Page 3 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
“I can give you that,” Raeb confirmed.
“Excellent, when can you leave?”asked Rhuad.
“I cannot,” her brother said.
“I’m sorry I don’t understand.Won’t your men need your leadership?”
“Under normal circumstances that is true.However, my wife is within a month of delivering our first child, and I promised I would be at her side.I will not break that promise to her.”
Rhuad frowned.
Would he blame a man for keeping a promise to his wife?
“Do you think they would follow me?”Sir Dougal queried.“I was once their captain.”
“But you are not captain now, nor are you part of the MacKai household.Some of the men feel betrayed that you left us to seek greater fortune,” her brother asserted.
“But I had to do that.You said...”
“I know what I said, but I cannot control what other men think or feel.No, I will have to send my seneschal with you.”
Seona clenched her jaw to keep it from dropping open.
“That should work,” stated Rhuad.“A laird’s steward is his direct representative and speaks in his name.”
“Then it is decided.Will you remain the night with us?We celebrate the feast of St.Valentine tomorrow and would welcome you as our guests.
“As it is late, we would appreciate shelter for the night.However, I cannot find it in me to celebrate while my mother and sister languish imprisoned.”
He foregoes entertainment in sympathy with his family.That is not consistent with the flirtatious lover of japery I met before.Much has happened in the years since I last saw MacFearann.Perhaps I would be wise to hold my opinion of the man in abeyance pending greater evidence of his character.
“I understand.”Raeb signaled for one of the knights guarding the keep doors.“Guillam,” he said when the man drew near.“Please see our guests settled for the night.Chambers within the keep are available for both.”
“I know whereof you speak, my lord.I will see it done.Lord MacFearann, Sir Dougal follow me, please.”
Seona stood when the men rose.
“Stay a while sister.I wish to speak with you about all of this.”Raeb gestured toward the departing figures.
“Very well.”She settled back onto the bench and smoothed her unwrinkled skirts.“Let’s begin with how you think I, as your seneschal, will get your men to listen to my orders.”
“I will order them to do so before they leave.A seneschal speaks with a laird’s voice in his absence.The men know this, but I will remind them of it and of the consequences should they fail to obey you.”
“And those consequences are?”
“Dismissal from MacKai service along with loss of armor, sword, shield, and of course any MacKai steeds.As all our knights are mounted on MacKai blacks that would be all the man’s horses.”
“I will certainly say the words dismissing a man should it be necessary.However, I doubt I could force any man to leave all knightly gear.”
“You will have Dougal with you to enforce your orders.”
“Sir Dougal is no longer part of our household, and as you pointed out, does not owe fealty to you or me.”
Raeb smiled.“However, he wishes to wed Maeve.He’ll support you, if for no other reason than to remain in my good favor.Although, I suspect he would enforce your orders simply because he is a good man.”
Seona considered what she knew of Sir Dougal Aitken.“Given our past experience with Dougal, I must agree.I wish that the same were true of Laird MacFearann.”
“MacFearann proved his worth when he aided in the capture of his brother.I know from my own involvement in that affair that arresting his brother and seeing Ranulf banished hurt Rhuad greatly.”
