“Babe, I’m sorry,” Colton said. “I’m freaking out over your pregnancy but that’s no excuse for my behavior.”
“Thank you, babe,” smiled Ian, “I would love it if you were at my side when I meet my subjects for the first time.”
“Good. Let’s get a move on while the sky is still black,” Logan said, getting up from the table. “I’ll see you on theroof in five minutes. I just want to see Kieran before we leave.”
~/~/~/~/~
Logan found an isolated place to land near the dock where Captain Brian Crannach’s boat was tied up and, after shifting, he led Dylon, Ian and Colton to it.
“Captain,” Ian called, standing by the gangplank. “He might be sleeping.”
“Should we go aboard and knock on the cabin door?” asked Dylon.
Suddenly, there was a splash on the far side of the boat and shortly thereafter a dripping wet Brian, wearing only shorts, appeared on deck to greet them. Walking over to Ian, he bowed. “Sorry, Your Majesty, I was enjoying the darkness of the night. Please, come aboard. Let’s talk down below.” Unlocking the cabin door, the Captain stood back as everyone single-filed down the narrow steps, before following them. Taking a seat across from Ian and Colton, Brian asked, “What canna do for you, sir?”
“Captain, I’m sorry to disturb you at this time of night but time is of the essence. I have need of your assistance but it’s complicated so I think it’s best if my brother-in-law, Dylon, explains,” Ian said.
“Aye, he’s your brother-in-law?” asked Brian.
“Yes, is there a problem?” asked Ian.
“Naa, it’s not every day I meet someone the gods have gifted. I’m honored to meet ya,” Brian said, adding, “Tell me what you need me to do.”
Dylon explained everything that had happened since Logan and Kieran saved Fionn, including Slate’s kidnapping. “Everything’s ready to go but I need to hireabout 75 men who’ll keep the men guarding Daroonga Castle busy while my group goes in and rescues Slate. We have to go tonight, which doesn’t give me enough time to fly in more enforcers. The odds of success without extra help are poor. The only shifters close enough for me to hire are the Scottish Wolves and I need someone to introduce me so I can present my offer.”
“Aye, I can do that, but they won’t accept your money,” Brian said, “and if you offer it, you’ll be insultin’ them. These are proud shifters and they won’t be takin’ kindly to havin’ an invasion of mercenaries on their home soil. If ya want their help, ask for it, but dinna mention money.”
“Thanks for the advice, Brian. I’d like to go as soon as you’re ready. Logan needs to fly at night,” said Dylon.
Brian looked at Logan. “How’s the Shaman?”
“Kieran’s fine. We’re expecting a pup,” Logan answered.
“Congratulations,” Brian smiled. “You’re the one flying me today?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Humph, make sure you don’t do any tricks.”
“I won’t,” Logan said, “Kieran would skin me alive if he found out I did any fancy stuff with Ian on my back.”
“Gimme a minute to change, then we can go.”
~/~/~/~/~
Dylon was standing in front of one hundred kneeling Scottish Wolves dressed in kilts, their broadsword tips buried in the soil in front of them as they swore their fealty to King Ian and his mate Colton—driving home, like nothing had before, that Ian was, indeed, royalty. Looking out over at the rugged and fierce lookingshifters, he was reminded of a book he read long ago about them, and the fighting techniques they’d perfected. He knew if they’d help him, there wouldn’t be a mercenary alive by the time the fighting ended.
After Ian accepted his subjects’ oath of loyalty, he instructed them to rise, and Brian gestured Dylon forward to speak. Starting with Logan and Kieran’s rescue of Fionn MacDùghlas, he recounted the failed kidnapping of the young dragon and finished with the kidnapping of Slate. Then, pausing as he remembered what Brian had advised, he implored the warriors to help him fight to save his brother-in-law.
The shifters stared at him in silence. Then a man stepped forward, saying, “Aye, the name’s Angus MacGhille. We would be honored to fight for your cause but we canna do it unless our King orders us to.”
Brian stepped over to Ian and murmured, “They’ve sworn allegiance to you. Now you must give them orders to fight the mercenaries.”
Nodding, Ian stepped forward, “Angus, is this a fight you deem worthy of you and your men?”
Turning around to face the gathered shifters, Angus asked, “What say ye?”
One by one, the wild and strong shifters raised their broadswords and when Angus was the only one left who hadn’t, he turned back to his king. Slowly raising his sword, he cried out, “Aye!”
