She bristled. “I explained tae ye why I had tae lie. I didnae like daein’ it. Ye said ye loved me. That means trustin’ me. And ye’ve shown me now by comin’ here without good reason that ye dinnae.”
“Isla, that’s hardly fair,” he argued gently. “I dae love ye. I just had tae make sure what ye told me was the truth, the lives of all me men depend on it. Ye must understand me responsibility. And I was nae lyin’, I really couldnae stop thinkin’ about ye.”
Perhaps it was the strain she was under, but she could not deny the crushing disappointment she felt. “Maybe ye should leave then if yer doubts are so strong,” she said, feeling she could cry.
“Isla, listen tae me, ye’re makin’ somethin’ out of naethin’. Fergive me like I fergave ye.” He moved towards her and tried to take her hands.
She moved back. “Maybe I’m nae in a fergivin’ mood, maybe?—”
She was interrupted abruptly by the ominous sound of church bells ringing nearby.
“Allan!” Ewan gasped, his expression hardening. “The reinforcements are here!” He crossed rapidly to the window and looked outside. Isla watched him, frozen with fear to the spot, her heart hammering in her chest. “Aye, ’tis him all right.” He returned to her and took her by the shoulders as he looked into her eyes. “This is it, Isla, me love. The time fer the final battle is here. I must return tae the camp and rally me troops.”
With the threat hanging over them so tangible now, Isla snapped into life. She ran to him, grabbing a lighted lamp from the dresser as she followed him to the secret door in the paneling. “Be careful, please, Ewan,” she implored him, handing it to him as the door sprang open and he stepped inside.
“I love ye, Isla, truly I dae. I’ll hope I’ll see ye when ’tis all over,” he said softly, kissing her lips quickly before hurrying away down the passage. When she could see the light no more, she shut the door and leaned against it, finding it hard to breathe as his last words rang in her ears. Then, she ran to the window and looked down, horrified to see mounted soldiers in Allan’s livery pouring into the castle courtyard below.
Will I see him when the battle is over?
With Allan’s troops amassing outside, the notion terrified her more than it ever had. Determined to try one last, desperate time to save everyone from further bloodshed and misery, she rushed from the room in search of her brother, with one final plea in her heart.
She cornered him in the vestibule of the keep and dragged him protesting into the chapel nearby, barring the door, her arms outstretched. “Ye’ll havetae kill yer own sister before ye leave this room without hearin’ me out,” she warned him passionately.
“Isla, stop this madness and get out of me way! The reinforcements are here at last, the siege is over, and I’ve men out there waitin’ fer me tae command them in battle,” he exclaimed, already dressed for the fray. “Ye’ve caused me enough trouble as it is. Get out of me way!”
She shook her head vehemently. “I’m nae movin’ until ye promise tae listen tae me.”
He threw up his hands in exasperation. “All right, say what ye’ve got tae say, and then let me out of here tae dae me duty by our clan!”
“Gregory, d’ye remember when ye and I were small, and I saved yer life?”
He looked puzzled. “Aye, of course I dae. What’s that got tae dae with anythin’?” he asked impatiently.
“When those men came intae the castle and murdered Ma and Da, and I took ye and hid with ye in the wardrobe, tae keep ye safe, ye remember that, eh?”
“Aye, I remember, I tell ye. How could I forget? But I still dinnae see what ye’re gettin’ at.”
“I saved yer life then. De ye trust me when I tell ye that I can save it again?”
“Jaysus, Isla, have ye gone mad? What’s all this about?”
“I asked ye if ye’d trust me tae save yer life again? Nae just yer life, but many lives?”
“Aye. I’m a grown man now, Isla, and I can take care of mesel’, but aye, I trust ye would try,” he reluctantly agreed. “Can I go now?”
She took him roughly by the arms, looking deeply into his eyes, summoning all her powers of persuasion. “Good. Now, listen well, Gregory. A choice lies before ye now, and if ye make the wrong choice, ye’ll lose everythin’, includin’ yer life. I need tae make ye understand what’s at stake, so ye make the right choice.” She checked to make sure he was listening before continuing. He was frowning but seemed to be paying attention.
Satisfied, she went on, “This alliance with Allan has brought only the cruelty and hardship of war upon our people and Ewan’s people. But so far, only Ewan has had the courage tae stand up tae this evil man, even though he kens well he’s outnumbered and likely tae be defeated and killed today. I’m tellin’ ye now, I love him.”
Gregory’s eyes flew wide and his jaw dropped. “What?!”
“Aye, I’m in love with Ewan Ballentine. And I just want ye tae ken that whatever decision ye make today about who ye’re gonnae fight with, win or lose, I’ll be at his side. ‘Tis nae only because of him but because he fights fer the right cause and kens that the true enemy isnae ye and our clan, Gregory, it’s Allan.”
“Isla, ye cannae… ’tis nae…” He trailed off, staring at her with an expression of shocked amazement.
“That’s all I havetae say tae ye. And now, I must leave ye and return tae Ewan’s camp, so I can be with him durin’ the battle.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I love ye, braither. Whatever happens today, never forget that.” With that, praying she had gotten through him at last, she moved away from the door.
She opened it and stepped out into the vestibule, sensing Gregory following her out. The vestibule was filled with armed men, including Kelvin and Domnhall, who stared at her as she passed. She hurriedly fetched a cloak from the nearby coat cupboard and swung it about her shoulders as she headed down the hallway towards the tunnels once more.
