Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“That may be difficult when no one is talking,” Parlan said.
“We’re talking,” William said, raising his goblet.
Royden liked William, Oria’s da and Chieftain of the Clan MacGlennen. He was a strong leader and not afraid to speak his mind or take up arms when necessary. He expected obedience from those who served him and from his daughter, though he’d always been fair to her, and Oria never complained about him. He was a bit older than Royden’s da, not as tall, and thick in the waist, though solid. He wore his gray hair short since he seemed to be losing most of it, and he had sharp brown eyes that Royden thought saw through everything when he’d been young. Now Royden realized that William was observant, catching all that went on around him.
“But we’ve made no mention of it to others,” Parlan said.
“I did ask Thurbane to join us, but he declined and warned me to be careful,” William said.
Royden caught the way his da’s brow wrinkled for a mere second.
“That might not have been wise,” William,” Parlan said.
“I only said we were getting together as we’ve done before,” William argued in defense of his action.
“Most of those times we met were when problems needed to be sorted out,” Parlan reminded. “And sorted them we did. It helped settle disputes among clans without going to battle and helped gather clans together when battle was necessary.”
“Thurbane is a loyal friend. He wouldn’t betray us, besides, there’s nothing to betray. We meet and talk,” William argued.
“You forget he is among the enemy now,” Arran reminded. “When with the enemy, there is no telling what one will do to survive or get free.”
“If he does betray his friends and neighbors, he’ll suffer the consequences for it,” William said. “But right now, we need to do whatever must be done to protect our clans and land.” He looked to Royden. “You must marry my daughter right away. I won’t see her forced to wed a stranger.”
“I won’t let that happen. Oria will wed no one but me,” Royden assured him determined to see it done.”
“Has anyone heard anything from Chieftain Burnell of the Clan Learmonth?” Arran asked.
“The old fool is safe enough from this mess. No one would want his useless land,” William said dismissively.
“Maybe, but strategically he sits well. You can see the whole surrounding area, which would work well for anyone wanting to plan attacks on local clans,” Arran said.
“I’m sure the old fool does well,” William said, his glance going to Royden, Arran, and finally coming to rest on Parlan. “The question is, what do we do now?”
“I want to send a discreet missive to a friend in Edinburgh who is often at the King’s castle and see what he can tell me,” Parlan said.
“That will take time, Parlan, and we may not have time,” William said.
“True enough, but we know nothing of our enemy, not who it is or the size of the foe we fight. Right now it is only your clan and mine and we don’t know if that is enough to defeat our unknown enemy,” Parlan said.
“I suppose then we know what we must do first,” William said.
“Find out the identity of our enemy,” Arran said.
“Don’t you ever get the desire to pick up a sword and see how it must feel to fight an opponent?” Raven asked and hurried over to the stack of wooden practice swords near the empty practice field and scooped one up.
Oria laughed. “Actually, when I was young I thought about it, and I foolishly tried to wield my da’s sword one day. I cut my foot, leaving me with a small scar I barely think about. However, I do think about the thrashing my da gave me which convinced me never to pick up a sword again.”
“That was your da’s sword, this is a wooden one. It can’t hurt you.” Raven scooped up another wooden sword and handed it to Oria. “Come on it will be fun and your da won’t find out.”
Oria couldn’t resist, especially with Raven’s encouragement. She envied Raven’s bravery. She wished she had the courage to speak up to her da on occasion. He decided everything for her, except Royden, he had been her choice. Though, it made it easier that Royden had fit in with what her da had planned for her, to wed into a clan that would benefit him. A marriage to Royden would give him just that.
She hoped Raven continued to remain brave as she got older, not that they were that far apart in age, Oria being three years older than Raven. She wondered, sometimes hoped, that by having Raven as a sister once she wed Royden, that she would gain some of the young lass’s courage.
“Let’s battle,” Raven challenged and swung at Oria.