Exhausted, Malcolm and Keith waited in the outer chamber for an audience with the council. These men knew little of anything besides lining their pockets and flaunting their power. Regardless, Malcolm needed their support so he swallowed any disdain he felt towards them.

“They’ll never support us.”

“Hold your tongue, Keith. I will make a good enough argument and they will see reason. They do not wish to see two prominent clans continue to tear one another to shreds.”

“Maybe not, but we are not their priority.”

It was true King James was more concerned with his newly acquired kingdom of all of Britain. Well, that and his continued obsession with witchcraft, leaving the plight of the clans in the north to the council to oversee. Fat and lazy, they did nothing useful.

“If they do not, I will return and we will rise up against my father. What other choice do I have?”

Keith whistled. “I am not sure which is the harder task.”

Malcolm grinned. “Nor I.”

A large wooden door swung wide and a short, stuffy-looking man motioned for them to follow. They were brought to a large room the size of the hall at Knock Castle with ten chairs positioned in a straight row atop a dais.

This day, only seven of the chairs were occupied. Enough for a majority, should a vote be deemed necessary.

“State your business with the council,” the wee man said.

“My name is Malcolm MacDonald, my lords. I seek your assistance with the current feud between our clan and the MacLeods.”

Them mumbled amongst themselves. “You need our help?” Another council member leaned forward. “Have they stolen too many of your sheep, MacDonald?”

The others laughed. Malcolm was not impressed. He hadn’t expected much better, but he kept his temper in check. If they agreed, the whole mess could be sorted to everyone’s satisfaction and most importantly, their safety.

“You know as well as I the feud between our clans has been escalating these last two years. The recent battles, set about by my father, have left the MacLeods devastated. If you do not intervene, there will be nothing left of either clan to govern.”

His words sobered them. Good.

A tall, lean man with an angular face leaned forward. “As Lord Chancellor here, I have the authority to help, but what can I do? You have been chipping away at one another for decades. Exactly what is it you want?”

“I want both lairds forced into peaceful negotiation. Believe me when I say, there are entire towns laid to waste because of this feud and it will only get worse. I left dozens of MacLeod prisoners in my father’s dungeon and in his hands, and I do not wish to see any more carnage.”

The Lord Chancellor approached Malcolm. He had a shrewd look about him which Malcolm took comfort in. Hopefully he would listen to reason.

“Tell me what brought on this recent battle.”

“It all started with the handfasting between the MacLeod’s sister and my father. It was an attempt to find a peaceful solution. I believe both chiefs entered into it with good intentions. But as the months went by and she did not grow fat with child, my father became enraged with her. She was not treated well at his hand, my Lord Chancellor. And when ’twas all over, she was returned to the MacLeod in an undignified manner. He abused her and set to humiliate her.”

“And I take it the MacLeod did not respond well?”

“He did not and we have been at war with them ever since. My father has reduced them bit-by-bit and this latest attack has caused far too many losses of innocent life. It was a proper bloodbath, my lord. None of us will survive another.”

“You are his son. Surely, he will listen to you.”

“No my lord, he will not. My companion is the only reason I am not imprisoned with the other MacLeods at the moment.”

The Lord Chancellor’s brows drew up in surprise. “He imprisoned his own son? You challenged him?”

“Aye, I did. I have taken the MacLeod’s daughter as my wife and he has threatened her as well.”

“You’ve taken her? Unwillingly?”

“At first she was taken as a prisoner when I thought her common, but once I discovered who she was I set about to protect her from my father. Considering his treatment of her aunt, I did not expect her to fare well at his hands.”

“I agree with your assessment on that count.”

“The only way I determined I could protect her was to marry her. My father was furious, and I ended up in the dungeon and she locked in her chamber. I must implore you to make haste in your decision to assist me. I intend to return to see to her safety the moment we conclude our discussion.”

The Lord Chancellor nodded. “I see the urgency in your problem, MacDonald.” He turned to the other members of the council. “Do we need to vote? Or shall I direct the two lairds in question to be taken into custody until peaceful negotiations can begin?”

Malcolm did not breathe while the other six men chatted amongst themselves. After what felt like a lifetime later, they spoke up one-by-one and agreed the chiefs must surrender to a particular nobleman.

“How soon can this happen?”

“I will send word immediately.” The Lord Chancellor motioned to the man who had led them into the chamber. “Have a scribe attend me straight away.” The man nodded and scuttled away.

“I thank you my Lord Chancellor. I admit I was not certain how this would go.”

“You have your priorities straight, MacDonald. I only wish more chiefs thought like you.”

“My lord?”

“As of this moment, you will act as chief while your father is taken into custody. You will attend all negotiations and ensure your clan understands the feuding ends once and for all. It is an easy task to take two men into custody, MacDonald. But do you really believe you are up for the task of convincing all your clansmen the feud is over?”

Whether he was or wasn’t, he had no choice but to see it through. He would do everything in his power to restore peace to the people for whom he was responsible.

“Aye, my Lord Chancellor. I will see it done.”

* * *

Picking at the food on her trencher, Sheona tried to remain calm, but with every passing second that Malcolm did not appear, she thought the worst. He was gone.

The old laird sat across from her, devouring a platter of roast boar. His face was wet with grease and she could scarce look at him.

“You must eat to keep your strength up, Lady MacDonald.” His words and tone were designed to mock. He did not wish to see her well—he only wished to torment her.

“I am not hungry, my lord.”

He slammed his hand down on the table. “When your laird tells you to do something, you do it!”

She jumped.

Ask him why the carrots are cold.

Sheona jumped again. She’d not heard the White Lady’s voice since the chamber upstairs—it gave her courage.

Ask him.

“Why are the carrots cold, my lord?”

He stopped chewing and stared at her. “What did you say?”

“The carrots, they are cold. I wondered why.”

MacDonald sat up straighter and looked around, but didn’t answer her.

Inside her head, the White Lady giggled. Was her intention to unhinge him?

Ask him if he will fill your goblet with sweet wine.

Sheona wasn’t sure what the outcome would be for taunting such a man, but if anything would give her an upper hand she’d try it.

“Will you fill my goblet with sweet wine, my lord?”

He slammed his own on the table. “Who told you to ask me that?” The vein in his temple throbbed and he gritted his teeth.

Was poking an angry bear a smart thing to do? Sheona wasn’t sure how much more poking this one would take before he snapped her in half like a twig. Still, she got some satisfaction that he was as rattled as she.

Ask him to pass the sweet tarts.

Sheona thought that question sounded a little too intimate and so she shook her head.

Ask him if he will cut your meat.

“Will you cut my meat, my lord?”

With that he shoved back his chair and stood. He placed his fists on the table and glared at her. “Which servant told you to ask me that? I will have them gutted for it!”

“The servants do not speak to me, my lord, as you have ordered.”

“Then who told you?”

“No one told me, my lord.” She watched various expressions cross his face—confusion was the most prominent.

Will you ask him one more question?

Sheona couldn’t resist. For the first time since she’d been abducted, she felt like she had some tiny piece of control over what happened next. She nodded slightly.

Ask him if the bluebells yet bloom.

Sheona drew in a deep breath. That question was more specific that the rest and somehow she knew he would guess as to its origin.

He stared at her and waited, as though he knew another question rested on her lips. His eyes were wide, expectant.

“May I ask you something else, my lord?”

He swallowed and nodded.

“Do the bluebells yet bloom?” Her question was but a whisper.

His mouth dropped open and he turned pale. Sheona waited for his outburst, but it did not come. Instead, he sat back down in his seat and continued to stare at her. Over the next few moments, his expression went from stern to something much softer, a hint of a memory in his moist eyes.

She’d done it! The White Lady’s questions had diffused the man. And so they sat staring at one another until the servants approached and enquired about removing the uneaten food. Sheona did not fear his vile intentions at the moment, but she still could not stomach a morsel of food in her knotted belly.

After an age, he rose and walked toward the stone hearth just behind the table. He placed his hand on the wall above it and stared into its depths. Sheona waited. What else could she do? If she moved at all she would draw his attention and that was the last thing she wanted even in his pensive state.

One more question.

Sheona shook her head. She was not about to tempt fate and the quiet contemplation she’d caused in him.

You must ask him.

Again Sheona shook her head, this time harder. All she wanted was to return to her chamber and escape into the safety of the secret passage and away from him.

“Who told you about my wife?”

His voice startled her. “No one, my lord.”

He turned back toward her. “Why do you ask me her questions?”

“I was not aware they were anyone’s questions, my lord. Merely things that came to mind.”

His eyes narrowed. “Very well. You may return to your chamber. Do not think to escape as it will be guarded.”

Sheona didn’t need any further coaxing; she was up and across the great hall in quick strides. Four clansmen followed and she smiled, noting Hamish and Connor among them.

Once in her chamber, her heart soared as she was ushered inside alone. As soon as the bolt slid into place outside, she rushed to the wall and pressed the stone to open the secret door. She slipped inside and pressed the stone on the floor to close the wall.

Sheona let out a heavy sigh. For the first time in hours she felt somewhat safe. She slid down the wall and pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around them and waited.