Highland Warrior

Highland Warrior Read Free

Book: Highland Warrior Read Free
Author: Connie Mason
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and their allies have been fighting MacKennas and our allies for generations.”
    Gizela shuffled off, muttering, The flame will bring peace. Wait for the messenger.”
    Ross drank deeply from his tankard, his mood dark.
    “What did Gizela say this time to upset you, lad?” Gordo asked, subsiding into a chair beside Ross. “You shouldna listen to her drivel. She’s half-mad, you ken.”
    “I ken, Uncle, but she does more good than harm. She was spouting some nonsense about flames and lasting peace and a messenger that will be arriving soon.”
    Gordo shrugged. “Forget it. I just came from the village. Gunn’s parents are taking his death hard. He was their only son in a family of five daughters.”
    “1’ll find husbands for the lasses from among our allies,” Ross promised. “They are all comely and will make fine wives.”
    A beautiful woman with flowing golden hair entered the hall and paused in the doorway. “Come to bed, Ross. I grow weary of waiting for you.”
    “Your leman is impatient,” Gordo said quietly to Ross.
    Ross glanced toward the woman and frowned. Though Seana McHamish made a delightful leman, her possessiveness had become cloying. “Leave me, Seana. I’m in no mood for a bedmate tonight.”
    Seana scowled. Apparently she didn’t take rejection well. “Come now, Ross. You know I can make you feel better.”
    “Not tonight, Seana. Find someone else to warm your bed.”
    Seana sashayed over to Ross, hips swaying, breasts jiggling beneath her thin bed robe, and planted herself on his lap. “Have I displeased you? Are you sure you want me to seek another man’s bed? You know my father expects us to wed soon.”
    Ross sighed heavily. “I never promised marriage, Seana. When I wed it will be to strengthen alliances. Our clans are already allies; our ties are too strong to sever. You are here because you doona like your father’s second wife and sought my hospitality and my bed.”
    Seana pressed her unfettered breasts against Ross and kissed him soundly.
    “Mayhap I should leave,” Gordo said.“ ’Tis late.”
    “Nay, Gordo, doona leave.” He pushed Seana from his lap. “There’s something I wish to discuss with you.”
    Seana squealed and scrambled to her feet. “Mayhap your cousin Niall will welcome me in his bed,” she threw over her shoulder as she flounced off.
    “You shouldna treat the lass so callously, Ross,” Gordo advised. “You might want her in your bed again.”
    “Seana is a smart lass. She kens there is naught between us but sex. Seana wasna pure when she came to Ravenscraig, and I ken I willna be her last lover. Forget Seana, Uncle. How long do you think we have before Tearlach MacKay regroups and launches another attack?”
    Gordo scratched his thatch of graying hair. “Winter is nearly upon us. Mayhap peace will hold until spring.”
    “I pray you are right. Except for Gunn, our losses werena severe this time, but who kens how many of our kinsmen will die next time? I doona want to think about more deaths.”
    Ross heard a noise and looked up, startled to find Gizela standing beside him. “Where did you come from? I didna hear you approach.”
    “I heard what you said, laird, and but sought to ease your fears.”
    Ross glanced around him. “Gordo and I were alone. You couldna have heard us speaking.”
    A small smile played about the corners of Gizela’s lips. “I heard. Heed me well, laird. There will be no more deaths if you welcome the flame.”
    “You’re mad, woman,” Gordo spat. “All this talk of flame is annoying the laird. He has more important things to worry about.”
    “When the flame comes, remember and heed my words, for the flame is your destiny”

Chapter Two
     

Ravenscraig Tower
     
    Ross resumed training with his clansmen, aware that another attack could come at any time. Usually during the worst of the winter months, the MacKays and their allies remained in their homes, huddled around their hearths, but Ross dared not let

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