“Oh! Hello, chief,” Thomas said as he pushed into a stand on the steps before Cain’s new chamber. “No movement from above.” He nodded toward the ascending steps.

Cain pushed into his room without a word. The space was all set for him with new curtains and bedding. It had been thoroughly cleaned of dust and his father’s clothes. Tonight, he would sleep in it.

Stopping before the carved gameboard, he added the white knight to the chess pieces and picked up the whole game, striding back out the door.

“I will keep guard here, then,” Thomas called after him as Cain continued up the steps to the tower room.

Rap, rap. His knuckles banged firmly on the door. He had the heavy key in the leather bag he carried, but he would rather she let him in. Unless she was too weak to stand. Rap. Rap. “Ella, ’tis Cain. Are ye well?” Rap. Rap. Rap.

“Blast it, Cain!” she yelled through the door. “I am coming. What is the hurry? Are Sutherlands breaching Girnigoe’s walls?”

Like that was even possible. He exhaled, realizing that his heart was pumping hard. “I would speak with ye,” he said through the door.

“Go ahead,” she called.

He huffed. “Where I can see that ye have not grown too thin from lack of food.” Silence. “Ella, open the door. I have a proposition for ye.” The iron key turned in the lock. As she opened the door, her kitten dodged out around his legs and disappeared down the steps.

“I am glad to see ye have not resorted to eating your cat,” he said.

The simple green gown accented her generous curves, and half of her hair was pinned up on the crown of her head into a bonny swirl. She looked tired and still angry. If he stuffed a tart in her mouth, would she have the strength to fight him off?

“What proposition?”

“A way for your clan to retain their lands and castle,” he said and held the board higher.

“A chess game?” Her brow arched high. “To win back Sutherland land? Not that you have it yet.”

He wasn’t going to argue that point. “May I come in?”

She exhaled and opened the door wider. There were no food scraps around, so she wasn’t somehow sneaking past Thomas to get meals from the kitchen. She sat down on the edge of her bed, and Cain set the board on the small table. Ella glanced at it. Did she wonder about the white knight?

“I received your gift just now,” Cain said. “Poor Hannah looked quite worried that I might become our father and hurl the piece at her head.”

Ella didn’t say anything as he moved the table before her and sat opposite in the one chair in the room.