Page 75 of Rebellion's Fire

“Itneedn’tcome to this,” Christian interrupted ruthlessly. “There is no need for any fighting at all. Why should men die for nothing?”

“Not nothing,” Adam said vaguely. On the words, he strode away toward the hall door, while the others went on talking with apparent openness.

“Here on our land, the advantage is all ours,” Donald said. “The foreigners don’t know it.”

“Lanson is an experienced and famous soldier,” Halla argued. “Presumably, he learns quickly.”

Surreptitiously, Christian watched Adam leave. In the doorway, he crossed with a maidservant carrying a jug and a plate of oatcakes. He didn’t appear to notice the girl, who smiled at him, beyond distractedly seizing an oatcake in passing, but Christian saw her gaze turn and follow him as if she couldn’t help it.

Christian snapped her attention back to the important conversation. If she could learn William’s exact direction, she stood more chance of succeeding.

*

Lanson, who’d begunto feel like a fly being enticed into a spider’s web, made a decision.

“We’ll make our stand here,” he announced. From the top of the hill they’d just climbed, he commanded a good view of the surrounding country. “Any farther, and they’re too likely to close in behind us. Henry, keep your detachment out of sight. Move around to come throughthatvalley and fall upon their flank. It should be a simple task for you. Once we charge them from up here, they’ll be in pieces.”

“Yes, sir,” Henry said. On foot, he gazed down the slope to the rough ground below. “It’s difficult ground for horses,” he observed. “There’s a reason the locals fight on foot.”

Lanson curled his lip. “They don’t have decent horses.”

After a moment, Henry asked, “How will you draw them out?”

“I’ll just sit here and wait,” Lanson replied. “They’ll come.”

“Theycould just watchusand pick us off a few at a time when we forage for food. They’ve done such things before.”

“Yes, but this is their heartland. From the number of men we’ve seen and their panicked movements, we’re close to the MacHeth lair, to their women, including Malcolm MacHeth’s wife. And mine. They’ll fight.”

Henry, who had recently developed an irritating habit of questioning everything, lifted his gaze from the ground below and opened his mouth once more. Lanson had had enough and simply glared at him.

Henry closed his mouth and bowed. “Yes, sir.”

He didn’t sound happy about it. Lanson didn’t care. He smelled victory. Although he’d been furious with Christian for falling into MacHeth hands again, he began to think now that it was working out pretty well. One mounted charge from this height could annihilate the MacHeth rabble. And somewhere in that rabble would be the son of a whore who’d escaped his clutches before. Killing him would not only give Lanson personal satisfaction, it would take the fight out of whatever MacHeth men were left. If Lanson moved quickly, he could take their stronghold, their women, kill the brother and any other male relatives who might cause trouble later, and Ross would be his. He’d have achieved the impossible and be made an earl by the King of Scots.

Lanson rather thought he’d forgive Christian. Up here in the wilds, apart from falling constantly into the hands of their enemies, she was proving a decent asset. She could organize a household, and she wasn’t stupid about military matters either. He’d known for weeks it was time he sent Alys home and lived properly with his wife. Who knew? Perhaps back in her own country and more contented, she’d even conceive at last. He’d heard of such things.

It all hinged on this battle, of course, and whether or not he’d get the MacHeths to stand and fight. Despite Henry’s anxieties, Lanson knew that this time, theywouldfight. They couldn’t risk him getting any closer. Even if their women fled deeper into the country, the MacHeth reputation, the MacHeth legend, was at stake.

As his men formed up behind him on the plateau, Lanson felt like rubbing his hands together.

*

Adam and Donaldrode out together, and men streamed behind them, at first from the hall enclosure and then from outside it. They already had more men than William, and although most were on foot and none wore full armor, they were well armed with swords, daggers, spears, maces, and bows. They all wore helmets at least, and without cumbersome armor, they moved quickly.

Christian’s throat closed up. She refused to be the excuse for men to kill each other so wantonly.

Low and intense, she spoke to the Lady of Ross beside her. “Can you not see how wrong this is? How stupid? If I rode out instead of them, there would be no blood spilled.”

“It’s beyond that,” the lady said, not without sympathy. “It always was. You’re not the cause of this, Cairistiona. You may be a prize, but you’re not the cause.”

Christian glanced at her curiously. “Are you?”

She nodded. “I brought them up to fight for their father. So, yes.”

“I may be slow-witted,” Christian said, “but I fail to see how your sons fighting with my husband in a quiet corner of Ross could possibly cause your husband to be released.”

The lady gave a faint, gentle smile. But Christian wasn’t deceived. The lady didn’t know either.

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