this, MacLeod,” Sleat said, obviously relishing the situation.
Rory ignored him. He did not need to be reminded of his duty.
The heat of the battle had worn off enough for Fergus to realize what he’d done.
“What have you to say for yourself?” Rory demanded. “You’ve broken the sacred obligation of Highland hospitality and disturbed the peace of this hall.” He gestured to Ian. “This man is our guest.”
Fergus bowed his head, knowing his actions had shamed the clan. “I acted without thought.”
Before he could hand down the punishment, Isabel put a tiny hand on his arm. “Please—”
Rory stiffened. He knew what she was going to say. He was also aware of the eyes still upon them. “Don’t interfere, Isabel.”
“Please,” she whispered in a soft voice. “It wasn’t all his fault.”
Gazing down at her hand on his arm, Rory felt something strange twist in his chest. He should be furious that she dared question his authority before his clan, but instead he admired her sense of justice. Even if it was misplaced. “Do I need to instruct you on the obligation of Highland hospitality?”
“No, it’s only that—”
“Enough,” he said, this time harsh enough for her to stop. He turned back to Fergus and made his ruling. “For your actions, you shall pay the fine of three spring calves. Two for the MacDonalds and one to me.”
A collective gasp followed his ruling, but the angry glares were directed at the MacDonalds and not at Rory. He heard the serving girl begin to sob. It was a harsh punishment, but a fair one. He sat down to resume his meal, though in truth he’d lost his appetite.
Rory sat quietly for a long time, furious at having his decision questioned but struck by her compassion all the same. Especially since the man involved was her brother.
“My decision displeased you,” he said. “You think it too harsh?”
She picked at the bits of food on their trencher before answering. “His family will suffer a substantial loss of income.”
“Aye. It will cost them severely, but they will not starve. Fergus broke a sacred obligation, disparaged the honor of the clan, and must be punished accordingly. That is my duty.” He cursed himself for explaining further. “What kind of chief would I be if I did not uphold our laws?”
“There is no shame in compassion.”
“Compassion is for those not charged with responsibility,” he said flatly. He didn’t expect her to understand a chief’s obligation to act decisively and forcefully. Women were softhearted creatures. He would have been within his rights to have Fergus flogged or put in irons. He looked her straight in the eyes. “The obligation of Highland hospitality is absolute. If you break the law, you suffer the consequences.” The warning was unmistakable. “There is no mercy for wrongdoers.”
Rory didn’t fail to notice when she paled.
Chapter 4
Late the next morning, Isabel stood alone on the battlements overlooking the sea loch, watching her family’s departure with a heavy heart. Sheets of gray clouds blanketed the sky, dumping buckets of rain from the heavens, stirring the sea into a torrential frenzy. As the birlinn tossed atop the waves, it was difficult to tell where the rain ended and the loch began.
A long summer day on the Isle of Skye.
Wonderful.
Her hand darted from beneath the warm folds of her cloak, attempting to gather the errant strands of auburn that whipped across her face and tangled in her mouth. Her efforts were in vain. The wind blew mercilessly, tearing her hair from its bindings as soon as she’d finished.
Icy droplets pelted her raw cheeks, mingling with the tears that slid from the corners of her eyes. She sank deeper into her cloak, shielding herself as best she could from both the weather and the watchful eyes of the MacLeods. Isabel refused to let them witness her despair.
Her kinsmen’s departure had come without warning. She had thought to have more time to get used to
Rory ignored him. He did not need to be reminded of his duty.
The heat of the battle had worn off enough for Fergus to realize what he’d done.
“What have you to say for yourself?” Rory demanded. “You’ve broken the sacred obligation of Highland hospitality and disturbed the peace of this hall.” He gestured to Ian. “This man is our guest.”
Fergus bowed his head, knowing his actions had shamed the clan. “I acted without thought.”
Before he could hand down the punishment, Isabel put a tiny hand on his arm. “Please—”
Rory stiffened. He knew what she was going to say. He was also aware of the eyes still upon them. “Don’t interfere, Isabel.”
“Please,” she whispered in a soft voice. “It wasn’t all his fault.”
Gazing down at her hand on his arm, Rory felt something strange twist in his chest. He should be furious that she dared question his authority before his clan, but instead he admired her sense of justice. Even if it was misplaced. “Do I need to instruct you on the obligation of Highland hospitality?”
“No, it’s only that—”
“Enough,” he said, this time harsh enough for her to stop. He turned back to Fergus and made his ruling. “For your actions, you shall pay the fine of three spring calves. Two for the MacDonalds and one to me.”
A collective gasp followed his ruling, but the angry glares were directed at the MacDonalds and not at Rory. He heard the serving girl begin to sob. It was a harsh punishment, but a fair one. He sat down to resume his meal, though in truth he’d lost his appetite.
Rory sat quietly for a long time, furious at having his decision questioned but struck by her compassion all the same. Especially since the man involved was her brother.
“My decision displeased you,” he said. “You think it too harsh?”
She picked at the bits of food on their trencher before answering. “His family will suffer a substantial loss of income.”
“Aye. It will cost them severely, but they will not starve. Fergus broke a sacred obligation, disparaged the honor of the clan, and must be punished accordingly. That is my duty.” He cursed himself for explaining further. “What kind of chief would I be if I did not uphold our laws?”
“There is no shame in compassion.”
“Compassion is for those not charged with responsibility,” he said flatly. He didn’t expect her to understand a chief’s obligation to act decisively and forcefully. Women were softhearted creatures. He would have been within his rights to have Fergus flogged or put in irons. He looked her straight in the eyes. “The obligation of Highland hospitality is absolute. If you break the law, you suffer the consequences.” The warning was unmistakable. “There is no mercy for wrongdoers.”
Rory didn’t fail to notice when she paled.
Chapter 4
Late the next morning, Isabel stood alone on the battlements overlooking the sea loch, watching her family’s departure with a heavy heart. Sheets of gray clouds blanketed the sky, dumping buckets of rain from the heavens, stirring the sea into a torrential frenzy. As the birlinn tossed atop the waves, it was difficult to tell where the rain ended and the loch began.
A long summer day on the Isle of Skye.
Wonderful.
Her hand darted from beneath the warm folds of her cloak, attempting to gather the errant strands of auburn that whipped across her face and tangled in her mouth. Her efforts were in vain. The wind blew mercilessly, tearing her hair from its bindings as soon as she’d finished.
Icy droplets pelted her raw cheeks, mingling with the tears that slid from the corners of her eyes. She sank deeper into her cloak, shielding herself as best she could from both the weather and the watchful eyes of the MacLeods. Isabel refused to let them witness her despair.
Her kinsmen’s departure had come without warning. She had thought to have more time to get used to
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