Mary left Edzell Castle very early the next day. She crossed the village with energetic steps and knocked on the door of the cottage located a little away on the edge of the forest. A stooped old woman came to open the door. With a gesture, she told her to stay outside before disappearing inside the house. She came out almost immediately with a basket and a pruning hook which she placed in her hands then wrapped herself in her blanket before pulling the door behind her and walking away along the forest path. Mary rushed after her, carrying the basket. The two women entered the forest, one behind the other, the second adopting the pace of the first. They walked without exchanging a word for a moment then, arriving in a small clearing, the grandmother went to sit on a stump.

"So, little Mary, what's happening to you?""Why this question, Fenella?""Let's go ! I can see you're upset. You never come this early, you always do your chores before joining me. So you fled the castle. Has your family not arrived?""Yes, two days ago.""Shouldn't you be with your people? I thought you were looking forward to seeing them again?""It's true that I was looking forward to seeing them again, but...""But ?""But that was before.""Before what?""Before knowing the real reason for their visit. They didn't make the trip to see me because they missed me.""For what else?""They came to seal an alliance. I am the payment."The healer frowned before asking for clarification:"What are you telling me, mo bheag?"Fenella was one of the few people in Edzell who knew that Mary was Chief MacLean's daughter. Mary trusted her and in a moment of distress, she told her the reasons for her exile in the Lowlands."My father traded me for a wedding ring. He betrothed me to an old chief to get a new ally. He used his own daughter as a bargaining chip."Mary jumped when Fenella swore profusely before struggling to get up and walking away, grumbling. The old woman did not go far and turned around to call him."Don't just stand there like a log! Come and cut these thistles for me!""We use them to treat what disease?""Thistle is good for the liver. I use it to treat digestive disorders."While Mary carefully handled the pruning knife to cut the thistles without pricking herself, Fenella looked at her attentively, rubbing her chin."Have you told your father or mother that you don't want to get married?""Aye. They know it, but they don't care. My mother claims they have no choice and therefore neither do I. It is in the interest of my clan.""Men always say that to impose their will," the healer muttered. "I suppose you will obey?"

"And what else can I do?"

"Not much, that's for sure! Unless you dishonor the MacLean clan by running away... or you will have to find another husband more to your liking."

"My clan needs this alliance, Fenella!""Nay. The MacLeans need an ally, it's not quite the same thing. Can't you find another one? The leader of another clan who would suit you better? Because I imagine you want to have a strong guy in your bed and not an old shriveled bluestem, don't you?"Mary immediately blushed and shook her head in denial."I... I don't know. I didn't really think about it and..."

"To others! At your age, you must start pining for a man..."

Mary's thoughts flew to the warrior she had spied at the Dundonald gathering. She had never been able to forget her brother's former friend. Many times he had daydreamed and wondered about it."Have you not yet gone rolling in the grass with one of our warriors?""Fenella!" Mary said offended."Now that you finally have everything you need where you need it and in sufficient quantity to please a man, it's time you went and saw what's hidden under the warriors' plaid!""I'm not completely innocent! I know perfectly well how men are made!""Aye, but between knowing and experiencing it there is a big difference!" Fenella muttered.For several hours, the two women continued their gathering, the younger carrying out the orders of the older and listening attentively to the teaching given to her.When they returned to the village, the basket filled with various plants, there was unusual activity there. Men wearing red tartans set up camp between the outer walls of Edzell Castle and the village."Hey, we have visitors," the healer grunted."Fenella, do you know this clan?" Mary asked, her heart tight with apprehension."Red tartans are common in the region and my eyes are not what they used to be. What do they wear on their hats?"Mary discreetly approached one of the men to identify the plant that was hanging from her headgear. When she had identified the plant, she returned to Fenella."So mo bheag?""They carry a branch of wild blackberry."Fenella clicked her tongue before saying:"Ah! The MacNab clan. Is it Finlay MacNab that your father wants to marry you to?""Aye.""You could have done better, that's for sure, but he's not a bad guy either. On the other hand, you will have difficulty finding satisfaction in bed with him. Potty as he is, he must quickly run out of breath, and not last long," sneered Fenella.Seeing Mary's face crumble before her eyes, the old woman tried to reassure her."On the other hand, look on the bright side... your antics will be brief, he won't bother you for long! He may even have become impotent... Moreover, his health is precarious, he almost died from a chest infection last winter. With any luck, you won't be under his rule for long. You will then be free to ask your father to find you a husband more suitable to you among his allies."Mary took leave of the healer and returned to the castle. As soon as she entered the door of the great hall, she saw a crowd of warriors near the long table reserved for the chief and his family. She quickened her pace and walked along the walls to reach the staircase which led to the upper floors without being noticed. Arriving in her room, she was surprised to find her mother waiting for her."Finally you're here ! Where have you been?""I was with Fenella the healer. I helped her pick it.""It's a great idea to learn the art of plants, I congratulate you on this initiative, Jamesina. Becoming a healer will be an added advantage for your clan.""Aye, you already said it. That's all the more reason to trade me too," Mary muttered."Mary Jamesina!!! How dare you say such a thing!""It's the truth ! As long as I lived in Duart Castle, I was your daughter, now I have become a bargaining chip. Will the fact that I can treat increase my price?" asked the rebel ironically."You are and you will always be our daughter. We are not happy to have to marry you to a man you did not choose, but we have no other solution to seal an alliance that will help protect the clan. And contrary to what you may think, your father did not sell you. Finlay MacNab wasn't the only one who wanted you, the Council of Elders proposed other alliance possibilities, but Lachlan chose the man he thought was best for you.""Who else ?" Mary asked curiously."Hector MacKenzie, the brother of the clan chief."At the mention of this name, Mary shuddered with fear. The man was known for his cruelty towards the weakest. She remembered catching a glimpse of him at the interclan meeting in Dundonald. He was a force of nature, a veritable shaggy, foul-mouthed giant with arms as wide as tree trunks and bats for hands. His hands were heavy on his previous wife since it was rumored that she had succumbed to his mistreatment."Your father refused his offer, arguing that he had already promised your hand to Chief MacNab. Would you have preferred that he agreed to your union with Hector MacKenzie?""Nay," Mary admitted half-heartedly."Lachlan preferred to give you to a man, certainly old, but kind rather than to a young and violent man. He didn't do it cheerfully, but he did what he thought was best for the clan and for you. Do you want to blame your father for trying to spare you?"Mary lowered her head piteously."Nay, Mother.""I know you don't like the situation – I do too, believe me – but stop whining about your fate and do honor to our clan. Hurry up and change, we are expected in the great room. Here, I prepared your clothes for you."Mary changed into the green dress her mother had taken out of her chest. Once ready, she went down to the common room with Iseabail. When they arrived, heads turned towards them and silence gradually fell. The warriors assembled around the table moved aside to allow them passage. The two women advanced between the men with small, measured steps. When they arrived near the table, Mary spotted a warrior standing behind her Uncle David. The man was young and well built. Tall and muscular, he sported a short beard and shoulder-length black hair. He looked her over slowly from head to toe and a small smile curved the corner of his mouth. He obviously liked what he saw. Mary felt a shiver run down her spine and her face heated up. The warrior was ogling her and his gaze on her disturbed her. To the point that she lost track of where she was and it was a discreet nudge from her mother that called her back to order."Be more attentive," Iseabail whispered to him.Her father's booming voice startled Mary."Finlay, this is my daughter Mary Jamesina," announced Lachlan MacLean."This lass has changed a lot since the last time I saw her. When I came across it in Dundonald it was still like a board."Mary looked curiously at whoever had just spoken. The man looked much older than her father. Deep wrinkles carved his face into which were set small gray eyes with a laughing sparkle. His black hair and beard streaked with white streaks were a little bushy, as were his very full eyebrows."It is true, but as you can see she is now a real woman. She has almost completed her apprenticeship with her aunt Lady Elizabeth."When the man got up awkwardly to walk around the table, Mary found him small and... plump. Fenella hadn't lied, Chief MacNab was plump, but not very strong. In fact, he even seemed fragile despite his overweight.

Arriving near her, Finlay MacNab took her hand and gave her a big smile that revealed a gap in his upper jaw. Then he kissed her hand and Mary had to force herself not to take it away when she felt the wet lips lingering on her skin."I am delighted with our union! I think you will be good company for me, my little one. Come and let me introduce you."Finlay pulled her after him and stopped in front of a boy of about ten years old, and a young girl not much older who was holding a small child of about five or six years old in her arms."These are my children: Kyle, Elspeth and Muriella, who you will take care of after our union. It will be your job to train Elspeth and Muriella to become good wives."Mary nodded with a smile to the children who bowed briefly to greet her."And here is Gregor, my eldest!"Mary turned her head and found herself paralyzed when polar blue eyes pierced her."My father is very lucky. You are beautiful, Mary Jamesina."The man who had disturbed her when she arrived in the room was the eldest son of her fiancé! She briefly lost her composure when Gregor gave her a devastating smile before leaning over her hand and brushing his lips against it in a slow caress. She flinched when she furtively felt his tongue lick her skin.When he stood up, he stared at her, whispering so that only she could hear him:— I can't wait to taste you, my dear.