by Carmen Caine
“We will be riding under a white flag.”
“Laird, I don’t think that will matter. He will be furious.”
“All the more reason for ye to stay safely here.”
“But ye don’t understand—”
“I understand perfectly. Now go rest, or I will lock ye up again.”
Frustrated, Katherine went to her chamber as ordered, but she could not sleep. Just before dawn, she made one last attempt. She found Laird Matheson in the stable with Hamish and several of his other men, saddling their mounts. He arched a brow at her and said, “I am fairly certain I told ye to stay in the keep. Ye are as hard-headed as your husband.”
“Aye, I am,” she agreed, “that’s why I’m here. Ye must take me with you.”
“We’ve been through this. I told ye, we will be riding under a white flag.”
“But what if he doesn’t see it, or he’s so angry he ignores it?”
“I have considered that. I sent scouts ahead to confirm Niall’s movements. If they learn that he rides on Cnocreidh as expected, my men and I will take up a position on a stretch of moorland he will need to cross. The open ground will give him plenty of opportunity to see the white flag.”
“Surely ye realize, believing what he does, Niall will not wait to hear ye out. Nothing short of seeing me well and unharmed will soothe his ire long enough to get him to listen. Even then he won’t believe ye, unless I tell him what happened. He trusts Malcolm. Please listen to me. It would be tragic, if after all this, Malcolm wins because ye are forced to destroy the MacIan army.” Katherine didn’t completely believe Tadhg would be the victor, but she knew regardless of who won the day, a battle would leave MacIan men dead and weaken the clan.
“Lass, what ye describe could happen even if ye are there, and ye could be injured or killed in the melee.”
Then Katherine did something she had avoided ever since her father died. She burst into tears in front of him and all the other men in the stable.
“Och, lass, don’t cry.” Tadhg resisted the urge to pull her into his arms, but he took her hands in his and said, “Please, don’t work yourself up over this. Everything will be all right.”
“Nay, it won’t,” Katherine sobbed. “Why can’t ye be reasonable? Ye are likely to kill my husband today, and I can’t bear the thought of it.”
“Wheesht, calm yourself, lass. It isn’t good for ye to get so upset with a bairn on the way.”
“Tadhg,” she implored, using his Christian name for the first time, “please take me with ye. Let me try to prevent a battle.”
Tadhg looked completely at a loss. Evidently, he had no idea how to deal with a weeping woman. Katherine saw him catch Hamish’s eye, silently imploring him for help. Hamish grinned and shook his head, “Laird, I hate to disappoint ye, but I think Lady Katherine may be right. The sight of her may be the only thing will hold Laird MacIan’s temper in check long enough to listen to reason.”
“But look at her. She is exhausted, she won’t eat, and she is expecting his child. The sight of her could be enough to incite murder.”
“That may be, Laird, but she’ll look no better if you don’t stop her tears.”
Tadhg’s shoulders sagged and she knew she had won.
“Wheesht, lass, I’ll let ye go with us.” Katherine struggled to regain control, and when her tears had quieted, he said, “Ye can go, but ye will do what ye’re told. If things get out of hand, I need to know ye’ll be safe.” She nodded. “Go, get your things, then.”
~ * ~
After she left the stable he looked at Hamish and said, “That was a useless warning, wasn’t it.”
“Aye, Laird, I fear it was.”
“God save me if anything happens to her.”
When they were ready to leave, he assigned eight men to guard her, knowing that, unlike the MacLennans, his men would guard her with their lives. As the first light of dawn pinked the horizon, the Matheson army rode east with their laird and Katherine MacIan in the lead.
~ * ~
As dawn broke, Fingal MacIan and Fearghas Chisholm led the Chisholm army west towards Duncurra. Fingal hoped to reach Duncurra and secure it before Malcolm arrived. He would prefer to take up a defensive position within Duncurra, rather than battle MacLennan in the open, but he feared he might not be welcomed or believed.
~ * ~
Niall and the bulk of his army left Duncurra at dawn heading west towards Cnocreidh. His fury was boundless but Father Colm had been right, he was angriest at himself. How could he have let her ride away from Duncurra without his protection? He would rescue her, he would kill Tadhg Matheson, and he would send as many Matheson clansmen to hell today as was humanly possible.
~ * ~
As morning dawned, confident of an easy victory, Malcolm MacLennan positioned his army at the MacIan border. They were prepared to ride as soon as he was sure Niall had departed for Cnocreidh. Malcolm fully believed his army would not do battle today. Convinced he would be welcomed at Duncurra, he believed he would secure it as his own before clan MacIan became fully aware of what had happened. The news that Niall suspected Fingal to be the traitor absolutely thrilled him. Fingal’s presence at Duncurra would not be a problem at all. The entire plan unfolded almost more smoothly than he expected. However, he left nothing to chance. He would not allow victory to slip from him because of an unforeseen circumstance.
Chapter 27
Cairbre remained at Duncurra with a handful of men to secure it. Midmorning, he received word from the watch that an army under the MacLennan banner approached from the south. He expected reinforcements from the MacLennan’s, but he was a bit surprised at the early hour. Malcolm must have sent them at least part of the way yesterday. It relieved Cairbre to know Duncurra’s additional protection would arrive soon.
That relief didn’t last long because moments later, the watch informed him an army also approached from the east riding hard under the Chisholm banner. Could he have been so wrong about Fingal? He hadn’t seen the laird’s brother all morning, and assumed Fingal was in his chamber. Cairbre sent for him, determined to discover what treachery was behind this. When the servant returned, it was Father Colm rather than Fingal who accompanied him.
“Father, ye cannot protect him this time. Niall was right, Fingal has to be responsible for this. With the bulk of our army riding on Cnocreidh, Duncurra is vulnerable and the Chisholm army approaches from the east. I will kill him where he stands before I let him wrest control of clan MacIan and Duncurra from Niall’s hands.”
“Cairbre, ye are wrong about Fingal.”
“Are ye telling me the Chisholm army riding full out towards us is a figment of my imagination? Or perhaps Chisholm just happens to be paying a friendly visit with his full garrison?”
“I’m not telling ye either of those things. In fact, I suspect Fingal is at the head of the Chisholm army, as that is where he was going last night. However, he is not preparing to seize Duncurra, but rather to defend it.”
“Are ye daft, old man? Defend it against whom?”
“The MacLennan army, whom I believe also approaches.”
Father Colm proceeded to tell Cairbre what he and Fingal had discussed last night. “Cairbre, ye know in your heart Fingal is not a traitor; he is devoted to his brother. Ye have defended him time and time again to Laird MacIan. Laird MacLennan, on the other hand, seizes every opportunity to create discord. Think back to Childermas, man. He and Lady MacIan gained obscene pleasure in upsetting Lady Katherine and scaring young Tomas. Most scoundrels have no difficulty dissembling with their peers, but it’s harder to conceal their true nature when they deal with those over whom they have power. The urge to feel that power is too great.”
Cairbre knew Father Colm’s insight into human nature was accurate, and he wanted to believe Fingal was loyal, but what would the cost be if he was wrong? “Father, if ye are wrong, and I open Duncurra to Chisholm, Fingal will seize it.”
“Cairbre, if ye are wrong and ye open
Duncurra to MacLennan, Malcolm will seize it. Who do ye trust more?”
“I trust Fingal, but my laird, to whom I have sworn fealty, does not.”
“Then open Duncurra to neither, and the truth will out. If neither of them intends to conquer Duncurra, there will be no battle.”
Cairbre saw the wisdom in this and told the few men-at-arms left not to open the gates to anyone. Both armies continued to approach, but the Chisholm army reached Duncurra first. From the wall, Cairbre called to Fingal, “I won’t open Duncurra to ye, Fingal.”
“I didn’t think ye would. I’m not here to lay siege to my home, Cairbre, but I believe that is Laird MacLennan’s intent.”
“I won’t be opening Duncurra to him, either. Father Colm told me of your suspicions. I don’t know whom to believe, so I will take no chances.”
“Then that will be enough for getting on with. Laird Chisholm and I will not allow Malcolm to approach, but neither will we attack. I only mean to defend Duncurra until Niall returns.”
Fearghas directed his men to create a defensive line from the bottom of the crag on which Duncurra stood, extending westward.
~ * ~
So confident he would be able to ride into Duncurra unopposed, Malcolm allowed Eithne to ride at his side. Baffled by the appearance of an army between him and his prize, he took a few appropriate precautions before drawing too close. His messenger assured him Niall had ridden on Cnocreidh at first light, so this could not be his army. It didn’t take long for him to recognize Chisholm’s banner and he halted his men.
“What is the meaning of this?” demanded Eithne. “Who dares prevent me from entering my home?”
Malcolm cast a baleful glance at her and said, “There is no audience for your act here, Eithne. Ye have never considered Duncurra your home. Ye have spent more of your time at court or in my bed than ye ever did here. Your designs on it have only ever been driven by spite.”
“And yours are driven by greed, my love, but spite and greed make excellent bedfellows.”
Malcolm chuckled, “Ye are ruthless, my dear. Niall’s only crime against ye was being born first.”
“Until he left me destitute in Edinburgh.”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, wouldn’t ye say? Twas nearly the other way round. Ye tucked Alastair’s money away for years, creating crushing debt instead.”
“I had to build my own wealth. Otherwise Alastair could have forced me to return to the Highlands whenever he wished, just to save a few coins. You wouldn’t have had me in your bed then. Not to mention the fact that you needed to weaken them in order to successfully lay siege.”
“Aye, that I did. It almost worked, but who would have thought King David capable of finding Niall a copper? I should have married that rich bit of goods myself.”
“What of me, then?”
“Don’t pout, it doesn’t become ye. Besides, marriage has never been an obstacle to either of us. No matter, it will be resolved soon. His bonny heiress has become a greater weakness than any I could have hoped for.”
“Aye, with Niall chasing after the bitch, we should have been able to ride into Duncurra unhindered. What will you do now?”
“Never fear, my devious little vixen. All may not be lost. Do ye see who is riding with Fearghas?”
“Why, it is my own dear son, Fingal. What makes you think he will be of any help? He has had his head up Niall’s arse from the time he could toddle.”
“Aye, but darling, just as I planned, Niall believes all his recent ills can be laid squarely at Fingal’s feet. My messenger said Niall was ready to kill him last night. Hopefully, he injured Fingal’s pride enough to finally dim his radiance in Fingal’s eyes. Perhaps the lad can be tempted now. I think it is time we had a chat with him.”
A sly smile spread slowly across Eithne’s face. “You could be right, my love. He stands ultimately to gain both Duncurra and Brathanead by joining us. How could he not choose that over being second to a brother who hates him?”
~ * ~
Fingal and Fearghas watched Malcolm’s army halt well to the south, on the western shore of Loch Craos. “It looks like we have spoiled Malcolm’s plans. I suspect the cur is too cowardly to actually fight for something he wants,” observed Fearghas.
When the MacLennan army made no further moves, Fearghas chuckled. “I wonder how long he will sit there until he turns tail and runs.”
Then they saw two riders break away from the stationary army and ride towards them. “Who is riding with Malcolm?” asked Fearghas.
“Damnation,” swore Fingal. “I suspect it is my mother.”
Fingal rode out to meet them in the open area between the two armies.
Eithne said sweetly, “Fingal, dear, what are you doing? Niall asked Malcolm to come to his aid. Surely you know that. Have Laird Chisholm’s army stand down and we can discuss this in Duncurra.”
“Duncurra is closed to all of us, Mother.” Fingal turned to Malcolm, “Ye are looking well, Malcolm. Ye seem to have recovered quickly from the grave injury ye received at Matheson’s hand.” Fingal shook his head in disgust. “Niall trusted ye above anyone else. How could ye betray him?”
“I did it for ye and your mother, Fingal.”
“For me and my mother? You’re not serious.” Turning to his mother, he said, “What were ye thinking, Mother? Did ye believe if ye got Niall out of the way, ye could manipulate me more easily than ye did him or Father?”
“Fingal, you wound me. I only want the best for you, and it is time you knew the truth. Alastair was not your father, Malcolm is.”
“The hell he is!”
“Darling, it is true. Malcolm and I met before I married Alastair. He and his wife were guests at Currancreag. He felt trapped in a loveless marriage, and I missed my husband so desperately. We didn’t intend for it to happen, but in a moment of indiscretion, we turned to each other for comfort.”
Fingal snorted. “Comfort? Is that what ye call it? I guess one woman’s comfort is another woman’s adultery.”
Ignoring his comment, Eithne went on, “In just two weeks I suspected I was carrying. Malcolm and I loved each other, but he was already married. I talked Fearghas into arranging a marriage to Alastair. Neither of them knew.”
“Stop your lies, Mother.”
“These are not lies, Fingal. You need only peer into a looking glass to see how like Malcolm you are. He knew the first time he saw you as a boy. I feared others would notice it as you grew, but no one at Duncurra ever guessed Alastair wasn’t your father.”
“That is because he was my father,” Fingal ground out angrily.
“Alastair may have raised ye, Fingal, but I am your father. That is one reason why I spent so much time at Duncurra. I knew I couldn’t claim ye, but I wanted to know my son. When it came time for ye to begin training, I asked Alastair to send ye to me, but Niall had trained under my father and Alastair said he wanted to send ye to Laird Chisholm. Your mother, after all, was a Chisholm. Now Alastair is gone, I can claim ye and name ye as my heir. Not only can all of my holdings be yours, but Duncurra and all of the MacIan’s new wealth as well.”
Fingal just stared at Malcolm, marshaling his emotions. He knew this was not a ruse. Why had he never noticed the similarities he bore to Malcolm? They seemed plainly evident now. He asked, “Does anyone else know ye fathered me?”
Fingal noticed how pleased Malcolm looked. Does he think I’m tempted by this offer?
“A few of my clansmen know, and many more suspect it. Son, we can do this together. Ye can explain to Fearghas ye made a mistake and send his army back. Ye and I can walk into Duncurra, unchallenged. It will be yours with neither of us having to shed a drop of blood. Matheson has Niall outmanned, but even if Niall isn’t killed, when he returns, he will not prevail against my army with the remnant he’ll have left. He will have to lay siege to the fortress he so diligently prepared.”
Fingal remained very calm as he heard Malcolm’s plan. “Ye have been working toward
this for a long time, have ye not? Ye were responsible for the raids last spring?” Fingal asked blandly.
“Aye, I had hoped to heat up the old feud between the Mathesons and the MacIans. Unfortunately Tadhg Matheson is not as fractious as his father was. He picked an inconvenient time to become a bloody black friar, so I had to keep raiding. Nothing seemed to draw Niall out, not even the destruction my men wrought after Epiphany.”
“So it was ye Tomas heard.” Fingal thought carefully about his next move for a moment. “It was rather clever of ye to arrange for Matheson to kidnap Katherine.”
“I realized she was Niall’s weakness. It is funny, really; he always scoffed at men who professed to love their wives. He said it made them weak, it was one reason he shunned marriage. Well, it might not make them weak, but it certainly does give an enemy a target. I realized nothing short of fear for his little heiress was going to draw Niall into battle, and I needed him to leave Duncurra with the most of his men.”
“I can understand how ye managed to pull off the raids. That wouldn’t have been too difficult. I don’t understand how ye managed to get Matheson’s help with the abduction. I didn’t know ye were particularly close with him.”
“Fingal, my son, Matheson was completely unaware of his role in this.” Malcolm chuckled maliciously.
“So he didn’t kidnap Katherine? Ye still have her?”
“Nay, for once Matheson took the bait, but his intention was only to use her as leverage to negotiate a treaty. Good men are predictable and they’re so easy to manipulate, especially when they think the cause is noble. Of course, I would have faked the kidnapping if it had been necessary. However, once under attack, it might not have taken Matheson long to convince Niall he didn’t have her. I really need Matheson to inflict serious damage on Niall’s army, and Niall himself, if that is possible.”
“I see, so Matheson still has her. Do ye know if she is safe?”
Malcolm grinned slyly. “Fingal, are ye concerned for the lass? She is a pretty thing. Do ye want her, son? We can arrange that. She is carrying Niall’s brat, but your mother knows ways to scathe the baby away.”
