Callan started to pace the room. He didn't like this idea at all. For short period of time? Sure! But forever? No way!
"I thought such a suggestion will bring you joy," Sir Malcolm reassured him. "The priests would find someone to send instead of you, but if you renounce the honour of the lordship of the Danvegen castle, then, believe me, no one will forcibly keep you here. Only what to do with lady Janet raises questions, for the castle is to be riled by Daiermed as Sir Engus's legitimate heir. Maybe we could marry him to his stepmother, thus ending the eternal hatred between our clans."
Callan's eyes widened in disbelief. "What!? You want to give her to Daiermed?" Callan exclaimed indignantly. "It's my lady, she can only be mine, or no one's, I'd better take her with me!"
Sir Malcolm sighed. "That would be a good way out," he pleated. "I will consult with our priests. But rest now, you're probably tired and longing for peace."
Sir Malcolm left. Callan without undressing fell into the bed. Before falling asleep, his last thought was about Etine. Had she not tried to convey something with her actions in the woods, something only he could decipher? But what?
Meanwhile few hundreds years in the future
"John, have you noticed that Callan has been very much different lately?" Callan's mother Rose asked her husband.
"I am," he cheerfully agreed, "he is finally behaving like he's supposed to be. Like a real man and my son."
"But this change happened all of a sudden." Rose protested. "I could even say that it happened in one day. Before that, he consulted with me about everything, trusted me, but now he has become so closed, self-independent, I would say – even belligerent."
"Darling," John chuckled and hugged his wife's shoulders. "It's great that our son doesn't hold on to your skirt anymore, or maybe you want to breastfeed him to this day?"
The mother laughed and snuggled up to her husband. They watched the movie, combining it with drinking beer and having a small out-of-turn dinner. Until a few days ago, Callan would be in their little feast as the first and foremost, but tonight he spent the entire evening again in the home gym.
"And that sword, where did he get it?" Rose spoke up again. "And have you noticed Callan tossing it from one hand to the other, but I can barely lift it with both. Remember, just a month ago, when his old desk was to be brought out, Callan groaned and moaned so much that I did it for him. And that weird arrival at the restaurant? And how does Steven adore him and try to imitate him? And the sudden friendship with Claire?"
"For God's sake, what were you trying to prove? That our son was suddenly stolen, exchanged, became a drug addict? Or can't you come to terms with the idea that he's finally grown up? Somehow, though, he has to prove himself and all these excesses are exactly according to his age. And I like the sword quite well. For Callan, it suits him very much, almost regretting that they are no longer in fashion."
"Something's not clear to me here, though..." Callan's mother sighed. "Just don't make him do too much tonight. Don't forget that tomorrow we're going to the cottage and Claire will come to us."
"We could pick her up."
"Probably she said she's going to a crochet meeting in a nearby town."
"We shouldn't have allowed it to happen," Rose objected anxiously. "If Claire's mother finds out, she will blame us for everything that happened."