"Flora is alive…" Kier mused. "I can scarcely believe it. That poor, brave woman. How happy I am tae hear she's livin', yet how furious I feel that she's been wrongfully kept from the sun for so long. Ye did well, lad. Thank ye."
"She didnae make it here?" Cailean asked, frowning slightly. He and Maeve were holding hands, standing before the councilmen. "I was hopin' she'd have found the party on the way back and gotten an escort tae safety."
"We havenae heard from her, son," Senan said. "But that doesnae mean that she willnae find her way tae freedom. The group ye've gathered and brought back here tae Bruce Castle proves that there are more of us ready tae stand up tae the False King than we'd ever dared hope."
Ewan nodded. He smiled at Maeve and said, "Darren told me how ye risked everythin' tae save Cailean. I ken it cannae have been easy tae go up against yer own father."
Maeve sighed. She had not yet begun to unravel the complex mix of relief and frustration she felt at the fact that her father still lived. "I wish we'd been able to do more. We could have saved Nessa. Or Sorcha McKenzie. There's still so much we left undone."
"But ye brought Cailean back. Ye broughtyerselfback, and from what we hear, Breana brought some of the most useful information we've ever had tae hand." Hamish patted first Cailean, then Maeve, on the shoulder. "And though our stores will take a wee hit from tryin' tae help the refugees, the overall success that will come from what ye've all done will be worth every moment."
"We still need allies, make nae mistake," Kier said gravely, injecting the same kind of seriousness to the conversation that he somehow always managed to bring. "This is a fight that's a long way from bein' won. But ye've made a dent today deeper than any I meself have managed in over twenty years." He bowed his head. "Me king. And me queen."
Maeve, ridiculously, found herself blushing. "I'm nae queen yet," she said, rubbing the back of her neck a little awkwardly. It was one thing to hear it teasingly from Darren or respectfully from some of the other warriors, but forKier,of all people, to talk to her in such a way.
"But ye will be," Senan noted, a little amusement mixed with a lot of pride in his voice. "And every person in this camp and beyond will ken it. King and Queen of a free Scotland. A far cry from a wee lass who needed savin' in a bar and a wee laddie who wouldnae accept his name."
"Tae McNair!" Ewan exclaimed, lifting the flagon before him.
The others laughed. "Tae McNair!"
Cailean stood on a platform in the middle of the courtyard of Bruce Castle, conscious of how similar the arrangement was to where he had been a few days before, and yet how different it was in every single aspect. A few days ago, he'd been a display,ready to die for his country, but a pawn in an enemy's game. Today, he stood as a symbol, a sign that the game had finally turned in their favor and that there was at long last a chance that they might one day win.
He looked out across the sea of faces, some well-known, others new. He felt a love for them he could not describe, and a renewed determination to make sure that each of these people was given the life that they deserved in the country that he would once again make their own.
Behind him, Maeve and Darren stood, supporting him but giving him his space to address his people. He could scarcely believe that he had reached this point, that he had become the man he'd thought he'd never possibly be.
He took a breath, feeling the support from the ones he loved behind him, and address the crowd. The moment that he opened his mouth, a hush fell over the gathered people, all of them rapt with attention. He smiled as he saw Taran, the farmer, near the front of the crowd, along with Barbara, the Sparrow who was his daughter, the woman whose near-sacrifice was part of the reason he and Maeve were alive today. He'd been introduced to them the other day, and he could not help but see them for what they were—a symbol of the hope that was slowly but surely growing in Scotland's heart.
"To me new friends, welcome—and tae the old, thank ye for welcomin' me back." The crowd chuckled at that, and Cailean smiled. He grew serious a moment later, knowing that his duty to these people meant that he needed to be clear about what was to come.
"This castle, Bruce Castle, is the ancestral home of me dearest friends—but as we all ken, it's only recently returned tae their name. A darkness ruled over this castle for twenty years, but with the help of me fellow rebels, we were able tae reclaim it. Look around ye now, me friends—look how this place that wasonce a dark place of oppression has once again become a symbol of hope."
"Hear, hear!" someone called from the crowd. Cailean hid a grin as he saw young Dirk leading the cheer, and several others followed.
When it died down again, Cailean continued. "But this is one castle—one win. Many of our enemies still stand, strong in their certainty that the False King is all powerful. We escaped with our lives and with many new allies from our foray intae O'Sullivan lands, but we have by nae means won the war. There is much work tae be done, and I hope I can count on each and every one of ye tae be part of it."
"But what of those of us who cannot fight?" someone piped up from the crowd. It was a woman, one of the refugees, holding a baby in her arms while a child of four or so clung to her skirts. "The farmers, the healers, aye, they can take part. But what of the wives and mothers? The sick and the elderly? What help can we be?"
Cailean studied the woman for a moment, then turned back to look at Maeve. His love smiled at him, encouraging him to go on. He turned back to the woman and said, "There are many more strengths than lifting a sword, me good woman. Tell me, what are yer bairns’ names?"
The woman went a little red, but answered. "Me wee daughter is Finola. And the bairn…his name is Robert. For the late king."
Cailean could not help but smile at that. "Finola and Robert. Welcome tae Bruce Castle, all of ye. Welcome tae the rebellion—tae our family." He addressed the whole crowd once more. "Ken that this rebellion’s main strength lies not in the power of our arms, but the strength of our hearts. In our dedication tae the future of bairns like Finola, like Robert. Like all of ye. Ken that each of ye have somethin' tae give, nae matter how small,and every moment ye spend here dedicated tae the rebellion is a moment ye give tae yer country."
He gestured to the many people now surrounding him, more than he could have dreamed only a few short months before.
"This is the future of our country.Yeare the future of our country. We have strength beyond what we've ever had before—information beyond what we had ever hoped—numbers that will at last begin tae strike fear intae the heart of the False King who has oppressed us for so long." His smile grew. "There is much work ahead of us. Many more allies tae gather, many more fights tae win. But for now, I say we celebrate."
He turned and beckoned, and both Maeve and Darren moved to his side.
"We are here," he announced. "We are alive. And we are powerful. But as the capercaillie once led me ancestors from the woods, I humbly ask that ye all let me lead ye on the path we've still tae follow. I cannae promise it will be an easy road, but it will be one we walk together."
"Together," Maeve said softly, taking his hand.
"Together," Darren agreed, placing a hand on his shoulder.
At the front of the crowd, Breana took Eoin's hand, then gripped young Dirk's hand with her other. Then something remarkable happened. As one, the crowd all joined hands with those beside them, a silent but powerful reminder that, no matter the rebellion might have to face ahead, they were one.
