Page 41 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It must be the Gordon Clan.

There was no doubt in Knox’s mind that this attack was Laird Gordon’s doing. No one else had reason to attack the castle. But if it was as he suspected, that could only mean that Callum had completely failed in his mission to gather information.

How could it be that he hadn’t sent a single letter all this time? How could it be that the Gordon Clan could be moving right under his nose and he didn’t even know?

Rage gripped Knox, the likes of which he had never felt before. This was one of his most important battles as the Laird of Clan Stuart and everything would hinge on this. The Gordons could decimate them with a well-placed attack. Their forces were equally matched in numbers and training, and Knox had relied on the information he received from his spies and his scouts to get ahead of Laird Gordon.

He was clearly not ahead anymore, but he had no one to blame but himself. He should have been firmer with Callum. He should have never allowed him to be the one to lead such an important mission, for he had always thought that his work was always lacking. Falling for his insistence and his stubbornness had been a grave mistake and he had known better than to trust him.

However, regrets wouldn’t help him now. He needed a plan, and to meet with Magnus. But first, he had to ensure Fia’s safety. If anything happened to her because, he would never forgive himself.

“I need ye tae hide,” he told her, turning around to look at her and grab her by the shoulders. “Me chambers are the safest place in this castle. I’ll have Bane take ye there.”

“Nay,” said Fia, shaking her head. “Nay, I can help. I am yer healer, I cannae hide while the soldiers need me.”

And need her they would, Knox knew. There were bound to be plenty injured and many more dead—not only soldiers, but possibly also women and children and elderly people who would be caught in the fight while attempting to hide or flee. Knox hated the thought of Fia putting herself in danger, but she was right; she was the healer of the clan. Those people needed her. This was why he had brought her to the castle in the first place, to help Effie in case of an attack such as this.

“Alright,” he said, mostly trying to convince himself that this was the right thing to do. Pulling her close once more, Knox kissed her fiercely, trying to pour everything he felt for her into it—the growing feelings, the longing, the desire to keep her safe. She would understand, he knew; they didn’t need to exchange any words. “Be safe.”

“Ye as well,” said Fia and then the two of them parted, she running to the great hall where they would receive the injured and he running to the courtyard for a first assessment of the damage.

The bell still rang in Castle Stuart, the sound almost completely drowned out by the shouts of men, some of whom were in his forces while others were Gordon’s soldiers, trying to breach the walls. Knox’s lungs filled with cold air as he rushed to the gates, his breath coming out in short puffs that fogged just past his lips, his boots thundering against the frozen ground. By the time he made it to the courtyard, the first line of soldiers was already there, forming their defenses, and Magnus was rushing back and forth in the crowd, shouting orders.

“Magnus!” Knox called, catching the man’s attention. He looked around frantically until he spotted Knox and then relief washed over him as he rushed to him, shoving a sword in his hands.

“Where have ye been?” he asked. “They’re about tae come inside.”

“We cannae hold them?” Knox asked.

Magnus only shook his head. So, this is how it would be, Knox thought. The Gordon forces would pour inside the castle grounds and then there would be no hope of ending this as bloodlessly as possible.

Men would die on both sides. But Knox knew that even if they couldn’t hold them, they could still defeat them. Even if he had to fight them all off on his own, with nothing but his sword and a prayer to God, he wouldn’t let them hurt his people.

The courtyard was suddenly bathed in light as his men lit up torches and small fires to illuminate the night. Suddenly, Knox could see the Gordon forces that had scaled the walls and were throwing themselves at his men who guarded the curtain walls, wave after wave of them pouring inside as though they were expendable.

And perhaps for Laird Gordon, they were. Perhaps the lives of those soldiers meant nothing to him and he was willing to sacrifice them all if it meant that he could get inside the castle walls—perhaps he would even succeed, as such ruthless plans often did. But Knox wasn’t willing to sacrifice his men like this. Their lives had value. They were not objects to be discarded.

Behind Magnus, the first wave of Gordon soldiers began to attack, jumping into the courtyard and knocking down the gate and its defenses. Drawing in a deep breath, Knox gripped his sword tightly, planting his feet as he waited for the enemy, his ribs rattling with how hard and fast his heart was beating.

His thoughts kept returning to Fia, who was in the great hall. For now, she was protected and Knox would do anything in his power to keep her safe, but who knew what could happen in the event of a complete takeover by the Gordon Clan.

However, Laird Gordon had no reason to harm her. She was a healer and could be useful to him. Knox had to trust that she would be safe, no matter what.

He wasn’t the only one there worrying about someone he loved. All his men had someone to protect, whether a parent, a wife, children or a sibling.

The courtyard was thrown into chaos as the Gordon forces attacked, clashing with Knox’s men. Without hesitation, he threw himself into the fight, falling into the first man he found in his path. Around him, Magnus and the rest of his men did the same, battle cries ringing out throughout the entire castle.

Knox swung his sword as he met his opponent, their blades clashing with a clang that echoed around them but was lost in the chaos of the battle. The other man was lithe yet fast, moving with precision, but he was still part of the first wave of soldiers, and it didn’t take Knox long to strike him dead. As the other feinted to the left, Knox saw right through his strategy and took advantage of the opening, his sword piercing him right below the ribs and slicing a clean line through his stomach.

He didn’t wait to see him hit the ground. Death and battle were nothing new for him, and before his opponent had taken his last breath, Knox had moved on to his next target, attacking with the same relentlessness.

How many lives would be lost, he thought with bitterness But what other choice did he have if he wanted to keep his people safe? Diplomacy hadn’t worked, and now he would make sure Laird Gordon would pay the price.

Working his way through the wave of soldiers, Knox, along with his men, managed to decimate Laird Gordon’s forces. He was bathed in blood, his skin and clothes stained red, his blade dripping crimson as it glinted under the moonlight. His chest heaved with every breath he took; already, he was tired and he knew this wasn’t the end, for Laird Gordon was trying his best to overwhelm them with numbers and a part of Knox feared that perhaps it was working.

For a moment, he looked around him and took in the carnage. Bodies from both sides littered the ground, and it was hard to tell which side had suffered the most casualties. Those of his men who still remained standing rushed around, trying to fortify the walls and their defenses, and to prepare for the next attack.