*
Jirvel fixed a banquet fit for a king with vegetables, fresh bread and the smoked salmon she preserved the day before. The men ate hearty and for hours after told stories of the northern clans, which delighted both Stefan and Kannak. Greagor did most of the talking, telling of how he became laird, of great battles, brave men, waterfalls, sparse land, and of the giant living among them.
"Why have ye come," Jirvel asked her brother finally.
"We seek wives. We have not seen a comely lass since ye left us to marry Laird…"
Jirvel quickly interrupted, "Ye flatter me, brother, but we have few unmarried lasses in our clan."
Kannak was incredulous. "Ye came here to marry a laird? Which one?"
"He died, Kannak." Jirvel watched her brother's face and prayed he would not contradict her.
But Kannak would not be so easily put off, "'Tis the first I heard o' it."
Greagor smiled at the niece he had only seen a few times since her birth. "Ye will soon learn a lass keeps many things to herself. Dinna pester yer mother, 'tis plain to see the wound in her heart be not yet healed." He waited to be sure the girl would ask no more questions and then stood up and turned to face his sister. "Is Macoran yet yer laird? Of course he is, I would have heard had he died and from the looks o' things, he has not provided for ye. Yer clothes are old and patched, ye have no sheep to sheer for the wool necessary to make new, the land be unkempt and…"
"My husband be to blame for our condition."
"Aye he be, but so be Macoran. He promised he would see to yer care. 'Tis time I had a talk with…"
Jirvel started to panic. The last thing she wanted was for her brother to confront Macoran. "The fault be mine. I dinna wish to burden our laird."
Greagor knew exactly what she meant. His sister wanted no part of the man who had cast her off at the last moment. "Now that yer husband be gone, come home with us, lass. We will see ye want for nothing."
"I am tempted, but this be my home."
He knew what that meant too. She still loved Macoran and although she could not be his wife, she could not leave him either. Greagor took her in his arms and held his sister tight. "Send the laddie if ye change yer mind and we will come fetch ye."