Page 20 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“Rollo. ’Tis Rollo staging’ the attacks, tryin’ tae divide yer forces before he attacks the castle,” Tadgh said simply.

“Rollo. I might have guessed,” Odhrán growled, his blood boiling at his cousin’s underhand attempts to undermine him. “Ye’re right, I’m nae surprised, but I didnae expect him tae try anythin’ so soon. We’re supposed tae be family, but ye wouldnae think so, fer that greedy, connivin’ bastard will dae anythin’ tae get his hands on me lairdship, even murder innocent people.” He was incensed by the cruel and unnecessary slaughter of his people just to satisfy Rollo’s need for power.

“Well, at least we ken who the enemy is now, eh? Shall I call a meeting, tell the council?” Liam asked.

“Aye, ye and I will see tae it after we leave the infirmary,” he said, thinking fast. “I want troops sent out to reinforce every settlement we have along that border, and I want regular patrols, with orders tae repel if threatened.”

“Aye, me laird,” Liam said with a nod, all business now. They had reached the cottage and were soon standing at the front door. The window was open, so they all knew the healer was inside and free to see to Tadgh’s wound.

“Now, are ye ready?” Odhrán asked Tadgh, giving his friend time to steel himself for what was bound to be an awkward meeting.

Tadgh took a deep breath then groaned in pain. “Aye, I’m ready. If this arrow doesnae kill me then Alana probably willnae, eh?”

“That’s the spirit,” Odhrán said, knocking on the door. Alana opened it, and as soon as she laid eyes on Tadgh, she went white, and her hands flew to her lips, stifling a cry of distress.

“What have ye done tae yersel’, ye damned fool?” she said when she had composed herself somewhat. She frowned as she moved rapidly forward to inspect his shoulder. “Is the arrow still in there?” she asked in what Odhrán thought was a deliberately cold and businesslike manner. He felt sorry to see two people he cared about being on such terrible terms. It was obvious they were both suffering, just as he was with Maddison. He wished things could be different for them all.

Tadgh’s voice brought him back to himself. “Aye, it came from behind and went straight through. I cut off the barb and most of the shaft. Most of what’s left is inside.”

“Hmm,” Alana said. Pursing her lips, she looked at his face critically for a few moments, lifting his eyelids and staring into his eyes.

“Put him on the bed,” she said finally. “Then wash yer hands. I’ll need yer help in getting the arrow shaft out.”

“Of course, anythin’ we can dae,” Odhrán assured her, used to helping out with similar tasks after battles. He and Liam went to help Tadgh on to the bed, but he shrugged them off with his good shoulder.

“I’m nae an invalid,” he said irritably. “I still have the use of me legs.” As if to prove it, he swung himself onto the bed and made himself comfortable against the pillow.

“Ye can wash up over there,” Alana told Liam and Odhrán, pointing to a washstand across the room. While they did that, she went and fetched the equipment she needed as well as some herbs and salves for treating Tadgh’s wound. Next, she fetched a large flask of whisky from the counter. Some she poured into a beaker in which she doused her medical instruments, the rest she handed to Tadgh. He was now sitting propped up against the pillows on the bed.

“Drink that,” she told him as he took the flask from her, immediately resuming her task of cutting away the dirty bandages and placing them in a bowl.

“All of it?” he asked.

“Yes, it would be best if ye drank all of it because when I pull that arrow out, ’tis gonnae hurt like the devil.”

“It hurts like the devil now, so what have I got tae lose?” Tadgh joked, his face the color of parchment. He drank deeply of the whisky while Odhrán and Liam exchanged a look of concern. Then, they spent the next half an hour helping Tadgh drink down the liquor until he had almost passed out.

“Right, hold him tight will ye, please?” Alana asked, poised with her pliers by the bloody, swollen arrow hole.

“Ready?” Liam asked as Odhrán took a deep breath and steeled himself for the ordeal ahead.

“Ready.”

A while later, after the bloody work of helping to remove the fragment of arrow was completed, Odhrán fancied he could still hear Tadgh’s roars of pain echoing in his ears. He split from Liam once they returned to the castle, and Odhrán barely had time to return to his chambers and wash and change before they met again, to head an emergency council meeting to discuss the crisis.

“’Tis hard tae believe that yer own cousin would act against ye this, me laird. I dinnae like tae believe it. I need tae see proof before I can recommend any military action,” Renly said.

“Tadgh didnae have time tae get the proof. He was shot with an arrow and wounded, likely by one of Rollo’s men. But he swears his sources are true. I need the council tae back me in retaliating against Rollo before things get out of hand,” Odhrán told them, praying they would vote in his favor. But a show of hands soon told him he would not get his way, not immediately at least.

“Whatever Rollo may be, me laird, he is of yer line, and therefore, we dinnae feel it would be right to act against him with nae proof to back it up,” Angus spoke for the council.

“But if I can get proof, ye’ll back me?” Odhrán asked, understanding their reluctance yet frustrated by it all the same.

“We will, me laird,” Angus said with a gracious nod.

“Then I’ll get it. Meeting ended,” Odhrán told them all, tightlipped as he rose from his seat and made for the door, to be quickly followed by Liam.

Shortly afterwards, they convened in Odhrán’s study to discuss the matter further over a strengthening dram.