"That sounds like him." Peadar glanced at Alpin with a knowing look. "Always the hero."
"I'm nae a hero. I just did what needed daein’." Alpin gestured toward the keep. "Come inside. Ye must be exhausted from the journey. We've prepared chambers fer ye, and food if ye're hungry."
"Food sounds wonderful," Kenina said. "Though I'd also appreciate the chance tae discuss strategy sooner rather than later. The sooner we plan, the sooner we can act."
"Agreed." Alpin led them toward the entrance, Mhairi falling into step beside him while Peadar and Kenina followed. "I've had maps and intelligence reports prepared. We can review everything over the meal."
They made their way through the castle to the same small dining room where Alpin and Mhairi usually took their meals. Spreadacross one end were maps of the Highlands, marked with notes and observations.
As they settled into their seats, Kenina's eyes went immediately to the maps. "May I?"
"Please." Alpin pushed them toward her. "The red marks indicate known auction sites. Blue marks are villages that have reported missin’ women. Green are Graham's known properties and holdings."
Kenina studied the maps intently while servants brought food.
Peadar watched her with obvious pride, and Alpin caught Mhairi's eye, seeing his own thoughts reflected there—these two were clearly a partnership in every sense of the word.
"There's a pattern here," Kenina said after a moment, her finger tracing routes between marks. "Look, the raids happen in a specific sequence. He hits the outer villages first, the ones with less protection. Then he waits a few weeks before moving tae the next territory. It gives him time to move the women through his network before anyone can organize a proper response."
"Ye've studied this," Alpin observed.
"I've lived it." Kenina's voice was matter-of-fact. "I was taken in one of those raids. I ken exactly how Graham operates because I saw it firsthand."
"Which means he has scouts," Peadar added. "People who move through clan territories gatherin’ intelligence. Probably traders, tinkers, anyone who has legitimate reason tae travel and willnae draw suspicion."
"We've been thinkin’ the same," Alpin said. "Which makes it difficult tae ken who tae trust. Any stranger could be workin’ fer Graham."
"It's more than just scouts." Kenina pulled another map closer. "He also uses established routes—rivers, old tradin’ roads, paths that avoid major settlements. I remember being moved through forests and along waterways, always staying out of sight. They have safe houses, places where they can hide the women between auctions."
"Can ye mark them?" Alpin asked. "The routes ye remember, the safe houses?"
"Some of them. It's been over a year, and I was terrified at the time, but I'll dae me best." Kenina accepted a charcoal stick from Peadar and began marking the map carefully. "Here…there was a building near this river bend. Old grain storage, abandoned but still intact. And here, along this road, there was a cottage that looked occupied but wasnae. They kept us there fer two nights."
Mhairi had gone pale, but she didn't look away. Instead, she pulled one of the other maps toward her. "The auction house where I was taken, it was underground. In what looked like an old warehouse from the outside. Stone walls, low ceilings, packed with men."
"That's the same one where I was sold," Kenina said, meeting Mhairi's eyes. "I recognize yer description. It's one of Graham's primary locations, central enough tae draw buyers from multiple regions but hidden enough that authorities dinnae notice. He has more than one auction house."
"So shuttin’ down one auction house willnae be enough," Mhairi said quietly.
"Nay. We'd need tae hit all of them simultaneously, or he'll just move the operation tae whichever sites remain intact." Peadar's expression was grim. "That means coordinatin’ multiple attacks across different territories. Which requires?—"
"More clans," Alpin finished. "More warriors. More allies willin’ tae commit tae this fight."
"Dae ye have anyone in mind?" Kenina asked.
"A few. Clan Fraser owes us a favor, they might commit warriors if I call it in. Clan Morrison has lost women tae Graham's raids as well. Clan Campbell..." He hesitated. "Campbell's laird is cautious, but he's also honorable. If we present him with solid evidence, he might join us."
"What about Clan Drummond?" Alpin asked carefully.
The room went quiet. Paedar knew exactly what his friend was really asking—would Torcull Drummond, Graham's former ally and the man who'd nearly destroyed Peadar's clan, be a threat or a resource?
"As ye ken, Drummond is dead," Peadar said. "Killed in the battle when I took Kenina back. His heir is young, untested, and from what I hear, wants nothing tae dae with his father's alliances."
"So potentially an ally rather than an enemy," Alpin mused. "Though we'd need tae approach carefully. The new laird might be wary of joinin’ a coalition that includes the man who killed his faither."
"I killed Torcull in fair combat after he attacked our lands," Peadar said evenly. "If the son has any honor, he'll understand the difference."
They continued discussing potential allies through the meal, marking the map with possibilities and concerns.
