Back Cover Text (#u0d59cedc-7a80-512d-8d4f-a8c3af11c06e)
Introduction (#u0341a5ae-c00b-59fe-a1cc-8d17a0c2c362)
Author Note (#ulink_eb4c675d-a5da-5af5-9207-b44f33c581de)
Title Page (#ufa97e45c-2baa-56a0-a9d6-1a041c1a0a02)
About the Author (#u2a564633-7666-5c8a-9922-adcdb47c2c2e)
Dedication (#ue7517073-1f1b-5496-92eb-08711da51cff)
Prologue (#ulink_807c6d28-2851-5d5e-9a7e-f5c9920d3385)
Chapter One (#ulink_c2fa4d55-732e-5939-8594-b1783c16c37d)
Chapter Two (#ulink_44340fd1-d097-50c8-ac92-6d64ec056c26)
Chapter Three (#ulink_b37d323c-a4f9-59e3-9eb1-2e44db5212ba)
Chapter Four (#ulink_9c9e8457-9f2f-5f4c-98e1-368e73d8306d)
Chapter Five (#ulink_ead6267b-67bc-5906-bdf8-0e08fa4295d5)
Chapter Six (#ulink_d406a061-fee3-5c0e-9b08-c2a92a658513)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#ulink_330df95b-81b7-58bc-8c2d-36ed8fc7e5d9)
Brodie Mackintosh, chief of the mighty Chattan Confederation, smiled grimly at his cousin. The acrid smell of burning crops and dead animals made his eyes burn as he surveyed the damage.
‘When?’
‘Last night,’ replied Rob, his cousin and the commander of all Mackintosh warriors.
‘Any injuries?’ Brodie waited for the worst. These incidents had escalated in recent days from simple mischief into unmistakable attacks. He waited for the inevitable.
‘They chased most of the crofters out and away, but Old Angus would not leave.’ Brodie cursed under his breath and Rob nodded in agreement. The old man was stubborn, so he’d stayed behind on purpose and not because of age or infirmity.
Brodie walked away then, examining some of the footprints on the soft ground. Crouching down, he stared off into the trees, thinking about the progression of the attacks.
This was the fourth incident in the last fortnight. Each one in a different place across their lands. Each one destroying crops and livestock but very few of the crofts and never harming any of the villagers.
Until now.
Until Old Angus.
‘What are you thinking, Rob?’ he asked as he walked back to where his cousin waited. ‘What or who is behind these?’ When Rob didn’t reply, Brodie met his gaze and saw the answer that neither of them wished to think let alone speak aloud.
Years, nay decades, of clan hostilities had ceased on his marriage to Arabella Cameron. Well, if truth be told, they had eased with that strategic marriage and ceased in the six years since. Part of their success had been due to skilful negotiation and monetary reward, but for many of the elders, weariness and loss had been the biggest and best motivation.
‘Could it be, Brodie?’ Rob asked. ‘Would they be violating the peace?’ Rob used his favourite words at the very thought of it and Brodie winced at his vehement choice. ‘But, who among them would lead such an effort?’
‘I know not, but I will seek out more information before making such an accusation to The Cameron.’
Brodie hated even the possibility that The Camerons were rising once more against them. Everything they’d accomplished in the time of peace between their clans and everything they’d suffered to attain that peace would be for naught.
‘Send our trackers to see where they went.’