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)
“Nay. My wife and I were given no information about the bairns other than they were not wanted and to be truthful, neither my wife nor I wanted to know. We thought it better that way. Though I wondered often if the midwife knew.”
“Did you ever ask her?” Elsie asked.
Norris shook his head. “I never met her. The bairns were handed to me and your mum by a stranger who barely spoke to us.”
“What happened that made you fear for your daughters’ safety?” Cavell asked, eager to learn more and was taken by surprise by Norris’s response.
“Your father, Lord Philip,” Norris said, wiping a few tears from his eyes after his daughter left his arms. “Not that he knew what he was revealing. I wasn’t even sure of it myself. He came here wanting to arrange a marriage between you and Leora. He believed it was wise to see our clans joined since our lands border each other. He referred to hearing about a group of mercenaries scouring the Highlands in search of a female child born around twenty years ago. He knew nothing of the person looking for this woman or why the person wanted her found. He only knew the mercenaries were determined to find her and they were letting no one stand in their way. I did not believe it was anything more than coincidence and whether I believed it or not, I could not take a chance. Clan Murdock is no match for a group of mercenaries. I needed to keep my daughters safe, and my only choice was to wed them to strong warriors who could protect them.”
“You planned to find husbands for Leora and Sky and never mentioned it to them or to me?” Elsie asked, clearly upset that her da did not discuss it with her or her sisters. Though he probably knew they would all object, at least to a marriage for Sky.
“I had no time to think it over, much less plan. When Cavell’s father talked with me about an arranged marriage, he pointed out to me that Cavell was Gallowglass and people feared the amazing strength and remarkable skill of the Gallowglass. That was what I needed to keep my daughters and my clan safe. It was not an easy decision to make but a necessary one.”
Elsie tilted her head, her brow narrowing as she looked at her da. “Are you saying that my marriage to Cavell was not the only marriage arranged? That you agreed to marriages for Leora and Sky as well?”
Her da glanced away for a moment as if not able to look at his daughter.
“Da, look at me!” Elsie demanded, fear taking hold of her for what her da may have done. “Are my sisters wed?”
Norris turned to look at his daughter, nodding his head. “I had no choice. They are safe now. When I contacted Lord Bannaty about a marriage for Leora and one for Sky to a Gallowglass warrior, he was more than agreeable. Warrand arrived here with documents, and I signed them.”
“You wed Leora to Warrand?” Cavell asked.
“Heaven forbid, he is too kind of a soul to straddle him with Leora,” Norris said, startled by the suggestion. “Warrand wanted Sky, but he assured me the Gallowglass warrior he had chosen, Ingeuus, would make Leora a good husband.”
Elsie’s hand went to rest on her chest in a senseless effort to calm her racing heart. “Da, don’t you recall me telling you that Lord Bannaty and Warrand are dead?”
“I thought I dreamt you told me that? It is true? Where is Sky?” Norris looked anxiously at Cavell. “You must go and get Sky from the abbey. Today!”
“Slayer took Sky from the abbey, Da,” Elsie said, her worry for her sisters raging.
Norris sighed in relief. “That is good. He protects his brother’s widow.”
“Slayer would definitely make sure his brother’s widow was protected. He will let nothing happen to her,” Cavell said, and braced his hand on his wife’s shoulder, offering her comfort and reminding her that he was there beside her. “Sky is safe with Slayer.”
Elsie calmed knowing now why Slayer had taken Sky and that she was safe with him. But eventually, when all was settled, she would see Sky brought home.
“Has Leora been united with her husband yet?” Norris asked. “I half expect her to arrive home refusing to honor the marriage arrangement.”
“You told her nothing about the marriage, Da?” Elsie asked.
“What do you think her response would have been?”
Knowing Leora, Elsie laughed.
“Precisely what she would have done right to my face… laughed.” Norris shook his head slowly. “I had to get her wed. I had no choice. I had to protect her. Warrand assured me there was no better Gallowglass warrior than Ingeuus for Leora. Your sister has no choice but to find her way with her husband. So, did he retrieve her from the abbey yet?”