Page 20 of The Lone Wolf's Bride

‘I accept with all my heart and when the call comes to do my duty, I will be ready and so will the men of Shillinglaw. I pledge this to you on my honour.’

‘It is a savage place Murray and I think in some ways untameable.’

‘Then it will suit me very well.’

‘This is not an easy task I bid of you. I need order there amongst the farmers and village folk in order to prepare for the storm coming our way, and they’re a godless lot. Pirates plague that coastline too. There are many hidden coves and natural harbours where they hide until an unsuspecting ship comes within reach and then they strike. They even sweep inland sometimes, stealing what they can and then retreating back to the sea from whence they came before they can be captured and punished for their crimes. They unsettle the harvest and make trade and travel dangerous.’

‘I will deal with them.’

‘See that you do. The world is turning again Murray, and we must turn with it.’

Duncan extended his hand to Murray and he took it, forearm to forearm. Murray saw Ilene in Duncan’s warm smile, in the excitement in his eyes. Where she was soft, he was hard, but the strength in them was the same, the lust for life, the huge capacity for love and adventure.

A home, a place of his own and land, this was a fresh start for him. He could take hold of this opportunity and prove himself worthy of Duncan’s trust. But like a wretched fool, he still longed to take hold of that which had begun to arouse a clawing desire in his belly and which kept him from his rest night after night.

‘Are you up for another fight Campbell?’ The sneer in the voice made Murray’s hackles rise and he turned to see Aidan standing before them. ‘I have despatched my opponent and so would find another. You look like you can give me some sport,’ he said, glancing back over his shoulder to ensure that Ilene and his friends were watching.

‘I welcome the opportunity to school you a little, both in swordplay and manners,’ said Murray, thinking that if he had ever displayed such arrogance against a superior opponent, he would be dead many times over.

‘Excellent, so shall we begin,’ said Aidan, twirling his sword and strutting out into the centre of the yard.

Murray followed him, looked him straight in the eye and spat on the ground at his feet. It was a challenge and a provocation and Aidan succumbed to it, launching himself at Murray and thrashing wildly. He had speed but no subtlety as Murray allowed him to come at him time and again, parrying his blows easily as the younger man spent his strength to no advantage. He knocked him off his feet several times until Aidan was covered in mud and gasping for air.

It was obvious to Murray that he had been well schooled in technique but not in cunning. His moves were predictable and Murray was enjoying giving him a lesson in humility, with his superior skill becoming plain for all to see. Then he looked over at Ilene and saw her face.

Aidan launched another futile attack and as Murray leapt easily out of the way he said, ‘Enough, for we are both tired I think and I have had my fill of fighting for today.’

‘You yield then?’

‘I will call it a draw.’ He offered Aidan his hand and the young man took it reluctantly.

‘I could have beaten you had we fought longer,’ Aidan gasped.

‘Of course you could,’ Murray replied evenly. Aidan tore free his hand and stalked away, his cronies following in his wake.

Duncan came up to Murray and slapped a hand on his shoulder. ‘If there is going to be fighting in the Highlands that spoilt fop will be no use at all,’ he said, with a hard look on his face. ‘Why on earth did you concede? You had him.’

‘I know I had him, so does he, so I don’t need to hammer it home.’

‘I think I would have enjoyed seeing you knock him down a few more times,’ said Duncan with a smirk.

Murray saw Ilene glowering at him from across the yard. ‘Aye but then I would not have been the better man.’

‘Everyone knows you are the better man.’

‘Not everyone,’ Murray replied, as his victory turned hollow.

***

As the clan broke its fast the next morning a messenger rushed into the hall and went straight to Duncan.

‘Laird I bring grave news, your uncle, he nears his end.’ Duncan froze. ‘Laird he does not have much time.’

‘I will leave for Dunslair at once.’ He turned to Murray. ‘You’ll come with me?’

‘Of course, I will gather men and meet you in the courtyard.’

‘No, just you and I, Murray.’

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