Read Online Highland Seer by Willa Blair - Free Book Online Page A

the man or hide a blaze he’d kept from her so far?
    Though she fought to remain calm, Ellie could feel the heat of a blush beginning to stain her cheeks.
    Donal raised one eyebrow.
    Good. Let him think her color arose from anger over his and Bram’s actions, not from the desire that flooded her when she looked upon him. He’d learn, they’d all learn, to tread carefully where she was concerned. She might be a woman, aye, but never a helpless maid.
    Laird. She must be laird now, to school these massive warriors to her way of thinking.
    “I accept yer apology,” she answered Jamie. “I’ll take yer bond that this willna happen again, or the negotiation will be over and ye’ll be on yer way back to yer laird without MacKyrie.”
    Ellie hid a smile as Jamie nudged Bram and Donal, arrayed on either side of him. “Sorry we are, as well,” Bram added.
    “Aye.”
    She waited, but it appeared Donal had nothing else to say on the matter.
    With a sniff, she turned her attention to Micheil. A moment passed before the intent behind her pointed stare sank past his wounded pride.
    “I regret my actions, Laird. It willna happen again...” He paused for a moment.
    She caught the glint in his eye, as if he considered adding “in the hall” but quickly thought better of it. She frowned at him.
    He closed his mouth and studied the floor.
    “Very well. We’ll put that behind us.” She took her seat to signal an end to the lecture. “But it does bring the matter of the treaty to mind. What would have happened if this incident”—and here she paused and gave each of them one more scathing look—“had instead been an invasion? The battle wouldha been lost before help could reach us.”
    “If an invader managed to break into yer keep, aye. But if ye saw an invader approaching yer gates, ye could send for help from the clans nearby.”
    “The clans nearby are likely to be the invaders at the gate,” Micheil muttered.
    Ellie nodded. “Micheil speaks rightly. I see little value in this treaty as it applies to us. But I do see a way I could be persuaded to sign.”
    It amused her to see Jamie perk up, standing straighter with a hint of his usual joviality returning to his face.
    “I’d be pleased to ken what that is, Laird,” he replied with a smile.
    A charmer, this one. No matter. Either he would agree or they would continue to talk until she convinced him of her seriousness. She supposed she should allow them to sit down. But nay, let them continue to stand before her. It would serve as a reminder that she was in charge. That they were not equals. She sat straighter and took a breath. Time to cast the dice, while she had the advantage. “I require Donal McNabb’s services for a period of at least a year, better two, to train up my lads so we willna be dependent on the assistance of other clans. If ye’re willing to consider my condition, then we have something to discuss.”
    Jamie’s smile had disappeared while she talked. Donal’s eyes had widened and his lips had parted, like he’d taken a punch to the gut. Surprised, certainly. Perhaps even shocked. He looked pale, until the red started creeping back into his skin. Aye, he’d told her he did not plan to stay. She regretted surprising him in this way, but if Jamie could order it, she wanted him to do it. She counted on his sense of honor to give her what she wanted.
    Donal turned to Jamie.
    For a moment, Ellie held her breath. If he revealed that she’d already approached him about this and he’d turned her down, Jamie might refuse her demand.
    Jamie glanced at Donal, then shook his head.
    Donal’s jaw clenched but he remained silent.
    “Ye ask much, Laird MacKyrie, to keep the Lathan arms master for a year or more.”
    Ellie leaned forward to look Jamie in the eye. “Ye ask much of clan MacKyrie, to sign a treaty to defend ourselves and the other signatories with no more fighting force than we currently possess. If ye wish a strong alliance, ye must help