Page 35 of A Fierce Archer

Ewan shrugged. “Do ye want a list?”

“Malcolm will need to know if there are repairs to be made to Laird Fraser.”

“We can speak later. But I am confident that, instead, they owe me gratitude,” Ewan replied.

In the great room, the men who’d traveled were already being fed and would soon learn which duties they were to take over.

Lady Fraser was already seated and chatted animatedly with the Ross wives, seeming to enjoy being the center of attention.

Feeling a bit out of sorts, Ewan followed Tristan to the head table and greeted Malcolm. His cousin motioned for him to sit at the high board. “Is there anything we need to discuss immediately?”

The table was far enough away from the others that their conversation could not be overheard. Given the many discussions at the moment, they could speak in normal tones without worry.

“So ye have been told I was asked to leave then?” Ewan said.

“Aye, the warrior, Broden McRainy, was told by Laird Fraser to inform me.”

Ewan looked to where Broden sat with other Fraser guards. “And he did not give ye a list of my offenses?”

“He started to, but I told him ye would tell me.”

Letting out a breath, he looked to his right and left. Flanked by his cousins, each one of them a strong warrior, Ewan felt his family’s support. And yet, he wasn’t sure how Malcolm would react to what he did.

“I killed the older Laird Mackenzie. I killed three Mackenzie guards and I was caught on Mackenzie lands when trying to hunt down another.”

His eyebrows high, Tristan looked at him. “Anything else?”

The youngest Ross brother, Kieran, met his gaze. “And I considered ye to be the least frightening of us.”

Malcolm blew out a breath. “So, it was ye that started the battle between the Frasers and the Mackenzies?”

“No,” Ewan replied. “That had started before I arrived.”

Malcolm gave him a flat look. “The second battle.”

Ruari chuckled. “He started a clan war.”

“Aye, I killed the first Mackenzie. I believe yer wife killed the son,” Ewan replied in an equally flat voice.

Everyone went silent for a long moment. Ruari shrugged. “Esme was saving her brother.” In truth, she’d saved Keithen Fraser when he was hung by the Mackenzie. Her precise arrow had saved him from imminent death.

“Why did ye kill the guards?” Malcolm asked in a low voice.

At this question, Ewan hesitated. Why had he? Was it truly over a woman he’d barely known at the time?

“They deserved it. They kidnapped and attacked Lady Fraser and Catriona...”

“That has nothing to do with ye or our clan,” Malcolm interrupted. “If anything, it would fall on a Fraser to take such action. Avenge what happened.”

“Keithen Fraser did,” Ruari commented. “I believe during one of those ventures is when he was captured.”

Laird Malcolm Ross was intimidating and stern, however, he was a fair leader who put his people first before anything. In that moment, Ewan wasn’t sure how to reply in a way that would be understandable.

“I have my reasons,” he said, knowing it was a weak excuse.

“The woman? Catriona?” Kieran asked in a flat tone. “That is a stupid reason.”

“Says the married man,” Ewan retorted. “Do not judge me without knowing my motives.”