Page 105 of The Warrior
“I hope Niall recovers quickly,” she said in a low voice so as not to wake Ragnall. “He seemed no worse than when I left him.”
“Except for being mightily annoyed at missing the fight with the pirates.” The corners of Duncan’s mouth tilted up as he gave her a sideways glance.
“I’m glad it’s just the three of us and Sàr sailing home in this small galley,” Moira said.
One of the other men captained the war galley Duncan had sailed from Trotternish, and Ian had taken Niall in his war galley.
“Ragnall’s had a rough few days,” Duncan said, looking down at his sleeping face. “You must be tired as well,mo leannain.”
“I’m tired to the bone, but I’m too happy to sleep,” she said, smiling up at him. “I want to stay awake and enjoy it.”
“Ye were so brave to come to warn us.” Duncan pulled her close and kissed her hair. “Ye saved many lives today.”
Moira’s heart swelled to bursting at his praise. She had been trying to decide how best to bring up the loss of Trotternish Castle, which she knew must be a grave disappointment to him. His remark gave her the opening she needed.
“I threatened to murder a woman, argued with a man who wanted to murder me, sailed in the freezing rain for countless hours, and even slept with Teàrlag’s cow,” Moira said. “So I hope ye can see that I’m no damned princess.”
Duncan laughed. “What you are,m’ eudail,” my treasure, “is a warrior princess.”
Moira liked the sound of that.
“What I’m trying to say is that ye don’t have to give me fine things to keep me,” Moira said, looking up into his eyes. “All I need to be happy is you and Ragnall.”
“I know that now,” Duncan said. “I’m blessed to have the love of the strongest, bravest lass in all the isles.”
“I am sorry ye did not succeed in taking Trotternish Castle from the MacLeods.” Moira rested her hand on Duncan’s thigh. “I know how important that was to ye. But I’ll be content to live in your cottage on the hill.”
“We did succeed in taking the castle,” Duncan said.
Moira swallowed her disappointment over leaving Sleat. Her home would be wherever Duncan was. It was Duncan, not Dunscaith’s walls, that made her feel safe.
“I’m so proud of ye.” Moira pulled him down so she could kiss his cheek without disturbing Ragnall. “But why aren’t ye at Trotternish Castle now? If my brother did not choose his best warrior to be its keeper, he’ll answer to me.”
“Connor has decided to make Trotternish Castle his home,” Duncan said. “I am to be keeper of Dunscaith.”
Dunscaith!Moira was too stunned to react for a long moment—then she threw her head back and laughed. After torturing her for seven years, the faeries were finally smiling on her, making her every secret wish come true.
“Take the rudder, and I’ll lay Ragnall down where he can sleep better,” Duncan said as he unfolded himself and stood up.
Duncan lifted Ragnall from her arms and carried him to the bow, where he made a bed for him out of blankets. Then he snapped his fingers, and Sàr got up off Moira’s feet and went to lie down by their son.
When Duncan returned, he knelt on one knee in front of her and took her hand.
“I know I’m seven years late—and I’ll try to make up for it every day—but, Moira MacDonald,a chuisle mochroí,” pulse of my heart, “will ye marry me?”
“Of course I’ll marry ye,” Moira said, smiling at him. “Now that I know how to sail, ye couldn’t get away from me if ye tried.”
“I love ye with all my heart,” Duncan said, cupping her cheek with his hand. “I always have.”
“I’m looking forward to all that making up,” Moira said and pulled her warrior down into a long kiss. “I believe it was closer to seven and a half years.”
When the boat veered sharply to the side, Duncan broke the kiss to grab the rudder, which she had abandoned. Then he kissed her again and again.
“The moment we get home to Dunscaith,” Moira said, her voice breathless between kisses, “we’ll call everyone in the castle into the hall, say our vows before them, and have a grand feast to celebrate.”
“I wish we could,” Duncan said. “But that’s a wee bit soon.”
“What?” Moira leaned back and gave him a hard look. “You’d better have a damned good reason for keeping me waiting again, Duncan Ruadh Mòr MacDonald.”
