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Sleep did not come easily for Ruairi. Being laird was about as difficult as he expected it to be, and there were moments when he wondered if he was really made for it after all. Ever since he had been made laird, other clans had come to him with requests, seeking to renegotiate existing agreements, always with terms that benefitted them. He was not deaf to the rumors that swirled of discontent in the Highlands. Not everyone had rejoiced when he came home, and there were whispers of people calling him the “Beggar Laird,” suggesting that he did not command the respect of the clans and that he had not done anything to earn it. Moira told him that matters would improve given time, and Maura insisted that he could always rely on the might of the McGrory clan as well, but a deep feeling of unease lodged itself in the pit of Ruairi’s stomach. The last thing he wanted was to plunge the Highlands into war. He had sent emissaries out to neighboring clans, seeking to remind them of the fruitful relationships they had enjoyed while living in peace with the Calbraiths, and he hoped that they had taken the message to heart.

Ruairi was disturbed from his musings by a servant, who said that he had a guest. He furrowed his brow, wondering what type of person would be visiting him in the small hours of the night. When the servant told him it was Kenna Baird, Ruairi leaped to his feet and rushed out to meet her immediately.

It felt like a lifetime had passed since they had last seen each other, and she was just as lovely. His feelings for her had not faded over time; in fact, if anything, they had increased. His heart thumped like a drum.

“Kenna,” he said.

She turned. He expected to see a look of delight on her face, but instead, her features were knotted in anxiety. She rushed up to him, and her eyes swam with emotion.

“I’m sorry tae come tae ye at such a late hour,” she said, “but I hae news...bad news. My da is planning an attack with some other clans.”

Ruairi frowned and pulled out two chairs, asking her to tell him all about it. She described how she had overheard the meeting with the messenger Ruairi had sent, and what her father had said after that. Then she detailed what Cal had told her. The enemy clans were going to gather a force and try to scythe away Calbraith territory. They were massing in a field, seeking to launch a surprise attack. Ruairi knew the territory well, and he saw an immediate advantage; he could flank them and attack them from both sides.

“Thank ye for bringing this tae my attention,” Ruairi said.

“Of course. I couldnae stand by and let them dae this tae ye. They are acting as if ye dinnae deserve tae be laird, but ye dae, Ruairi. I…I was pleased tae hear that ye decided tae stay, and I’m sae sorry about yer da. I wanted tae be there at the funeral, but I wasnae allowed tae leave the estate. I think my da believes I will only get in trouble.”

“Trouble? Ye?” Ruairi asked with a playful smile. Although news of the attack was terrible, he found that he couldn’t be in a bad mood with Kenna around. Just her mere presence was enough to lift his spirits, and he was more certain than ever that he loved her. “Thank ye for what ye said. It was a difficult time, but I’m glad that I got tae say goodbye tae him before he died. I may nae hae made it back in time without ye.”

“And here I was thinking that I haed delayed ye,” Kenna said, sharing a secret smile with him. “What made ye stay? I thought ye were determined tae travel back out tae sea?”

“Someone told me that I could hae a place here, that I didnae hae tae punish myself for what I did in the past, and that I didnae hae tae let it define me. It was Da’s dying wish that I take my position as laird, and I suppose I thought if sae many people think that I should be laird, then who am I tae disagree? But what about ye? Are ye glad tae be home? Haes yer da found ye a husband yet?”

Kenna blushed when he asked this question, but it was followed by a scowl. “Nae yet, although I know he’s gaeing tae use it tae punish me. He disapproves of everything I dae. I cannae bear it, Ruairi. I miss the nights when we rode through France without haeing tae worry about any of this.”

“Aye, I miss it tae,” Ruairi said. Kenna reached out and caressed his cheek. He caught her hand and kissed her palm, finding it difficult to resist the urge to take her to his chamber and explore her body again. Intense feelings stirred within him, as though a fire raged within that could not be put out. But she was still an unmarried maiden with her virtue intact, and he was the laird of a reputable clan. This was not the woods in France. They had responsibilities and duties, and there were rules to follow—rules that sometimes felt like shackles. Ruairi excused himself, saying that he had plans to make for the following day, as he arranged for Kenna to stay in guest chambers. He could have stayed up with her talking all night, but he could sense that if they spent more time together, something dangerous would happen, and he wouldn’t let that happen to her. Her reputation was important to him, and he wasn’t going to be selfish and take her virtue.

The following day, Ruairi gathered his men and sent out a call for the McGrory men as well, for they were the only clan he could trust and the only ones close enough to arrive within a few hours. He detailed news of the impending attack, and his men were astounded at the audacity to attack the Calbraiths like this. Ruairi spoke of how he was going to split his forces in two and told them the signal of when to attack. They road as one through the Highlands, before half his forces were diverted.

The air was filled with the thunder of hooves. Ruairi rode a new horse, fearing that Ash was too old for battle. He had paid his dues and deserved to rest. He carried his long sword with him and burst through the trees, running towards a field where the other clans had gathered their might. Since Ruairi only had half his men, they dwarfed his number, and he hoped that this would make them arrogant.

He rode up to them and saw the cocky, smug look on their leader, Laird Baird, who was flanked by Laird McAteer.

“Well, if it isnae the Beggar Laird,” Laird McAteer sneered.

“Aye, I haed a feeling it was ye who came up with that name,” Ruairi replied.

“It’s rather apt, dinnae ye think? Ruairi, why are ye here? What dae ye hope tae accomplish? I dinnae know what spell ye hae put over my daughter, but at the moment, ye are holding her hostage, and I will get her back,” Laird Baird said.

“Dinnae pretend that ye hae a righteous cause here. I am defending my land. She told me what ye are planning. Hae ye no honor?”

“What dae ye know of honor?” Laird Baird spat. “Ye are but a boy who ran away from home and sailed a ship between Scotland and Spain. Ye hae no idea what it is tae live a noble life. The land needs tae be in better hands, and we are the men who can usher in a new era.”

“Oh, but I’m nae ready tae give up on my land yet. And neither are my men,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at his army.

“I expected ye tae hae more. I shouldnae be surprised that they hae deserted ye. Even a soldier can be wise,” Laird McAteer said. Ruairi remained silent.

“Surrender now, Ruairi, and we can avoid this terrible bloodshed. We will take good care of yer holdings and yer territory. Ye can gae back tae sea or whatever,” Laird Baird said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I know ye hae already suffered the effects of one storm, and I would hate for ye tae endure it again.”

Ruairi’s eyes flashed, and a wicked smile appeared on his face. “Oh, Laird Baird. There’s something ye dinnae realize. I am the storm.”

Suddenly the smile vanished from his face. He lifted his sword high above his head and roared for the attack to begin. The smug look fell from Laird Baird’s face as he realized that there would be no easy victory for him on this day. Ruairi slashed his sword at him, but Laird Baird turned to flee. Laird McAteer met his sword and the two clashed while the armies poured together. Ruairi grinned as he noticed how the enemy forces threw themselves forward, seeking to overwhelm the weaker force with their sheer numbers. But then the other half of Ruairi’s army emerged behind them and started striking them down from the rear, causing confusion and disarray.

With a few strikes, Ruairi had dismounted Laird McAteer and had his sights set on Laird Baird, who was trying to find an avenue of escape. Ruairi urged on his horse and slashed his sword, deflecting blows and cutting down the other men as he followed Laird Baird’s trail. The ground was stained crimson and covered with broken bodies. The air was alive with the sound of steel clashing, and the groaning cries of dying men. Ruairi’s instincts led him to Laird Baird.

“There’s no escape!” he cried, pointing his sword directly at the father of the woman he loved, the man who had orchestrated this betrayal. Ruairi roared as he leaped from his horse and sprinted to Laird Baird, swinging his sword with all his might and momentum. Laird Baird held up his sword, and it almost shattered, such was the force behind Ruairi’s blows. Laird Baird was sent reeling and crashed to the ground. He sputtered and begged Ruairi for mercy.

“Mercy?” Ruairi said. “After ye humiliated me and told me that I was no good for yer daughter? After ye form an army behind my back and try tae steal land? Aye, truly ye are deserving of mercy.” He was about to strike when enemy soldiers came rushing towards him. Ruairi turned to fight them off, twisting his body to fend off the assault. All his training and warrior instincts kicked in. His blade was a part of him, and it danced through the air elegantly. Blood sprayed, and the men fell around him in a puddle of death. Ruairi turned to see Laird Baird crawling away. He pulled up clods of grass and flung them at Ruairi. Ruairi strode up to him and grabbed him by the collar of his neck.

“Are ye ready for this tae end now?” Ruairi hissed. Laird Baird nodded.

“Anything, please, I’ll dae anything. Just stop it.”

Ruairi called out for the fighting to cease. His bellowing roar took time to careen through the battle, but one by one, people realized that it was over. All eyes turned to Ruairi as he had Laird Baird on his knees, his sword resting against the laird’s neck. Laird Baird might have been a ruthless man in business, but when it came to war, he was nothing but a whelp, and he could not weather the storm.

“Ye all must accept that I am Laird Calbraith. If any of ye hae a problem, then ye can come tae me and we can duel. Dinnae be cowards and plot behind my back. That’s the way bandits operate. I will show mercy tae ye this once, and this once only, but ye will swear yer loyalty tae me now!” His words were thunder and bore the strength of a command, not a request. He looked around. One by one, the enemy lairds bent their knees and offered him their swords. His gaze drifted across all of them, before it settled back down on Laird Baird, who trembled with terror.

“Ye hae my loyalty, Laird Calbraith.” His voice shook as he spoke. “There’s no need tae kill me. Ye hae made yer point.”

“Oh, aye, but there’s something else I want from ye other than loyalty,” Ruairi said. “I want yer daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Laird Baird’s eyes flashed with anger, but Ruairi pressed the edge of the sword against his flesh. That was all it took for Laird Baird to relent. As soon as he did so, Ruairi took the sword away, and for the first time, he truly felt like a laird.