CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE #2
The scouts were out making sure their path to the old Bruce lands was clear, and the weaponsmiths and armor crafters had been hard at work.
The healers were preparing poultices and bandages for the warriors to take with them, and everyone else in the camp was buzzing with excitement and activity as they each played their part.
Now, they were all gathered in the training field, watching as Kier made the speech announcing the plan in greater detail.
He described exactly what Cailean and Maeve had proposed, along with some adjustments that they had made in planning over the past few days.
When he was done, there was general approval from the crowd.
Darren and Cailean stood at either side of him, facing the crowd.
At the front, Maeve was watching, and Cailean felt strength emanating from her.
"We're ready, Kier!" someone shouted.
"Aye!" young Dirk added. "Let's take our home back!"
This caused another cheer. Cailean could feel it from them — from his friends, his family — how they were finally ready to get some payback, to make a claim against the False King and the Darachs, and to stop running at last and start fighting back.
He looked to the left and saw Darren watching him rather than the crowd. His friend gave him a fierce smile, then nodded. Cailean hesitated, but Darren's reassurance told him that it was time. He looked out to the crowd and saw Maeve was smiling at him too.
"Before we make our attack," he said, "I must be honest with ye all."
Silence fell across the field. Even Kier turned toward Cailean, his bushy eyebrows raised in surprise. In a quiet voice, Kier said, "Are ye sure, son?"
"He's sure, Da," Darren said. "Go on, me friend. Me brother."
Heartened, Cailean cast his eyes over the gathered rebels and spoke in a loud enough voice to make sure it carried.
He knew that the scouts were missing out on this speech, but no doubt they'd be informed as soon as they got back.
Ferda would kill him for not including her, but he was sure she'd get over it.
She was, after all, one of the few who knew the truth already.
And after all, the whole point was to get the truth out to everyone.
"I've nae been honest with ye all," he announced. "I've never lied, but ye all deserve the full truth."
A low murmur went through the crowd. A few of those who knew — mostly Bruce cousins — were watching with wide eyes. Fergus looked up from the front with a fierce approval in his gaze, and this heartened Cailean too.
"Ye've kent me for a long time as Cailean McManus," he announced. His voice didn't shake but instead came out bold and confident, and he felt a thrill of pride in himself for the first time. "But McManus was me mother's name, nae the one me father gave tae me. That name was… Cailean McNair."
The murmuring grew louder, and a few people gasped.
"Recently, we all learned a shockin' truth about Maeve and who she really is.
Ye were all able tae accept her. And since she was brave enough tae admit her history, let me be clear about mine.
" He smiled, meeting Maeve's eyes once more before speaking out to the rest. "Me father was the True King, before the Darachs and the O'Sullivans and the other traitors turned against him and allowed the False King tae take power.
" Cailean lifted a hand in the air. "And now, if ye'll have me, I'd like tae help us take it back. "
Silence.
"Ye're the lost prince?" asked one of the healers — Maeve's friend, Patty — in a stunned voice.
"Nae lost anymore. And nae prince," spoke up the cook, Ben. "The True King has returned tae us." He sank to one knee. "For the king! For freedom!"
Cailean could not believe his eyes. One by one, the rebels took a knee before him, men and women alike, each echoing Ben's proclamation. Each held a hand over their heart, each reverently declaring themselves to the cause… and to Cailean.
He turned his head to see how Darren was reacting, and he was shocked to see that Darren, too, had taken a knee — and so, too, had Kier. A little further away, all three of the other elders also knelt and declared themselves.
Cailean's heart pounded in his chest, and then a new sense of tranquility washed over them. He was ready. They needed him — and he was prepared, at last, to be the man they needed. No more fear. No more doubt.
"For me father," he announced. "For me clan. And for me country. Let's take back our lands!"
A cheer rose up, and Cailean's eyes sought Maeve again. She watched him from the crowd, and the pride that shone in her eyes proved that there would always be hope. He just had to be the one to lead the way.
The stealth operation was a small one, filled with only a select few of Cailean's most trusted warriors.
Darren, Fergus, and Maeve all stood by his side, along with seven others.
It was a big risk to bring such a small force, but Cailean was certain that this was the best way to make sure they achieved their objectives without losing control of the operation, and Maeve and the elders had agreed.
They approached Darach Castle as one. Maeve was debriefing them on some of the things they needed to know, though Cailean still had his doubts about what she was talking about now.
"We need tae get a message tae Eoin," she said.
"We have the White Sparrows already on the inside, so they'll be able tae help us.
I dinnae ken how many are still there, but I hope at least a few.
Ann told me that the stable master's daughter is one of them, so if we can get tae her, she can pass on our message and Eoin can help us. "
"Eoin is a Darach," Cailean said, doubt coloring his voice. "I ken he'll be useful, as the leader of the guards, in gettin' information even ye cannae give us, but Maeve, he cannae be trusted."
"Because of his blood?" Maeve challenged. "He's a Darach, aye — but I'm an O'Sullivan."
This made Cailean blanch. He looked up and saw Darren watching him, a small smile playing on his friend's face.
"Ye've met yer match with this one," Darren told him, grinning. "Maeve, how sure are ye that Eoin Darach can be turned?"
"He doesnae need tae be turned," Maeve insisted.
"He just needs tae ken there's hope. I've told ye already, I'm alive because of him.
If he kens that the True King has returned, then he'll turn on his father in an instant.
He already works with the Sparrows, and he already helped me get out.
He saved me life, surely that matters more than who his father is. "
Cailean sighed, but he knew in his heart that she was right. Her pointing out her own father's name had been a stark reminder that, though his own legacy was one to be proud of, not everyone was so lucky — and they deserved as much right as him to fight for the country they loved.
"All right," he said finally. "We'll find the stable lassie and we'll send a message along. It has tae be in code, though, or else we might be discovered and all will be lost. The Sparrow will help with that. Do ye ken her well?"
Maeve shook her head. "I only kent Ann, and she's gone now. She said she was goin' back tae their headquarters. I ken the stable master's name was Jim, and I think his daughter was Sadie. Hopefully, it's the same person. There are some old ruins in the woods; Eoin will be able tae meet us there."
They were approaching the edge of the castle grounds now, and the stables loomed ahead of them. "Let's hope so," Cailean said grimly. "Time tae put our plan intae action."