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There was much on Brenda’s mind as they reached her village. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the thin plumes of smoke rather than the island ablaze with violence. There were no cries of pain, no thunderous roars from raging Vikings who were destroying everything around them. She and Douglas pulled the boat up the shore and then sprinted toward the village, for every moment was another moment that brought the Vikings closer.

She had had some time to reflect upon what he told her. Anger and resentment continued to burn in her heart, but it was impossible not to feel sympathy for the man. When he had told her of all he had endured, her heart had broken for him. To be so far from home and to endure so much sorrow…it was almost more than she could bear. She couldn’t imagine what it would have been like for him to suffer so much pain without the hope of anyone coming to his rescue, knowing that the man he had pledged his life to had forsaken him. She had seen the bruises and knew that worse must have cursed his body over the last two years. The way he saw himself… He wasn’t a monster at all. He was a man, and men were allowed to make mistakes.

But for now, they had a clan to defend. Brenda raised the alarm, calling out as she approached the village for everyone to return. People looked at her, puzzled, but they heeded her call and streamed back. Brenda’s face was a picture of panic as she ran to the village, with Douglas jogging behind her. Lena rushed up to her.

“Brenda, what are ye daeing here? What’s gaeing on?” she asked.

“There’s no time to tell you now. Where are Emmel and Father?” she asked.

“I’ll fetch Da.”

“Is Connell still here?”

Lena shook her head. “He’s returned home. He took Ma with him.”

Brenda cursed under her breath. It would have been useful to have another warrior, but she supposed at least if they all died, their family name would live on in him, and at least her mother was safe. In the meantime, she rushed toward the middle of the village with Douglas by her side. Emmel was there, blustering as everyone ran around in a panic.

“What is the meaning of this? Why hae ye returned and caused such a stir?” Emmel asked, glaring at Brenda as though she was just some troublesome child causing trouble for no other reason than her own amusement. Brenda’s tongue was sharp, for this was no time for Emmel’s patronizing tone.

“I’m here because the village is about to be attacked by Vikings. You need to get people away from here,” she said, beginning to call out for those who could not defend themselves to flock to the ships and sail to the Highlands, where they could be protected by the more powerful clans there.

Emmel looked at her and sighed. He shouted for everyone to calm down and made a hushing motion with his hands. “I’m sure this is nothing tae worry about. Ye dinnae need tae gae around getting everyone worked up intae hysteria, Brenda. I know ye want more responsibility around here, but this is nae way tae get attention,” he said.

“I’m nae trying tae get attention. This is really happening. They could be here any moment,” she said through gritted teeth.

Emmel was about to dismiss her opinion again before Douglas spoke. “She’s right,” he said.

Emmel stood, open-mouthed, and frowned. Lena rejoined them with Erik in tow.

“Ye haed better tell me what’s happening,” Emmel said, his gaze darting around with fear, as though he was afraid that Vikings were going to pop up from the ground suddenly.

Brenda was about to tell him a version of the truth that would protect Douglas for now, as she didn’t see the sense in saying anything that would distract them from the danger that presented itself. However, Douglas had already begun speaking.

“It’s my fault. I…haed a deal with the Vikings. They would offer my release if they haed an opportunity tae attack the Highlands,” he said.

There was more to the story, of course, but Douglas didn’t get a chance to tell it. Emmel himself didn’t have a chance to react before Erik strode forward and struck the prodigal Highlander across the face with a strong blow. Douglas groaned and stumbled back, doubling over as the pain seized him. Brenda gasped and felt pity for him. Erik shook his fist and grimaced in pain. He was an older man, but he still had a lot of strength.

“That’s for taking my daughter with you and putting her in danger,” he said. “Now then, how are we going to deal with this problem?”

“First of all, I want tae know why he’s betrayed his own kind,” Emmel said, indignant and furious that any Highlander should be in this position.

“They tortured me—” Douglas began, but Erik shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter why he did what he’s done. All that matters is that he’s here now warning us. We can sort this out later. The Vikings aren’t going to stop their assault just because we’re dealing with an internal matter,” Erik said, speaking with the authority of a leader. Brenda’s eyes shone with pride and hope as she saw the man she recognized of old, the warrior who she had wanted to emulate.

Emmel wasn’t yet convinced, though. “Unless ye hae forgotten, Erik, I am the leader of this village, and I will decide how we proceed. Now, I think it’s important for us tae determine if this is actually happening. For all we know, this is another trick tae get us panicking. I’m nae gaeing tae send our people away unless I know that there is a real threat.”

“By the time ye know for sure, it’s gaeing tae be tae late!” Douglas said.

“He’s right. The Vikings are coming. We need to get these people moving now. We don’t stand a chance against them,” Brenda said.

“And when did ye become such a grand authority on the Highlands?” Emmel scoffed.

Brenda trembled with anger. She walked up until there were only inches between her and her brother.

“Don’t speak to me like that ever again. You may be the leader of this village, and you may be my brother, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like this. I’m not going to stand here just to wait to be married off, especially not when the village is in danger. Do you hear me? The Vikings are coming. You can bury your head in the sand if you want to, but I’m not going to put these people in danger just because you’re not convinced,” she said, and then rushed about the village, making a big clamor for people to go to the boats and sail toward the Highlands.