Page 106 of Desire's Ransom
Noble Cambeal nodded. “Aye.”
“Aye,” Ryland’s man, Adam, replied. Then a mischievous twinkle came into his eyes. “What about you two?” He swept an appreciative glance over Temair.
Temair would have bitten off his head, but Ryland intervened.
“Look at my bride like that again, brother,” he said, “and I won’t be responsible for her actions.”
“What?” Adam said, puzzled.
Temair straightened with pride. So this was Ryland’s brother? She doubted he was half the man Ryland was.
“Now,” Ryland continued, “we have to work together. I’ll need you all to cooperate.”
Sorcha held up her hand. “Wait a moment, de Ware. Ye’re not in charge o’ the woodkerns.”
Before Ryland could answer, one of his knights shot to his feet. “Hold your tongue, old woman. Do you know who you’re addressing?”
“Wait a bloody moment!” Ronan pushed away from the tree he was leaning on. “Do ye know whoye’readdressin’? That’s the lovely woman who made the ale ye’re drinkin’!” He muttered into his black beard, “Bloody bastard.”
“I heard that!” the knight snarled.
“Ye’ll hear more than that if ye don’t show the proper respect,” Ronan said.
“Respect?” spat another knight. “To a band of knaves and scoundrels?”
Young Fergus chimed in with passionate outrage. “How dare ye insult your hosts!”
“Hosts?” scoffed the first knight. “You’re outlaws, for the love of god!”
Friar Brian bristled at that. “Don’t be takin’ the Lord’s name in vain.”
Chaos exploded then as the outlaws bickered with the knights. Even the hounds joined in with loud barking.
How would Temair ever get them to fight together? They couldn’t even sit in camp and drink ale together.
Fortunately, Ryland didn’t think it was a problem. Taking Temair by the hand, he strode into their midst and bellowed for their attention. “Silence!”
Everyone hushed, including the dogs.
“We have a challenging feat ahead of us,” he said, “one that’s going to require the courage, brains, and brawn of everyone here. We need you to set aside your differences, pledge your loyalty, and commit to working together.”
Old Sorcha turned to Temair for her approval of this plan. “Gray?”
“Temair, Temair O’Keeffe,” she corrected, straightening with pride. “Sir Ryland de Ware and his knights have promised to help me reclaim what is mine by rights. We’re goin’ to depose the chieftain and take back thetuath.”
There was one breathless moment as they digested her words.
“Now?” Young Fergus squeaked.
Ryland nodded. “Before they have time to prepare a defense.”
Aife timidly asked, “And will…we…have a place there…in yourtuath?”
Temair nodded. “Ye willalwayshave a place with me.”
The woodkerns erupted into cheers.
