Epilogue
Cailean and Maeve walked cautiously toward the laird's room of Bruce Castle, which Kier had ceded to Cailean's control for as long as the castle served as the rebellion's base.
A messenger had arrived not long before with urgent news, and Cailean had instantly been on alert.
He'd been surprised to learn, though, that they were not under attack—rather, a cohort of soldiers had arrived led by a mysterious woman, insisting that there was a message they must pass on to the rightful king.
When the pair arrived in the receiving chamber, Darren was already in place at the side of Cailean's seat.
He gave Cailean a swift grin and Maeve a wink as they entered, confusing Cailean more.
He hadn't been expecting to find his friend so relaxed.
Sitting on either side of Maeve and Darren's seats, filling out the rest of the great table, were the four council members.
"What is this?" Cailean asked as he and Maeve settled into their places. "Has Ferda returned from her mission with soldiers tae join our cause?"
A flash of concern crossed Darren's face at that.
They hadn't heard from his cousin in many weeks, and as time went on since Cailean's return, it was beginning to feel more suspicious.
However, before he could answer, the door opened again, and the visitor and her cohort of soldiers walked inside, escorted by Fergus and Deirdre.
Cailean forgot what he'd been talking about at that moment, all of his attention and surprise taken by the figure who led the group.
She had changed in the weeks since he'd seen her; she was fuller in figure now, her hair clean and styled, her dress modest but cleanly well-made.
She looked positively regal, all the gaunt tiredness gone from her face, and she met Cailean's eyes with a fierce confidence that made him glad that this was an ally and not an enemy.
"Lady McKenzie," he greeted, getting to his feet. Chairs scraped around him as the others hurried to do the same. "It does me heart well tae see ye not only escaped, but thrived."
Maeve gasped at his side. "Lady McKenzie!" she exclaimed, then covered her mouth. "Forgive me, I… ye look so much like Sorcha."
Flora McKenzie smiled faintly at that. "Aye. If only me niece had been able tae escape as easily as I did."
"We havenae given up on her," Cailean promised, though he knew that Sorcha McKenzie was just one of the many loose ends that faced them on the long, tough road ahead. "Murtagh McKenzie will pay for what he's done, and Sorcha willnae be made tae suffer for longer than she needs tae."
"I ken that ye cannae focus on the lass right away, dinnae fear," Flora told him, though there was a tinge of sadness to her tone. "Winnin' the war is more important. I owe ye me thanks for savin' me life, Cailean McNair, and now it's time I returned the favor."
Cailean blinked, looking around at the soldiers.
Many of them looked older, but none looked any the less fierce for it, each of them with a sense of strength and loyalty emanating from their very being.
He wondered from where they had come—had she gathered them on her journey? What had been her story?
"A cousin has been shelterin' me," Lady McKenzie explained as if she had heard his unspoken question.
"But now isnae the time tae hide away. Clan McKenzie belongs tae me lost son, and I intend tae claim it back in his name.
And Scotland… Scotland belongs tae a king who loves her.
I am here tae pledge the power of these loyal men and of meself tae yer cause, if ye'll have us, yer Majesty.
The power of me cousin's clan and all of those who still remain loyal tae McNair amongst the McKenzies—there are more than ye might think.
And, of course, whatever strength an old woman can bring now that ye've given her another chance at life. "
Overwhelmed, Cailean simply nodded. "I… I would be more than grateful for yer support," he told her. "Thank ye."
Maeve, his wonderful Maeve, was more articulate.
"Whatever strength ye can bring tae the cause is welcomed, Lady McKenzie, but ken that ye're welcome here as a friend nae matter what.
If there is anythin' we can do tae restore this land, including yer clan lands, tae their rightful strength, then we will do it. Ye have me word—our word."
Cailean gave her a warm look, proud to have her by his side.
Flora smiled in approval. "It seems ye've picked a wise queen tae keep by yer side," she observed. "Good. A king is only as powerful as those with whom he keeps close counsel. Keep her close."
"I intend tae," Cailean replied. "Thank ye again, Lady McKenzie. Will ye and yer men lodge here at Bruce Castle?"
She shook her head. "Nay. There is work tae be done back at me cousin's clan, and it is only sensible that we expand the physical reach of our cause. But… if I may speak tae ye on a more personal level, me king?"
"Please. Ye kent me as a bairn, and saw me at me lowest in those dungeons. Ye must continue tae call me Cailean and allow me tae benefit from yer wisdom," he told her in earnest, gaining an approving glance from Senan in the process.
Flora nodded. "I have news that is important tae ye as a king, Cailean—but also news which will have a powerful effect on ye, personally.
I need ye tae understand that what I am about tae say may change the very face of this rebellion, and ye will need the strength of yer queen and yer friends tae handle the weight of it. "
Without really realizing what he was doing, Cailean found his hand seeking Maeve's. She took it and held it, unashamed to display their bond before the others.
"Tell me, please," he implored Flora. "Whatever it is, I must ken."
"Indeed." Flora let out a breath. "Twenty years ago, when me family was ripped from me… well, ye ken that pain more than most, Cailean. I ken how ye suffered. The king and queen, yer mother and father, they were me friends. I've told ye as much before."
Cailean remained silent, glad for the anchor of Maeve's hand in his.
"But we've received new information, rumors which may not be true and yet mean too much tae be ignored," Flora went on.
She glanced at the councilmen one by one, then at Darren and Maeve, before finally looking Cailean directly in the eye.
"Ye ken how ye were spirited away that night, saved from certain death by the White Sparrow.
Ye ken yer brothers and parents and sister were killed.
But the youngest lass, the little one who was still a babe in arms… "
"Neala," Cailean whispered, his voice catching in his throat. His pulse raced in anticipation, unable to understand what was about to happen, unable to dare hope.
"There are rumors, well-founded rumors, that the wee one may have also been taken from the castle that night," Flora told him in a calm, steady voice.
Maeve's hand tightened in his, but Cailean could not look at her, nor at anything except Flora.
"What are ye sayin'?" he demanded. "What do ye mean?"
"I'm sayin'," Lady McKenzie said, "That yer sister, Neala McNair, may still be alive."
Hope echoed from all sides as Maeve and Cailean walked through the nearby village, seeing the banners of various clans which had now declared themselves under the McNair name raised.
The McKenzie banner had joined them, flown in defiance of the pretender who had murdered his own brother to steal his seat, and Cailean smiled at it as he walked by.
It was a sign that, no matter how much damage the False King had done in his ravaging of their country, there was nothing they could not overcome, nothing they could not heal.
Maeve kept correcting people who referred to her as 'yer majesty' or the like when she walked past. She was happy to be a queen, but, as she explained it to Cailean, she would be a ruler of equals, not someone who lorded her strength over them.
Cailean loved her for that, as it was how he felt as well.
They may well be the face of the rebellion and the future rulers of their whole country should they succeed—but they would always be Cailean and Maeve first and foremost.
They passed Eoin and Breana who were sitting at a little table outside the local tavern, their heads close together as they whispered to one another.
Maeve and Cailean both exchanged knowing glances and smiled at the sight, but they did not stop, nor did they interrupt the new couple who were taking their time to get to know each other.
After all, what was the point of this rebellion if not to allow new love to thrive?
"I'm truly glad that yer sister is with us," Cailean told her. "She showed bravery beyond what I could have ever expected when she came for us. She's a wonder amongst women, just as ye are. It's a marvel yer father raised such as the two of ye."
Maeve smiled at that, her pretty features lighting up at the compliment to her sister.
"I suppose ye're thinkin' of yer own sister," she mused.
It had been a few days since Lady McKenzie had revealed the rumors, and while Maeve had made it clear that she would be there when he was ready to talk, she had respected that Cailean needed some time to think upon it himself.
Now, though, his thoughts flowed easily.
"I am. I never dreamed that any of me siblin's might have lived.
Neala…she was the wee one, the bairn. I scarcely remember the games we used to play with me brothers, but I remember how much I adored the wee baby.
That she might live… it changes everythin' in me heart and soul, Maeve. Truly."
Maeve took his hand. "It's a lot for anyone tae deal with. I dinnae want tae be negative without a cause, but ye must recall that they are only rumors. It could be that it comes tae naught."