CHAPTER SIX
The little village was too small and poor to even have a name, and so the locals had taken to calling it Broken Windmill, after the destroyed structure that had once been the village's source of income. It had been abandoned and decrepit for as long as anyone could remember.
"I dinnae like that we're here," Cailean said for the thousandth time as he and Darren sat down together to eat that night in the little hut they'd set up just outside the village. "I dinnae like that we're imposin' on these people."
"We're hardly imposin'," Darren retorted, pointing idly with his knife toward Cailean. The bean pierced at the end of it threatened to fall off, but held in place. "They all but begged us tae set up camp here. The people of Broken Windmill are loyal tae the cause, and that's why we're here."
The cause. Cailean believed in protecting their freedom with all his heart, but he had to admit that it worried him to think about what these people really expected from him. He was glad that so few people knew his true identity, because he was sure that if they knewhewas the lost prince, they'd be dreadfullydisappointed. Most of the people in the rebellion believed his name was Cailean McManus. There were rumors that he was the bastard son of one of the four councilmen, and that was why they were all so close. They knew he was someone of importance, he was sure, but they associated it with his close connection with the council members rather than any claim of his blood. Nobody dared confront the council to get to the truth, and Cailean was happy to perpetuate the rumors.
But never mind all of that. Regardless of who would become king, they all agreed that they needed to be rid of the pretender who was now on the throne. The loyalty and generosity of the Broken Windmill villagers, as well as those in the camp, was overwhelming. The village was so small and poor that they struggled with day to day life, but they were still willing to offer everything they had to help the cause. Cailean was extremely grateful, but he also couldn't help but feel guilty. How could they accept things that were offered from people who had so little?
"I ken that expression," Darren told him. He swallowed his bite of food and said, as pragmatically as ever, "What use is guilt?"
"I dinnae feel guilt because of itsuse," Cailean countered.
Darren snorted. "Clearly. But ye're nae thinkin' logically either. The people in the villagewanttae help us. Theywanttae be part of what we're doin' here, and it would be more condescendin' and insultin' tae refuse their help than it would be tae accept it. The whole company is sufferin' under the False King and English control. This is the only way we have tae help them."
Cailean knew that Darren was right, at least partly, but there was more depth to this than that. He opened his mouth to argue, but then they were interrupted by a knock at the door of the hut.
"Come in," he said, giving Darren a look that said that the conversation was not yet over.
It was Ferda, the same scout who had announced the news of Darach's death months before. She had a huge smile on her face and Cailean realized that for once they might be about to get some good news.
"What word, Cousin?" Darren asked her. Unable to resist teasing, he added, "Are ye finally gettin' wed?"
"I will before any woman looks at ye," Ferda shot back. Then she blushed and said, "Sorry, Cailean. Ye ken what he's like."
Cailean snorted. "I do ken. What's the news?"
"Senan is back," Ferda told him, the excitement in her voice palpable. "And he's got a lassie with him."
Joy filled Cailean at those words — joy and relief. He loved Senan like a father, just like the other council members, and these long months without seeing him had been stressful. Without any word for so long, Cailean had been beginning to worry that something had happened to the older man, so his heart lifted to hear that he was back.
"A lassie?" Darren asked. "Has the old man taken a wife, then? Even he's paired up before ye, Ferda."
"Enough teasin'," Cailean said as Ferda warmed up her retort. "Come. Let's go greet our friend and see what news he's brought us."
Cailean, Darren, and Ferda arrived after most of the camp had already gathered in curiosity around Senan and his new guest. The older man stood in the middle of a circle of inquiring minds, and behind him, still on her horse, sat a girl.
Girl. That was a word that did not properly do the sight before Cailean justice. She was one of the most beautiful women that Cailean had ever seen, even though she had a split lip andher chestnut-colored hair was mussed and messy from no doubt weeks of traveling. Seeing those wide eyes, full lips, and general bonny appearance, Cailean had no doubt that many men would have been enchanted at first sight just at this woman's mere presence. Certainly, looking around, many of the other men were staring.
But all Cailean could think was how small she was, and why Senan had brought her here. They already had too many mouths to feed.
"Were ye nae supposed tae be recruitin', Senan?" one of the men called out. "Have ye brought back a wife? Or a long-lost daughter, maybe?"
"That's never his daughter," Hamish joked, moving forward to embrace his friend. "This ugly bastard could never have produced such a lovely lass."
The rude joke got many laughs from the crowd, and the curiosity was thick in the air. Cailean pushed his way through the crowd to the front, stopping only when Senan was right in front of him. He moved forward and embraced Senan too, then pulled away.
"We were worried," he said as the camp fell quiet behind him. "Welcome home, old friend."
"Och, ye dinnae need tae worry about an old soldier like me," Senan told him. "How are ye, lad? I heard tell from the last village ye took charge well when ye had tae evacuate. Ye did well."
"He was amazin'!" Darren said, also moving forward to greet Senan. "Even me dad said so, and ye ken how rare it is for me father tae actively praise anyone."
Senan chuckled. "Kier?" he asked, calling out into the crowd. "Is this true?"
Kier's gruff voice spoke up, though Cailean could not see him from this angle. "Cailean impressed me, I'll admit it. Most of the men and women amongst us did."
