"Me laird." One of his warriors approached with something in his hands. "Found this near the eastern edge. Looks fresh."
It was a scrap of cloth, torn from a dress, caught on a branch. And there were tracks, multiple horses, heading south toward the border.
"They went that way," Alpin said, more to himself than anyone else. "Movin’ fast, probably plannin’ tae get the women across the border before we could mobilize a pursuit."
"Dae we go after them?" Callum asked.
"With what force? We'd be ridin’ intae a trap." Alpin's hands clenched into fists. "They're expectin’ us tae chase. Expectin’ us tae act emotionally rather than strategically."
"So we dae nothing?" The question came from Mhairi, who'd rejoined them. Her dress was already stained with blood from tending the injured.
"We adapt." Alpin looked around at his gathered companions. "Callum, I need messengers sent back tae the castle immediately. We need reinforcements, supplies, and healers. Duncan, organize the survivors, see who needs transport back tae the main village and who can stay tae help salvage what's left."
"And the women who were taken?" Mhairi pressed.
"We'll find them. But we need tae be smart about it." Alpin moved to examine the tracks more closely. "See how the horsesare bunched here? They're movin’ in a tight group, which means they're vulnerable tae ambush if we can predict their route. Peadar, ye've dealt with Graham's network before, where would they take the women?"
"Safe houses first, tae wait out any immediate pursuit. Then tae an auction site once they think it's clear." Peadar knelt beside the tracks. "But the safe houses move around. Graham learned after I rescued Kenina that keeping women in one place too long was dangerous."
"So we need tae find his current safe houses." Alpin straightened. "Which means we need better intelligence."
"I can help with that."
They all turned to find Kenina approaching, her expression determined. "I was moved through Graham's network. I remember some of the locations, some of the routes. And I ken how tae recognize the signs they use tae mark safe paths."
"What kind of signs?" Alpin asked.
"Markings on trees, specific patterns of stones at crossroads. Naething obvious, but once ye ken what tae look fferor..." She gestured to the path where the tracks led. "Let me scout ahead with a small group. If I can identify which route they're using, we can get ahead of them."
Alpin looked at Peadar, who nodded. "She's good at this. Better than any of me warriors."
"All right. But ye take armed guards with ye. Six at minimum, and ye report back every two hours." Alpin turned to his second-in-command. "Fergus, ye'll lead Kenina's escort."
As his people dispersed to their tasks, Alpin finally allowed himself to survey the full extent of the damage. Homes destroyed. Families torn apart. Women stolen.
And it was his fault. He'd known Ashcombe was dangerous, had known the man was capable of this, and yet he hadn't prepared adequately.
"This isnae yer fault."
He looked down to find Mhairi beside him, her hand slipping into his.
"They're me people. Me responsibility."
"And Ashcombe's cruelty. His choice tae dae this." She squeezed his hand. "Ye cannae protect everyone all the time, Alpin. Ye're daeing everything ye can."
"It's nae enough."
"Then we'll dae more." Her voice was fierce despite her bloodstained dress and exhausted eyes. "We'll find those women. We'll stop Graham and Ashcombe. And we'll make sure this never happens again."
Alpin pulled her close, not caring who saw, needing the contact to ground himself. "We will," he promised. "Whatever it takes."
Around them, his people were already beginning the work of recovery—tending injuries, salvaging belongings, organizing shelter for those whose homes had been destroyed. It would take time, resources, and more strength than Alpin felt he possessed in that moment.
But as he stood there with Mhairi in his arms and his warriors moving with purpose around him, he felt something shift. Thatattack had been meant to break him, to force him to surrender Mhairi to stop the violence.
Instead, it had just made him more determined to see Ashcombe and Graham destroyed.
"Send the messenger," he said to Duncan. "Tell them we need reinforcements, supplies, and every piece of intelligence we can gather on Graham's network. And tell them..." He paused. "Tell them war is coming. And we intend tae win it."
