Mairin turned and smiled to the other woman. “Do come in, Rionna. I’m sure you must be fatigued from your travel. You can sit by me at the table and we can become acquainted.”
Rionna offered a faltering smile of her own and allowed Mairin to take her arm to lead her inside.
The meal was a lively affair. Laird McDonald was a loud, boisterous man, and he ate with an enthusiasm that appalled Mairin. Why, if she had to feed this man on a regular basis, the McCabe hunters would be hunting night and day with no rest in between.
Gertie frowned her disapproval as she refilled the laird’s trencher for the third time. Mairin caught her eye and shook her head. It wouldn’t do to insult the laird.
The talk centered around mundane topics. Hunting. Raiding. Concerns over protection of their borders. After a while, Mairin tuned out, struggling to suppress the yawn that threatened to overtake her.
She tried in vain to engage Rionna in conversation, but the lass focused on her food and kept her head down during the entire meal.
When finally the men were finished eating, Ewan caught Mairin’s eye, and she rose to excuse herself from the table. The time had come for the men to discuss whatever they discussed in meetings like this, and they no doubt had no desire for women to be present.
She thought to invite Rionna outside to take a stroll about the keep and perhaps indulge in play with the children, but as soon as Mairin excused herself from the table, Rionna hastened away.
With a shrug, Mairin went in search of Crispen.
When the women departed the hall, Laird McDonald nodded toward Ewan. “Your wife does you proud. The meal was magnificent and the welcome was warm.”
“My wife is a credit to our clan,” Ewan agreed.
“I was dismayed to hear of your marriage,” the laird continued. “I had hopes of a match between you and Rionna. It would seal an alliance and bind our clans.”
Ewan lifted his brow but didn’t say anything. He eyed McDonald to see where he was going with the current conversation.
McDonald looked over at Alaric and Caelen before returning his gaze to Ewan.
“I would speak plainly with you, Ewan.”
Ewan motioned for his men to leave the table. Alaric and Caelen remained behind along with Ewan, Laird McDonald, and a few of his men who stood to the side.
“I want this alliance,” McDonald said.
Ewan pressed his lips together in thought. “Tell me, Gregor, why do you seek this alliance? Goodwill is not something I associate with our relationship since my father’s death. And yet, you were loyal to him and he to you.”
McDonald sighed and leaned back in his seat, his hands covering his protruding middle. “ ’Tis necessary now. Duncan Cameron threatens my holding. We’ve become embroiled in a few skirmishes over the last months. I think he’s testing the might of my army, and I’ll be honest, we’ve not faired well in the battles m" wid19;ve fought.”
“Son of a bitch,” Ewan muttered. “Your lands adjoin Neamh Álainn. The bastard is planning for the day he thinks to take over Mairin’s lands.”
“Aye, and I can’t hold him off by myself.”
“What are you proposing? ’Tis obvious I can’t marry your daughter.”
“Nay,” McDonald said, drawing out his words. Then he looked over at Alaric. “But he can.”
CHAPTER 25
Alaric nearly choked on his ale. Caelen looked relieved that McDonald’s remark hadn’t been intended for him, but he glanced sideways at his brother with sympathy written all over his face.
Ewan shot Alaric a warning look and turned his attention back to McDonald.
“Why is it so important that we seal this alliance with marriage? Surely there are important enough factors at work that we would ally ourselves for the common good.”
“Rionna is my heir. My only heir. I have no sons to take over when I die. The man she marries must be willing to assume the duties of laird as well as be strong enough to protect the holding from threats like Duncan Cameron. If our clans are allied not only through agreement but marriage, your loyalty to your brother won’t allow you to ever break with our agreement.”
Ewan stiffened and glared at the older man, outraged by the insult. “Are you saying my word isn’t good?”
“Nay, I’m saying I would feel more secure in the alliance if there were more at stake than mutual protection. I don’t want my lands in the hands of a man like Duncan Cameron. He’s a greedy, power-hungry bastard who’d betray his own mother to further his cause.
“There are rumors, Ewan, more now than ever, that Duncan plots against the king. And I’ve heard that he might throw in his lot with Malcolm to support another uprising against the throne.”
Ewan drummed his fingers on the table and looked again at Alaric, who wore what could only be described as a pained look of resignation.
“I’ll have to speak to my brothers. I won’t make any decision that affects Alaric without hearing his thoughts on the matter.”
McDonald nodded. “Of course. I would expect no less. Separately, we are strong clans. But together we would be a force to be reckoned with. Think you the McLauren clan would join in our cause?”
The McLauren clan, though small, did have well-trained soldiers. Together with the McCabes and the McDonalds, they would form a formidable alliance that would only be strengthened when the McCabes controlled Neamh Álainn.
“Aye, they will,” Ewan replied. “With the three of us united, it might sway Douglas to our side. He controls the lands north and west of Neamh Álainn.”
“If we plant the idea of Duncan Cameron sniffing around Neamh Álainn, he’ll come around fast enough,” McDonald said. “He alone can’t stand up to a force like Cameron, but with us, Cameron doesn’t stand a chance against our might.”
“Duncan Cameron doesn’t stand a chance against me,” Ewan said softly.
McDonald’s eyebrow lifted in surprise. “That’s a heavy boast, Ewan. You don’t have his numbers.”
Ewan smiled. “My men are better trained. They’re stronger. They’re more disciplined. I don’t look to this alliance to defeat Cameron. I’ll defeat him with or without allies. I look to alliances to cement the future.”
At McDonald’s disbelieving look, Ewan leaned back in his seat. “Would you care for a demonstration, Gregor? Perhaps you’d like to view firsthand those you ally yourself with.”
McDonald’s eyes narrowed. “What sort of demonstration?”
“Your best men against my best men.”
A slow smile spread across the older man’s face. “I like a good contest, I do. You’re on. What shall we wager?”
“Food,” Ewan said. “Three months’ store of meat and spices.”
“God’s teeth, you drive a hard bargain. I can’t afford to part with that kind of bounty.”
“If you’re concerned about losing, we can of course call off the contest.”