As Rhys walked back towards the house he noticed his father standing on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. With one hand, he beckoned Rhys up.
Malcolm was not yet dressed. He wore a loose gown that was open at the chest, revealing a broad expanse of flesh that was covered in curly red hair, and scars from various battles and hunts. He had a goblet of wine in one huge hand and gestured for Rhys to take a drink.
“It’s a big day for ye Son, here’s tae a good life and a good marriage,” he said, raising his glass in a toast. Malcolm took a long gulp of wine. The liquid sloshed around his mouth and trickled down his cheeks, dripping onto his chest. Malcolm wiped his mouth with his sleeve and belched. Rhys smirked and took a smaller sip, not wanting to get intoxicated this early in the morning when there was a long day ahead.
“Thank ye Da. I hae tae admit that it haes taken me a while tae get used tae the idea of getting married. Tae think that the Frasier and McClearey clans are gaeing tae be one…I’m sure naebody thought it would happen,” Rhys said. Upon hearing his words his father enjoyed a subtle smirk and there was a definite twinkle in his eyes. Rhy was intrigued by this and decided to test his theory. “It makes me wonder if there’s something else ye hae planned? Is there someone else ye are gaeing tae attack? Perhaps the Pressleys? They have a lot of land we could make use of. Whoever it is I want ye tae know that I am ready for battle.” Rhys stood a little taller, pushing out his chest and broadening his shoulders. Even though the rooms of this castle had been built with high ceilings, Rhys’s head almost touched it. “Let Seamus or Sean look after the land. I want tae ride with ye, father and son, striking fear into the hearts of our enemies.”
“Ye enthusiasm pleases me,” Malcolm said, picking up some meat that had been brought in for his breakfast. He bit into in savagely. “But I am nae gaeing tae attack anyone else.”
Rhys was disappointed. His heart sank a little. All he’d ever wanted was to prove himself in battle and fight alongside his father. It’s what every boy wanted, but now that chance was slipping away from him.
“I see,” Rhys said. “I suppose I shall hae tae find my glory elsewhere.” He tried to not sound too despondent as he wanted to obey his father’s wishes, but they went against all his instincts.
“I’m nae attacking any other targets because I already hae one in mind,” Malcolm said. His smile widened and his entire body shook with a loud chuckle. Rhys’s eyes widened and then he smiled too, although he didn’t quite yet understand the nuances of Malcolm’s meaning.
“Who dae ye mean Da?”
“Why, the only enemy that has ever mattered, the only enemy there truly is: the McCleareys!”
Rhys looked at him with confusion. He tilted his head to the side as he tried to understand what his father meant. “But ye hae me marrying Caitlin. We are gaeing tae be at peace.”
“Are we?” Malcolm asked with an enigmatic smile on his face. He took a deep breath when he realized that he was going to have to explain things properly to Rhys, and perched on the end of the bed. It sank and creaked under his great weight. “I was nae lying when I told ye that I was concerned with the losses taken by the clan. Ah, when I was a wee lad I remember we had legions of men! But as the wars go on they become ever more vicious and we seem tae lose more lives. I cannae abide seeing the clan dwindle. If things continue the way they’re gaeing it’ll only be ye and me left on the battlefield, facing Bryn and his sons! Nay, that cannae be the way we live. Sae I thought tae myself that we need a way tae win the war and wipe out the clan without putting our lives at risk, sae I started thinking.” He placed his hands on his thighs and grinned widely, clearly proud that he had come up with this plan.
“I knew that Bryn would accept an offer of peace if he thought it was genuine, sae I offered something I knew he wouldn’t be able tae resist—a chance tae end the war once and for all by bringing our clans taegether.”
“How could ye be sae sure he would believe you?”
“I couldn’t…but I knew he’d be willing tae take the risk. Ye see, Bryn isn’t like ye or I. As a boy, when we dueled, he was always looking for a way tae end the fight and make up for his lack of strength. That’s why we hae nae been able to wipe them out for good. They are sly and cunning, and always find a way tae escape. Tae beat them we hae tae think like them.” He tapped the side of his head with a gnarled, thick finger. “Bryn would never believe that I could be sae devious,” Malcolm added with a satisfied smile. “Sae what we’re gaeing tae dae is wed ye tae the lass as planned. Once ye hae bedded her and the marriage is official we’ll denounce the treaty and attack the keep. They will nae be prepared.”
Rhys smiled. He was glad that his father hadn’t completely lost his way. There would still be a chance for him to fight after all. “And what of Caitlin?”
“We’ll take her hostage. If
