Tadhg put a hand on Cathal’s shoulder. “Cathal, Rowan is a fine strong warrior and Katherine is a skilled healer. He is in good hands. However, having the two of ye at each other’s throats will not help matters at all.”
Perhaps noticing for the first time that Tadhg had entered the room, Lachlan Fraser rounded on him. “This is your fault, Matheson. If ye hadn’t interfered, Darcy would have married Mairead and none of us would be here. Speaking of Darcy, he should be in here, with his family, with his sister. Damn it all, MacIan, I demand ye let him enter the keep.”
Niall had obviously had enough. “Lachlan, if ye don’t calm down, I will let ye join Darcy in the courtyard. I don’t know what happened, but I am fairly certain Tadhg had nothing to do with it. And don’t start in about the betrothal—MacKenzie made the choice he thought best for his daughter, just as ye did.”
A tense silence ensued until both older men stood down.
When it was clear a war wasn’t going to erupt imminently, Niall motioned for Tadhg to join him away from the others.
“What have ye learned? Who found him?” Tadhg asked.
Niall answered, “Keavy, one of my other guardsmen, found him. I’m not sure when it happened. Peadar said Rowan had gone outside for air earlier, but didn’t remember seeing him return before Peadar left with Rhona to return to the MacKenzie encampment. With so many people around, someone must have seen something. My guardsmen are questioning everyone, but so far we have had no luck.”
“Is it as serious as Lachlan thinks?”
“It is serious. Just as Lachlan said, he looked like death when he was discovered. Katherine and Lady MacKenzie are with him.”
“I don’t mean to borrow trouble, but ye’ve barred the keep and the gates. What do ye think will happen if Rowan doesn’t make it?”
“I don’t know for sure. Lachlan is as angry as Cathal, and Cathal was already irritated with me for offering Rowan a position with my guard in the first place. Rowan was attacked in my castle, under my protection. I will do whatever I need to do to appease them, but it may not be enough for a grieving father. Blood feuds have started with less provocation. Having both of them in here, separated from what amounts to a small army outside my gates, seems prudent.”
“Aye, with the lairds of the assembled clans inside the keep, there might be some posturing and sword rattling outside the gates, but nothing more. We need to keep things calm within.”
“Then I can count on your support?”
“Niall, I will not raise a sword against my father-in-law, but short of that, unless it turns out ye were the one who clouted Rowan, ye have my support.”
Niall chuckled. “It wasn’t me. Like yourself, I had already retired with my sweet Katherine.”
“By all the saints, I pray this is resolved soon. I wouldn’t risk Mairead’s safety for anything and ye have effectively locked out all of my guardsmen except Hamish.”
“I’m sorry, Tadhg, if I let your men enter and no others it is likely to spark tempers again.”
“How many of Mairead’s brothers are in the keep?”
“Only Quinn, but Cathal has him guarding Rowan. I have several guards on Rowan as well. If someone was attempting to kill him, they might try to finish the job and I won’t put Katherine at such a risk. The fact is Katherine is hopeful Rowan will recover. She said his breathing is normal, he groaned as she sewed the gash in his head, and he is restless at times. Apparently, these are good signs. Cathal knows this, but I’ve told no one else. If the attacker thinks Rowan might recover and identify him, it could drive him to redouble his efforts. Still, I understand your concern for Mairead. If ye would like, I will assign one of my men to guard her, too.”
Tadhg hesitated before answering. “I would appreciate that, Niall, but Mairead is a bit skittish around strangers.”
“Ah, don’t worry. I will assign Turcuil.”
“The great hairy giant ye have in your employ? Are ye trying to scare the wits out of her?”
Niall laughed. “Turcuil looks a bit scary, but he can be as gentle as a kitten and has a heart of gold. Trust me, he is the best choice.”
“I believe ye, thousands wouldn’t.”
~ * ~
Mairead awoke with a vague sense of disquiet just as dawn was lightening the sky. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Tadhg had left already and she assumed his absence was the source of her uneasiness. She dressed quickly, trying to ignore her slightly queasy stomach, before cracking the chamber door open to peek into the hall. Hamish stood guard there, but instead of one of Tadhg’s other guards, there was a huge man with a bushy black beard whom she recognized as a MacIan guardsman. “Hamish, where is Tadhg? Is something wrong?”