Since you refuse to see reason, I am left with no choice but to demonstrate the consequences of your actions. My forces will move against your territory within two days. We ken ye are at the village. This is not a threat, it is a statement of fact.
Return what is mine, and this unpleasantness can be avoided. Refuse and watch your people suffer for your stubbornness.
I await your response with diminishing patience.
Henry Ashcombe, Duke of Ravenscar"
"What daes it say?" Mhairi asked.
"That Ashcombe is a fool who thinks he can intimidate me intae submission." Alpin handed the letter to Mhairi so she could read it herself. "And that we have less time than I hoped to prepare."
Mhairi's face went pale as she read. "Two days. He's givin’ us two days before he attacks."
"Which means he's likely already movin’ his forces intae position." Alpin strode to the tent entrance, scanning the village square where his warriors were beginning to stir. "Duncan, how many reinforcements have arrived from the castle?"
"Twenty warriors arrived last night. More are expected by midday, Callum sent word that he's bringin’ another fifty, plus militia from the surroundin’ farms."
"Nae enough." Alpin's mind raced, calculating numbers and odds. "Even with the militia, we're looking at over one hundred fighters total. Ashcombe has at least a hundred, probably more if Graham's contributed men tae the cause. We need more."
"Then we use the terrain tae our advantage," Peadar said, walking up to them from behind with Kenina. "We ken this land. Ashcombe daesnae. We can funnel his forces intae kill zones, use the village buildings as cover, make every warrior count fer two."
"Aye." Alpin nodded. "But first we need tae fortify. Every weak point in the village perimeter needs tae be shored up. Every family needs tae ken where tae shelter when the attack comes." He turned to Duncan. "Gather the Council. And send riders tae Fraser and Morrison, tell them if they're going tae commit warriors tae this fight, we need them now, nae next week."
"Aye, me laird."
As Duncan hurried off, Alpin turned to find Mhairi watching him with an expression he couldn't quite read.
"What?" he asked.
"Ye're very calm about this. About the fact that we're about to be attacked by a force twice our size."
"Panic willnae help anyone. Clear thinkin’ and good strategy will." He moved closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "But I'd be lying if I said I wasnae afraid. Fer what could happen if Ashcombe breaks through our defenses."
"Then we make sure he daesnae break through." Her voice was steady despite the fear in her eyes. "Tell me what ye need me tae dae."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of frantic preparation.
Reinforcements trickled in throughout the morning, first Callum with his promised fifty warriors, then smaller groups from allied farms and villages. By noon, they had perhaps a hundred and ten fighters assembled, with more expected before nightfall.
Alpin moved through the village with Peadar, identifying defensive positions and weak points in the perimeter.
"Here," Peadar said, pointing to a gap between two buildings. "They'll try tae push through this section. It's the widest openin’ and provides the clearest path tae the village center."
"So we block it." Alpin gestured to several warriors. "Get carts, barrels, anything heavy. Stack them here tae create a barrier. Leave gaps fer our archers tae shoot through but make it impossible fer mounted riders tae pass."
The warriors moved immediately, hauling whatever they could find to create makeshift fortifications. Alpin watched for a moment, then continued his circuit of the village.
Every building was inspected, every possible approach mapped. Every warrior assigned a position and a backup position in case they were overrun.
"Stockpiles?" he asked one of the village elders.
"Food and water distributed tae three separate locations, me laird. If one is destroyed or captured, we'll have reserves."
"Good. And the children?"
"Hidden in the cellars of the strongest buildings. We've reinforced the doors and left them supplies in case... in case the worst happens."
Alpin's jaw tightened. The thought of children huddling in cellars while battle raged above them made his chest ache. But it was better than the alternative.
