“We ha’ to signal so they ken who is coming.”
23
REBELS
The boat continues, gently propelled along the channel for a while before the walls start to drift farther apart, and the tide spits us out into a small bay. The beach around the bay glitters with black sand and is surprisingly flat compared to the towering cliffs we traveled through.
The levelness of the land stretches out a fair distance, turning a deep, rich green as it transforms into rolling hills enclosed by a large silver cliff. The dark green against the bright silver reminds me of moss growing on river stones.
There are long, wooden houses with thatched roofs dotted all around the bay, and what appears to be the looming stone walls of a castle atop one of the hills farther out.
A small congregation of people is gathering along the shore as our boat runs aground. Tane hops out to help Mathilda out of the boat, and Lachlan and I mirror their actions. Several men and women dressed in normal brown training leathers are a few paces away. The familiar color of their leathers and not the ominous black brings me solace.
My necklace is warm against my chest, easing some of my anxiety.
This is a safe place, it seems to whisper.
An older woman with long, wavy, silver hair and a single braid down the center stands in the middle of the group. Her face radiates kindness, and wisdom gleams in her eyes. Lachlan steps forward, and her familiar honey-brown eyes crinkle as she smiles at him.
“Auntie A,” he calls to her. As she steps forward to meet him, they clasp each other’s forearms. She gives a slight nod of her head, as does Lachlan.
“Lachie,” she greets him. There’s a familiarity to her that I can’t quite place.
Lachlan turns to me. “Auntie A, this is Lena.”
Auntie?
She brushes past him to embrace me tightly. “Lena, my sweet girl.” She squeezes me tightly once more before she lets go and steps back, her arms still clasped to mine. “I’m Agatha, Torin’s sister. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
My mouth drops open as she lets go of me. “Torin’s sister?” I stutter before glaring over her shoulder at Lachlan.
“Whoops,” he mouths. “Surprise!”
Agatha grasps my hand and pulls me closer to the group of people gathered on shore. “Come! Come! I don’t expect ye to remember everyone’s name, but just a brief introduction,” she tuts, before turning to face the people gathered on the beach. “This is the Affric Clan.” She waves her hand to a group of similar-looking men. The five of them are barrel-chested, broad-shouldered, all with long, dark hair and wild, untamed beards. They’re dressed in green, yellow, and red tartan kilts.
They clap a hand over their chests, and Agatha continues, “Clan Campbell.”
She points to a group of at least ten men, all wearing green, navy, and black tartan kilts, as they nod. Their looks are more varying, with different hairstyles and facial hair, but all have similar light-green eyes.
“And these are the Fairhairs.” She points to a group of men and women with light-colored complexions and white-blonde hair. They don’t nod or give any sign of acknowledgment, but stare inquisitively at me.
“This,” she loudly announces to the group gathered, “is the Heir to the Throne, the wonderful Helena.” I tense slightly at my full name. “But I hear she only likes to be called Lena.” She winks at me.
I heave a sigh of relief at not having to address that again. Tane, Mathilda, and Lachlan have all gathered beside me. Their presence exhibits support, and it spurs me to address the assembled crowd like a queen would.
I force myself to look each person in the eye before loudly speaking, “I understand that not many of you know me or knewthat I even existed.” I glance sidelong at Lachlan, and he smiles encouragingly at me. “And I’m sure there is a lot of anger towards my mother for leaving.” Several grunts ring out. “To be honest, I’m unsure of her exact reasons for leaving, but if I had to guess, it probably had to do with keeping me safe, and for that very reason, she was murdered.” There are a few shocked expressions, and heads turn towards each other with words murmured in languages I don’t understand yet.
I place my hand on my chest and continue, “But this was my mother’s home. She died to protect it and all of you, and though I didn’t realize it at the time, with her dying breath, she sent out a message to make it possible for me to travel here and save us.”
Emotion stirs at the thought of my mom doing everything she could to save her people. I swallow past the feelings. “This is my home, and I, too, will die to protect it, just as fiercely as she did.”
It’s not the ground-shaking speech I would have liked to give, but it’s honest and to the point. The crowd seems to approve, and I get several more grunts of approval and nods before they begin dispersing back to their homes.
Agatha looks at me with admiration, her eyebrow arching. “Excellent, my queen.”
Several men in brown leathers with silver chain-mail vests begin approaching with three horses. Agatha looks back at us apologetically. “I wasn’t expecting so many of you.”
Lachlan chuckles and says, “Lena and I can share.” He throws an arm around my shoulder.
