Page 5 of Moon Craving

redheaded warrior. "Our Guaire would no more insult our laird than betray him."

"He said our leader was not as strong as the Balmoral."

"I didn't!" Guaire's face flushed with his own fury.

Niall looked inquiringly at Talorc. "Were you offended, laird?"

"Nay."

"There. See?" Guaire crossed his arms, edging away from Niall toward Barr.

The lines around Niall's mouth tightened, but he said nothing at the telling action.

Guaire said, "I merely referred to the fact that the Balmoral had found benefit in his

English wife and our laird could as well. After all, she is Emily's sister."

Aye, the Balmoral had found a mate to his wolf in the English human. She had

recently given birth to their first child. A daughter. Talorc actually felt pleasure for them,

though he could not imagine why. The Balmoral was a pain in the ass. But a strong

Chrechte warrior all the same.

"Our laird will not be stepping foot onto English soil to be wed," Osgard said with

pure conviction.

"Nay, I won't." Talorc turned to Guaire. "You will write a message to the king for

me."

"Yes, laird."

"Tell him I will wed the Sassenach as requested, but will do so on the soil of our

homeland. I will travel south through MacDonald land; they are our allies."

"Yes, laird. Anything else?"

"I will accept the land bordering the Donegal clan that has been in dispute these

years past and the other dowry items he offered to provide, but will require an additional

twenty drums of mead and twenty shields, twenty helmets, ten swords, and ten poleaxes

in payment for taking the English bride."

"What need have we of shields and helmets?" Osgard asked, though it was clear

he approved of Talorc requiring a bigger dowry of his king to marry the Sassenach.

"Not all our warriors are Chrechte," Talorc reminded his aged advisor.

Some, indeed the majority of their clan, were human. They did not have the power

of the wolf to protect them in battle, or the ability to change into the beast.