered.“You think the king will buy it?”
“Not for a moment, but ‘tis neither here nor there,”I said.“All that matters is he’s come here and I dinnae doubt ‘tis in hopes of seeing you freed of this pact so we can be together.”
“I’ll admit I pray that happens.”There was a new tentativeness to her internal voice.“Yet I can’t help but think if it’s not me, then that only leaves Ellie.”
She couldn’t go on because everyone arrived in the courtyard, and the king held out his hand to help her down from her horse, but I felt how torn her heart was, and it mademe more than a little uneasy. It made sense, though, because I would feel the same way if a sister of mine were meant to suffer at the hands of someone like Dugal, and would willingly sacrifice myself, and I knew Willow would too.
“As I am sure ye ken, our clan is quite uneasy about recent events, so there arenae many about, King Robert,” Dugal said, moving closer to Willow as everyone dismounted. “So mayhap ye would enjoy dining in front of a warm fire amongst my kin this eve?”
“Aye,” Robert said, his expression impossible to read as it sometimes could be when he was assessing a situation. “First, however, I would like to be escorted to yer dungeons so I might see firsthand the damage.” His gaze swept over the four of us, and he smoothly reminded Dugal he was married and there were traitors in the midst. “Then I would be most pleased to dine with ye, yer lovely wife, and mayhap Lorna and her father, assuming they are still here?”
“Of course,” Dugal began before one of his men came forward, presumably his second-in-command, informing him that Lorna and her father had returned to their castle to prepare for her upcoming nuptials.
“How convenient,”Willow said with an edge of sarcasm.“What do you want to bet they're either hidden away or fleeing the castle right now?”
