“And no one to shield ye from him.”

Her gaze dropped to Boudica who bounded off to chase a bug into a corner far from the horses. “I like pity about as much as I am guessing you do, Cain.” She met his stare. “I am strong like a sword that has been tempered with fire.” Her chin raised. “I have learned to escape any lock and how to be as silent as moving mist. My scars are proof I survived living with a devil, one who is dead and hopefully burning in Hell.”

Cain kept his voice even despite the fury welling up inside him. “Ye have more scars?”

“A few lashes on my back and of course the…” She slid a finger up her jawline to the circle brand below her ear.

Damn and blast it. He wanted to… What? Slaughter a dead man or maybe those who stood by and let Alec Sutherland rage against his daughter?

She continued. “I haven’t acquired any in battle yet, since I stay out of the heavy fighting. Using physical strength, most warriors can best me, but my skills with the bow and a dagger are far superior.”

Lord, how he wanted to run the pad of his finger across each scar on her body. “Ye are a warrior, Ella Sutherland.”

“Yes, I am. I am the chief of the Sutherland clan.” She turned her eyes toward him, and he pressed his back against the boards so as not to learn forward. “I cannot just give those rights away, the rights I earned,” she said.

He didn’t want the night to dissolve into anger, and he wanted to know more about the woman who was brave enough to coordinate battle. Brave enough to stand up to him. “Have ye always wanted to lead your clan, or would ye rather have the choice to hand it off? To another Sutherland,” he added quickly.

The edge of her mouth tipped upward, and she sniffed with wry humor before she leaned her head back. He watched the long column of her neck. “I did not intend to become the chief of our clan, but someone must do so, and I am a direct descendant of Alec Sutherland. King James is in favor of leadership staying within direct bloodlines.”

“No Sutherland challenged ye for it?”

“There were discussions,” she said. “But my father’s advisor backed me. Kenneth trained most of those men. He helped me pass their tests.”

“Tests?”

“With weapons and riding.” She leveled her chin to meet his gaze. “I can hit the center of a target at fifty yards with my bow while standing on the back of my moving horse. I can throw the mattucashlass with accuracy, too. And I certainly understand diplomacy better than most of them.”

She had fought for her right to lead the clan. No wonder she didn’t want to surrender it to him, even if it made sense.