“Elvira is right,” he said. His words were greeted with irritated murmurings and eyerolls. Rory lifted his hand and raised his voice, drowning out the others. His voice was rich and strong, bellowing out from powerful lungs. Elvira found herself captivated by the way he carried himself. “She is right!” he cried. “The solution tae our woes dinnae lie in isolating ourselves. We all know we cannae protect the village without help from trained men. Aye, we might fight valiantly, but blood will be spilled. We need tae make alliances, and if we cannae rely on our own leader, then we should seek help from those who are opposed tae our enemy. Perhaps the reason why they hae made nae progress is because they feel alone as well. Taegether we could be stronger. I dinnae think we can afford tae lose this opportunity. And Elvira’s words are nae just whispers or hopes. She lived in McKovac lands for a long time. She knows more than we dae, and we should listen tae her,” he offered her a reassuring smile. Elvira returned one of gratitude. Although she regretted thatRory’s approval was needed to give her words the proper weight, she was glad that someone in the room heeded them.
“Rory is right,” Torrin added, no doubt swayed by Rory’s support of Elvira. “Declan, ye know we cannae rely on the keep. Tarbuck, ye must see that we cannae train everyone in time. We would be sending them tae slaughter.” The other men began to protest again, but Torrin stretched out his palms, maintaining control of the meeting. “I’m nae saying it’s a perfect plan, but at the moment we dinnae hae much choice. It’s certainly worth exploring, and we should nae ignore the insight of someone who hae more experience with McKovac than the rest of us put taegether,” Torrin turned towards Elvira as he said this, making up in some small way for how he had acted towards her before.
With Rory and now Torrin supporting Elvira, the rest of the men slowly began to agree with them. It took some more persuasive words before they were fully satisfied, but in the end they came to support the plan. It was a risk, but it seemed to have the most benefit while also protecting those who needed protecting. As they discussed the particular details of the plan, it was Michael who came up with a solution about how they were going to travel through McKovac lands without drawing attention to themselves.
“We could send a small group of people posing as merchants. We hae enough stock between us tae fill a merchant wagon, and it would allow us tae move about freely,” he suggested, and his words were met with firm nods.
“And I shall come with ye. I know the lay of the land, and I will be able tae offer advice,” Elvira said. This time nobody opposed her.
That would come later.
The meeting was comingto an end. What had begun as a tense, febrile dispute had turned into a half-decent plan, but Rory’s heart was still filled with doubt. He had stood up for Elvira’s insights, knowing that she should not be dismissed. However, he could not understand why she was seeking to put herself in further danger. While the other men were in the process of leaving, Rory cornered Elvira.
“What are ye daeing?” he asked.
Elvira looked at the empty mugs in her hand and blinked slowly. “I’m helping Isla clean up. I sometimes wonder if ye men realize how much mess ye are making, or if ye are oblivious tae it,” she said.
“Nae about that,” he scowled, “why did ye volunteer tae gae with them?”
Elvira furrowed her brow. They spoke in whispers. Only hours before, they had been standing in a glade, about as close as they were now. She had placed a flower in his hair and he had been lost in her bright eyes. All day he wondered what might have happened had they not been interrupted by the farmers, but every time he did, tension ran through his body and uncomfortable heat prickled over his skin.
“How could I nae gae with them? Ye need my help. I know the lands, I know the people.”
“But ye hae already been captured once. Ye are gaeing back intae the heart of the land ye escaped. Ye are only putting yeself in danger. If anyone should see ye…”
“I hae proud warriors tae protect me,” she said, a smile curling on her face, gesturing towards Tarbuck and Rab.
“This is nae joke,” Rory hissed.
Elvira’s face darkened. “Ye dinnae think I know that? It’s why I hae tae help. I cannae stand by and watch all of ye risk ye lives when I can help. Ye stand a better chance with me than ye dae without me. I’m nae gaeing tae sit behind these walls like Glennrock sits behind his, or dae ye think me a coward?”
“Ye know I dinnae think that. I’m only trying tae-” Rory said in a beleaguered tone.
Elvira sighed and softened. She massaged the bridge of her nose. It had been a long day for them. “I know what ye are trying tae dae, Rory, and I appreciate it, but this is a fight I cannae avoid. I was unable tae stop them from destroying my home, but at least now I can help stop them from destroying this village. Besides, I want tae keep Tereza and Ollie safe. I’d love for them tae grow up without being afraid of the world. We might be treated as outsiders, but this land is ours and we deserve the chance tae defend it. Dinnae try to take that away from me,” she said, and stormed away before Rory could argue against her.
Rory lowered his head and nodded. He understood that there wasn’t any way to dissuade her from her intent to partake in this plan, but he would do all he could to protect her. There was something deep in his heart that compelled him to shield her from the world’s ills, as though it was some noble duty he had been sworn to. He wasn’t about to neglect that duty for anything. He wanted all of this to be over so that they could walk through the forest again without the shadow of war looming in the distance. He wanted to hear her laugh and find more flowers for her. He wanted her to be safe.
15
In the meeting it had been decided that Tarbuck, Rab, and Michael would pose as merchants. Michael was an unassuming man, and it was hoped his presence would not draw any attention. Tarbuck and Rab would be able to defend the wagon in case they were attacked. Rory was told to stay behind because he was needed to make weapons. Declan needed to resume his duties at the keep, as his absence would have been noticed, and the same went for Torrin at the tavern. While Elvira waited for them to gather, she bid farewell to her family.
She hugged Tereza and Ollie. “Will ye be gone long?” Tereza asked.
Elvira shook her head. “I’ll be back before ye know it. Now, ye and Ollie need tae help Torrin and Isla around her. Remember what I told ye about behaving. When I come back they’re all gaeing tae tell me how ye behaved, and I dinnae want tae be disappointed,” Elvira said. Tereza and Ollie stood at attention with rigid backs, their heads held high. Elvira hugged them again and they went scurrying off.
“I hate lying tae them,” she sighed to Mirella.
“Ye are nae lying tae them. Ye are just offering them hope. And I believe ye will return soon. Yer story is nae one tae end with those wretched people.”
“Dae any of us get tae choose when our story ends?” Elvira cast a hopeless look towards Mirella. “If I dinnae come back-” Elvira began, but Mirella held up a hand.
“Dinnae speak like that. We will see each other again, if nae in this life, then the next.” She took Elvira into her arms and hugged her tightly. “Ye are a brave girl for daeing this. As ye grow older, ye remind me more and more of yer parents,” Mirella said. Elvira knew she meant it as a compliment, but it was difficult to take it as such when she was reminded about how both her parents had died before their time. She wiped tears from her eyes and nodded towards Mirella, silently acknowledging the love she had for her family, yet not expressing it verbally in the hope that she would have many more opportunities when she returned.
Michael arrived with an old cart that was filled to the brim with goods. It was pulled by a single horse. Tarbuck and Rab had been waiting for him and looked upon this with scorn.
“Ye were supposed tae bring a wagon!” Tarbuck cried out.
“This was the best I could dae,” Michael said defensively.
