Royden turned and walked away. Never had Platt offered any information. Why did he do so now? He didn’t bother to ask who it was who had bought his freedom. Platt wouldn’t tell him. He’d probably get satisfaction out of not telling him. He wondered, though, who had paid a steep price for his release and why?
Royden stood looking at the MacKinnon keep. He had approached it from the woods, not sure what he’d find. Once he had caught sight of it, he had to get closer, had to finally get home. The stone keep stood tall and proud and didn’t appear as neglected as he feared it might. Although he didn’t know what he’d find inside. For now, it didn’t matter. He was home. After five long, terrible years he was home.
He turned and looked over the village and the sight disturbed him. The cottages were in disrepair and he saw no one tending to chores or lingering about. He didn’t even hear the bark of a dog.
“Few have remained, but the few who have will be happy to see you. Happy to have a chieftain once again.”
Royden turned to see Bethany standing just outside the open doors of the keep.
“You stayed,” he said pleased to see a familiar face, family of sorts.
“Someone had to be here if your sister returned,” she said, tears glistening in eyes that had aged since Royden had last seen her. Her hair had turned completely gray and she appeared thinner, a slight stoop to her shoulders, but the broad smile she wore let him know how happy she was to see him.
“Has Raven returned?” Royden asked anxiously, hoping for good news.
Bethany shook her head. “No, she hasn’t been here and I’ve heard nothing about her.”
“The warriors who remained here probably frightened her away,” Royden surmised or more hoped, giving credence that his sister had survived.
“The warriors left about a month ago and have not returned. Not the same warriors who first remained here. Warriors have come and gone over the years. They all did little while here. Then he came one day.” Bethany shuddered. “A beast of a man. A metal helmet concealed his face and I was glad of it. Something told me if I looked upon him I’d wither and die. His own warriors—the ones who arrived with him and there were many—kept their distance except for one man. He was called Trevor and he did the beast’s bidding.” She shuddered again, her whole body quaking.
“Why was he here?”
Bethany shook her head. “I don’t know for certain. I did hear some say that he was close to getting what he wanted. Whatever that might be.”
Royden wondered himself and intended to find out. “The warriors won’t be coming back. I’m free and I’m home to stay.”
Bethany’s shoulders sagged as if a heavy weight had been lifted off them. “Those who have remained here have struggled to keep the clan together until one of you returned. No one ever doubted that one of you would come home and return strength and pride to the clan.”
“It will be done. The Clan MacKinnon will rise again,” he said and with what he had learned while captive, he’d make his clan close to invincible. “I never got to thank you for what you did that day of the attack, Bethany. It took courage to step forward and lie to protect Raven, and I am forever grateful that you did. I am also grateful that you remained here and did what you could to keep the Clan MacKinnon together.”
“The clan is my family and I would do anything to protect Raven,” Bethany admitted tearfully. “And I’d do anything to find her and help bring her home.”
“You have my word. I will find Raven and bring her home,” Royden said, intent on keeping the promise he had made those many years ago.
“Will Arran return home soon?” Bethany asked.
“I believe he will,” Royden said, sounding and feeling hopeful now that he was home. He’d never forget what his brother did for him when he’d lost his hand. He owed Arran much and he prayed he’d see him soon. Otherwise he’d… “I’ll go find Arran if necessary.”
“As he would you,” Bethany acknowledged. “Much work is needed here, the fields need planting, the cottages repaired along with the storehouses which need stocking. I don’t know if there are enough left of the clan to see it done.”
“I’ll see it done.” Royden didn’t know how, but he’d let nothing stop him from restoring his clan’s power and wealth and providing a thriving home for his clan.
“You should be aware that one of the warriors who was here for some time chose to stay,” Bethany said. “He fell in love with Emily, Old George’s granddaughter, and they wed.”
“Emily is so young,” Royden said, thinking she was near the same age as his sister.
“Not anymore. She’s close to ten and nine years now,” Bethany reminded. “And past the age most lassies wed.”
Now that he was home, the years he’d been away seemed like only yesterday. But they weren’t and nothing was the same. His sister wasn’t a young lass on the verge of womanhood. She was grown and had been of marriage age for a few years now. Had she found a man of her choosing and wed?
“Penn seems nice enough and he’s good to Emily and she’s madly in love with him.” Bethany sighed and shook her head again. “I can’t help but wonder and worry that Penn was ordered to stay here.”
“And keep this leader of his informed,” Royden said the obvious.
“It’s a thought I can’t shake, but look at me going on like this when you’re probably hungry and could do with a washing.”
“You’re right about both,” Royden said. “Once that’s done, I’ll walk through the village and talk with everyone so they know I’m home.”
He gave one last look over the quiet village and spotted a lone rider approaching the village.
“That would be Lady Learmonth. Once a week she visits here to tend the ailing and give what comfort she can to those in need,” Bethany said.
“The old chieftain wed? And when did Learmonth have a title bestowed on him?” Royden asked.
“Aye, he has a wife and not long after the attack a title. You nee—”
“Get food and drink ready for our guest. I have much to ask Lady Learmonth,” Royden said and turned away from Bethany, failing to see the worry in her eyes and the hesitancy in her steps as she did as she was told.
The rider came to a stop not far from him and before he could offer her assistance, she dismounted on her own and with graceful skill. Her hood concealed a good portion of her face as she approached him.
The woman stopped suddenly, hesitant to approach him and he couldn’t blame her.
He was far from presentable, his garments soiled from his arduous journey and worn from the years and elements. He also needed a good soaking to wash away not only the grime and odor, but who he had become these past five years. A man who had lost all sense of who he had once been. A man he’d become far too familiar with over time. A man who killed far too easily and a man who had laid with women he cared nothing about. A man who had lost all honor.
He reached back to his past, recalling manners he hadn’t needed in years. “Please forgive my unpresentable state, Lady Learmonth. I have only returned home after a long journey and I am not as presentable as I should be.”