laird’s daughter. She knew better than to cry over things out of her control. It didn’t make it any easier to swallow, however.
~ ~ ~
Ravensclyde Castle
Stefan sat atop his horse outside the gatehouse looking toward the border between the MacKay and Sinclair lands. The missive from Alistair MacKay had been a surprise, but a smart one, nonetheless.
A horse and rider sidled up next to Stefan. He didn’t need to look over to know it was Morcant. He, Morcant, and Ronan had been up since before dawn scouting the castle for signs of another attack.
David believed the MacKay laird, but the three of them were not so inclined.
“What are you thinking?” Morcant asked.
Stefan looked over at his friend and rubbed his jaw. He didn’t want to be meeting with a laird. He wanted to be out looking for Daman. The four of them had been cursed by a gypsy two hundred years earlier. Ronan had been the first out of his dark prison, with Morcant second out of his. Stefan had arrived just a few days ago.
All three of them had been drawn to Ravensclyde. They refused to believe it was coincidence, which is what gave them hope that Daman would be found soon.
“Stefan?” Morcant asked with a frown.
“I’m thinking of Daman.”
Morcant nodded. “I had hoped Leana would have a vision about him.”
It wasn’t only Morcant’s wife that had special abilities. Morvan was a child of the forest, able to help animals in a way no other could – and she was all Stefan’s.
“We only got to visit a few places on Sinclair land before we were called back to Ravensclyde,” Stefan said. “He could be out there waiting for us.”
Morcant shifted atop his horse. “I doona expect our meeting with The MacKay will take long. Once everything is sorted as David wants, we can get back to our hunt.”
“It was three months between Ronan getting out of his prison and your arrival.”
“We’ll find him, Stefan.”
None of them ever talked about the possibility that Daman hadn’t been cursed with them. Daman hadn’t gone into the gypsy camp with them initially, and he didn’t have the flaws the rest of them had. The only thing Daman had a problem with was asking for help.
The sound of horses approaching from behind alerted Stefan that it was time. Ronan and David drew even with them, and the four of them headed out to the border.
By marrying Meg Alpin, the cousin of Laird David Sinclair, Ronan had become Lord of Ravensclyde. It still boggled Stefan’s mind how he, Ronan, and Morcant had made a life for themselves after being cursed.
“We willna be going to war, lads,” David said.
Morcant glanced at him. “I’ll be prepared either way.”
“David believes Alistair MacKay,” Ronan repeated Morcant’s earlier words. “The marriage will bring peace.”
Stefan frowned as he glanced at the young laird. Without the two hundred year difference in their ages, David would be around their age. He was intelligent, brawny, and fierce as only a Highlander could be. “Nay. Only Donald MacKay locked in our dungeon will bring peace.”
“If Donald acted alone,” Morcant added.
David might believe the MacKay laird, but by Ronan’s tight lips, he was prepared for war, as well.
“I doona make agreements lightly,” David said and pinned Stefan with a look, his dark gray eyes intense. “I learned the truth of the MacKays. Donald is trying to oust his brother for control. Alistair is doing what any good laird would do. He’s saving his clan.”
“And you’re willing to take a bride you’ve never met?” Ronan asked.
David smiled, though it was forced. “I doona have the same luxury as you three to marry someone I love. I’m laird. I marry for alliances.”
“I wouldna think the MacKays are much of an alliance,” Stefan said.
“Their land borders mine,” David said. “If the Blairs decide they want the MacKay lands and holdings, I’ll have to prepare to go to war with them. The Blairs take whatever they want, and
~ ~ ~
Ravensclyde Castle
Stefan sat atop his horse outside the gatehouse looking toward the border between the MacKay and Sinclair lands. The missive from Alistair MacKay had been a surprise, but a smart one, nonetheless.
A horse and rider sidled up next to Stefan. He didn’t need to look over to know it was Morcant. He, Morcant, and Ronan had been up since before dawn scouting the castle for signs of another attack.
David believed the MacKay laird, but the three of them were not so inclined.
“What are you thinking?” Morcant asked.
Stefan looked over at his friend and rubbed his jaw. He didn’t want to be meeting with a laird. He wanted to be out looking for Daman. The four of them had been cursed by a gypsy two hundred years earlier. Ronan had been the first out of his dark prison, with Morcant second out of his. Stefan had arrived just a few days ago.
All three of them had been drawn to Ravensclyde. They refused to believe it was coincidence, which is what gave them hope that Daman would be found soon.
“Stefan?” Morcant asked with a frown.
“I’m thinking of Daman.”
Morcant nodded. “I had hoped Leana would have a vision about him.”
It wasn’t only Morcant’s wife that had special abilities. Morvan was a child of the forest, able to help animals in a way no other could – and she was all Stefan’s.
“We only got to visit a few places on Sinclair land before we were called back to Ravensclyde,” Stefan said. “He could be out there waiting for us.”
Morcant shifted atop his horse. “I doona expect our meeting with The MacKay will take long. Once everything is sorted as David wants, we can get back to our hunt.”
“It was three months between Ronan getting out of his prison and your arrival.”
“We’ll find him, Stefan.”
None of them ever talked about the possibility that Daman hadn’t been cursed with them. Daman hadn’t gone into the gypsy camp with them initially, and he didn’t have the flaws the rest of them had. The only thing Daman had a problem with was asking for help.
The sound of horses approaching from behind alerted Stefan that it was time. Ronan and David drew even with them, and the four of them headed out to the border.
By marrying Meg Alpin, the cousin of Laird David Sinclair, Ronan had become Lord of Ravensclyde. It still boggled Stefan’s mind how he, Ronan, and Morcant had made a life for themselves after being cursed.
“We willna be going to war, lads,” David said.
Morcant glanced at him. “I’ll be prepared either way.”
“David believes Alistair MacKay,” Ronan repeated Morcant’s earlier words. “The marriage will bring peace.”
Stefan frowned as he glanced at the young laird. Without the two hundred year difference in their ages, David would be around their age. He was intelligent, brawny, and fierce as only a Highlander could be. “Nay. Only Donald MacKay locked in our dungeon will bring peace.”
“If Donald acted alone,” Morcant added.
David might believe the MacKay laird, but by Ronan’s tight lips, he was prepared for war, as well.
“I doona make agreements lightly,” David said and pinned Stefan with a look, his dark gray eyes intense. “I learned the truth of the MacKays. Donald is trying to oust his brother for control. Alistair is doing what any good laird would do. He’s saving his clan.”
“And you’re willing to take a bride you’ve never met?” Ronan asked.
David smiled, though it was forced. “I doona have the same luxury as you three to marry someone I love. I’m laird. I marry for alliances.”
“I wouldna think the MacKays are much of an alliance,” Stefan said.
“Their land borders mine,” David said. “If the Blairs decide they want the MacKay lands and holdings, I’ll have to prepare to go to war with them. The Blairs take whatever they want, and
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