The Sinner by Margaret Mallory Read Free Book Online Page A

away. Alex used to warn the women, but it was no use. After a few months, they always expected a permanent arrangement of one kind or another.
    “At least I like the women I bed. I even talk to them—something ye might try,” Alex said. “Do ye ever speak to your mistress, other than to say ‘pass the fish’ and ‘take your clothes off’?”
    “Time to lower the sails, lads,” Duncan called out to the other men. “Take an oar.”
    Unfortunately, they couldn’t arrive at Shaggy’s in the boat they stole from him, so they were sailing one of the war galleys. Though it was large enough to carry fifty warriors, Connor had been able to spare only the eighteen needed to man the oars.
    “I expect Rhona believes that behind all that silence you’re thinking deep thoughts about her,” Alex said, as he leaned on the rudder. “You’ve had her in your bed for months, and yet ye wouldn’t care if she left tomorrow, would ye?”
    “I don’t mind her.” Duncan shrugged. “We meet each other’s needs, and she doesn’t cause a fuss like your women do.”
    “ Meet each other’s needs. ” Alex snorted. “That sounds like a fine time.”
    “Rest your oars,” Duncan called out, and they glided into shore below the castle.
     
    *  *  *
    Alex was already bored listening to the men who were gathered in the castle courtyard. As always, there was a lot of pointless talk about returning to the glory days when half the Highlands answered to the Lord of the Isles, rather than to the King of Scotland.
    For a hundred and fifty years, the Lord of the Isles had been the leader of all the branches of the Clan MacDonald and their vassals, which had included the Macleans, the MacLeods, the MacNeils, and the rest. Under the Lordship, the clans had followed old Celtic law and customs. That part had not changed much—they still ignored Scottish law and directives from the church in Rome, except when convenient.
    But it had been more than twenty years since the Lord of the Isles had been forced to submit to the crown. Without a single leader, the clans fought among themselves all the time. That did not, however, keep them from rising against the Crown again and again.
    “We’ll burn Inverness!” one young man shouted, clenching his fist in the air.
    “Not again.” Alex sighed and turned to Duncan. “How many times has Inverness been burned?”
    “Some men are practicing in the field behind the castle,” Duncan said. “Since we may fight these rebels one day, let’s see how good they are.”
    As Alex and Duncan entered the field, the men halted their practice. Twenty pairs of hostile eyes fixed upon them.
    “What are the MacDonalds of Sleat doing here?” one man said loud enough for all to hear. He was a MacLeod warrior with a long scar down the side of his face.
    “We’re not your enemies,” Alex said.
    “Then why has your clan not joined the rebellion?” another man asked.
    “Because we’re just brimming with goodwill to all,” Alex said, spreading his arms out.
    Most of the men laughed and that might have been an end to it, if not for a young man with a weedy beard and weasel eyes.
    “I say the MacDonalds of Sleat refuse to join us because they are poor fighters.” The man paused, then added, “Or else they are just cowards.”
    “That’s it,” Duncan said, as he unsheathed his claymore. “Who’s first?”
    “I’ll fight ye,” the same fool said, and stepped forward to meet Duncan.
    “Who’s next?” Alex whipped out his sword—he couldn’t let Duncan defend the honor of the clan alone. “How about you with the ugly face?”
    As Alex fought the MacLeod warrior, he watched the other fight out of the corner of his eye. Duncan fought with his usual cool control. His opponent was red-faced and cursing as he fell back, again and again, under the pounding assault of Duncan’s claymore. In no time, the man was flat on his back with Duncan’s foot on his chest and the point of Duncan’s sword just