Joshua’s brows rose. “I think it is quite appropriate to ogle a prisoner, especially one who wears trousers that follow the sweet curves of her legs up to the crux.” He looked back to the archway where Ella had disappeared with Merida. “Do ye think she is completely bare underneath? There would be no getting a smock stuffed down between her legs.” Joshua was purposely baiting him, but even knowing that did not stop Cain from wanting to punch his onerous face.

Gideon thumped a hand on Cain’s chest when he took a purposeful step toward Joshua. “He is always looking for a fight. He is War, after all.”

Joshua raised his tankard in salute. “Ye could order me away from Girnigoe, brother.”

“Or I could order ye to your bedchamber like a naughty wee lad,” Cain said. Joshua had always harbored ire at Cain for being born first, and sometimes Cain did not mind reminding him of the fact.

“Really?” Joshua said. “Your first official order as chief will be to send me to my room?” He seemed pleased and disappointed in Cain at the same time.

Cain glanced to his father’s body. Would his ghost rise up and haunt him for ending the torture of a prisoner? So be it. Cain was now the chief of the Sinclairs, even without the clan pledging their lives to him yet.

Nodding to Gideon, Cain walked over to the table to grab a tankard of ale for himself. “My first order is for everyone to stay away from Ella Sutherland.” He stared hard at Joshua, who kept his smug grin. “And my second order as The Sinclair…” He looked to Gideon. “Is to send some water and turnips down to the dungeon.”

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

“Here is your own key, so ye can bathe in peace,” Merida Sinclair said and nodded toward the four buckets of water that the thick-waisted warrior had carried up to the tower room, the whole time huffing, turning bright red, and wiping his brow. “Just heat the water on the fire, and ye will relax your sore muscles.”

Ella’s hand curled around the heavy iron key, its weight giving substance to Merida’s promise that she’d be left alone, but she didn’t trust her. No doubt there were more keys on the outside, since she was a prisoner.

“Why would you care about my comfort at all?” Ella asked, and she watched the warrior march out the door, two hands pressing against his lower back as if it pained him.