“How can you know they’re friendly?” Rollo asked, reining in to study the cottage. Red light flickered intermittently through a crack under the door.
“I suppose there’s naught I know for sure, is there?” James replied cavalierly, eliciting a scowl from Rollo.
James slid off his horse, and Sibbald, shrugging his shoulders, joined him. While James helped Rollo dismount, the colonel tied off their horses with a long lead. The animals immediately set to grazing.
“I do know,” James said, “that there was a time this particular cottage was a Royalist outpost.”
Rollo eased to the ground, where he began to pound life back into his legs. “Let’s hope the Covenanters haven’t beaten us here.”
“I’ll see who’s keeping the fires burning,” James said. Before his companions could stop him, he was knocking on the door as if for a pleasant afternoon visit, rather than the predawn refuge they sought in a war-torn country.
The door opened, and Rollo and Sibbald at once put their hands to the swords at their sides, wary and alert.
Though he was the same height as James, the man filling the doorway was much wider. Where James was lithe muscle, this man was pure, thick brawn. A small peat fire crackled in the hearth at his back, illuminating him from behind, casting his already dark features into frightening blackness.
“The Graham, is it?” he growled in a thick burr. “James Graham of Montrose? ”
“Indeed,” James replied in a friendly tone. Though his posture remained at ease, James’s right hand was tensed, fingers curled toward the sword hilt at his side. “And whose acquaintance do I have the pleasure of making?”
The man let out a laugh sounding much like a roar, and grabbed James into a bear hug. The man pushed James away and, holding his shoulders, avidly studied his face as if James were his long-lost brother.
"I am Alasdair MacColla Ciotach MacDomhnaill.” He clapped James hard on the shoulder. “Alasdair the son of Colla the left-handed, of the Clan MacDonald.”
"I know my Gaelic, Alasdair MacColla,” James replied, "but you still haven’t told me who you are.”
MacColla roared another laugh, "Aye, Charles warned you were a canny one.”
Grinning broadly, he added, “I’m the man come to help hunt for Campbells.”
MacColla gestured to the room behind him. "Come, come. We’ve much to discuss, and I’d do it proper, with askalkand porridge.”
"Skalk?” Rollo’s voice came from the darkness.
“The man means to drink whisky for breakfast,” Sibbald said. “I could use a morning dram myself,” he added, striding to the door.
The men passed around the quaich, and by the time the shallow wooden bowl was empty, they were at ease.
“The Campbells took our land. They took my father prisoner. And, when I was forced to seek refuge with the Clan MacDonald in Ireland, they took my country from me.” MacColla polished the empty quaich with a corner of his tartan, his bushy black eyebrows furrowed in thought. “And now ’tis time for me to take something from the Campbells.”
He raised his head and looked levelly at James. “I’ve come to fight by your side, and I’ve sixteen hundred Irishmen who stand with me.”
“Good Lord,” Sibbald blurted.
Rollo leaned forward in his chair, intrigued. “And where are all these men?”
MacColla wove his thick fingers together and stretched his arms in front of him, joints popping. Leaning back, he placed his hands atop the crown of his head and said, “I’ve installed my men in Lochaber, where they’re currently enjoying a spot of Cameron hospitality.”
James barked a sudden laugh. “I’m certain the young Lochiel is well pleased by that turn of events.”
"Och,” MacColla dismissed him good-naturedly, "’tis good for the wee Cameron lad.”
“Wee lad,” James mused, looking at the enormous man sitting across from him. “I suppose.” Satisfaction creased his eyes. “I am pleased to hear that Ewen sides with us.”
Sibbald rose. “If you two are going to gossip like milkmaids, I’d settle the horses and be off to bed.”
"Sit, old man.” The humor was gone from MacColla’s voice. “The beasts can bide a wee. I’ve news yet. Campbell’s kept busy since Aberdeen.”
Leaning forward, he locked eyes with James and said, “I’ve word that he took your woman.”
