“You ken the lasses are no’ allowed in the barracks, aye?” Aodhan asked.
Coinneach smiled. “After she protected a wounded soldier by killing two Vikings threatening my family’s croft?”
Most of the men headed out of the barracks, shaking their heads. “He has all the luck.” “You try to best Aodhan again.” “I’ve tried. Three times!” “We all thought he was unbeatable.”
“I am,” Aodhan said. “Just try me.”
“I am Fletcher. We are glad to have you in our ranks, Coinneach.” The blond-haired and bearded Fletcher told Aodhan, “I’m sure that after he bested you, Coinneach will have special privileges.”
“We heard that Aisling took down two of the Vikings herself.” The man had flaming red hair and a beard to match. His sharp blue eyes connected with Coinneach’s. Aodhan had told him Ruadh was trustworthy and a good fighter. “We could use her as one of our archers.”
Coinneach wanted her safe from harm, not shooting arrows at their enemy from the wall walk or joining them in battle beyond the castle walls.
“You are mating her, aye?” Fletcher asked.
“Aye.” Coinneach got up and dressed. “She was mine from the moment I saw her in the meadow with her mother.”
“Watch out for Rupert. He has been plaguing Aisling for months now,” Fletcher said.
“Rupert?” Why hadn’t Aisling told Coinneach she’d been having trouble with him? Coinneach would put him in his place.
“Aye, but you know he’s the chief’s son, so be careful how you approach him,” Fletcher said.
Aodhan pulled on his boots. “He would go whining to his mother, and she would tell Hamish how you intimidated her son.”
“I didna see him in the practice battles.” Coinneach wondered if he even knew how to fight.
“He has private lessons. Morag insisted on it.”
So that no one could see how poorly he did against other men? It was essential to fight against others, to hone their skills, and to learn different techniques.
“Who has taught Rupert to fight?” Coinneach was curious if it was Aodhan.
“Drustan. But he says Rupert is lazy and doesna put any effort into it.” Aodhan belted his plaid.
“Because his da is the chief.” Coinneach couldn’t believe Rupert wouldn’t want to emulate his father.
“Because of his mother,” Aodhan said. “If she didna have her hooks in him, he might have turned out to be of stronger character. As it is, he wants for nothing and helps nobody either.”
“If anything happens to Hamish, goddess forbid, his son willna be able to fill his boots,” Coinneach said.
If a chief’s son were of the right age, as Rupert was, he would have stood a good chance of leading the pack if Hamish died. But only if Rupert had the pack behind him. Just because he was thechief’s son, there was no guarantee the clan would allow him to take over. Even if Morag wanted it.
Though he wasn’t even the chief’s son.
Coinneach's wound was still sore when he and the other men walked to the great hall to break their fast. Even then, he knew he could work on the wall walk today. No one would dissuade him.
He couldn’t believe Aisling had joined him in bed last night, but he hadn’t wanted to let her go once she was with him. No matter that it wasn’t allowed. He wanted everyone to know she was his, though he would have reluctantly let her leave if she had wanted to.
Now he looked forward to seeing her while she served the meal at his table.
When she came out with their bread, he smiled at her, letting her know he felt all right.
“I know you and you’re going to pull guard duty today.” She handed Aodhan two slices of bread. “If you weary, you let Aodhan know so you can lie down…in the barracks.”
“Aye, I will.”
“I dinna believe it.” She handed Coinneach a slice of bread. “Aodhan, promise me if Coinneach becomes too fatigued, you’ll send him to the barracks.”
