"All right, listen tae me!" he called, his voice booming over the din. "Stop and listen! Now!"
Some command must have found its way in there, because gradually the noise level shrank down and heads turned to face him. People stopped their hurrying and watched him with eyes filled with fear… but also with hope.
"We'll be all right," he promised them, because he had to believe it was true. Even if there was no war to win, they could survive another day. He looked out over the watching crowd and saw many of the locals were mixed in with the rebels. No doubt some of them would want to join, but it wasn't as simple as just taking everyone with them.
"Here's what we're gonnae do," he said decisively after thinking for a moment. He turned to the three councilmen who had exited behind him. "Kier, ye're in charge of the bulk of the rebels. Any of our fighters and our medics, return tae yer bunks and pack a bag. Ye have fifteen minutes. Then, ye'll meet Kier in the combat field and make sure he has yer name." He paused, then added, "Anyone from the village who wishes tae come with us, ye may, but the same time limit applies. If ye're not on the combat field on time, we'll leave without ye."
Kier nodded without question and immediately moved toward the field where Cailean had spent the morning training.As Cailean watched, several of the Bruce cousins, including Darren and Fergus, hurried to help out. Satisfied, he turned next to Ewan.
"Ewan, ye'll deal with the sick and injured, as well as the wee bairns and the aged," he said, then addressed the crowd, many of whom had dispersed already to follow his first order. "Anyone who is too sick or injured or elderly tae travel quickly, or any bairn under twelve, is tae stay behind in the village."
He heard a wave of protests, but held up his hand, and they fell silent.
"Ye'll stay. If yer bairn remains, then ye may stay with them with nae repercussions. If and when we find somewhere safe, we'll send a scout tae collect as many as we can. Right now, though, time is of the essence."
"Aye, sir," Ewan said. "Tae the medical hut."
Stunned by Ewan's use ofsir,Cailean felt too disoriented to continue for a moment. But he knew he didn't have time to dwell, and instead turned to Hamish. "Finally, Hamish. Ye're in charge of those who'll stay behind. Any man or woman who is part of the rebellion but has found a lover or a purpose here may freely leave us. All they must do is donate what they can tae our cause, and give their word of loyalty. Ensure they're safe and they blend in."
Hamish nodded. "And ye?"
"I'll take some of the men who're ready," Cailean decided. "And we'll dismantle what we can of our camp. The villagers can claim they're just expandin', but we must be rid of anythin' that contradicts that story before the redcoats get here."
Everyone sprang into action, and after fifteen minutes had passed, several of Kier's group came to help Cailean with the destruction of what had for a very brief time been his home. They gave themselves another twenty minutes before theydecided enough was enough. The risk was getting too great, and it was time to move.
Before an hour was up, the entire rebel camp was moving, some on horses and wagons, others on foot, most of their important belongings along with them. They moved quickly, nobody speaking until they reached a forest hidden deep in the hills. Only then did the groups begin talking quietly among themselves, but Cailean remained silent, focusing only on moving forward. Darren joined him at the front of the group, and the two friends set the pace.
The sun was down by the time Cailean held up a hand to stop, and the order was relayed back through the group. They were deep in the forest, under a canopy so dense that they could barely see the moonlight, and a small burn nearby seemed to run with fresh enough water to drink. This would do for the night.
They set up camp, some creating shelters using tree branches and tarps, others putting out bedrolls. A few wanted to start fires to cook by, but Cailean and Kier both firmly stated that for the night they would eat cold rations or go hungry.
Once the majority had settled down for the night, Cailean and Darren sat next to the burn, Cailean watching the water in the darkness.
"Ye did a good job today," Darren told him. "Things would have gone much worse if ye hadnae taken charge."
Cailean snorted. "Dinnae ye start as well. I'm gettin' it enough from yer da."
Darren shrugged. "I'm nae one of the council members. Just… consider what I'm sayin' as yer friend, yer brother in all but blood. Ye insist ye're nae leader, but ye led today."
"Someone had tae, that's all," Cailean replied. "It could have been ye. Or Fergus. Or one of the council could have spoken first. It just happened tae be me."
"And why," Darren asked, "do ye think everyone listened?"
Cailean didn't answer, but for a long time after his friend had fallen asleep, he was still thinking about that question. He wasn't sure if he was truly ready for the answer.
4
CHAPTER FOUR
It had been two months since Maeve was faced with the first real choice in her life; two months since she'd finally escaped the prison of her life and scratched the surface of the secrets that had lain beneath it the whole time. She'd traveled with Ann for some way, but after a while, doubt set in. What use would she have been to an organization like the White Sparrows? She had no idea how to be a spy. She had no idea how to be anything at all except a laird's unwanted daughter and a chieftain's unwanted wife. And so she'd asked Ann to take her somewhere else, anywhere else, and allow her to begin life anew.
Ann had been saddened by her decision, but hadn't questioned her. "Ye'll always have a home with the Sparrows if ye need us, Maeve," she'd told her. "But if ye willnae come with me now, we need tae give ye a whole new life."
Maeve had nodded. She knew that they'd be looking for her. She was the only suspect in Darach's murder, and now she was an escapee as well. If Kyle really had been the one to kill Malcolm — and Maeve believed that he was — then she believed he'd stop at nothing to find her and make sure he had ascapegoat to cover his tracks. And so, one night, she tied her hair back and cut it off right at the ribbon, her long chestnut tresses falling away and leaving behind only a short scruff to her chin. It felt like a huge weight off her shoulders, both literally and metaphorically.
When Ann saw her the next morning, the Sparrow smiled. "If ye were tryin' tae look less bonny, ye've not succeeded," she teased. "But ye certainly look different. It's a good start, Maeve."
"I cannae be Maeve anymore," she decided. "Maeve is the one they're lookin' for. I need tae use a different name."
