“Aye! Thank the Lord above that ye are alive and well! Ye dinnae ken how worried we have been, on top of everyhtin’ else!”
“I’ve missed ye so much, and I’ve been so worried about ye as well,” she told him, her heart filled with love and relief to see him and hear his voice.
Finally, he drew back and looked at her closely, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Where have ye been? Did Ballentine capture ye? Has he been keepin’ ye prisoner all this time? Did ye escape?” he asked.
“Nae exactly,” she replied, knowing he was going to be even more shocked when he found out the truth. “I’m sorry tae have caused ye so much worry. I wanted tae get a message tae ye tae tell ye I was all right, but I didnae get the chance. And I couldnae tell ye why I left the castle in the first place because ye would have stopped me.”
He started back. “Yeleftthe castle? With the enemy outside the gates, out of yer own choice? Have ye lost yer wits?!” he erupted. “How ye’re still alive is a bloody miracle.” With an expression of furious disbelief, he looked her up and down, his brow creased into a deep frown. “And why in God’s name are ye dressed like an enemy soldier?”
“’Tis a long story, and there’s nae time tae tell it twice, so listen well tae what I have tae say.” She quickly explained how she had gone to assassinate Ewan, failed, and ended up joining his camp, posing as Harris but intending to spy for Gregory. At various points in the story, Gregory put his head in his hands and let out expletives and blasphemous curses to express.
“Ewan is a good man,” she declared finally, “he daesnae want any more bloodshed, he wants peace. Allan is an evil man, Gregory. He stole Ewan’s lands, and he kidnapped Ewan’s sister. When he found out I was missin’, he sent his men out tae search for me. He said he knew the pain of losing a sister, and he wanted tae find me and send me back tae ye safe despite the war.”
Gregory looked deeply skeptical. “A likely story,” he said. “It seems ye’ve fallen for his lies.”
“He didnae ken who I was. He made me dress like a man while being his captive to protect me from his men, while keeping me close to protect himself without imprisoning me. He thought I was a village girl who had been paid tae kill him. ’Tis ye who’ve fallen fer Allan’s lies,” she corrected him, trying to keep calm and use all her powers of persuasion. “The man’s corrupt, a murderin’ menace. He’s usin’ ye tae help him destroy Ewan and take all he owns! That’s why he started this war. Ye’re on the wrong side, Gregory. Ye have tae change yer allegiance now and join with Ewan tae defeat him.”
“That’s nonsense. Allan speaks the truth. ’Tis Ballentine who’s the liar. Besides, I’m a man of me word, and I dinnae changesides when it suits me.” Gregory said resolutely, shaking his head. “Allan’s army is already on its way, and once the reinforcements get here, I’ll be in a much stronger position tae defeat Ballentine once and fer all. Then ye’ll see I’m right.”
“Allan has put ye against each other and waited tae send his men until he knew ye would weaken each other. And what d’ye think Allan will dae then, when ye’ve helped him destroy Ewan?” she asked. “Ewan thinks he intends tae turn on ye helped by yer weakened state and kill ye as well, and then he’ll take over both clans.”
“What?!” Gregory cried, seeming genuinely shocked by the idea, as if it had never occurred to him. Isla noticed how Kelvin and Domnhall both looked at him with concern on their faces, as if seeking his reassurance. He tried to shrug it off. “Ach, that’s more of Ballentine’s stories. I dinnae believe that fer a minute. Allan’s a good man. He’d never dae somethin’ like that tae me, his staunchest ally.”
Isla shook her head. “Ye’re foolin’ yersel’ if ye go on believin’ that, Gregory. Ewan Ballentine is a man of honor. I tried tae kill him, and he could have had me killed as an assassin and a spy. But he chose tae protect me instead. He daesnae trade in lies and corruption, he’s the victim of Allan’s connivin’ greed, his people have been displaced from their homes. He’s been forced intae a war he never wanted. All he wants is his land back, and peace. Allan is a thief, a liar, a kidnapper, and a murderer. Where has he been all these weeks? Why has he nae come tae yer aid, braither? He’s gonnae take over both our clans if ye dinnae stop him by joinin’ with Ewan against him,” she insisted calmly.
Gregory’s expression darkened, revealing his growing unease. Isla knew her words were starting to hit home, but his next words told her she still had a long way to go in convincing him she was telling the truth.
“I’ve already told ye, Isla, I dinnae trust Ballentine, and neither should ye. Allan might nae be a saint. I admit I havenae agreed with everything he’s done, and I dinnae care fer the brutality he’s inflicted on Ballentine’s people. But I’d be shocked tae find out he did kidnap Ballentine’s sister… where’s the proof, Isla? Ye only have Ballentine’s word fer that,” Gregory argued.
“Allan’s done right by me so far, and I’ll continue tae support him. I rely on Allan tae supply us with all the grain we need tae feed our people. Ye ken very well how many hardships the clan’s faced these last few years due tae poor harvests. The alliance with Allan is the only way I’ve managed tae ensure our survival. Even if I did wantae change sides, me hands are tied,” he explained.
Isla nodded, having listened carefully to what her brother had to say. Nevertheless, she found his continual refusals to believe her deeply frustrating, especially as time was ticking by and the pressure on them was growing every second. She knew she could not give up trying to persuade him. “Aye, I can see ye’re caught in a difficult position, Gregory, but if Ewan’s lands were restored, he would likely be able tae supply us with the same amount of grain and spare our people from Allan’s demands as well,” she pointed out reasonably.
“Nay, there’s nay way of bein’ sure about that. I cannae just let go of a guaranteed supply,” he said with an air of finality. Isla looked at him intently, but she saw no sign of his resolution softening. Her hope of persuading him dwindled but she knew she could not just give up hope.
“Is that all ye have tae say?” she asked finally, a new plan forming in her mind.
“Aye, it is,” he replied staunchly.
“Very well. I’ll leave ye tae yer discussion then.” Before any of them could react, she walked calmly out of the study. As soon as she was alone in the hallway outside, she ran to the nearby parlor where there was another secret door leading to the underground passages. She took a lamp from a side table and lit it with a spill from the fire before opening the secret door in the paneling and starting back down the winding stairways as fast as she could.
The only thought in her mind now was to find Ewan and warn him of the imminent arrival of the reinforcements. If he would listen to her.
Laird Calumn Allan’s Army Camp, one mile north of Castle Galbraith
“The men are ready fer ye, m’laird,” said Captain Ruaraigh Conway, poking his head inside the tent of his commander.
“I’ll be there directly,” Laird Allan replied, hardly glancing at his deputy as he spoke. Conway withdrew, and Allan allowed himself a small moment of pleasurable reflection. He was looking forward to the coming battle and the long-awaited opportunity to defeat Ballentine once and for all. “I’ll crush the bastard and have his head on a pike by the end of the day,” he promised himself under his breath, his hard, weatherbeaten features twisting into a malicious grin.
Already in full battle gear save for his helmet, shield, and gloves, he picked up the latter from the table and made his way out of the tent. His army of reinforcements, two-hundred strong of well-trained, battle-hardened fighters, stood ranked before him. Armed to the teeth, they were set to mount up and ride out to at Castle Galbraith, hardly a mile distant, and wage the final chapter of the war on his foe Ewan Ballentine and his army.
Allan nodded approvingly at his men as he strode over to mount his enormous stallion, which was presently being held by the reins by a young soldier. Once in the saddle, another lad handed him his helmet and shield. He put the helmet on and slung the shield over his shoulder with practiced ease. He pulled on his gloves, then took the reins and turned the mighty beast, ready to give a final address to encourage his men.
“Now, lads, this is the last time we’ll havetae battle that scum Ballentine, and we’re gonnae grind him and his excuse fer an army intae the ground. I want ye all tae remember yer orders.”He paused and raised his voice before continuing, “Nae a single one of them should be allowed tae leave here alive, d’ye hear me?” The men roared their approving assent.
“But if ye come across Ballentine, dinnae kill him. Take him prisoner. I want tae finish the dog mesel’, am I clear?!” Again, the men shouted and stamped their boots and clapped, signaling their dedication to carrying out their laird’s wishes. “Good lads. And tonight, after our victory is won, I promise ye the biggest celebration ye could wish fer, with as much ale and whisky as ye can drink, and as many wenches as ye can catch.” That drew an even bigger cheer.
With his speech over, Allan walked his horse over to his team of officers, who were also mounting their horses. With a gesture, he gathered them around him for a final word before they set off.
