Magnus pulled her close, pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm sorry it has tae be this way."
"I'm nae." Ada looked up at him. "Because if he hadnae done what he did, if I hadnae been sent here, I never would have found ye. And that—" Her voice caught. "That would have been the real tragedy."
Magnus held her for a long moment, breathing in her scent, memorizing the feel of her in his arms. Because he knew what was coming. Knew that the peace they'd found that evening beside that spring was borrowed time.
War was coming to Barra. And before it was over, blood would be spilled.
He just had to make sure it wasn't Ada's. Or his own.
"Come on," he said finally. "Let's get ye inside. We have a lot to discuss. And nae much time tae dae it."
They walked into the keep together, side by side. Partners. Allies.
Husband and wife.
And whatever came next, they'd face it the same way. Together.
CHAPTER 30
"Get Torvald. Call Bjorn and Hamish. I want them in the war room now."
Magnus barely paused as he strode through the keep, Ada hurrying to keep pace beside him. Guards snapped to attention as he passed, clearly sensing the urgency radiating from their laird.
"Should I—" Ada started.
"Stay with me." Magnus's hand found hers, squeezed briefly. "I'll need ye there. Ye ken yer faither better than anyone. Ye might see things we miss."
Within minutes, they'd reached the war room—a smaller chamber off the great hall where Magnus held his most sensitive councils. Torvald arrived first, still pulling on his shirt, his hair sleep-mussed.
"What's happened?" he asked, taking in Magnus's grim expression and Ada's pale face. "Is it another attack?"
"Worse." Magnus moved to the table where maps of Barra lay spread out. "Get the others here. Now. And dinnae wake the whole keep daein' it. I want this quiet until we ken what we're dealin' with."
Torvald's eyes narrowed but he nodded, disappearing back into the corridor.
Ada stood near the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself. Magnus wanted to go to her, to offer comfort, but there wasn't time. Not yet.
Men began filtering in—Bjorn first, his scarred face creased with concern. Then Hamish, Magnus's captain of the guard, still buckling his sword belt. Fergus the steward. Two village elders who'd been staying at the keep.
Finally, Torvald returned with Aldric, the quartermaster.
"This is everyone?" Magnus asked.
"Everyone ye specifically requested, aye." Torvald closed the door, took up position near it. "Now what's goin' on?"
Magnus didn't waste time. "Ada and I went ridin' this evenin'. Beyond the eastern ridge, near the old spring." He placed bothhands flat on the table. "We found a camp. Armed men. At least fifteen, maybe more."
The room went silent.
"On our land?" Bjorn's voice was dangerously quiet. "Without permission?"
"Without permission. Without announcement. Hidden in a hollow where they wouldnae be easily seen." Magnus's jaw clenched. "And at the center of that camp were two men. One was Donnan MacFerguson?—"
"The guard who came with Lady Ada's escort?" Hamish interrupted.
"Aye. Him." Magnus's gaze swept the assembled men. "And the other man wore a cloak with the MacTavish crest. Ada recognized him immediately as her faither. Conall MacTavish."
The silence that followed was deafening.
