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as much as you do, but not at this cost."
She glanced to her husband, who exchanged a peeved glare with Simon. "We are being rude by
discussing this in front of him when he knows nothing of our language."
"He's a whoreson and if he can't understand us, then you'd best be sending him home."
"You're right about one thing." They all froze as Sin's flawless Gaelic rolled like thunder through the
room. "I am a whoreson, but I have no intention of going home until there are no more raids against
Englishmen." He stalked toward Dermot until they were toe to toe. "So if you want me to leave, then all
you have to do is make peace."
"Wherever did you learn to speak our language, lad?" Aster asked. "I've never known a Sas&
Englishman to speak it so well."
Sin cast a glance over his shoulder. "I'm just full of surprises."
Callie held her breath as the two men sized each other up. Like Sin, her uncle wasn't used to anyone
questioning his supreme authority. He ruled their land with the power of a king, and all the clan owed
their blood loyalty to him.
She cast a pleading look to Simon, hoping that if a battle ensued, he would help her break them apart.
Aster narrowed his gaze. "If you think for even one instant that I will let you capture any of my people
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and hand them over to your king, you are sadly mistaken."
Sin turned to face him. "Then I would caution you to make sure the rebels raid no more."
"How can I do that when I have no idea who they are?"
"You are laird of this clan. Don't tell me you don't know every man, woman and child who inhabits it. If
you don't know the rebels by name, you most certainly know them by reputation and you know which of
the men are most likely guilty."
Dermot raked a sneer over Sin and Simon. "There are only the two of them here, Uncle. I say we cut
their throats and bury them."
Sin actually smiled at Dermot's threat as Simon cocked an amused brow.
When Sin spoke, his tone was low and lethal. "Better men than you, whelp, have tried, and they are all
lying in their graves for it."
Dermot stiffened to his full youthful height, which was still a full head shorter than Sin. "You don't scare
me."
"Then you are too foolish to live." Sin pulled a dagger from his boot. "Come here, boy, and I'll cutyour
throat and gladly put you out of both our miseries."
For the first time in her life, Callie saw her brother pale. "Sin," she said, in a teasing tone she hoped
would lighten their moods and stave off their fighting. "Put that away before he thinks you mean it."
"I do mean it."
She rolled her eyes as her own temper ignited. "Och now, you men. Always bragging and bullying." She
took the dagger from his hand and sheathed it back in his boot. "Next time, I'll confiscate it from you."
The incredulous look on Sin's face was laughable. In fact, Simon did laugh.
She turned on Dermot. "And you& you ought to be ashamed. Now go upstairs and say hello to your
brother and let me speak with Aster without your hotheadedness interfering."
That only made Dermot madder. "I've as much right "
"Dermot, obey!" she commanded.
Grumbling, he stalked from the room. "I'm not a child!" he snapped before slamming the door shut
behind him.
Callie took a deep breath. Finally, a moment of peace to try and negotiate a miracle.
She turned back to the men. "All right, now, where were we?"
"Your uncle was telling you why he and the rest of your clan can't welcome me into their midst."
"It's nothing against you personally," Aster said. "I have finally succeeded in quieting down the rebels.
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Your presence here will no doubt set them off again."
Sin crossed his arms over his chest. "Was it your leadership that quelled them or the fact that Henry held
Callie?"
Aster turned a peculiar shade of red. "Now, see here, I dinna have time for this. I have an envoy of allies
coming in from a northern clan. The last thing "
Sin stiffened. "To what purpose do they come?"
Aster blustered even more that Sin would dare question him about clan concerns. "It's none of your
bloody damned English business."
Sin took a step forward, his face dark with warning. "As an advisor to Henry "
"Great Peter's knucklebone, Callie!" Aster cried, turning on her with a fierce glower. "It's not bad
enough you bring back an Englishman? Did you have to find one who is an advisor to the king?"
She disregarded his question. Much like Sin, she wanted to know who was coming and why. "Who is
coming, Aster? I don't see the harm in his knowing."
A tic formed at Aster's jaw. For several minutes, he said nothing at all as he looked back and forth
between them.
Finally he spoke. "The MacAllisters are coming."
Sin frowned. "Lochlan MacAllister?"
"You know of him?" Aster asked.
Callie arched a brow in surprise. The MacAllisters were a strong clan who wielded a tremendous
amount of power over their fellow Highlanders. Their leader, Lochlan, was said to be wiser than King
Solomon and the most skilled fighter in all of Scotland.
Ewan MacAllister was more myth than real. Legend said he'd taken to the hills, where he practiced
ancient and black arts that called forth the souls of dead warriors to inhabit his body. A giant among men,
Ewan had never been defeated in battle.
And Braden MacAllister& there wasn't a lass in all of Scotland who didn't know of him. More
handsome than sin itself, he was said to be able to seduce any woman he met. When it came to fighting,
everyone agreed the only person to match his skill was one of his brothers.
No one ever wanted to cross a MacAllister.
Sin snorted. "Aye, you could say that."
"Why are they coming?" Callie asked.
Aster took a seat at his desk and shuffled through papers. "Since they are on friendly terms with King
Henry, I sent for them hoping to work a peace that would bring you home. Now I fear they will have
wasted their journey. But no matter, I shall make them welcome and then send them back."
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It made sense to her and she was relieved Aster had sought a peaceful way to get her back as opposed
to marching himself down to London and getting killed. "When will they arrive?"
"Tomorrow or the next day."
Callie gathered Simon and Sin to her. "Come, gentlemen, let me show you both where you may wash
and rest. Aster, would you please have food sent to my room and to the one across the hall from it?"
Rage suffused his face at her words. Aster growled low in his throat. Then he fairly shouted, "You canna
be putting one of them in your room, lass! 'Tis indecent!"
She gaped at him. "My husband?"
Aster's face turned another shade of red. He blustered. "Aye, I forgot that. All right, then, I shall send
Aggie up with food for all of you."
"Thank you."
Sin didn't speak as she led him across the hall and to a set of stairs. He saw the hate-filled stares they
collected as they moved through the castle.
"You know," Simon said from behind him, "I haven't felt this much animosity since the last time I went to
Paris."
"I told you to stay home."
"No doubt I shall wish I had listened." Simon cleared his throat. When he spoke next, it was in a deep,
mocking tone. "Oh, but Simon, I am so glad you came along. Imagine, here I would be with only Callie
and Jamie to befriend me." He changed his voice back to its normal tone. "Think nothing of it, Sin. My [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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