Ella turned in a tight circle and sat down in a chair, laying her folded hands in her lap. Cain could imagine her in a royal gown, sitting in pristine fashion. But even in her black trousers and tunic, her hair sticking out haphazardly from their tussle in the woods, dirt smeared across her lovely face, she was bonny. Even if she had ordered his father’s death. Hadn’t he killed her own father several months ago? War to save herself and her clan was justified. A conviction that even Gideon could not argue against.

“It does not matter,” Ella said. “For I choose to die over taking vows of marriage. My neck is thin.” She tipped her head back, exposing the slim column of her throat as if Bàs would walk up to her and slice it through right there in the great hall.

“Ye will marry me,” Cain said, his voice fierce at the dark thought. Killing the brave, beautiful lass would be akin to slaughtering a sleek, strong, fertile mare. He’d never allow it.

Bàs cursed low and grabbed his dark robe from where he’d thrown it. “If ye decide to execute her, send for me. Otherwise, I will return on the morrow with whisky for Da’s wake.” Cain’s youngest brother lived outside Girnigoe, alone with his grim thoughts, polishing his blades and training by himself. He came up to the castle only when summoned despite all three brothers asking him to remain at Girnigoe.

Bàs stopped to look at Ella, and even though his skull mask made him into a macabre harbinger of death, she raised her head to meet his gaze with strength. “I will sharpen my ax just in case,” he said, as he turned and strode away. “For a quick and merciful death,” he called from the entryway.

His little brother played his part well. Even though Bàs was Death, he had admitted to Cain once that he abhorred unjustified killing. Slaughtering a whole clan was not something that Cain wanted, either. It was better for Bàs to terrorize the lass into wedding Cain, despite her warning that her clan would still fight them. Surely she could convince her people to accept the alliance. Inside information told him that her clan had grown to respect her and were quite loyal.

“I think decisions should be made after Lady Sutherland has eaten, bathed, and rested,” said Merida. Cain’s younger sister, Hannah, came forward, seeming to float noiselessly along the floorboards. Sometimes when he saw her walking the halls at night, he thought she might have died years ago and was only a spirit living among them. Was her ethereal demeanor part of her nature or had she learned to keep as invisible as possible around their father? A father who ignored her completely, since she was not part of the horsemen legend.