Page 79 of A Nameless Highland Laird
Silence hung over the crowd as they all waited with bated breath to see what the other Lairds would say. It was Charlotte’s father, Laird Sinclair, who came forward and spoke first.
“Why did ye keep this from us? Why were we nae told of the old man’s death? Perhaps it is a ruse to trick us into leaving only to be attacked another day.”
“It is nay trick,” Alastair spoke with authority. “I watched the man breathe his last breath with my own eyes. And it was I who decided to keep the news of his death a secret. I did it only in the interest of my clan. I feared that if anyone found out about his death, we would be vulnerable to an invasion. I feared that the people I serve would be punished for crimes they had nothing to do with. I wanted to ensure that Cameron was secure in his role before we broke the news. I wanted to give him time to come into his own.”
“He has certainly done that,” Ciaran commented, stepping behind his brother to slap him on the shoulder. “Laird Stuart, our enemy exists nay longer. It is my own flesh and blood that sits on his throne now. We can become allies today, strengthening our clans instead of weakening them further.”
“If he is anything like ye,” Laird Stuart said, pushing forward, “then I have nay doubt he will make an excellent ally. We will stand down so long as the others do too.”
Cameron’s heart began to race at the chance that they truly would be able to get out of this war, that his people would be saved.
“I am only here to support my brothers,” the last Laird said. “It is nae my decision to fight or nae. That is yer call, Laird Sinclair.”
It was Senga who stepped up now, brushing past Cameron and Ciaran and instead, going to Blake.
“Please consider what ye are doing. This man is yer sister’s betrothed. He is my brother. There is nay reason we can nae be allies instead of enemies.”
Cameron could already tell her pleading eyes had her desired effect on Blake. It was then he realized that his own sister was the woman Charlotte’s brother had fallen in love with, the one Charlotte had mentioned.
“We will honor the betrothal and extend our offer of allyship,” Blake announced with the authority of a Laird. “There will be nay fighting today.”
A loud cheer erupted from the men on both sides of the field. Cameron let out his own whoop of excitement as he hugged his brother once more, still not believing they were together again.
“This, ending these feuds, reuniting our family,” Cameron told his siblings, “is the best kind of revenge we could have ever taken against our father. This is justice.”
