Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Royden had his da’s fine features and his dark hair and dark eyes that could often intimidate. He was slightly taller and broader with the strength of two men. And while Raven would never admit it, there were times when he got angry, truly angry, that he frightened her. Not that Royden would ever harm her, he’d always protected her. It was just that he seemed more feral than human at those times. But she supposed that’s what made him a fierce warrior, known to battle several men with ease and always be victorious.
Arran was of good height and if a man could be called beautiful, then Arran was beautiful. He inherited the best of their mum and da’s features. Understandably, women flocked to him, though it wasn’t only his good looks that drew them, it was his skill at making people smile and feel good. Whenever Raven felt gloomy, she’d find Arran and he’d have her smiling and laughing in no time. He was built leaner than Royden and their da, but his muscles were just as hard and abundant.
She loved them all dearly and never wanted to leave them. It was why the thought of marriage so frightened her.
“King David is too concerned about holding on to Orkney and the Caithness area besides dealing with the unrest with England that he pays little attention to anything else in the Highlands,” her da said, and Raven thought she heard concern in his voice.
“We’ve heard,” Royden said.
“Unfortunately, there have been some incidents of land wealth grab among the clans,” her da said.
The concern she had thought she heard was now clear in her father’s stern voice. Something was wrong, and it sent a shiver through her. Land was king in the Highlands. The more land a man owned, the more prosperous and important he was, the more power he had. That’s what Raven heard her da say time and again.
“Rumors have started suggesting that some clans are not as loyal to the King as they have claimed to be and is the reason behind the attacks. Though the accusations are false, there is one clan that has already lost its lands to this intentional lie, and tongues whisper about another clan that will soon fall,” her da said.
“I would ask how this is possible, but lies and greed can do much damage,” Royden said.
Hearing a touch of anger along with concern in her brother’s voice worried Raven even more.
“King David surely knows who is loyal to him,” Arran said.
Raven’s stomach tightened hearing Arran sound so serious.
“King David knows what others tell him or whisper in his ear. I have spoken with a couple of chieftains who believe one or more of the Highland clans are using the King’s push in the far north to claim more land and wealth for themselves, in the false claim that they’re protecting the King’s sovereignty,” her da explained.
“Then we need to send a missive to the King and assure him of our loyalty,” Arran said.
“I thought the same myself, then I learned that Chieftain Thurbane of the Clan MacDonnegal did just that before his land was confiscated,” her da said.
“Then we go see the King and assure him of our loyalty,” Arran said.
“Or we prepare for battle in case we’re falsely accused,” Royden said.
Raven bit at her lower lip to stop it from trembling. They had never suffered an attack, but Raven recalled her da and brothers returning after helping neighboring clans battle. She had been young and it had left a lasting impression on her. There were times she could still smell the stench of sweat and blood that had been on them when they returned home. While they’d been victorious, the warriors jubilant, there also had been sorrow for those lost. And she had cried along with the woman whose man would never return home to them.
That’s what she feared most from battle, that her da and brothers would never return home and her heart would be forever broken.
“What do the other chieftains plan to do?” Arran asked.
“To fight if necessary,” her da said. “If we don’t fight, then whoever has seen this as an opportunity to gain more land, wealth, and along with it power, won’t stop. His greed will grow and he will continue to feed it, confiscating and claiming as much land as he can.”
“By then the King himself might see it as a victory for the throne,” Arran said.
“How long have you known about this, Da?” Royden asked.
“If you want to know why I haven’t mentioned it sooner, it’s because I’ve only learned of it a few days ago. At first, I thought it nonsense, but even nonsense has to be considered if a chieftain is to keep his clan safe and keep hold of his land. It was my visit to the Clan MacGlennen that alerted me to it. Chieftain William voiced his concerns to me and told me about Thurbane’s lands being confiscated. He also told me that Thurbane’s warriors were forced to go off and fight for the King.”