Chapter 12 #3
Brielle continued her incantation, but Angus stopped listening.
He assumed while she was focused on her spell, she couldnae read his thoughts, so he used the time to try and formulate a plan.
He stood up and wandered around the cavern, surprised to learn that no matter where he looked, he was surrounded by solid rock walls.
There was no entrance or exit visible to him.
He suffered a moment of claustrophobia, but was careful to hide it, not wanting Brielle to know.
He was going to have to bide his time while he formulated a plan.
If he killed Brielle now, without knowing how to get out, he might never escape.
This cavern could become his tomb. If he had no other choice, then that would be his fate, but he decided he should wait to see what Brielle’s plans might be.
***
“Yer back,” a woman’s voice came from behind them and they all turned in unison to see who it was.
“Mary what are ye doin’ here? Ye were to leave with the others,” Robert shouted.
“Of course I wouldnae leave. Someone needs to feed the lot of ye,” Mary stood calmly, in apparent defiance of Robert’s orders.
“Come, I’ve prepared a simple meal fer ye.
’Tis the best I could do, as I’ve nae had much help.
I tried me best to put the stable boys to work, but they dinnae ken the difference between a pot and a ladle. ” She chuckled at her own joke.
Mary led them into the great hall where she’d set up a huge pot of soup, several loaves of bread, butter, honey and pitchers of ale.
“Ye’ll have to serve yerselves, as all the servants are gone.
” The group of men stood staring in wonder at the table holding the food.
“Come now, ye must eat. Ye need yer strength, if yer to fight that troublemaking witch.” Mary placed a bowl in Robert’s hands and pointed towards the table.
Robert took the not-so-subtle hint and filled his bowl.
The others followed suit and before long, everyone was seated and eating.
Mary’s nurturing presence warmed the room and brought a sense of normalcy to an otherwise strange situation.
“Mary, please join us,” Robert requested.
“I’ve already eaten, sir, but thank ye for the offer,” Mary answered.
The room began to hum with low voices, speaking between mouthfuls of food.
Maggie and Dylan sat close together, each resting a hand on the other’s knee.
Maggie was trying hard not to break down in tears.
She was so worried about Angus. She had promised Aunt Edna that they would protect one another.
She should never have gone riding with Dylan.
It was a terrible mistake. If she had stayed behind, she might have been able to stop Brielle, and if they’d let Angus join them, he’d still be here.
Maggie found she had no appetite, she was so sick with fear for him.
“Maggie, you really need to eat. Mary’s right, you’ll need your strength to fight Brielle,” Dylan said, offering her gentle encouragement.
“Yer right,” Maggie agreed. She ate, though it was without enjoyment.
The scenarios running through her head were anything but comforting.
Self-doubt swept through her brain like water furrowing a path that would eventually flood everything surrounding it.
When she was a child, she had dreamed of being a witch like her auntie, but she had never dreamed it would be like this.
She never expected her abilities would lead her to this place and time and to the task that lay ahead of her.
What if I fail? What will happen then? How will I face Auntie Edna?
She didn’t dare think of what might happen to Angus.
Maggie continued eating, until all the soup in her bowl was gone and surveying the men gathered in the room, she suddenly regained her confidence.
She wasn’t alone. She had Dylan and all the others, who had stayed behind to find Angus and fight Brielle.
They would succeed—she was suddenly certain of it.
Dylan must have noticed the change in her demeanor and attributed it to the food. “See, I told you eating would help.”
Maggie didn’t want him to know that the food had nothing to do with it.
She appreciated that he was trying to take care of her and it was so sweet and loving that she wished she could allow him to handle all of the things she didn’t care to face.
But she couldn’t. Maggie stood, and gaining control of her voice announced to the room something she now knew to be true.
“I have something to say and I’d like you all to listen carefully.
” Heads turned in her direction, giving her their full attention.
“I believe Brielle will come back here to challenge me. I have nae doubt she will bring Angus with her, and use him as a shield in her efforts to defeat me. I ken this is nae yer battle. ’Tis mine.
I would appreciate it if ye would all stand with me when the time comes, but ye dinnae have any obligation to become involved.
I understand if ye would prefer to leave and join the others.
A loud uproar washed over the room as everyone tried to speak at once.
“Silence!” Robert shouted and the room stilled instantly.
Robert turned his attention to her and smiled warmly.
“Maggie, this is our fight. Brielle has come into the MacKenzie castle and endangered the lives of everyone. I ken ye feel the heavy burden of responsibility yer auntie has entrusted to ye, but we willnae desert ye. We stand with ye, every last one of us. Ye will prevail. We will see to it.” Cailin and Cormac stood and raised their cups.
Latharn, Dougal, Donal, Fergus, and every other man who’d stayed behind also stood with their cups raised in the air.
“To victory and to ye, Maggie,” Robert announced.
“With yer help, we will win this battle.”
Maggie’s cheeks heated at this show of solidarity.
She was touched by their desire to stand by her.
She and Dylan raised their cups as well.
“To victory,” Maggie said. They all drank and the atmosphere, which had been dour throughout the meal, grew lighter and more liberated.
The men’s voices returned to their normal loud tones and some even laughed with one another.
“This is much better,” Maggie said to Dylan. “I’m feeling hopeful for a change.”
“You’ll have all the support you need, Maggie. You can do this,” Dylan reassured her.
“I will do this.” Maggie smiled confidently at Dylan. I won’t fail.