Stefan let it slip that he was indeed the missing Viking and wondered what Macoran would do, but Macoran did not come out of the keep before they left, no warriors came to take him away and he assumed he was safe…at least for now.
None of them spoke during their ride home and although he could not be certain exactly when, Stefan realized he must have turned sixteen. The cottage looked no worse for wear, most likely because both William and Stefan had been there to check on the place every time the weather permitted. Stefan used his flint and dry heather to start a fire in the hearth and went to fetch water. Jirvel used her broom to clear away the cobwebs and sweep out the mud they tracked in while Kannak put the food away and then shook their bedding and made their beds.
They remained silent even during their evening meal and then washed their bowls in the bucket of water and put them away. At last they sat back down at the table and there was nothing left to do but talk or go to bed. Kannak opted to do the latter and stood back up, but Jirvel took her hand. "We will say all there be to say and be done with it."
Kannak puffed her cheeks. Her real parentage was all so new, she had not thought it through and the last thing she wanted to do was talk about it. But she saw the look in Stefan's eyes, remembered her pledge and sat back down at the table.
"It was on our wedding day that the Brodie warriors came and surrounded the village. They far outnumbered our men, were ready to fight and we were terrified. If…yer father had not done what he did, the men would have been killed and the lasses and wee ones carried off."
"What did he do?" Kannak asked.
"He offered himself instead. Laird Brodie had a daughter no lad was ever likely to marry and yer father knew it. An unattached daughter be an embarrassment to a laird charged with matchmaking. Macoran agreed to marry her in exchange for the lives of his people."
"On yer wedding day? How could he?"
"How could he not?" Jirvel saw the tears welling up in her daughter's eyes and handed her a cloth. "I have sheltered ye, Kannak. Ye do not understand there are evil lads in the world who force a lass for sport. They beat her, shame her and dinna marry her. Yer father saved us from lads like that."
Kannak thought about it for a long time, trying to take it all in. Then she suddenly began to giggle. "Agnes be so unsightly. 'Tis a fitting punishment for him."