Cailean nodded. "I was inspired by Maeve's brave — if foolish — response tae the Darach attack a few days ago. We send in a team tae perform a direct attack, make Darach think his forces are completely under threat, and force him tae respond. We distract the majority of the soldiers and draw them away."
"Meanwhile, a second, smaller team is actin' in stealth," Maeve continued. "This team infiltrates the castle usin' the logistics we've got from the Sparrows and the internal knowledge that I'm able tae share. We find me sister and we attack from within."
The four elders looked at each other. Cailean watched them all carefully, looking to see how they'd react, hoping for their approval. To his relief, all of their faces wore varying degrees of cautious optimism, from Hamish stroking his chin in thought to Senan wearing an outright beaming smile. Ewan was nodding slowly, but Cailean's eyes sought Kier — Kier, who was the mostfatherly of all to him, the one who stood to gain his clan's lands back if this succeeded but could lose everything if it failed.
Kier didn't smile, but his eyes twinkled in an unusual way. He nodded at Cailean and dipped his head to Maeve. "Do ye think this plan is gonnae succeed, Cailean?"
"I do," Cailean said. "I ken it's risky. I ken I've been the one preachin' caution. I need ye tae ken that I'm fully present now. I will give each of the rebels a choice. None will need tae take part in this mission, but those who do will do so with me own leadership, under me command. Nae as Cailean McManus, the soldier… but as Cailean McNair, the lost prince."
Maeve's hand slid into his. "The True King," she corrected gently.
"The True King!" each of the others proclaimed, raising their cups.
Cailean watched them, a strange feeling fluttering in his chest. He still had fear within him, still had worries that it could go wrong, but he was ready.
"We'll attack Darach castle, and we'll take back our home!" Kier declared, finishing his speech to the camp. The rebels all cheered in unison, and Cailean watched them with a mix of pride and excitement. Preparations had been busy in the camp for many days, and each of the rebels had been given the chance to back out if they wanted. Of course, not a single one had.
The scouts were out making sure their path to the old Bruce lands was clear, and the weaponsmiths and armor crafters had been hard at work. The healers were preparing poultices and bandages for the warriors to take with them, and everyone elsein the camp was buzzing with excitement and activity as they each played their part.
Now, they were all gathered in the training field, watching as Kier made the speech announcing the plan in greater detail. He described exactly what Cailean and Maeve had proposed, along with some adjustments that they had made in planning over the past few days. When he was done, there was general approval from the crowd. Darren and Cailean stood at either side of him, facing the crowd. At the front, Maeve was watching, and Cailean felt strength emanating from her.
"We're ready, Kier!" someone shouted.
"Aye!" young Dirk added. "Let's take our home back!"
This caused another cheer. Cailean could feel it from them — from his friends, his family — how they were finally ready to get some payback, to make a claim against the False King and the Darachs, and to stop running at last and start fighting back.
He looked to the left and saw Darren watching him rather than the crowd. His friend gave him a fierce smile, then nodded. Cailean hesitated, but Darren's reassurance told him that it was time. He looked out to the crowd and saw Maeve was smiling at him too.
"Before we make our attack," he said, "I must be honest with ye all."
Silence fell across the field. Even Kier turned toward Cailean, his bushy eyebrows raised in surprise. In a quiet voice, Kier said, "Are ye sure, son?"
"He's sure, Da," Darren said. "Go on, me friend. Me brother."
Heartened, Cailean cast his eyes over the gathered rebels and spoke in a loud enough voice to make sure it carried. He knew that the scouts were missing out on this speech, but no doubt they'd be informed as soon as they got back. Ferda would kill him for not including her, but he was sure she'd get over it. Shewas, after all, one of the few who knew the truth already. And after all, the whole point was to get the truth out to everyone.
"I've nae been honest with ye all," he announced. "I've never lied, but ye all deserve the full truth."
A low murmur went through the crowd. A few of those who knew — mostly Bruce cousins — were watching with wide eyes. Fergus looked up from the front with a fierce approval in his gaze, and this heartened Cailean too.
"Ye've kent me for a long time as Cailean McManus," he announced. His voice didn't shake but instead came out bold and confident, and he felt a thrill of pride in himself for the first time. "But McManus was me mother's name, nae the one me father gave tae me. That name was… Cailean McNair."
The murmuring grew louder, and a few people gasped.
"Recently, we all learned a shockin' truth about Maeve and who she really is. Ye were all able tae accept her. And since she was brave enough tae admit her history, let me be clear about mine." He smiled, meeting Maeve's eyes once more before speaking out to the rest. "Me father was the True King, before the Darachs and the O'Sullivans and the other traitors turned against him and allowed the False King tae take power." Cailean lifted a hand in the air. "And now, if ye'll have me, I'd like tae help us take it back."
Silence.
"Ye're the lost prince?" asked one of the healers — Maeve's friend, Patty — in a stunned voice.
"Nae lost anymore. And nae prince," spoke up the cook, Ben. "The True King has returned tae us." He sank to one knee. "For the king! For freedom!"
Cailean could not believe his eyes. One by one, the rebels took a knee before him, men and women alike, each echoing Ben's proclamation. Each held a hand over their heart, each reverently declaring themselves to the cause… and to Cailean.
He turned his head to see how Darren was reacting, and he was shocked to see that Darren, too, had taken a knee — and so, too, had Kier. A little further away, all three of the other elders also knelt and declared themselves.
Cailean's heart pounded in his chest, and then a new sense of tranquility washed over them. He was ready. They needed him — and he was prepared, at last, to be the man they needed. No more fear. No more doubt.
