Sacrificing his Highland Heart by Kenna Kendrick
Chapter Two
Caerlaverock Castle, Seat of Clan Rede
Euan Rede was still fuming. His anger, the anger he’d been carrying around with him for years now, was bristling and tumbling off him like it was its own being. It had become fused to him, and now he regarded it as just part of who he was. Laird Rede, the man with a furious temper of a brute, with a reputation of being bloodthirsty. Reputations had a way of only showing half the truth, but he didn’t care to ruin it, for it had only made him a better and more fearsome warrior.
He leaned over the battlements of Caerlaverock Castle, staring off into the sea as if it could give him answers. Sometimes, he stood up there with the wind in his blond hair, hoping that his parents would return from Heaven for a moment and speak to him, to tell him his next moves. It had been eight years since his last parent died. He’d been 18 when his father had been killed by the English, but the pain was still underneath his skin, still feeling raw. He was alone in the world now, even though his men and his clan surrounded him. He had to make his own way, and now he did, with the capture of the English knight George Sayer.
“Laird,” a voice called from the doorway. “Ye wished tae ken when the prisoner was awake. He is now.”
“Good. I will go tae him in a moment. Donnae tell him anything,” he bit out.
The man bowed his head and left, and Euan turned back to the sea. It was gray from this distance, the last vestiges of winter still hanging in the air. It mirrored the way he felt most times. Gray and wild, without a clear direction or a way to go. He’d been muddling around in the dark, and if he was honest, the last years of war had helped to motivate him, to get him to focus on something else besides his own pain. He had been sent to fight after his father had been killed, and in some ways, had been the making of him.
He turned away from the sea and left the battlement, clenching his fist with a resolve to remove the dangers that the English still posed, even though they were leaving the territories of Scotland taken over the last years. His mind had one goal as he walked down the cold, stone steps to his castle’s dungeon, where his latest prisoner resided.
George Sayer, landed knight, living on the northern border of England on a large estate. He had chosen well in his captive, and he would force his way into matrimony with the man’s daughter if it killed him. Even though England had a treaty with Scotland, he would not let his family’s legacy crumble because of a future invasion. England was known for its treachery.
“Laird,” one of his guards said as they swung open the thick wooden door of the dungeon. “He is ready.”
Euan said nothing as he made his way to the large cell where the prisoner was chained to the wall. To his surprise, the man stood up and looked Euan straight in the eye. In his clipped English accent, he said, “It is not every day that a Scottish laird known for his brutality lets a man sleep before he questions him.”
Euan grinned and crossed his arms over his large chest, his cold blue eyes staring at the man completely under his control. “It is nae out of compassion for yer health, Lord Sayer if that is what ye are thinking. I merely wish tae speak on equal terms with a man when I give him a choice.”
“A choice?” Sayer’s tone was almost bored, as if he’d seen and done these sorts of things many times. He was in his fifties or sixties, but the strength was still in his body, and intelligence gleamed from his green eyes.
“Aye, a choice.” Euan stepped closer, that anger trembling anew through him, making his hands shake. He squeezed his arms tighter across his chest.
Take yer time, lad. Donnae let yer temper get hold of ye and ruin what power ye have.
“What is it you want with me? You are very young for a laird.”
Euan’s admonition to himself was lost in another wave of fury. His one hand moved to the short blade at his side. “I am young, for my father died years ago in the war. The English took him prisoner, as I have taken ye, and they cut his throat.” In a flash, he slid the dirk out and came close, leaning against the older man, pressing the cold steel blade against the man’s throat.
There was a flash of surprise in Sayer’s eyes, which gratified Euan, but he held tight to him, pressing the blade a little closer. “I would be delighted tae return the favor, ye ken.” His breath was right next to the man’s ears, and his voice spoke in a ragged, harsh tone. It would be sweet revenge to take this man’s life in the same way his father’s life had been taken, but he knew deep down that another death would not make any difference.
Another stroke of pain, another flash of anger. None of it ever made any difference to the cold hard truth. His father was dead and would not be returning. The English would be forever at fault and forever hated by him. After a few more seconds, Euan retracted his dirk and pushed against the man’s hard chest so that his chains jangled.
As he slid the dirk back into the sheath at his side, he said, “However, one more death willnae make a difference tae keep the lasting peace. I plan tae protect my land and my clan for the future when England decides tae turn treacherous once more.”
“What is that?” Sayer’s voice was rough. Euan knew he had bruised the man’s throat.
“A marriage alliance. It is only the way tae secure peace. Our borders are too close for my clan tae nae be in any danger. I will give ye yer freedom if ye give me yer daughter in marriage.”
Sayer’s face turned rigid. After a pause, he said, “How do you even know that I have a daughter ready for marriage?”
Euan grinned. “Ye have already told me by yer expression. But before yer capture, I spoke tae another one of yer men, who needed a bit of prodding tae tell me who had daughters ready tae marry.”
Sayer’s dirtied fists clenched just above where the chains wrapped tightly around his wrists. “I will not do such a thing. Kill me if you like for your revenge, but you shall not have my daughter.”
Euan smirked and turned away. He was not concerned. He would have his way. Sayer’s manor was the closest landed estate, and it was the best choice. “Have it yer way, Sayer, but I shall first send a message tae yer family tae let them ken how ye fare. See if they might be interested in making a deal for ye.”
Without letting George Sayer respond, he slammed shut the cell door and left in a huff. George may be an honorable man, giving his life for his daughter. Still, it wouldnae prevent Euan from going tae the English estate tae take the lass for himself tae force her intae marriage. He paused on the steps up to the main hall and put his hand on the stone. No, he could not do that. Not only did his conscience not allow him such a thing, but he knew that if his parents were alive, they would have shamed him for such a plan.
The lass would have to be willing to marry him to save her father’s life. He wouldn’t take someone who didn’t agree. It was not that he had plans to bed her anyway. It was a marriage in name only, just for the sake of protecting his clan for as long as he was alive. Besides, how could he produce progeny that was half-English? Well, an heir might cement the alliance, but he would have to think of that later. Now, he had to send the message to the Sayer family and hear what they had to say.
* * *
Henry had slept for nearly two days since his return, and it seemed, really, that nothing had changed since Rose was still in charge of all that ran on the estate. However, she knew that once her brother had recovered his health and strength, he would take over all the duties. She would return to being the sister, with nothing but embroidery and Bible reading to entertain herself. She was sitting in her father’s study when Mrs. Drummond entered the room.
“My dear Miss Rose. A message has come for you. Well, for all of you, and it’s arrived from Scotland.” The older woman swallowed, and Rose felt a hollowing in her chest. She stood and took the letter in hand.
“From Scotland,” she said slowly, trying to think of the countless reasons why she would receive a letter from there. It had to do with her father but how. She prayed for his safety as she tore open the letter. “Mrs. Drummond, please do summon my brother,” she said softly as her eyes scanned the rough words, written in seeming haste and fury.
Tae the Sayer Family,
Yer father is alive and well. Although, he is the key tae forming an alliance between us. I will let yer father live, but ye must give yer eldest daughter in matrimony tae me. That way, Scotland is aligned with England, and if war breaks out again, our clans and families will be kept safe from it. If yer answer is yes, then ye must come and meet yer father here at Caerlaverock Castle, tae the west of Gretna Green. It will nae take long, so ye have three days tae arrive here. If yer answer is no, ye may write tae me, and then yer father will lose his life. There is nae telling what may happen after.
Laird Euan Rede, Caerlaverock Castle
Her brother pushed open the door, looking more rested but slightly perturbed at having been woken. “What is it, Rose? Can you not handle small duties while I am recovering from war?” She ignored his irritated tone and handed him the letter, her face pale. She slowly sat down as she saw realization come over his face.
“A marriage alliance,” he said softly.
“Yes. Or father will die if we disagree.”
Rose sighed. She looked away, feeling numb at the thought of what a turn her life had taken, from one sort of prison to another. She turned back to Henry, who growled and then threw the letter into the fire. The both watched it for a time while it sparked into flame.
“That does not take away the decision we will have to make. Or the one I shall have to make?”
“You?” he asked, turning back to her, her eyes cold. “The brute would make a wife out of you, and you believe you are alone in making this decision. In father’s absence, I am the head of the family. I will make the choice.”
He began to pace, crossing and uncrossing his arms. His energy had doubled since his return, with good sleep and good food at his disposal. Yet Rose did not like to see her brother this way. He was often quite sour, and she had hoped to make a new start of things.
She stood up, trying to keep her voice as calm as possible. She knew what she had to do. “We will not leave father to die, Henry. Not when we had the choice to save him. I shall agree to marry this laird.”
“Said very much like a woman. Without thought or reason. Rose, you don’t even know this man.” Henry’s arms were open as if pleading with her to see sense. She didn’t mention that if Henry had chosen the man for Rose to marry, she was sure that he would not care if Rose knew him or not. “He has the worst reputation across Scotland and England. And for all that, he could be an old man as well.”
“Well, let us hope he is so that he will die soon, and I will be the head of his estate, and the alliance will remain true.”
Henry snorted. “Do not joke at a time like this.”
Rose sighed. Joking was the only way she could keep the tendrils of fear from wrapping around her heart and stopping her from doing what she must. “Henry, an alliance is a good thing. Like this man, we have no desire to return to years of war, not if we can find a way to keep our families and lands safe from another outbreak of it. I would say that Laird Rede has more intelligence than brutishness.”
Henry’s mouth dropped open. “You are being nonsensical. Will you not be unhappy being married to the enemy? A person from the land we fought so tirelessly against? Who killed our people?”
Rose shuddered at the thought of that. She didn’t want to be married to an evil man and be unprotected, but this was now something she could do. A way she could fight. “Henry, listen to me. I know it sounds like madness, but what options do we have? If we say no, he may kill father anyway and then find another way to get me to marry him. We are the closest estate to the Scottish border. It is not as if there is someone else, he could find that is at a location as close as ours.” She gripped her hands together, feeling them lose blood as she tried to keep her courage. “I will do this. I shall do this. Not just for father but for our family. For our land. For our legacy.”
Henry watched her with surprise for a few moments, and it almost looked like there were tears in his eyes as he moved closer and gripped her hand in his. “What if I challenged him to a sort of duel? We could battle it out?”
“You saw the letter, Henry. He should see your army coming from miles away and could pick you off as you arrived. No,” she shook her head, trying to strengthen her own resolve. “No, no, this is the best way.”
Henry pushed away and began to pace. “After such humiliating defeat on the battlefield, our own family is forced to endure another loss against the Scots! The savages! How could I possibly take such a blow?”
Rose could feel the tears coming. This was a very dear sacrifice, indeed, and after she agreed, she might very well regret it the rest of her life. But the thought of her father being trapped and threatened was enough to give back her initial resolve. “Henry, what about this? Once I am married to Laird Rede, he ceases to be an enemy. He is no longer simply a brutish Scot, but now he is an ally and a powerful one at that! And I can do something for you while I am stationed there.”
“What is that?” Henry was now staring at her full in the face, a furrow in his brow.
“I could act as a sort of spy for you. If there are rumblings of battles against England or any of that, you would be the first to know. You!” She was growing strength in this idea, for it helped distract her from her growing fear of becoming wife to a man she had never seen but heard of only of through his reputation.
Henry nodded slowly, and it seemed an age before he spoke again, but he stepped forward and took both of her hands in his. “If you’re sure about this, dear sister. If you are certain, then I don’t really see any other way.”
It was done. Her sacrifice in the battle had now been decided.
