Campbell’s horse reared, pawing at the air, as Campbell jerked hard on the reins and turned it back toward his men. “If it’s war ye want, it’s war ye’ll have!” he shouted as he kicked his horse and galloped away.
“Why did ye no' just shoot the man himself?” Magnus asked.
Alexander shrugged. “I probably shouldha killed the bastard but with the king’s regiment headed this way, I didna wish to risk it. Campbells are too cozy with King William. I’ve enough to deal with at present.” He thumped Magnus on the shoulder. “Keep watch whilst I try to discover how great our disadvantage.”
He exited the guard tower and loped down the steps leading to the bailey. Once inside the keep, he spotted Sawny and flagged him down. “Fetch the elders and bring them to Lady Catriona’s room. I need as much information about this stronghold as possible, aye?”
“Aye, my chieftain.” Sawny took off at a run.
Alexander made his way across the main hall as fast as he could what with the Neal kinsman acknowledging their new chieftain with bows and curtsies and some even kneeling in his path and swearing fealty on the spot. At long last, he made it across the length of the room milling with people. He hurried up the stone steps leading to the private floors. Steps still pained him but he would no' allow his scars and old wounds to slow him down. At last reaching Catriona’s rooms, he withstood the urge to burst into the innermost chamber. He paused in the sitting room to rap on the door.
“Who knocks?” Father William asked from the other side.
“Open the door, Father.”
Latches clicked, and the door swung open. Father William nodded then moved to exit the room. He paused at the door. “I’ll wait in the sitting room, aye?”
“Aye.” Alexander pointed to the door. “Sawny’s gathering the elders and bringing them here. I need to know as soon as they arrive, ye ken?”
Father William nodded.
Alexander closed the bedroom door and after a brief pause, locked it. 'Twas safer that way. They’d breached the fortress with ease. Who was to say a Campbell spy might no' do the same?
“I heard shouting,” Catriona said from the bed. Propped among an immense pile of pillows with a tray across her lap, her color looked decidedly better than it had on the skirting wall.
“It appears Clan Neal has learned the MacCoinnich battle cry.” Alexander traced the backs of his fingers along the curve of her cheek then bent to press a kiss to her temple. “The rose has returned to your fair cheeks. It makes my heart glad.”
Catriona smiled and the flush on her cheeks grew even rosier. “I’ve had a bannock and forced down a cup of Elena’s jaw-locking tea. Even though it has a fearsome taste, apparently, 'tis quite good for what ails me for I feel suitably refreshed.”
“I remember that godforsaken tea.” Alexander removed the tray from her lap and placed it on the table beside the bed. Taking care not to jostle her, he lowered himself to sit beside her. “I dinna wish to shake ye or cause ye pain.”
“Ye are fine.” She blew out a ragged sigh as she pulled him closer and pressed her cheek to his shoulder. “I need ye near whilst ye tell me your news. I see the worry in your eyes and I ken it must no' bode well.”
Alexander wrapped his arm around her and drew her closer. With a tender kiss to the top of her head, he settled her back against his chest. “Ye already read me too well, wife.” He rested a cheek on her head and idly stroked her arm. “The Campbell means to starve us out unless we surrender.” He gave a light shrug as he traced a finger along the faint blue tracks of veins showing through the translucent skin of her inner forearm. “He’s granted safe passage to the women and children of the clan if we give him what he wishes.”
“Lying bastard,” Catriona said with a low growl.
Alexander couldn’t help but chuckle. “Aye. I agree.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Which is why I bid Sawny gather the elders and bring them here. I need to know every secret about this keep. Our survival depends on it.”
An earth-shaking boom sounded. Cannon-fire. Another bone-jarring boom split the air right behind it, even louder than the first.
Alexander ran to the window, thankful that Catriona’s suite of rooms was situated toward the front of the keep and just above the height of the curtain wall. A perfect place to take in the glen's beauty. From this viewpoint, he saw no damage. “I see nothing from here.” He turned to Catriona.
Eyes wide, face pale, and lips parted, Catriona appeared frozen with fear.
“I shouldha shot the bastard when I had the chance.” Alexander growled through clenched teeth. He rushed to Catriona’s side and took hold of her hands as Mrs. Aberfeldy and Father William burst into the room.
“Stay with her,” he ordered before either of them could say a word. Then he bolted. He had to make it to the guardhouse.
Duncan met him in the stairwell, holding up both hands. “The whoreson’s firing the damn things into the air. He’s no' aiming at us at all. What’s the bastard about?”
Alexander came to a halt and leaned against the white-washed wall of the tower housing the staircase. What a wily bastard Jameson Campbell was. “He means to rattle us so he can claim a keep that’s still intact and not have to rebuild.” He jerked a thumb upward. “Ensure plenty of wet sacks are at the ready in case he grows bored with making us deaf and decides to smoke us out.”
“Aye,” Duncan replied then took off at a run.
Alexander returned to Catriona’s chambers just as Sawny and the elders were entering the sitting room. He motioned for them to seat themselves whilst he checked on Catriona. As he opened the door, he found her no longer nested in pillows but standing at the window. He gave both Father William and Mrs. Aberfeldy pointed looks. “Why the hell is she no' abed?”
“Dinna speak as though I’m no’ here.” Catriona turned from the window, slow but steady. She made her way to a chair, one that was plump and upholstered with satin of the deepest blue, and lowered herself into it. “How bad is the damage?”
