Ella had been trained by a brutal father not to jump at bellowing, but the fury in Cain’s voice as he used her title caused a shudder to run through her. He will never harm me. She breathed deeply. But would he harm an innocent boy? No, he had more honor than that.

His three brothers filed out with Merida, who stopped to shake her finger at Cain. She did not say anything, but her reprimand was evident.

Cain turned to stare at Ella. “Ye have a brother. One who is twelve years old.” The words came as if he were instructing her, although she was quite aware of all of it. She clasped her hands together before her as he continued.

“He is named after King James, and your mother was good friends with Queen Anne’s mother before she was sent to wed Alec Sutherland.” Cain’s face relaxed into an apathetic mask as if he were reciting a history lesson.

“When Alec Sutherland died, ye traveled to Edinburgh where ye quickly became friends with Anne. With her help, ye met with James to ask for his assistance in making certain that your brother became chief of the Sutherland Clan. On his seventeenth birthday, James will send his troops to make certain that Dunrobin and Sutherland lands are in Jamie Sutherland’s hands, or else he will use the power under his command as king to rout those who have conquered the Sutherlands.”

He took two full breaths, and the silence in the hall pressed hard on Ella as she waited. “The full support of the crown,” Cain said, “in exchange for Sutherland loyalty and because his wife’s mother loved your mother.” Cain crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “If the boy dies before he turns seventeen, then the clan, its castle, and its vast territory will be managed by whatever clan is strong enough to do so, as long as they are loyal to James.”

If the boy dies…? Ella met his gaze with fire in her stare. “Jamie is a sweet, beautiful boy. Do not kill him.”

His narrowed eyes widened before the glare returned. Cain threw his arms wide. “Do not kill him?” he yelled, his words booming through the room. “Ye think I would execute a child, a twelve-year-old lad, who ye apparently have protected his whole life?” His hands went to the top of his head where his fingers grasped his hair, elbows pointed outward. “No one has even heard of Jamie Sutherland. My contact at Dunrobin knows nothing about Alec Sutherland having a son, an heir to his earldom.”

Ella swallowed against the dryness of her mouth. “I kept him a secret,” she said, her voice coming out hoarse. “My mother… Cain, it was her dying wish for me to keep him hidden until he grew old enough to be chief, strong enough to defeat his father.”