Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
He was about to kiss her when a knock sounded at the door.
“A moment, please, mistress Elsie,” May called out.
Elsie rushed out of her husband’s arms and to the door to fling it open. “My da?”
“He rests comfortably,” May assured her. “I fear his worry weakens him and it would be wise to let him believe all is well until he grows strong.”
“I cannot visit with him?” Elsie asked, clearly upset at the thought.
May shook her head. “Nay. I believe your visits will help heal him if you assure him that all is well and that your husband leads the clan wisely. Leave him with no burden to dwell on and I believe good health will return to him. He sleeps comfortably now. Ann rests in her cottage but is eager to help with your da’s care.”
Cavell waited while his wife finished speaking with May and when she left, he said what was on his mind. “I wonder what burden your da carries that caused him to become ill and continues to threaten his well-being. Or could it be a burdensome secret that threatens to be revealed after years of it being suppressed and now proves dangerous for someone.”
“It could be the reason Warrand was attacked after leaving here and his father poisoned soon after,” Elsie said. “If it is some sort of revenge from years ago, my da could have feared for his daughters’ lives and is the very reason he sent us where he thought we would be kept safe, and the reason he wanted someone fearless enough to lead the clan.”
Another rap at the door had Elsie thinking May had forgotten to tell her something but it was not the healer’s voice that called out but Melvin’s gruff one.
“You best come now, Cavell. Your father approaches.”
Cavell turned to his wife after telling Melvin he would be right there. “My father heard that I am chieftain, that is what brings him here.”
“We will welcome him,” Elsie said as she left his side to open the door.
Cavell followed her, his voice stern as he ordered, “He will not be staying long and you, wife, will stand quietly by my side, throughout his visit.”
“You do not get on well with your father, do you?”
“Not at all. He is a man who thinks only of himself and his legacy and since I am his second son, I do not count. My life is less important than my brother’s, the heir to Clan McCabe and whose duty it is to see that the bloodline continues and to make sure the clan prospers and grows ever stronger.”
Elsie held her tongue, hearing the contempt in his voice that her husband had for his father. This was not going to be a pleasant meeting and she wisely intended to remain quiet as her husband had ordered her to do. Unless, of course, she was forced to do otherwise.
“Alda,” Cavell called out upon entering the Great Hall with his wife and spotting the woman about to leave the room but halting abruptly hearing her name shouted. “Bring drink but no food, our uninvited guest will not remain long.”
The door burst open and a man not as tall as Cavell marched in, a confident swagger to his step from his robust body. His dark eyes were intent, shifting, taking everything in around him as he approached Cavell. Another man followed behind him and two more behind him. He was of good height and fine features.
Cavell spoke before his father could, his eyes fixed on the man who came to stand beside his father in solidarity. “It is good to see you, Harcus.”
It had been some time since he had last seen his brother. They had gotten on well enough when young, but as they matured, and it wasn’t until their father spent endless time preparing Harcus to one day lead the clan and completely ignoring Cavell that they drifted apart.
“Same here,” his brother said.
“Enough! I will speak,” Lord Philip ordered. “You need to show your guests respect and have them greeted properly. Assign someone the chore and make sure he sees it is done right. You are clan chieftain now and—”
Cavell was quick to interrupt him. “My clan, my decisions, Father.”
“Your clan because of me,” Lord Philip reminded with a thump of his fist to his chest.
“Still my clan. Now what do you want from me this time?” Cavell asked.
“To make sure you do what is right—”
“For you?” Cavell said, seeing his father’s face scrunch in annoyance that he dared to interrupt him once again.
“For Clan McCabe,” his father snapped. “So, it grows in strength and influence.”
“At the helm of my brother,” Cavell said with a glance to Harcus, who did not deny it.
“When the time comes Harcus will be ready to lead and as always I expect you to do whatever is necessary to see him kept safe.”