uncertain if I can give ye more than that. Already this year I’ve sent a chest of silver to the Bruce. Any more than that before next year and I risk the safety and health of my people.”
Jamie knew it would be hard to convince a man to support a war he could not see. “And what if Longshanks marches his men across the mountains, burning your villages and cotters?”
“He will never make it that far, ” Magnus said with confidence.
“How can ye guarantee that?”
The laird’s nostrils flared in irritation. “Are ye threatening me, Montgomery?”
Jamie held up his hands in a show of yielding. “Nay, man, I am simply asking ye an honest question.”
“I have scouts not only all across my land, but the Highlands themselves. H e’ll never make it to the village.”
“Have ye that many forces on hand? Longshanks marches thousands of knights across our fields, trampling crops and murdering cattle, sheep. He does it for the entertainment and cruelty of it, not for the supplies. Whole villages have starved to death if they were not burned.”
“What are ye asking for exactly?”
“Men. Supplies. For ye to encourage your allies to join our forces.”
“If I send my men to the Lowlands and the bloody English defeat ye, like they did with Wallace not a fortnight ago, then they will march into the mountains and I am left without the men I sent to ye. We are unprotected. ’Tis best my men remain behind to protect the north.”
“I disagree. With your men in the south, we can defeat Longshanks before he crosses the Grampians.”
Magnus shook his head. “Too much of a risk.”
“And if your future Scottish king orders it?”
“The Bruce? ” Magnus leaned back in his chair. “Has he?”
Jamie frowned. He’d probably have more luck in convincing a virgin to have raw, sweaty relations in front of an audience—not that he’d ever done such a thing, but damn Magnus was making this difficult. “It has been requested that ye offer support in your country’s fight for freedom.”
Magnus’ lips thinned in a line and he stared hard at Jamie. The man was stubborn. Good thing he’d not come to offe r for Lorna’s hand. Sutherland would no doubt come up with every reason not to agree just to get a rise out of Jamie. It appeared there were more than a few stubborn arses in the Sutherland family.
“I will need a day or two to think over what I shall offer. Is that suitable? In the meantime would ye and your men care to stay on as our guests? We’ll have a Beltane celebration on the morrow, and I shall give ye my answer after that.”
Now it was Jamie’s turn to frown. He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest as he assessed the Sutherland laird. Remaining at Dunrobin for two additional days was not in his plan. However, if he could convince Sutherland to send out messengers to the neighboring clans encouraging support, then it just might be worth it, and save him time in the long run. He truly needed to get back to Glasgow. Malcolm knew how to run the keep, how to protect their family, lands and clan, but Jamie was chief, and not a messenger. Glasgow was where he belonged.
He blew out a deep sigh. “Aye. I’ll remain. But I’ll need your answer no later than two days. And I’ll need your word that whatever means of support ye decide on, ye’ll send out word to your fellow allies, encouraging them to do the same.”
Magnus gave a curt nod. “Ye have my word. And my thanks for allowing me some time to think over my answer.”
“Your gratitude is nay required. ’Tis a weighty thing your future king has requested of ye. But it does not come lightly, nor without much appreciation. Your assistance will go a long way in helping free us from Longshanks’ tyranny. The Sutherland name will go down in history as being part of that.”
Magnus chuckled. “I but wonder what that history will be . My men are fully capable of fighting one on five to the bloody Sassenachs, but that’s
Jamie knew it would be hard to convince a man to support a war he could not see. “And what if Longshanks marches his men across the mountains, burning your villages and cotters?”
“He will never make it that far, ” Magnus said with confidence.
“How can ye guarantee that?”
The laird’s nostrils flared in irritation. “Are ye threatening me, Montgomery?”
Jamie held up his hands in a show of yielding. “Nay, man, I am simply asking ye an honest question.”
“I have scouts not only all across my land, but the Highlands themselves. H e’ll never make it to the village.”
“Have ye that many forces on hand? Longshanks marches thousands of knights across our fields, trampling crops and murdering cattle, sheep. He does it for the entertainment and cruelty of it, not for the supplies. Whole villages have starved to death if they were not burned.”
“What are ye asking for exactly?”
“Men. Supplies. For ye to encourage your allies to join our forces.”
“If I send my men to the Lowlands and the bloody English defeat ye, like they did with Wallace not a fortnight ago, then they will march into the mountains and I am left without the men I sent to ye. We are unprotected. ’Tis best my men remain behind to protect the north.”
“I disagree. With your men in the south, we can defeat Longshanks before he crosses the Grampians.”
Magnus shook his head. “Too much of a risk.”
“And if your future Scottish king orders it?”
“The Bruce? ” Magnus leaned back in his chair. “Has he?”
Jamie frowned. He’d probably have more luck in convincing a virgin to have raw, sweaty relations in front of an audience—not that he’d ever done such a thing, but damn Magnus was making this difficult. “It has been requested that ye offer support in your country’s fight for freedom.”
Magnus’ lips thinned in a line and he stared hard at Jamie. The man was stubborn. Good thing he’d not come to offe r for Lorna’s hand. Sutherland would no doubt come up with every reason not to agree just to get a rise out of Jamie. It appeared there were more than a few stubborn arses in the Sutherland family.
“I will need a day or two to think over what I shall offer. Is that suitable? In the meantime would ye and your men care to stay on as our guests? We’ll have a Beltane celebration on the morrow, and I shall give ye my answer after that.”
Now it was Jamie’s turn to frown. He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest as he assessed the Sutherland laird. Remaining at Dunrobin for two additional days was not in his plan. However, if he could convince Sutherland to send out messengers to the neighboring clans encouraging support, then it just might be worth it, and save him time in the long run. He truly needed to get back to Glasgow. Malcolm knew how to run the keep, how to protect their family, lands and clan, but Jamie was chief, and not a messenger. Glasgow was where he belonged.
He blew out a deep sigh. “Aye. I’ll remain. But I’ll need your answer no later than two days. And I’ll need your word that whatever means of support ye decide on, ye’ll send out word to your fellow allies, encouraging them to do the same.”
Magnus gave a curt nod. “Ye have my word. And my thanks for allowing me some time to think over my answer.”
“Your gratitude is nay required. ’Tis a weighty thing your future king has requested of ye. But it does not come lightly, nor without much appreciation. Your assistance will go a long way in helping free us from Longshanks’ tyranny. The Sutherland name will go down in history as being part of that.”
Magnus chuckled. “I but wonder what that history will be . My men are fully capable of fighting one on five to the bloody Sassenachs, but that’s
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