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In the background, Angus groaned.

“I cannae believe ye are truly gaeing tae give yer heart tae that monster,” he said bitterly.

Hilda drew back from Maxwell with a warm, delighted smile on her face. Her hands were sticky with his blood, but someone had come along with a medicinal kit and was now given the opportunity to tend to the wound. Hilda’s heart beat with excitement. She hated seeing Maxwell in pain and hated seeing how Aileen would twist the truth. Maxwell was the kind of man that came along once in a lifetime, and she knew that her mother would have urged her to make sure she was honest about her feelings. It had almost been too late. If Aileen had stabbed Maxwell anywhere else, he might well have died, and Hilda would have had to go through life knowing she had wasted an opportunity for love.

Instead, she had been honest with her feelings, and the rewards were plentiful.

She turned to Angus. “He’s more of a man that ye will ever be. Angus, I never would hae given my heart tae ye. Ye hae never been noble. Maxwell is. He’s a hero.”

Maxwell beamed with pride while Angus grimaced again.

Once his wound had been treated, Maxwell rose to his feet and looked around at the village. It did not look as good as it once did. The walls were scorched and mostly rotten now. The ground was covered in a mixture of blood and ash, and many of the buildings were mottled with fire. It would have taken a great effort for them to rebuild the village, even though they had stopped the fire earlier than they had planned.

“I suppose I hae lived without a home for a few years now. I’m used tae it,” Maxwell said.

Hilda wasn’t going to have that, though. “We could always use more people in our village. Why dinnae ye at least come back with us for a wee while? If any of yer villagers wish tae stay, then they can, and if any of ye want tae leave in time, then they can spend time searching for a safe place.”

Maxwell nodded, and Hilda was overjoyed that he accepted the offer. Before, she had been uncertain of what her future held, but she knew what she wanted now: his hand in marriage. However, it was complicated by the fact that she was the daughter of a laird while he was a Highland rebel with no land and no home to speak of. There were still rules to life, and she would have to speak to her father about it, a prospect that she was not looking forward to. Even after her conversation with Stephen, where he reassured her that Varrik was not angry with her, Hilda still harbored her doubts.

Before they left the burned village, there was another matter to take care of as well. Hilda, Stephen, and Maxwell had spent a lot of time discussing what they were going to do with the prisoners, and eventually, they decided on a punishment they thought was fitting.

“Unlike ye, we are nae gaeing tae put ye in a cage. We dinnae want tae be reminded of yer sins. We are gaeing tae exile ye. Ye are gaeing tae walk as far tae the edge of the world as ye can and never return. We will all remember yer faces and yer names. We will tell our children, and our children’s children, sae if ye ever return, ye will be killed on sight. Dae ye understand?”

Hilda’s words were met with soft mumblings, so she raised her voice and asked the question again. This time, she was met with a sterner reply. The prisoners still had their hands bound, and despite their protestations, they were not going to be given a reprieve. If anyone saw them, they would know that these people were villains. They would have to rely on their ingenuity and their wits now. It might have seemed generous to let them walk away, but Hilda and Maxwell knew the world could be cruel, and these people would not find it easy to survive in a world without allies. Moreover, the Callan clan would always be vigilant lest they return, and they would spread word about these people’s crimes, so hospitality would be hard to find. Hilda watched as Aileen, Angus, and the others skulked away toward the horizon. She was glad to close this sorry chapter to their lives.

Now all that was needed was to return home.

The Highlands were alive with the thunder of galloping hooves as the joint forces of the Callan clan and Maxwell’s villagers surged across the land, traveling as quickly as they could to return to Hilda’s home. Hilda and Maxwell made the most of their time together when they rested, unable to be apart for more than a few feet because it was painful to them. Hilda’s eyes shone and sparkled with anticipation for the future, but she could not deny the trepidation that existed within her heart regarding the conversation she needed to have with Varrik.

When they arrived in the village, they were met with much glee from those who had been left behind. People reunited with loved ones and began to tell the story of what had happened. There were circumspect glances being given toward Maxwell and this new influx of visitors.

“I see you were successful in your task,” Varrik said as he greeted them.

“Aye. I’ll tell ye the story later, Da,” Stephen said.

“There is something we need tae speak with ye about. Maxwell’s home was destroyed, and these villagers would like a new beginning. They were helpful tae us, and we couldnae hae gotten through this without their hospitality. I hoped it would be possible for them tae stay until they decide what tae dae with themselves and that perhaps some of them could make a home here,” Hilda said. Her voice trembled as she realized this was a lot to ask of her father, especially when she hadn’t exchanged words with him for what seemed like an eternity. However, it wasn’t her father who spoke next; rather, it was Maxwell.

“There is something I need tae say before that. Hilda, I regret that I cannae stay,” he said.

The words were like a lance through her heart. She stared at him with an open mouth, unsure of what to say. After all they had shared with each other, and after all the time they had spent with each other, she didn’t understand how he could turn around and break her heart so callously. Was he truly a monster after all?

“I cannae stay and see ye day after day unless ye are my wife,” he added, and a wave of relief passed through her. “I know I am a common man with no nobility tae my name. I know that ye may nae want yer daughter tae marry a giant like me. But if there’s a chance tae be her husband, then I want tae take it. If I cannae, then it will be tae painful for me tae stay. My future is in yer hands, Laird Callan.” As Maxwell said this, he bowed his head, although he was still taller than Varrik. Still, it impressed Hilda that Maxwell could put his own desires aside for the sake of respect.

Hilda looked at her father with hope as Varrik considered the matter.

“And do you love him, Daughter?” Varrik asked.

Hilda nodded and smiled. “Aye, Da. I love him more than I ever thought possible. Ma tried tae tell me the importance of love and the magic of being in love, but I never understood what she was saying until I met Maxwell. I only wish that she was here tae meet him.” As she added the last part, her head dropped, and she sniffed back her sorrow.

“I know how difficult it is to argue with you when you have your mind set on something. I also know that your mother would want you to be happy. If this man is your happiness, then I’m happy to welcome him into the clan,” Varrik said. Hilda squealed with excitement, and Maxwell beamed. “But before anything else happens, I believe we are due for a conversation.”

“I’ll see tae settling my men,” Maxwell said, bowing his head as he left.

Hilda’s stomach swam with nerves as she and Varrik walked away to have a private conversation. For so many nights now, she had been thinking about what to say to him, but now that she had the opportunity, none of the words seemed right. So she began with ones that were honest.

“I’m sorry, Da. I’m sorry for running off that day. If I haed nae done sae, then Ma would never hae chased after me, and she would still be alive,” she began.