Read Online Child of the Mist by Kathleen Morgan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathleen Morgan
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were several lairds to consider, ones he'd had as tanist to deal with severely in the past. And he didn't dare discount someone who might hold a secret grudge, one he'd no way of knowing about. Yet, as thoroughly as he tried to sift through every possible motive, the spectre of the chieftainship rose above them all.
His own family. Could one of them possibly covet it enough to eliminate him as rightful heir, to become a traitor? There were several males in direct line for the eagle feathers of clan chiefhis uncle and two cousins closest of all. To add their names to the list, much less actually consider them, twisted like a dagger in Niall's gut. But consider them he did and, gradually, one name rose above the rest.
Iain. else would have better cause than Iain to see him dead? When his father had first turned ill, Niall, thanks to a faction highly in favor of Iain, had not automatically been chosen tanist. In the end the position had finally fallen to him. He'd thought Iain had accepted it but now he wondered. Perhaps, even after all these years, Iain was biding his time.
But his boyhood friend, gallant, courageous Iain? Niall flung aside the gnawing suspicions with a violent shake of his head.
Proof. He had no proof and there were others. He mustn't forget the others, like Hugh and Uncle Duncan.
But cousin Hugh, though well known to covet the chieftainship, was far too unstable to be accepted by the clan. And Duncan, though his father's brother and a strong advisor, might be considered too old to bring much long-term stability. But Iain . . . Iain was young, strong, and very capable.
Suddenly, proof or not, Niall couldn't stand the thought of Iain near anything that was his, and that included Anne. He growled a brief word of explanation to Duncan, then wheeled his mount around and rode back to join the pair.
He pulled up alongside Anne. Niall's keen glance scanned both of them before finally settling on his cousin. "Your father wishes to speak with you. Ride ahead."
Iain laughed. "Have a need to be with your lady, have you? Och, cousin, why not just come out and say it? You've never couched words so gently before."
"Ride ahead and no more o' it!"
"M'lady." Iain nodded to Anne, then urged his mount forward.
She waited until her blond companion was out of earshot, then turned to Niall. "Was it necessary to be so rude? He only tried to keep me company, to distract me from my sorrow."
Niall snorted disdainfully. "And did he now? I think he sniffs a little too closely at what's not his."
Indignation surged through Anne. "Why, you crude, churlish knave! We may be handfasted, but I'm not some piece o' chattel you must protect from your lust-crazed warriors. And I won't abide you telling me who I may and may not take as friend. There'll be few o' those at Kilchurn as 'tis."
"Fear not, sweet lass." Niall chuckled grimly, refusing to allow her to anger him. "I've already taken steps to remedy that wee shortcoming. The rider I sent ahead will notify the castle o' our arrival. And I've' ordered a feast this eve to welcome you to the clan. So you see, you'll soon have more friends than you'll know what to do with."
"Aa feast?"
Anne swallowed hard. He thinks to unsettle me, she thought and shook her head firmly. "Pray, don't go to such trouble for my sake. There's no need to make pretenses you do not feel. 'Twill fool no one, at any rate.''
Niall clamped down hard on an angry retort. "And I say you mistake yourself, madam. All pretense aside, the only way you'll ever gain acceptance is if I accept you. The feast is but my way o' showing that. So don't turn up that haughty little nose o' yours. 'Twillna endear you at Kilchum."
I don't care"
"And I say, don't let fly what you can't call back. For better or worse, Kilchurn is your home, the Campbells your people, for the next year at least. Besides," Niall continued in a gentler tone, I don't wish you ill. You saved my life, after all, and at great expense to
His own family. Could one of them possibly covet it enough to eliminate him as rightful heir, to become a traitor? There were several males in direct line for the eagle feathers of clan chiefhis uncle and two cousins closest of all. To add their names to the list, much less actually consider them, twisted like a dagger in Niall's gut. But consider them he did and, gradually, one name rose above the rest.
Iain. else would have better cause than Iain to see him dead? When his father had first turned ill, Niall, thanks to a faction highly in favor of Iain, had not automatically been chosen tanist. In the end the position had finally fallen to him. He'd thought Iain had accepted it but now he wondered. Perhaps, even after all these years, Iain was biding his time.
But his boyhood friend, gallant, courageous Iain? Niall flung aside the gnawing suspicions with a violent shake of his head.
Proof. He had no proof and there were others. He mustn't forget the others, like Hugh and Uncle Duncan.
But cousin Hugh, though well known to covet the chieftainship, was far too unstable to be accepted by the clan. And Duncan, though his father's brother and a strong advisor, might be considered too old to bring much long-term stability. But Iain . . . Iain was young, strong, and very capable.
Suddenly, proof or not, Niall couldn't stand the thought of Iain near anything that was his, and that included Anne. He growled a brief word of explanation to Duncan, then wheeled his mount around and rode back to join the pair.
He pulled up alongside Anne. Niall's keen glance scanned both of them before finally settling on his cousin. "Your father wishes to speak with you. Ride ahead."
Iain laughed. "Have a need to be with your lady, have you? Och, cousin, why not just come out and say it? You've never couched words so gently before."
"Ride ahead and no more o' it!"
"M'lady." Iain nodded to Anne, then urged his mount forward.
She waited until her blond companion was out of earshot, then turned to Niall. "Was it necessary to be so rude? He only tried to keep me company, to distract me from my sorrow."
Niall snorted disdainfully. "And did he now? I think he sniffs a little too closely at what's not his."
Indignation surged through Anne. "Why, you crude, churlish knave! We may be handfasted, but I'm not some piece o' chattel you must protect from your lust-crazed warriors. And I won't abide you telling me who I may and may not take as friend. There'll be few o' those at Kilchurn as 'tis."
"Fear not, sweet lass." Niall chuckled grimly, refusing to allow her to anger him. "I've already taken steps to remedy that wee shortcoming. The rider I sent ahead will notify the castle o' our arrival. And I've' ordered a feast this eve to welcome you to the clan. So you see, you'll soon have more friends than you'll know what to do with."
"Aa feast?"
Anne swallowed hard. He thinks to unsettle me, she thought and shook her head firmly. "Pray, don't go to such trouble for my sake. There's no need to make pretenses you do not feel. 'Twill fool no one, at any rate.''
Niall clamped down hard on an angry retort. "And I say you mistake yourself, madam. All pretense aside, the only way you'll ever gain acceptance is if I accept you. The feast is but my way o' showing that. So don't turn up that haughty little nose o' yours. 'Twillna endear you at Kilchum."
I don't care"
"And I say, don't let fly what you can't call back. For better or worse, Kilchurn is your home, the Campbells your people, for the next year at least. Besides," Niall continued in a gentler tone, I don't wish you ill. You saved my life, after all, and at great expense to
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