Chapter 18 #2
“People die all the time. At least this way they are dying for a cause. They are dying sae that I may rule the Highlands. But this is their choice. They, like all of ye, dinnae hae tae fight. If they could see the bigger picture they would understand that it’s in their best interest for me tae rule. ”
“Their best interest was the Pact. Peace reigned for ten years, and it was all undone.”
“That was nae peace. Dae ye ken how eager the lion was tae fight? I only hae tae spread the merest rumor that people were plotting against him and he was all too eager tae gae tae war again. Ye see, things will never change. History repeats itself over and over again. The clans are doomed tae fight for generation after generation, and that is why the Highlands must be ruled by one.”
“And of course that is ye.”
He took his gaze off the battle for a moment and stared at her. Now that his plans were being enacted, he seemed calmer again.
“Who else hae the vision tae see the Highlands as it should be? There will be peace Isla, which is what ye want. Ye cannae think in terms of days, weeks, or months… but years. Decades. Lifetimes,” he whispered.
Then, he stretched out his hand, as it to hold all the Highlands in his palm. “This is wrought from your defiance, Isla. Every death that occurs here today is a result of ye and Kai trying tae outplay me. Ye made fatal mistakes.”
Isla’s cheeks burned. She pressed her lips together and shook her head vehemently.
“Nae, we bear nae responsibility for this. This is all yer daeing and when it’s over everyone will ken the lengths of yer crimes. Yer legacy will be tarnished and the four clans will be at peace.”
Laird Sinclair sighed with dismay.
“When are ye gaeing tae grow up, Isla? The four clans fight. It’s what they hae always done. It’s what they will always dae.”
“Ye are wrong. We are different. We respect and love each other. A wolf married a lion. A storm married a wolf. A lioness married a fox, and I will marry a lion as well,” she said defiantly.
Laird Sinclair looked disgusted. He curled his lip.
“It will all crumble. It always daes. We were never made tae live taegether, nae as equals. It will take one man ruling over all, one man who understands the differences. We are too different, and ye will come tae understand that in time. But I’m afraid that wedding will never happen, Isla.
I should hae killed the broken lion a long time ago.
I enjoyed torturing him too much, I suppose.
But if a wayward blade dinnae meet him, I shall bring his life tae an end myself and I shall dae it in front of ye sae ye hae nae choice but tae accept the inevitability of yer actions.
Iain and Gavin, both their deaths will be on yer hands.
However, I promise ye this; I will make sure ye survive sae ye can see that I hae been right all along. ”
“Ye are wrong.”
“Soon enough Dunrath Keep will be mine. The lions will be scattered, their pride ruined just like their castle. They?—”
He stopped as he peered towards the bottom of the hill.
Emerging from a road on the north was another army, this one flying the dark banner of the Sutherland Clan.
Laird Sinclair cursed under his breath. Isla chuckled darkly.
“A storm always comes when ye least expect it.”
“How?”
“Maybe ye are more predictable than ye think, Da. Besides, ye raised us in the image of ye.”
Her father turned to her with menace in his eyes, and she began to wonder if his promise that she would survive would end up being a broken one like all the others.
“Ye lot, tae the Keep! Defend Dunrath! The rest of ye, with me,” Coll cried.
He and Rowena were riding at the head of their army, Sutherland steel already drawn.
Coll thought it ironic that he was marching to save Dunrath Keep.
Any time a Sutherland army had approached before, it had been with the intent of laying siege to the MacLaren stronghold, but times changed and things were not always as they seemed.
After all, he never thought he would end up marrying a wolf.
Even now as they rode into battle Coll was astonished by Rowena’s passion. She leaned forward, her hair trailing behind her. His heart beat quicker. They helped drive each other on.
“Are ye sure ye dinnae want tae gae tae the Keep? I can handle this,” Rowena called out.
“Nae, if we want tae end this for good we need tae cut the head off the snake, and I need tae make him pay for Borran.”
“I will make him pay for my uncle.”
“Then we shall see whose blade is swiftest,” Coll grinned.
Rowena’s eyes flashed with mischief and he wasn’t sure he could love her any more than he did in that moment, although he’d thought the same thing often enough.
They battled up the hill, fighting hard against the Sinclair warriors who held the high ground. Coll gritted his teeth and rallied his men. His muscles strained, but the Anderson warriors fell around them. Inch by inch they made their way higher up the hill.
He tried to keep an eye on Laird Sinclair, but it proved to be impossible amidst the heat of battle.
The Sinclair guards formed a wall, protecting the peak of the hill.
Coll and Rowena led the charge forward. There was a clash of steel and Coll realized that they were trying to cut his horse’s legs out from beneath him.
Coll wasn’t about to lose another horse.
He slipped off the saddle and smacked his horse’s rump, sending it gamboling away in a safe direction. He scrambled forward. Rowena did the same as him. The two of them fought side by side and broke through enemy lines.
“Keep them occupied!” Coll yelled from over his shoulder.
He and Rowena sprinted up the hill, swords in hand, stumbling upon the uneven ground as they prepared to face Laird Sinclair.
But as they crested the hill, they found it empty.
Panting breathlessly, Coll and Rowena stood beside each other, scouring the horizon for Laird Sinclair, but there was no indication as to his direction.
Coll cursed and stamped the ground. Rowena clenched her fists. They stared at each other and turned, heading back down to finish off the remaining Anderson forces.