Page 58 of The Guardian
“While Hugh has refused to fight for Knock Castle, he never said that others should not.”
Connor paused to give the men time to consider this and come to the conclusion he wanted. He was good at this.
“There is one man here who has a clear right to that castle,” Connor said. “And I say that a man with a right need not wait for his chieftain to act on his behalf, if he believes he can accomplish the deed himself.”
Several men turned to peer at Ian in the shadows at the back of the church.
“And if some of his clansmen wish to lend him a hand, all the better!”
There were shouts of “Aye! Aye!”
One man stepped into the center aisle of the church and waited to speak until Connor acknowledged him with a nod.
“If ye are speaking of Ian MacDonald, he has no right to Knock Castle.”
As soon as the man opened his mouth, Ian knew it was that damned Gòrdan.
“It is Sìleas who is the heir—Sìleas, and then her child. So far as I know,” Gòrdan said, turning to look down the aisle at Ian, “the lass is no carrying Ian’s child.”
A child would make Ian’s right certain. For now, he was claiming it on behalf of Sìleas and their future children.
“Ian’s only been back a week,” Alex shouted. “Give the man some time.”
Alex’s remark caused a round of laughter and an easing of the tension that Gòrdan’s interruption had caused.
But Gòrdan wasn’t finished.
“Ian deserted her,” Gòrdan said. “If Sìleas has decided to take a different husband, no one can blame her.”
“She has done no such thing, nor will she!” Ian struggled to shake off Duncan’s arm so he could go up there and smash Gòrdan’s face in.
“All I know,” Gòrdan said, turning around again to be sure Ian didn’t miss his words, “is that a man cannot get a woman with child if she’s no sharing his bed.”
This time, Ian broke free from Duncan’s grip. He landed on Gòrdan, and the two crashed to the floor—but he only got in a few punches before Connor and Alex pulled him off. When Gòrdan sprang to his feet and tried to swing at him, Duncan caught Gòrdan from behind and held him.
“If ye haven’t bedded her yet,” Connor hissed an inch from Ian’s face, “see that ye do before we gather the men to take the castle.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Ian said between his teeth, as he glared at his cousin.
“As for you, Gòrdan MacDonald,” Connor said, turning and grabbing Gòrdan by the front of his shirt. “If ye think Sìleas might choose you instead, I suggest ye keep your mouth shut and your sword sharp for the fight for her castle.”
“Sìleas is my wife,” Ian said, locking eyes with Gòrdan. “If Gòrdan wants to take her, he’ll have to kill me first.”
Ian shrugged Connor off and pushed past the others to stand at the front of the room.
“A MacDonald fights for what belongs to him,” he shouted to the gathered men. “I ask you to join me in the fight for Knock Castle for the sake of our clan. But whether ye do or not, I will take it. For I am a MacDonald, and I keep what is mine.”
Ian let his gaze travel slowly around the room, then drew his claymore and held it high. “I am Ian MacDonald, husband of Sìleas, andI Will Take Knock Castle!”
The floorboards of the church vibrated with the thumping of feet and the pounding of claymores as the men shouted with him, shaking the building with their battle cry.
“Knock Castle! Knock Castle! Knock Castle!”
CHAPTER 18
When Sìleas saw Ian and Alex coming up the path, she grabbed her cloak and ran out to meet them.
“Where have ye been?” she asked, taking Ian’s arm and smiling up at him.
