Page 58 of The Devil in Plaid
Chapter Twenty Seven
Jamie paced the length of his solar. He had amassed an army, five hundred strong. Preparations were underway to march and lay siege to the MacKenzie stronghold, but a sudden realization presented questions for which he had no answers.
“I waited for ye.”
He turned toward the door. Smiling seductively, Fiona stepped into the room, a silk robe lightly hugging her curves. “And then I could bear yer absence no longer.”
He expelled a breath and sat down on the edge of one of the chairs, reaching out his hand to her. She crossed the room to stand in front of him. He pulled her close, resting his forehead just beneath the full curve of her breasts. Her arms came around him.
“What is it?” she said softly. “What weighs on ye so heavily? And don’t tell me yesterday’s attack. I ken ye’ve something new on yer mind.”
He looked up at her. “Ye’re very perceptive.”
She lifted her shoulders, a sad smile curving her lips. “Like ye, my mother was lost to me when I was but ten. ‘Tis I who have watched my father pace his solar and listened to him talk out his concerns. I’ve a practiced eye. Ye can speak with me and count with every certitude on my discretion.”
Leaning back in his chair, he scrubbed his hand over his face, but then he straightened. “Actually, my dear wife, ye, more than anyone else, might be able to inform my quandary.” He stood and walked past her, resting his forearm on the mantle above the hearth and stared into the flames.
“We now have the numbers to march on Ranulf MacKenzie.” He turned to look at her. “But do I march on my enemy or are we preparing to attack innocents—victims of the same devil who’s laid waste to our lands and slaughtered our kin?” Fury coursed through him. “This Ranulf MacKenzie, who has usurped his brother’s throne, does he have the love of the clan or have his loyal men forced the people to submit? Ye’ve spent time in the MacKenzie keep. What is yer judgement?”
Fiona sat down and pressed her lips in a grim line. At length, she said, “Donald MacKenzie was a good man as was his son. They valued peace. They were scholars not warriors. His captains were strong leaders, but they, too, were good men.” She slowly nodded her head. “I believe ye’re right to hesitate and think upon who the real enemy is.” She moved to his side. “The clan who welcomed me would not have supported the slaughter of women and children or the destruction of crops and stores. I can only believe they are under duress.”
Jamie took her hand. “In my heart, I know this to be true, but I cannot spare their lives at the sacrifice of our own. The attacks will only continue. Ranulf targets our crops and stores and kills without discrimination to force our surrender. What choice do we have but to retaliate?”
Fiona dropped his hand and furrowed her brow as she began pacing the room. Then she stopped and whirled to face him. “We need to get word to one of the captains.”
Jamie shook his head. “If the clan truly objects to their new laird, it is unlikely that any of the former captains walk free.”
Her eyes widened in alarm. “Ye do not suppose they’re all dead?”
He lifted his shoulders. “’Tis impossible to say. At the least, I would imagine they’ve been imprisoned. In any case, the captains will be watched.”
“Then we must seek out someone Ranulf would never expect.” Fiona’s eyes brightened. “There is a cottar on the very outskirts of MacKenzie territory. His name is Hamish, and he has a young son named Finn who is but two and ten. Theirs is the only home on that part of the coast. On a good day the waves tear at the shore, and when storms strike, Hamish’s peat roof often surrenders to the might of the wind. ‘Tis why no one else lives so close. But the fishing is fine. Late every afternoon, Finn rides to the keep and brings the cook a fresh basket of fish as rent. If we could get word to them, mayhap Finn could deliver a message. No one would suspect a mere lad.”
Jamie saw merit in her plan, but it was still incomplete. “But what message would we convey? How do we proceed?”
Fiona took to pacing again. But after only a few moments, she stopped. “What if we united with Clan MacKenzie? If they were to open their gates to our number, then, together, we could defeat Ranulf.”
He held out his hands to restrain her enthusiasm. “The spirit of yer idea is sound, but there are too many unknowns. How will we know if Finn is successful in conveying the message? And how will we know if an accord is struck? I cannot send my men into a trap.”
“Mayhap, there could be a signal,” she suggested. “Three torches could be lit on the parapet of the front battlements—one for each of our clans coming together to rid our lands of this wretch.”
Jamie was quiet as he considered her proposal, but then he shook his head. “Even if we saw such a signal, how would we know ‘tis real? If the MacKenzie were to get wind of our plan, he could use it against us. The torches might be lit, but still a trap could be set.”
She squeezed his hands, drawing him close. “Ye’re right to be cautious, but I believe we can do this. Ye’ve amassed an army to fight our enemy, and we have a responsibility to our people to act justly. We cannot ask our warriors to kill if the lives they steal are innocent. Our message will let the people of the MacKenzie know we are on their side. We fight for our freedom and for theirs. They can open the gates, uniting our forces. ‘Tis a sound plan,” she insisted. “Fetch the council. Put it to yer captains and the elders.”
He did not answer straight away. His gaze dropped to the dancing flames in the hearth.
“What is it?” she asked. “Something else worries ye.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “Again, ye’re correct.” He cleared his throat. “I am still troubled by the attack we endured in the woods on our journey from yer home.”
“I ken why,” she said gently. “Grant and Niall’s deaths weigh on yer heart, and ye hesitate putting more of yer men at risk.”
He turned and looked at her. “’Tis true that my heart is still heavy, and I am always hesitant putting my men at risk, but, nay, that is not why I’m troubled.” He stared once more at the flames. Then he jerked around. “How could Ranulf MacKenzie have known to expect us on the Hidden Pass? They were waiting for us. They knew we would be there.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Ye think we were betrayed.”
He nodded grimly.
