"Did ye' talk to the king about the MacLeods?"

He looked up at Brodrick, a man he'd known since they were but bairns. The darkness in the hall cast shadows over his face, and it was just how it should have been. The windows were covered and the only source of light came from the candles and the fire in the hearth. Though it was spring, the Highlands became chilly. With the two children that were now running around his keep, he didn't want his keep to be an ice block.

Kane grunted. "Every time I come in contact with the king, we talk of those bastards."

"Ye' didn't tell him about the latest attack?" The two of them were in the hall, watching the maids return it to its original glory, and drinking some ale. He didn't normally turn to the spirits, and after his brilliant plan on his way home, he'd thought he was done with them. But now things were different.

Very, very different.

"The king will no’ understand these matters," he said, knowing it was the truth. The king never understood. Just like the rest of the Lowlanders, he had no notion of what it took to be a chieftain, thinking it only fun and games. That opinion coming from a man who ruled far more lands than Kane was irritating, and also one of the contributing reasons why he didn't bother the king with the MacLeods.

The MacLeods, however, didn't think twice about running to the higher power.

Like right now.

"They're trying to gain the other clans’ favor," Brodrick said. "The Blacks haven't sided with them, but the Campbells have."

Kane set down the chalice.

"Why the hell would they be finding allies? Everything is over. As far as I’m concerned, the wars are done.”

"They donna think it's over," Brodrick said. "Black sent his son here with the warning."

"Ye' can't be serious."

"Unfortunately, I am. The McGregors are coming to talk to you about the feud within a sennight, as well. I do not think the clans are taking well to being petitioned like this." The McGregors were long-time allies of Shaw. Laird McGregor had been the one to pick-up the pieces for Kane after his father's death. Kane knew without a doubt in his mind who the McGregors were siding with.

"I donna even want this," Kane growled, swiping a hand over his face. "The Campbells are the second largest clan in the Highlands. To go to war with them would be... God damnit. The MacLeod men need to realize that this is over."

Brodrick gave him an arched look. "I had expected ye' to be happy about this. They've been asking for it since the day your sister was betrothed to Hans Grayham, and ye've not been so chaste about battle lately."

"I had planned to be done with it all. Marrying Blaine was to be a cure-all for the clans." He didn’t elaborate. Brodrick stared at him. The story of how the Shaws had almost become extinct by the king’s decree was well-known.

"Why would the Campbells side with MacLeod, is what I'm wondering," Brodrick mused. "If it hadn't been for the Campbell's hot-headedness, Helen would be here today. The Campbell’s are the last people I'd expect the MacLeods to ally themselves with."

"The MacLeods are weak. They haven't been to a proper battle since my parent's marriage. The only clan strong enough to have a fighting chance against us is the Campbells."

"Aye, but we have the McGregors on our side. The fight has already been won."

"Something tells me that MacLeod does no’ think everything is settled. He's desperate if he's going to Campbell. He's the reason my mother was sent away in the first place."

"I feel like there's something more to this than MacLeod craving blood," Brodrick bit out. They shared a look. Kane couldn't help but to agree with him. MacLeod knew who the greater force was.

Could the king be siding with them again? Though Kane and King James were 'friends'—he used the term lightly, especially after the recent events—the king was always a lover of drama.

"I say we cut them down before they can attack. I donna want my family being put in danger because Alasdair has grown soft in the head."

"Aye," Kane agreed. "But what of the Campbells? Ye' said the McGregors were coming within a sennight. Campbell might have the patience it requires to start an effective battle, but the MacLeods do no’."

"Mayhap less than a sennight. His squire arrived a couple of days ago with news that McGregor was approaching fast.” Brodrick paused. "Ye donna think the McGregors are concerned about this, do ye'?" His question held a subtle meaning that was not lost to Kane.

"This battle will not be as bloody as you fear. I can send to the king—"

"I suspect the MacLeods have already done so, and I know ye' do too, my laird. Though he's your friend, he has always catered to the MacLeods."

"Like anyone would for whiny dirt mongers," Kane grunted.

"Aye, well, the MacLeods are a bunch of wee, undeveloped lassies. They wave their swords around with the vigor of a bairn with a feather. It does just as much damage."

Kane laughed. "You're correct. Truly, if we were to leave now, just the two of us, we would reach MacLeod land in less than a night."

"I donna see the point of us walking out of the lion's den when there are plenty a lass to be found. Ye' haven't taken a moment to yourself in the whole last moon. What could we be leavin' here for if the McGregors are coming?"

Kane grinned. "A little bloody foreplay never hurt anyone."

"Were ye’ no’ just saying ye' didn't want this?" Brodrick said, shaking his auburn head. "Now yer wantin' to play with the girls across the creek? Och, poor Kane. Yer starting to contradict yerself, my friend. Mayhap I should try for lairdship. That way it would be women galore, instead of all this bloodshed."

Kane snorted, then pushed the ale away from him with a rueful shake of his head. "It takes a certain kind of man to be put in my position and not lose his head."

"You've already succumbed to the madness. It's my turn now," Brodrick said, laughing.

If it had been any other man speaking to him like this, Kane could guarantee that they wouldn't make it away from the table without a black eye. Fortunately for Brodrick, they'd been friends since they were wee lads. Kane knew that Brodrick did not envy him his responsibilities. As far as Kane knew, no one in the clan would dare try him. The feud with the MacLeods was too much of a threat.

The MacLeods were a bunch of cowards looking for handouts. Besides their feeble attempts at attacks and riling Kane to retaliate, they were not a threat. A bee held more promise of danger than that sorry lot.

A sharp, feminine voice jerked him out of his thoughts. The look on Brodrick’s face made him raise a brow.

"Saeran!" the voice snapped. He recognized it as Blaine Sinclair's voice. The irritation in her voice made him frown. One of the maids, one he'd never seen before, came rushing by him. "I swear, he gets on my nerves so much that I feel as if my head will explode."

"Aye, my lady," the servant murmured. Bowing her head, she held Lady Blaine's hand to help her with the final steps.

"She does that," Brodrick said, almost bitterly. "Has the servants help her with every little thing. The last steps of the stairs, lifting a pot. 'Tis like the lady canna support herself." Kane grunted, watching the woman. He finally got a good look at her.

She was quite...thick. Not lean like her brother or small, either. She had black hair that was nearly white with powder. The only reason he could tell that it was black was because there was a spot on her head that had been missed. He wondered if she knew it was there.

Her gown was a deep red, and jewelry lined her neck. Even her fingers wore jewels. He imagined it was hard for her to bend them. She stopped chattering about Saeran the moment she saw him studying her. A splotchy blush rose up her chest to her cheeks.

"My lord!" she said, walking towards him. His lips pressed, and he looked down at his ale.

"Ye' get the same feeling from her that I do, don't ye?" Brodrick muttered. He nodded his head to Kane, then stood. "I'll leave ye' to it, then."

Kane watched his long-time friend, a man he'd been to battle with countless times, run away from the large, red-faced lady who was striding towards him as if she owned the place. If he were honest with himself, this wasn't how he wanted his day to go.

Talk about the clans, find out who the golden nymph swimming in his creek was, and avoid talking to Blaine at all costs. That had been his plan. Now that there was only one sister to deal with, his plan felt foolish—but he was not ready to marry, especially with this lady. She wasn't the bonny girl the king had claimed her to be.

She was a viper with a poisoned tongue.

Aye, he definitely wasn’t going to marry the chit. Alas, he still had to get her to say yes to the betrothal.

"I've been meaning to talk to you!" she exclaimed, sitting next to him.

"Have ye'?" he muttered, grabbing the chalice that he'd just pushed away.

"Oh, yes. My brother and I had planned to go to the market today—"

"For?"

She blinked, her thick eyebrows turning downward. "Excuse me?" It was as though she was shocked that he was questioning her. He didn't care in the slightest. This was his home, and his pocket was paying for whatever she was planning on doing. He was sure the king's payment wouldn't cover the make-over she seemed to want for his estate.

"I asked what ye' were going to the market for. 'Tis not a hard concept to understand, woman."

Her cheeks turned red. "Excuse me, my lord, but I fail to see—"

"My keep. My pocket. My rules. If yer planning to get more maids and rushes, ye' better think otherwise." He took a swig of his ale, then slammed the empty chalice onto the wooden table. She stood at the sound.

"I do not appreciate being spoken to as if I am a simpleton, my lord," she snapped. Now he knew why the king's dowry for this girl was so large—she didn't know her place.

"And I donna appreciate having my home upturned without my wishes. Where is yer brother?" he asked, watching the drawn look come over her face.

"He was supposed to be right behind me..." She looked over her shoulder. Her face turned red when she found he wasn't. Who could blame him? If Kane had to listen to Annalise complain about the way he breathed air, he'd have been fine if someone stole her away, too.

He frowned down at the lass. Why would Saeran want to stay here if his sister was only going to berate him? His lips pressed.

"Aye, well, yer brother will be quite busy with me and—"

"No, no," she said quickly, sternly. "That simply won't do. He is my companion while I'm here. He should be by my side every second."

"It was my understanding that he was to be a squire of mine. Do ye' happen to know the duties of a squire, my lady?" he asked mockingly. Her thin, red lips tightened until they disappeared completely. Kane was not often a superficial man, but it appeared to him that Blaine Sinclair was as ugly on the outside as she was on the inside.

He'd heard plenty about her, seen enough of her, and if Brodrick didn't like her? Well, he also knew enough about her from just that. He was glad he'd thought of a plan to get out of the king's ridiculous contract. He wasn’t afraid to admit that he didn't want a thing to do with Blaine. His gut never lied, and Blaine Sinclair did not make an exception.