Adam recoiled at the thought. "That is one possibility. She hasn't done anything to deserve such treatment. Yet."

Eva huffed. "Neither did our good Queen Elizabeth, yet she languishes in an English prison."

"Aye, well. Marriage can be a joy or a punishment."

Angus looked up sharply at Adam's words. "You'll punish yerself more than her, if that's what yer thinking to do."

"You may be right, Da. But if the marriage is permanent, she cannot further threaten the crown."

"Either way, ye go against her will and give her cause to hate her jailer."

" 'Tis a chance I must take." He would cling to the hope of eventual reconciliation with her. To the hope that taking her to wife was indeed G.o.d's doing. For now, he saw his duty, and would not shirk it.

"Why, Adam?"

"It ends the threat to Brucea"he even suggested marriage as a possible solution. Balliol will lose much of his support without Gwenyth to give him a royal heir. And Gwenyth may well hate me, but at least it won't be because I'm crippled."

Eva drew in a loud breath, and Angus patted her hand.

Adam's words hung there, and no one spoke. Taking a seat beside them, Adam broke the silence. " 'Tis a fact I've come to accept, this damaged arm. Gwenyth, for all her other faults, sees past it. I'd accept her as a wife for that blessing alone."

"Then we'll say no more of it. Do what ye must do."

Eva nodded, and Adam felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Now, one other thing remained. "Daron Comyn will pledge his loyalty to me today."

Alarm showed on his mother's face. "What will the council say to that?"

Adam rubbed his eyes. "I don't know, but frankly, I'm tired of worrying about it. I am Da's chosen successor. I can't sit back and wring my handsa"I must make decisions as I see fit and live with the consequences."

Angus nodded in approval, and Adam continued. "If they want Leod to lead Clan Chattan, then I'll withdraw the Mackintosh warriors from the federation."

"I hope it doesn't come to that, but yer plan is wise."

Eva asked, "Do ye trust this Daron?"

"He'll not betray me so long as I have Gwenyth. Nay, that isn't fair. I believe the man is honorable, without such a threat."

"Bring him here so I may take his measure."

When Adam returned a few minutes later with Daron and Gwenyth, her stormy scowl said all there was to know about her disapproval. Avoiding her, Adam drew Daron forward.

"Da, this is Daron Comyn, come to swear allegiance to Clan Chattan. And to me."

Angus gave the young man a careful look before speaking, directing his question to Adam. "Ye trust the man, then?"

"I have Gwenyth's life as surety."

Daron bristled at this. "You never said . . . 'twas not our agreement at all. This is an insult. We agreed man to man, brother to brother."

"Will you go back on the agreement now?"

Daron looked mad enough to chew stirrup leather. "Nay. My word is good."

With a pointed look at his father, Adam rea.s.sured Daron. "As is mine. Your loyalty was freely given earlier this day, and I'll not force you now with threats against Gwenyth. My father required proof of your worth as a man, and you have given it."

Daron's shoulders relaxed. "Will you require continued proof, or can I say the words and expect them to be binding on both of us?"

Adam smiled at Daron's quick wit. "From this day forth, we are bound as laird and va.s.sal. You are welcome here unless you prove yourself unworthy."

Adam handed his own jewel-handled dirk to Daron. Last-minute doubts a.s.sailed him. Was this wise? How would the council react?

Enough. This was only the first of many decisions he must make as laird. He refused to spend his life questioning himself.

Daron knelt, holding the beautiful and deadly weapon before him. "I swear fealty to Adam Mackintosh and acknowledge him as my rightful laird. May this very blade put me to death if I break my vow." So saying, he kissed the blade and handed it back to Adam.

Daron rose to his feet and Adam clasped his arm in a firm handshake.

Angus did likewise from his bed. "Welcome. See ye serve my son well." He scanned Daron from head to foot. "Get yerself something to eat, man. Ye look like a scarecrow."

Daron grinned. "I will, my laird." He turned to Gwenyth, who looked more bristly than a hedgehog.

"What have you done?" she hissed as Daron approached her.

Adam defended Daron. "What any man of worth would do."

"You." She jabbed her finger in his chest. "You stay out of this." She returned her anger to her cousin, but Eva barged into the fray.

"Out of this chamber with yer yelling and yer anger. Out. Spare my husbanda""

"But Eva, this looks to be an interesting discussion," Angus said.

With a glare at her spouse, Eva insisted everyone leave the room and then shut the door firmly.

Trying to diffuse the tension, Adam relied on good manners to pretend nothing was amiss. "Mother, I don't believe you've been introduced to Daron Comyn."

"I am pleased to meet you, Lady Mackintosh." With perceptible patience, he said to Adam, "I would like to see to my men now, my laird. And I think, perhaps, you may have need of a private word with my cousin."

Gwenyth sputtered, but Adam tightened his grip on her arm.

DARON WATCHED as Adam and Gwenyth disappeared into the solar and closed the door. Daron felt sorry for her, for them both, knowing she and Adam must work this out between them. He was tempted to stand outside and listen, but Adam's mother saw his intent and scowled.

"Aye, my mother did teach me better, Lady Eva."

"I suspect we wouldn't have to stand very close to hear this conversation." She pursed her lips. "Come, we'll leave them to shout at each other and get ye something to eat."

GWENYTH SAT DOWN HARD, propelled onto a seat by Adam's grip on her arm. A fire burned brightly in the fireplace, but at Adam's cold visage, Gwenyth rubbed her arms. She dreaded this argument, wanted only to flee him, to flee this place. But his actions a few minutes ago foretold only too clearly that she would not leave Scotland in the foreseeable future. If ever.

She'd like to consign to the netherworld the entire male gender with their pride and love of a good fight. "Aye, every last one of them," she muttered to Adam's stiff back.

He turned. "What did you say?"

"Nothing." With relief Gwenyth noted that she was so angry she wasn't even tempted to cry. "Why did you force Daron to swear allegiance? He and I were to start a new life. Why do you bind us to this place?"

"You know why. Daron and I can be of mutual benefit to each other. He is determined to find the beast who dishonored you as am I."

"I don't want to stay here." Especially now that Adam was threatening her with a priest.

Adam ran his hand through his hair. "And you think I don't know that?"

"Why can't you just let me go?"

"I can't. This daft bargain you made with Balliola"Gwenyth, it will only bring bloodshed. And your involvement will bring further wrath upon what's left of your clan. Surely you don't want that."

She scowled. "Why must men fight to settle their differences? Why can't you settle disputes some other way?"

"Because men like Leod Macpherson and his ilk don't understand the meaning of such an action. Nor will they be bound by an agreement not made through a show of force."

She flinched, her memories of Leod's methods only too clear in her mind. One more reason to leave Scotland. "Like Edward of England and Robert the Bruce."

"Aye, and your own father. John Comyn betrayed Bruce, didn't keep his promise. 'Tis your father who brought shame and poverty and homelessness upon you, not Bruce."

"My father had a legitimate birthright to the throne."

"Aye, and despite his enmity with Bruce, they made a pact, an alliance in order to oust Edward of England from the Scottish throne. An alliance your father chose to betray. Bruce and his wife barely escaped with their lives."

"You don't know what was said between them that day."

"I was there, Gwenyth. I heard and saw what happened."

"Bruce stabbed my father." She held back tears.

"Aye, he did. After your father drew his dirk."

She stared at him, silent in the face of the awful reality Adam dared to voice.

"I am sorry for your father's death and that my king was the means to it. John Comyn's death set off the events that may well take our country to the brink of destruction."

He came to stand before her. "One thing you should have learned from your family's painful lesson. A man's worda"or a woman'sa"is his most important possession. 'Tis all I have, and I will not go back on it. Ever."

Adam's pa.s.sionate words stirred Gwenyth. "You would die to keep your word?"

"Aye. And if I should die, Daron will protect you." He paused for a moment. "I will make a good husband, if you let me."

"I'd rather join a nunnery."

He looked as if she'd slapped him. "You don't mean it."

"I do. I have seen enough. I want no part of being a wife to any man." Even one as handsome as the laird of Clan Chattan.

He paced away and back again. "It grieves me to hear you say that, Gwenyth. But your talk of nunneries is naught but idle chatter. Bluntly put, your value as a breeder of future kings would overrule your delicate sensibilities."

"How dare you speak to me thus?"

"I dare it because it's true. If I let you go to Edward, the minute you present him with an heir, he will have what he needs to muster an attack on Bruce's crown." Holding his hand before her, he used his fingers to enumerate his reasoning. "Firstly, the pope will be on Edward's side, for there is no love lost between Rome and Bruce. Secondly, your child will have legitimate claims through both parents, and thirdly, the English will back Balliol in hopes he'll prove as incompetent a king as his father. Then Scotland will be under England's thumb again." He ground his thumb into the opposite palm to ill.u.s.trate.

"But I gave my word to Edward."

"You have not willingly broken that vow, Gwenyth."

Ah, but she had, in Leod's keep. To save her life and that of an innocent man. A man who was slowly stealing her resolve and her heart.

ADAM WRESTLED with the dilemma Gwenyth presented and decided to talk with his father. He entered the room and saw that Angus seemed to be resting comfortably, for which Adam gave a silent prayer of thanks. How much longer would he be able to come to his father for advice? A cold draft swept through him as he approached his father's bedside.

"Adam. 'Tis good to see ye, lad."

Adam moved an untouched meal from the bedside before sitting down.

Angus said, "Ye look as if the weight of the world is on yer fine shoulders."

Adam grimaced. "It surely feels that way."

"Ye needn't worry. The council usually confirms the old laird's choice, especially when the alternative is someone like Leod."

"It's not that. It's Gwenyth and Daron."

"What of them?"

"I would like to give Daron some land in Altyre."

"I thought the boy wanted to live in England."

"I don't believe Daron would leave Scotland if he could find a home here."

"Those lands are a small payment if Daron's aid helps ye defeat Leod."

"You are quick to come to his side."

"Humph. I've grown fond of the maid."

" 'Tis easy enough to do," Adam mused.

Angus studied his son. "I will not stand in the way of a churched marriage between you."

Adam said nothing. Under other circ.u.mstances, Adam would have no objections either. But he resented being cast as a warden for his own wife.

"She is in need of a gentle man like yerself, and ye need someone to protect. A good arrangement. And Daron's aid can stand in for a dowry."

"I'm glad you agree, Da."