A brilliant smile spread over her face. “I knew I could count on you. I knew you were the best man for the job.”
He started down the path. “Come on. We better get down there.”
She held him back. “Wait a minute, Fergus.” She drew near him, and her curving lips hovered before his eyes. “I’ve always longed for a consort who would take Loch Nagar as his own. If you win this battle, you stand to inherit the territory and the crown. Are you ready for that?”
He folded her in his arms. He brushed his lips across her cheek to murmur in his ear. “I’ll win’t. I’ll stand any danger tae win ye, me dear.”
He inhaled the fresh scent of her hair, and his lips dragged over the creamy silk of her neck. She shivered all over, but before the moment could linger any further, he broke away. He grabbed her hand and ran down the path.
They rushed over the drawbridge into the courtyard overflowing with people. Althea tried to induce Fergus to come inside. “You haven’t eaten all morning. You can’t do this on an empty stomach.”
He shook his head. “I’ll see tae yer troops first. We cinnae leave the country unprotected.”
“My magic will hold the invaders off while you eat,” she told him. “You need all your faculties working at their best.”
He pulled away. “I’ll come later. I ha’e gone days withoot food in battle afore, and it’ll get me nerves firin’ now. I’ll see ye upstairs later when I ha’e finished what I mean tae do.”
He didn’t wait around to argue with her anymore. He tightened his belt and went down to the armory, where he found a sergeant handing out weapons to the soldiers. “Who’s in charge ’ere?”
The sergeant didn’t stop. He yanked halberds off the rack and stuck them into soldiers’ hands as fast as he could go. He barely looked at Fergus. “No one’s in charge. We han’t any officers since the last incursion. We han’t e’en conducted our usual trainin’ in the peacetime the way we’re supposed tae. We cinnae face the demons. They’ll cut us tae ribbons.”
Fergus observed the scene in calm certainty. “Ne’er ye mind that. Once’t ye finish handing’ out all the weapons, form up the men in the courtyard. I’m takin’ command, and I’ll run ye through yer orders. Understand?”
The man stopped what he was doing to stare at the young Highlander. The man opened his mouth and closed it. “Yes, Sir.”
Fergus clapped him on the shoulder. “Good mon. See to’t.”
He strode out of the armory and headed for the stable. Soldiers stamped here, there and everywhere in the courtyard. Fergus strolled down the line of stalls and inspected the horses one after another until he found the one he wanted.
He slipped into the stall and ran his hand down a chestnut brown mare’s back. The animal shuddered at the touch, but it didn’t shy away. She turned her bright brown eyes on him and flared her nostrils.
Fergus fitted a bridle over the animal’s head and led her into the open stable. He found a saddle and mounted up. The mare quivered under him, but Fergus kept his seat. He reined the horse into the courtyard in time to hear the sergeant ordering the men to form up.
Fergus spurred his horse and rode down the line. The men stood taller at his approach. They shouldered their halberds and hefted their battle axes. The sergeant thundered over their heads. “Present arms!”
All the soldiers stood to attention, and Fergus faced them. “Ye men o’ Loch Nagar, ye ken there’s yer auld enemies movin’ in on ye from the West Country. Let any mon who doesnae wish tae gi’e his life tae defend his homeland pack up his manhood and head fer the Lowlands this very minute, fer the rest o’ us’ll stand tae the last mon tae drive these heathens from our borders. Who’s wi’ me?”
The solders broke into thunderous cheers. Fergus held up his hand for silence, and they hung breathless on his every word. “Now listen tae me, ye men o’ Loch Nagar. We ha’e a deep territory tae defend, but we ha’e a few key advantages o’er our enemy. They’ll expect the Lady Althea’s magic tae stop ’em at the border. They’ll no expect us tae let ’em enter our territory at all, but that’s exactly what we mean tae do. We’ll trap ’em inside our border, wi’ Althea’s magic behind ’em and our steel in front o’ ’em.”
At his last words, he drew his saber from its scabbard. The metal scraping against metal rang across the courtyard, and the listening soldiers once more made the castle ring with their cheers.
Fergus silenced them once again. “Now listen tae me, ye men. We’ll divide intae six factions. Four’ll take their positions at the points o’ the compass, north, south, east, and west, so’s no tae leave any flank o’ the castle unprotected. The fifth faction’ll float tae confront the enemy where’er they concentrate their most powerful attack. The sixth faction’ll go intae the mountains. Once’t we ken where the enemy enters our territory, ye’ll move around behind ’em to cut ’em off from behind. Once the enemy engages wi’ the factions around the castle, the sixth faction’ll attack from behind and wipe ’em out so’s there’s naught left behind tae run fer their homes.”
Another cheer answered him. The soldiers would have disbanded and run off in a million directions if Fergus hadn’t silenced them for the last time.
“We ha’e a few tricks up our sleeve tae surprise the enemy, but we mun’ keep ’em guessin’ until the last moment. I’ll assign ye commanders o’er all yer factions. Stand in formation until I gi’e ye yer faction. Dinnae disburse until ye receive yer orders from yer commanders. That’s me order.”
This time, a general shuffling of feet and exchanging of glances followed, but the men didn’t leave or cheer. They waited in their ranks while Fergus walked his horse up and down in front of them.
He surveyed the men with his otherworldly vision. He scrutinized their outer appearance in the most fleeting way while his deeper sight penetrated below the surface to each man’s heart and soul.
He selected six men whose hearts burnished under their rough exteriors. They stood out from their fellows by a mile. He pointed them out and ordered them to stand out in front of the other soldiers.
Once he selected them, he counted off the remainder into their six groups. He assigned the first four to the four castle walls under their commanders. He directed them to practice lunging attacks, defensive moves, and the simplest combat techniques he could think of.
To his relief, the commanders he selected all remembered their training from previous incursions into the Loch Nagar territory. They picked up their practice where they left off and taught their men what they knew.
Fergus turned his attention to the other two factions. The floating faction he instructed to practice alongside the other four factions, one after another. They had to familiarize themselves with the peculiar features of all four sides of the castle so they could fight wherever they were needed. He accompanied all five factions to the battlements to show them their positions.
Fergus returned to the courtyard to find the sixth faction waiting for him. Fergus eyed them from a distance. The commander he selected returned his gaze without flinching. Whatever force led Fergus to select this man didn’t make any mistake.
Fergus dismounted and approached the man. “What’s yer name?”
“Gordon Lauder.” No ‘Sir’, no ‘Yer Lordship’—nothing to acknowledge Fergus as superior in rank. Lauder knew better.
“I’m Fergus Cameron. Do ye ken the country around this ’ere castle?”
“Aye,” Lauder replied. “I was weaned on’t.”
“Then ye ken a place tae hide yer troops until the enemy passes by,” Fergus replied. “Ye ken a hiding place where ye can ambush the enemy from behind after they engage yer brothers at the castle walls. Do ye ken such a place?”
“Aye,” Lauder replied. “I ken’t.”
“And do ye ken yer training tae practice wi’ yer brothers afore the assault, tae brush up yer skills tae be ready fer the attack?”
“Aye,” Lauder repeated. “I’m yer mon.”
Fergus took a clos
er look at him. Lauder couldn’t be much younger than Fergus himself, but his eyes flashed and he stood straight and true. He knew everything he claimed to know. Fergus never doubted that.
“Good mon,” Fergus told him. “Ye can practice ’em up ’ere in the courtyard. Take ’em out at midday and hide ‘em as ye see fit. Watch fer the enemy tae pass by, but dinnae engage wi’ ’em until ye hear the clash o’ arms at the castle walls. Make sure they close wi’ the castle afore ye break out. Understand?”
Lauder nodded. “Aye. I’ll do it.”
He turned away, and Fergus stood well back to watch them practice. Lauder’s voice rang over his men. He formed them into groups and gave them drills to practice and run through with each of their weapons. He moved from group to group and corrected their form.
While Fergus stood watching, Althea emerged from a side door. She came to his side and observed the activity. “You really should come inside and get something to eat. It’s almost noon, and you haven’t eaten since last night.”
“No yet,” he murmured. “I want tae see this. It’s important.”
“They can manage on their own. Leave them and come eat with me. You can’t command this defense hungry like this.”
“I’m no hungry,” he replied. “I’ll come when I ha’e secured the troops in their positions—no afore that.”
She rounded on him, and the benign placidity disappeared from her features. “I’ve never seen you so stubborn. When have I ever asked you to ignore the defense of my own country? This is more important. You’ll leave the country vulnerable if you don’t take care of its commander. Now come inside. I won’t ask again.”
“Good,” Fergus snapped back. “Dinnae ask again. I’ll come when I say, no when a woman tells me tae. A grown mon can decide fer himself when tae eat and drink and when tae fight. Ye asked me tae stand wi’ ye and help ye defend the castle. Now ye’re telling me tae turn me back on the men I’ve ta’en under me command tae go and eat wi’ ye. Ye cinnae ask me tae do one thing and then turn around and ask me tae do the opposite. It willnae work that way. We’re under attack and dinnae ken when nor where the enemy will strike fer ye’ll no allow me aloft tae check their position. I dinnae understand yer thinkin’, woman. I dinnae understand it at all.”
He turned his back on her and went back to studying Lauder. Althea stood at his shoulder and seethed in silent fury for a long time, but he refused to acknowledge her. He had more important business to attend to at the moment, and nothing would induce him to turn aside from his purpose.
Chapter 22
Faing Douglas hung unconscious by both arms, one slung around Sinclair’s shoulders and the other around Hazel. She held him by the wrist and supported him while his feet dragged along the ground and his head hung down to the floor.
Sinclair huffed under his breath. “This way!”
They burst into a bedroom surrounded by servants and stretched their fallen comrade on the bed. Hazel surveyed Faing. “Get a doctor.”
“There’s no doctor fit tae heal him but his own kind,” Sinclair replied. “The wizard’ll mend him right enough.”
“Wizard?” Hazel asked. “What wizard?”
“Ross,” Sinclair replied.
“Ross!” Hazel spun around. “Is he here?”
“He will be when he hears he’s needed,” Sinclair replied. “He allus comes.”
Hazel stared at him with her mouth open. A fracas by the door attracted her attention. She turned to see the Faery King enter the room. He looked down at Faing. Then he confronted the adventurers one after another. “What’s the meaning o’ this? What happened?”
Hazel’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Captain Menzies is dead, and Faing is injured. We had to come back.”
“Did ye find the Stone? Did ye lift the curse ye set out tae lift?”
She hung her head. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. We didn’t do any of that, but we found out where the Stone is. It’s at Loch Nagar castle, and the witch is defending it with all her power. She’s unleashed the Burgees to attack us. We won’t get anywhere near the castle without your Army fighting with us.”
The King opened his mouth and shut it again. He looked back and forth between her and Faing. “Is that so?”
Hazel couldn’t say again that she was sorry. She already made a mess of this situation. Now she had to fix it, once and for all. She had to destroy Loch Nagar if it was the last thing she did. She had to get the Stone back, and she had to repair the quilt fabric. One way or the other, all those details tangled together into one problem. The solution waited for her behind the walls of Loch Nagar castle.
The King squared his shoulders and sliced his finger at Hazel and Sinclair. “Ye twa come wi’ me. We ha’e some business tae discuss afore any one o’ my people gangs anywhere near Loch Nagar castle.”
He strode out of the room and left Hazel and Sinclair staring at each other. Servants flooded the room and shunted the two travelers aside. Hazel shook herself. “I guess we better get out of here.”
She left Faing to the servants’ care. She hesitated in the passage outside. Sinclair appeared at her side. “Where should we go to find the King?”
“He’ll be a-waiting fer us in the conference hall, I’ll wager,” Sinclair replied. “No bother aboot that.”
“It’s no bother to you, Alasdair,” she murmured. “You’re not responsible for one man’s death and another one pretty near to it.”
His head whipped around. His eyes flashed open, and his expression changed to something she never saw before. “Ye’re no responsible fer that, lass. Ye didnae kill Menzies, and ye didnae hurt Douglas. If naught else, ye ga’e them their one chance tae live.”
“Well, it didn’t work,” she replied. “Athol’s dead.”
“If he weren’t,” Sinclair told her, “ye’d be dead and so would I and Douglas. Menzies chose tae gi’e his life tae us, and I’ll no gainsay his choice now. If he didnae do it, I reckon I’d ha’e done it meself.”
Hazel’s head shot up. “You would?”
“Sure. Whye’er not?”
“I couldn’t let you do that,” she told him.
He sighed. “Me own lass, will ye think on it? Ye’ve saved us all a dozen times, and ye’re the one who’ll lift this curse once and fer all—no anyone else. If ought o’ us mun’ live, it mun’ be ye.”
She turned away. Her throat constricted to choke her, and tears swam in her eyes. Athol was dead. The image of the axe sticking out of his neck would haunt her for the rest of her days. She couldn’t think of herself as more important than him or Faing or anybody else.
Sinclair walked at her side, but he kept silent. She never saw him like this before. He didn’t curse or grumble. He behaved like any steady man. She didn’t know where to go. His quiet presence guided her to a large door opening into a hall where the King waited for them.
The King broke of his conversation with his advisors to face the travelers. “Ah. ’Ere we are. Now tell me what in the devil is goin’ on, that ye barge in ’ere in this state. Ye told me ye’d find the Stone and lift the curse on yer own.”
“None of us can get near the Stone,” Hazel replied. “We certainly can’t without the Faery Army and maybe the Urlus behind us. The Loch Nagar witch has the Stone, and the Burgees will attack anyone who comes near to try to get it back. We’ll only get it back by waging all-out war on her territory.”
“Is that true?” the King asked Sinclair.
Sinclair pursed his lips and looked away.
“What possible use could the Loch Nagar witch ha’e wi’ the Stone o’ Scone?” the King asked. “She’s been a force fer good these forty years. Loch Nagar has allus been a stronghold o’ good.”
“She told me the Stone was safe,” Hazel replied. “Maybe she’s trying to protect it from the curse. I don’t know. You say a hole took the Stone from Scone Abbey. Maybe it transported the Stone somewhere and she found it. She must have thought another hole would transport the Stone som
ewhere we could never retrieve it. How should I know what she was thinking? I only know she’s got it, and she’s using the Burgees to stop anybody coming near her territory. Her magic stopped Faing from even seeing the Stone. It was Fergus who saw it was at her castle.”
“Fergus!” the King exclaimed. “Fergus Cameron! Where is he?”
Hazel took a deep breath. She had to stay calm so she could convince the King to rally his Army. “Fergus is at Loch Nagar, too. The witch wants to turn him into some sort of King. I don’t understand it, but finding that out triggered her to release the Burgees in the first place.”
“We cinnae leave the Stone wi’ her,” the King replied. “We mun’ get it back and return it tae Scone Abbey.”
“You’ll need all our power to do that,” Hazel replied. “We all will.”
“Ye’re right aboot one thing,” the King told her. “We’ll need all our Army, but we’ll need a mite more than that. We’ll no defeat Loch Nagar castle by arms alone. We’ll need magic, too.”
“I understand that,” Hazel murmured.
“We mun’ call up our wizards.”
“Wizards?” she asked. “Alasdair said Ross is here. Will you call him up?”
“Him and his order. We’ll need several hundred o’ ’em e’en tae cross the border intae the witch’s territory.”
The King turned on his heel and strode out of the hall. His advisors and courtiers hustled after him and left Hazel and Sinclair alone. “Weel, lass,” Sinclair murmured. “Now ye done it. I ainly hope it works, fer if it doesnae, we’ll ne’er see the Stone o’ Scone again.”
He walked away. Hazel remained standing alone in the hall, but she couldn’t organize her thoughts. Ross and several hundred of his kind would converge on Loch Nagar, along with the Faery Army to defeat the witch’s defenses and get back…
They wouldn’t just get back the Stone of Destiny. They would find Fergus there, too. What was he doing there? Was the witch holding him prisoner? Did she kill him already? No, she couldn’t have. Hazel wouldn’t have seen that vision of him crowned King if he was dead.
Destiny Stone (Phoenix Throne Book 3): A Scottish Highlander Time Travel Romance Page 16
