Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) Read Free Page A

intention all along that he told his mother what he'd heard?
    Nay. He’d thought about that moment a million times since. His gut told him she’d been startled but controlled herself well. Extremely, gracefully well.
    “Your cousin will marry you off to whomever he deems necessary.”
    It was still hard to believe good King Malcolm was dead and his son, Edgar now ruled.
    “The king makes me feel like a puppet in his own private game. No doubt I am.” Alexander took another swig from his skin. “A dagger in his back would find me King of Scotland.”
    He felt the uncomfortable tension in his friend’s demeanor. Shamus said softly, “And is that a station you find yourself wanting? The good Lord knows you’d find much support.”
    Alexander had long contemplated such a thing. He’d been told years ago that he shared a blood tie with Scottish King Malcolm III. But the truth of it was he'd rather remain here than rule Scotland. To rule the Sinclairs well was more than enough. If he became king he’d lose a freedom he’d come to cherish as well as his clan. For a king carried a heavy weight that Alexander had no desire to wear upon his head. 
    No, his ambitions fell more to clan ties and land acquired.
    Much like the ambitions held by his father before him.
    Scotland was wild and young and still very much ruled by the clans despite what Edgar said. It had been for generations and if Alexander was correct would be for many generations to come.
    They’d barely made the drawbridge when the thunder of horses sounded behind them. Alexander didn’t need to turn to recognize the sound of imperial hooves.
    “Hell,” Shamus muttered and turned, walking backwards alongside Alexander. “’Tis as if he knew we spoke of him. Edgar isn’t due here for a fortnight.”
    Alexander shook his head. “And here I’d been looking forward to a night of good ale and even better women.”
    “All hail the King!” A cry roared from the battlements above.
    With a heavy sigh, Alexander stopped and turned. Flags flying, Edgar and his retinue had just made their way onto the far field. Two things surprised him. The first, the king’s party was large enough to accompany a royal carriage. The second was that the men on the outskirts of his property hadn’t long ago told him such a retinue of royalty was on its way.
    He narrowed his eyes. “My men were told to remain silent by Edgar and they listened.”
    “’Tis the King.” Shamus sighed. “His word means more than even yours.” His friend murmured, “Because you allow it.”
    Alexander grinned. With only a plaid wrapped around his waist and sweat coating his body he said, “Think I should run and change from these clothes?”
    Shamus chuckled. “If ye dinnae mean to make the king envious, aye. But what fun would that be?”
    “Aye, but to still have been wearing the chainmail!”
    Shamus hid well a hearty laugh as the retinue drew closer. Out of the corner of his mouth he said, “Good King Edgar would’ve had the perfect excuse to shoot you properly. A Sassenach thick in Scots land!”
    Tempted, Alexander eyed the abandoned chainmail. For if Edgar attempted to shoot him down, he’d evade and defend, then shoot back. When he aimed to kill, he never missed. But doing such would mean killing the king. And that wasn’t something he wanted. Despite his dislike of his cousin, Alexander would never be like him… a cold blooded murderer.
    “Nay, nevermind that.” Shamus nodded at the upcoming trail of horses. “Is that a man of the cloth I see?”
    A chill ran through his blood. Sure as said, a holy man rode alongside the king. “Bloody hell,” he whispered.
    “Makes me wonder all the more who resides in that royal wagon. A lass methinks. One who’ll be needing a man to wed her.”
    Alexander was without words. Was Edgar really so bold that he’d show up unannounced with a bride for his ‘cousin?’ He clenched his fists. Without a doubt. ‘Twas the king’s privilege to