“An adder bite rarely kills,” said Duff.
“That’s where he differs.” Colin turned his eye to Malcolm. “Kiera is the youngest of us. She is smarter than most of my brothers and fought to be their equal. She kens she is a lass and must obey her laird, but it vexes her.”
“We’ve seen that a time or two,” said Malcolm drily.
“I’ve never seen her happier than in the two days you’ve been back. Have you been speaking with her of Kinrowan during all that time you spend in her chamber?”
Malcolm trusted Colin. He’d been good to them, and to Cormac and James. It would do no harm to speak of his pride in Kiera. “I asked her what she might do there if she could. She spoke not of helping herself but of training widows and wives at home with bairns to weave so they could gain a few coins.”
“She wishes to improve the sheep flocks so the wool is finer for weaving,” added Duff.
Colin nodded as if he’d heard it before. “And what of the cattle?”
“She is wise enough to realize she’d best leave that to her men,” said Malcolm.
“So Kiera is learning a wee bit of wisdom as well as all the rest?”
“Aye,” answered Malcolm, “and that ’tis best if none ken we talk with her or that we listen. A clan wants a strong, decisive laird. I have learned from yer father, and also from Somerled.”
“Our laird is grim and responsible, but Niall, his twin, yanks the stick out of his arse now and then,” said Duff. "As I do with mine.” He barely ducked the swat Malcolm aimed at his head.
“And here I was thinkin’ I could be the one causing trouble for once,” complained Colin.
“The heir to Clan MacKenzie?” Duff rolled his eyes. “Ye willna get in trouble no matter what ye do.”
Colin suddenly grinned. “I might if I elope with my wee bride.”
“Elope?”
“Kiera did, so why shouldn’t I do the same? Barbara’s father keeps putting off the wedding.” Colin adjusted the leather thong holding his eye patch snug. “First my father marries a woman my age, then your brothers come here with Alana Sinclair, and now you two are locked up with my sister all hours.” He grimaced. “They’re all having babes and I’ve not had a wedding night. I’m going to steal her away.”
“She lives at Grantown-on-Spey, ye fool,” said Duff, shaking his head. “Yer father’s new wife is a Chisholm, and they’re feuding with the Grants. Fraser of Lovat is their ally, so he willna help.”
“Barbara’s father is at home, aye, but my fiancée is visiting elsewhere. ’Tis only a wee ride through Fraser land to Loch Ness and then a wee boat ride. They’ll let me into Urquhart Castle as I am to be her husband and am ever so responsible.” He preened.
“Ye ken the place?” asked Duff. “We looked from the far side of Loch Ness on our way here.” He shook his head at Colin. “Grant’s built himself a fine towerhouse on the point. Ye may get in but will they let the two of ye out again?”
Colin’s easy expression hardened. “We have a signed marriage contract so I’ve the right to bed Barbara. I’m making what we both want happen, just like Cormac and James did with Alana. We’ll handfast, then take the boat back to my men, ones with fast horses.’”
“Does the Lady Barbara wish to have ye?” asked Malcolm. “It would not be right to shame her.”
Colin grinned and clapped both of them on the shoulders. “Your brothers had a wee word with me while they were here. They said what to do to make my lady smile. I’d not thought learning my letters would be so useful.” He winked. “Barbara’s still a virgin, but I made her very happy. More than once.” He winked, a strange thing with only one eye visible. “I’m not the only one wishing to wed.”
“The Lord of Kintail willna be pleased,” said Malcolm. “Nor will her father. He’s Lord Strathspey, aye?”
“The lords willna be pleased, but my father will,” replied Colin. “He will bluster at me as a lord should but there is a contract so they canna do much once Barbara is well bedded. And she will be.”
“Where will ye go?”
“We’ll visit my brother Roderick Mor at Redcastle. We’ll take a boat across Beauly Basin from Inverness.”
Duff turned to Malcolm with a false groan. “Now I ken why Kiera is trouble. Her father is a bold man and her brother, the heir, wild. Kiera has it from both of them.”
“We have heard nothing of whatever this lad was jabbering about, Duff.” Malcolm tilted his head toward the hall. “We’ve been speaking of what to bring. Our bed—”