The morning had been fraught with tension. Rhys would have loved to have only concentrated on getting ready for the wedding, not on worrying about preventing a massacre. He had gone to see his father. Malcolm had been in bed with a serving wench, who was dismissed with a slap on the rump and a cheeky smile. Rhys avoided making eye contact with her as she adjusted her dress and scampered out of the room, her cheeks rosy with satisfaction. Malcolm looked smug as he lay in bed, his huge form filling every inch of it.
“I tell ye lad, the lasses here…oh, they almost make me want tae reconsider my plan. I’ll hae tae make sure that we take a few back with us.” He chortled to himself and scratched his chest, then belched.
“I wanted tae speak tae ye Da,” Rhys said. “About the plan.”
“Oh aye?” Malcolm asked, wriggling a finger around in his mouth as he tried to dislodge something that had gotten caught between his teeth. Rhys was a little distracted by this but tried to not let it put him off what he had to say.
“Are ye sure it’s really for the best? I’m thinking that maybe the best thing is tae let things play out with the treaty. We can work taegether tae be stronger and expand our holdings and our lands. We dinnae hae tae see anyone die.”
Rhys tried to speak as plainly as possible, but Malcolm’s gaze bore upon him and he stopped wriggling his finger in his mouth. He pulled it out and a line of saliva came with it. He leaned forward and glared at Rhys.
“What are ye saying lad? Dinnae tell me that ye hae gone and fallen in love with the lass! Oh my, that’s the last thing I wanted ye tae dae! I see ye hae been swayed by their hospitality and their good spirits. Aye, they put on a good feast alright and a good show, but dinnae take that as the truth of them. They’re as mean as anyone else and ye cannae take anything for granted when it comes tae them. We came here with a job tae dae. Ye are nae gaeing tae ruin my plan now!” he cried. His body was covered in hair and scars, and he looked like a beast as he crawled out of bed. “I cannae believe my own son would be foolish enough tae fall for the charms of a McClearey lass. Dinnae ye think that’s what they wanted? Tae capture yer attention and turn ye against yer own clan?”
Rhys frowned, and for a moment he considered Malcolm’s claims, but immediately dismissed them. He shook his head. “Nay Da, she is nae like that. She hae nae lied tae me or done anything tae make me mistrust her.”
Malcolm snorted scornfully. “Dae ye think ye can believe her? I told ye before they are wily and sly. There is never anything they dae without having some ulterior motive. In fact, I’m sure that they have some kind of plan tae strike at us as well. Bryn wouldnae hae agreed tae this treaty if he didnae hae a plan.” A glower came upon his face. It was cast in darkness and shadow, and it looked as ugly as a stormy maelstrom.
“I think ye are wrong Da. I spoke with Bryn and he wants peace. He wants tae spread our influence across the land and make up for lost time. He wants tae trade with other clans and—”
“Bah!” Malcolm waved a hand dismissively in the air. “Lies, all lies! What is the use of trading? The McCleareys want one thing and one thing only—tae rule the land! And if we dinnae dae something now they’re gaeing tae conquer us and then take over everything else.”
“But is that nae what we want tae?” Rhys asked in a small voice. Malcolm was fuming with rage. His nostrils flared and his skin glowed red. Every muscle in his mighty body was taut and sinuous, and the air around him simmered with the raging heat that emanated from his body.
“Are ye trying tae say that he and I are one and the same? Oh my boy, this lass has done a real number on ye.” Malcolm laughed darkly. “Ye know that is nae true. Dinnae forget about all those they hae killed over the years. If ye ancestors could hear ye now they would be shaking their heads in disappointment. I thought better of ye lad. I can see ye still hae a lot tae learn.” Malcolm’s head sank in disappointment and he rubbed his temples. The part of Rhys that had always been loyal to his father stung with the harsh assessment of his character, but the part that was beginning to think for himself saw his father as a hypocrite and a madman, a man who had been blinded by anger and could see no other perspective than his own.
“And dinnae forget that they killed ye ma,” he said gravely.
“Ma died in childbirth Da,” Rhys reminded him, wondering how his father could have forgotten. Malcolm whirled his arm through the air, as though he was trying to tear apart the very fabric of reality.
“And dae ye think she would hae died if I haed been by her side?” Malcolm thundered. “I would hae found a way tae save her. I would hae kept her safe. But I was away, fighting the damned McCleareys because they couldnae keep tae their own business. And when I came back she was gone. The only women I hae ever loved.” His hand moved to his forehead and he rested the weight of his head upon it. He closed his eyes and his shoulders trembled as genuine emotion surged through him. Rhys looked upon his father with great pity. He rarely saw his father express anything other
