Page 71 of The Pirate Laird's Hostage

‘Bain, is it?’ sneered the King, his tone dismissive and bored. ‘I hear you were once an O’Neill, or have you forgotten that?’

‘I will never forget,’ said Will, looking Robert straight in the eye.

‘It seems you have the O’Neill insolence still, even if you have lost the name. What do you want of me?’

‘I wish to fight for you and for Scotland.’

The King smiled. ‘What makes you think I need you to?’

‘Ships, Your Grace. The English have many, and you have few. If the English blockade Berwick, you will need to come up river and attack. If they sail up the coast and outflank you by bringing their forces into Scotland, you cannot move quickly enough to halt their advance. With my ships for transportation, you can.’

‘Do not presume to school me in war-craft, Bain. I have been slipping an English noose for years, while you were sucking at your mother’s teat. I seem to remember I scourged your clan for not having the spine to fight for Scotland. Why would you want to fight for a man who has done that?’

‘Survival - yours and mine. Your fight was with my father, not me and not Clan Bain. The clans of the Western Isles have considerable power, power you need to harness if you are to take the fight into England. Whether Berwick holds or falls, King Edward is attacking with renewed vigour since he mended fences with the Earl of Lancaster. A united England is a strong foe, and it will need a united Scotland to oppose it. I have influence with the other clans of the Isles, and I can rally them to your cause.’

‘Assuming there is a sliver of truth in this, what are you proposing?’

‘I have brought ten ships, left at anchor some miles from here, awaiting the outcome of our meeting. The men brought into camp with me today are but a fraction of the number I have left scattered along the coast waiting for my command. Let me help you defend Berwick.’

The King beckoned Cormac and whispered in his ear, and Cormac nodded.

‘And in return?’ said Cormac.

‘I wish to have your assurance that Clan Bain be looked upon favourably and as an ally. I will keep order in the Isles at your command and my enemies will be your enemies.’

The King stared at him for so long it became unnerving, before finally dismissing him. ‘It is fortunate for you that my man Cormac here has vouched for you, else your head would be resting atop a spike for daring to claim the name O’Neill in my presence. It is also fortunate for you, though most likely not for her, that you have connived to marry his sister. I will think about your proposition. You may leave my presence William Bain, but you may not leave this camp. Is that clear?’

Will nodded and backed away. When he got outside the tent he sucked in a breath of air. Cormac was right. The urge to rip the man’s throat out had been strong indeed.

Some time later, as the hammering in his chest subsided, he felt Cormac at his shoulder.

‘Your weapons,’ he said, handing back Will’s sword and knife. ‘For defence only. You will be watched, rest assured the King never drops his guard.’

‘Because there are so many men out to kill him?’

‘Careful of that treasonous tongue of yours and mark my words you…’

Cormac trailed off, his gaze drawn to a young man staring back at them from across the opposite row of tents. He was blonde and striking in a useless, noble sort of way, all fine clothes and clean hair.

‘Who is that?’ said Will, surprised by Cormac’s reaction. ‘Judging by the venomous look on his face, he obviously knows you.’

‘That man over there, his name is Ranulph Gowan.’

Will turned back to the young man, anger taking his breath and went to move towards him but Cormac took hold of his arm in a grip of iron.

‘No, not here, not now. The King has no time for clan feuds when we have a war to win.’

‘Why is Gowan still breathing? A sharp blade in the night and Morna is avenged.’

‘He knows by now that Morna escaped his evil scheme, and he knows vengeance is coming. He also knows full well that I have found out it was him who took her. That whoreson will also know that my sister is now wed to a pirate laird from the Western Isles. I am happy to let it be known that we now have an alliance with Clan Bain. So Gowan knows I am coming for him, he just doesn’t know when. A condemned man once told me that he did not dread the executioner’s axe cleaving his neck, it was the waiting to die which was tortuous, not the dying. In answer to your question, I do not strike him down because, like a worm on a hook, I like to see him squirm.’

‘Well, his wait is over. There is one more condition of my giving my service to the King, and it is this. When this fight is over, I will take the head of Ranulph Gowan, and I alone.’

Cormac sighed and looked back down the field at the hapless Ranulph Gowan who hurried off under the force of his stare. ‘Agreed,’ said Cormac, ‘and, if you die, which you probably will, then I will see it done. What did you mean earlier about Morna not being happy?’

The question took Will off guard. ‘Nothing…I…we quarrelled before I came away, that is all.’

‘I suppose you do that a lot, for she has a temper on her my sister.’

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