Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
"Ye brought a lass back with ye?"
Alpin had barely settled into his chair at the head of the council table before Dougal MacLeish, one of his oldest councilors, spoke up.
The man's bushy grey eyebrows were drawn together in consternation, his weathered face arranged in what Alpin privately thought of as his 'deeply concerned' expression.
"Aye." Alpin kept his tone neutral. "I did."
"And who is she exactly?" This from Malcolm Ross, who sat to Alpin's right. Younger than Dougal by a decade, Malcolm was sharp-minded and practical, qualities Alpin valued. But he was also cautious to a fault.
"Mhairi Munro. Daughter of Laird Angus Munro."
The room went silent.
Then everyone started talking at once.
"Munro?"
"Christ, Alpin—"
"The Munros have been—"
"Enough." Alpin didnae raise his voice, but the single word cut through the chaos like a blade. Silence fell immediately. "I'll explain everythin', but I need ye all tae stay calm."
Dougal sat back in his chair, arms crossed. Malcolm's expression had gone carefully blank. The other four councilors—Lachlan, Tavish, Brodie, and Iain—were watching Alpin with varying degrees of concern and curiosity.
"Three days ago," Alpin began, "I received confirmation of the location of the auction house we'd been searchin' fer. The one where our lasses have been disappearin' tae.”
"Ye found it?" Lachlan leaned forward eagerly. He was young for a councilor, barely thirty, but he'd lost a cousin to the disappearances. "Where?"
"An abandoned grain warehouse about two days' ride south. Hidden, well-guarded, and absolutely crawlin' with men who have more coin than conscience." Alpin's jaw tightened at the memory. "I went there meself, in disguise, tae gather evidence."
"Ye went yerself?" Malcolm's voice rose slightly. "Alpin, that was—"
"Necessary," Alpin cut him off. "We needed proof of what was happenin'. So, aye, I went. And what I saw..." He paused, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. "What I saw was worse than we feared."
"How bad?" Brodie asked quietly. He was the oldest councilor after Dougal, a man who'd served Alpin's father and grandfather before him.
"Women were bein' sold like cattle tae the highest bidder.
Highland lasses, Lowland lasses, some barely old enough tae be away from their maithers.
All of them terrified. All of them helpless.
" Alpin's hands curled into fists on the table.
"And the men buyin' them... Christ. Lords, merchants, even a few lairds I recognized. "
Tavish cursed under his breath. "Who's runnin' it?"
This was it. The information that would change everything.
"Laird Aodh Graham."
"So, it's confirmed then," Dougal said heavily. "Graham is runnin' the auctions, just as we suspected."
"Aye." Alpin's jaw tightened. "I saw him there meself. Announcin' the lasses, takin' the bids, countin' the coin. It's his operation, nay doubt about it."
The room fell into grim silence. Suspecting was one thing. Having it confirmed was another.
"Christ," Malcolm breathed. "We'd hoped the rumors were wrong."
"They werenae." Alpin leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table. "Graham's built an entire network. Guards, messengers, buyers from across the Highlands and beyond. This isnae some small operation we can simply shut down."
Silence fell over the table. Alpin could see his councilors processing the information, each face reflecting different degrees of shock and anger.
"So, what dae we dae?" Lachlan asked finally. "We cannae just let him continue."
"Nay, we cannae," Alpin agreed. "But we also cannae simply march up tae Graham's gates and accuse him. He's too powerful, too well-connected. If we move against him without evidence, without allies, he'll crush us."
"Then we get allies." This from Iain, who'd been quiet until then. He was the most strategically minded of the councilors, always thinkin' three moves ahead. "Other clans that have suffered losses."
"Exactly." Alpin nodded. "I've already sent word tae Peadar MacGregor. He's been dealin' with similar disappearances on his lands."
"MacGregor's a good ally tae have," Dougal said approvingly. "Ye've been friends since ye were lads."
"Aye. We've fought beside each other more times than I can count." Alpin's expression softened slightly. "If anyone will stand with us against Graham, it's Peadar. He kens what's at stake as well as I dae
Malcolm tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully. "Who else?"
"I'm workin' on it. But it needs tae be done carefully. Quietly. If Graham gets wind that we're buildin' a coalition against him, he'll either go underground or strike first." Alpin leaned back in his chair. "We need time tae gather evidence, tae convince other lairds that this threat is real."
"And what about the king?" Brodie asked. "Surely if we bring proof—"
"The king is days’ ride away and has bigger concerns than a few missin' Highland lasses," Alpin said bluntly. "By the time we got his attention, Graham could move his entire operation somewhere we'll never find it. Nay, this needs tae be handled by us first."
"So, we're on our own," Tavish said.
"Fer now," Alpin confirmed. "But nae forever. Once we have solid evidence and multiple clans willin' tae stand together, then we can take it tae the king if necessary."
Dougal shifted in his seat. "And the Munro lass? Where daes she fit intae this?"
There it was. The question Alpin had been expecting since the moment he'd walked into this room.
"She was at the auction," he said simply. "Bein' sold."
"Sold?" Malcolm's eyebrows shot up. "How did a laird's daughter end up there?"
"It seems her faither sold her."
The words dropped into the silence like stones into still water. For a moment, no one spoke. No one even breathed.
Then Lachlan exploded. "Her faither? Angus Munro sold his own daughter?"
"Aye." Alpin's voice was hard. "Accordin’ tae what Graham told her, Munro needed coin tae pay debts. So, he sold both his daughters, though the younger one wasnae old enough yet tae bring in proper money."
"Christ," Brodie muttered. "That's..."
"Evil," Tavish finished flatly. "That's evil."
"Aye, it is," Alpin agreed. "Which is why when I saw her up on that platform, terrified and fightin' like hell despite bein' surrounded by guards, I made a decision."
"What kind of decision?" Malcolm asked warily.
"The kind where I followed the man who bought her and took her back by force."
Dead silence.
Then Dougal spoke, his voice carefully controlled. "Ye stole a woman from a buyer at Graham's auction."
"I freed a woman who was bein' sold against her will," Alpin corrected. "There's a difference."
"Graham willnae see it that way," Malcolm said. "Neither will the buyer. Who was it, anyway?"
"Henry Ashcombe. Duke of Ravenscar."
"An English duke?" Dougal's voice went up an octave. "Alpin, are ye mad? Ye stole from an English duke?"
"I rescued a lass from a predator," Alpin shot back. "And I'd dae it again."
"So, the Munro lass?" Lachlan asked carefully. "The one ye brought back. Will she cause problems fer the clan?"
The room went quiet, all eyes turning to Alpin.
"Nay," Alpin said firmly, meeting each councilor's gaze in turn. "She willnae."
"But Ashcombe—" Malcolm started.
"If Ashcombe comes fer her, we'll handle it." Alpin's voice was calm but left no room for argument. "And if Graham decides tae make trouble over it, we'll handle that too. I'll dae what's best fer the clan. I always have. Ye all ken that."
Dougal studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Aye, me laird. We dae."
"The lass has been through hell," Alpin continued. "She's under me protection now, which means she's under the clan's protection. If any man has a problem with that, speak now."
Silence.
"Good. Iain, I want ye tae start drawin' up a list of clans that have reported missin' women..."
Alpin leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table.
"Now here's what we're goin' tae dae. First, I'm sendin' scouts tae confirm Graham's movements.
I want tae ken where he is, what he's plannin', and if there are any more auctions scheduled.
Second, I'm writin' tae Peadar again with more details.
If he's dealin' with the same issues, maybe he has information we dinnae.
Third—" He paused. "Third, we prepare. Tighten security, increase patrols, make sure our people ken tae report anythin' suspicious.
Ashcombe willnae take kindly tae losin' his profit, and Graham willnae be happy either, when he hears it. We need tae be ready."
"What about the Munros?" Lachlan asked. "Dae they ken their daughter is here?"
"I've sent a letter to Laird Angus informin' him of Mhairi's safety and whereabouts. If he wants tae respond, he can. If he daesnae..." Alpin shrugged coldly. "Then we'll ken exactly what kind of man he is."
"And the lass herself?" Malcolm's tone had softened slightly. "How is she?"
"Terrified. Angry. Tryin' tae be brave about it." Alpin's expression gentled. "She's stronger than she kens. But she's been through hell. She needs time."
"Will she stay?" Brodie asked.
"Fer now, aye. Beyond that..." Alpin shook his head. "I've given her me word that she's free tae leave whenever she wishes. I willnae make her a prisoner just because I pulled her out of one cage."
Dougal studied him for a long moment. "Ye like her?"
"I respect her," Alpin said carefully. "She's been through more than most warriors face and she's still standin'. That deserves respect."
"That wasnae what I asked."
"Then maybe ye shouldnae have asked." Alpin's tone was mild, but there was steel underneath.
"Me personal feelin's about Mhairi Munro arenae relevant to this discussion.
What's relevant is that she's here now, which makes her the clan's concern.
And I expect every man in this castle tae treat her with the respect she deserves. Am I clear?"
"Aye, me laird," came the chorus of responses.
"Good." Alpin stood, effectively endin' the meeting.
"Iain, I want ye tae start drawin' up a list of clans that have reported missin' women.
Include any details ye can find. Malcolm, work with the captain of the guard tae increase patrols.
Lachlan, I need ye tae speak with the merchants—see if any of them have heard rumors about where the lasses from previous auctions were taken.
The rest of ye, keep yer ears open. If anyone hears anythin' about Graham or Ashcombe, I want tae ken immediately. "
The councilors rose, gathering their papers and preparing to leave. But Dougal lingered, waiting until the others had filed out before speaking again.
"Me laird."
"Aye?"
"I ken ye think I'm bein' overly cautious," the older man said quietly. "But I remember what happened tae yer faither. How his desire tae dae the right thing, tae protect people, eventually broke him. I dinnae want tae see the same thing happen tae ye."
Alpin felt his chest tighten. "I'm nae me faither."
"Nay, ye're nae. Ye're stronger, smarter, more strategic. But ye have his heart, lad. And that heart is what worries me." Dougal's eyes were sad. "Because men with hearts like that—men who feel every loss, every failure—they're the ones who burn brightest and die youngest."
"I'm nae dyin' anytime soon," Alpin said lightly, trying to ease the tension.
"See that ye dinnae." Dougal gripped his shoulder briefly. "The clan needs ye. And from what I can see, that lass needs ye too. Dinnae let either down."
Then he was gone, leaving Alpin alone in the council chamber.
Alpin sank back into his chair, suddenly exhausted. The meeting had gone about as well as he'd expected—which was to say, not great but not terribly either. His councilors would support him, even if some of them thought he was taking unnecessary risks.
But Dougal's words echoed in his mind.
That heart is what worries me.
Was he taking on too much? Risking too much for someone he barely know.
The image of Mhairi on that auction platform flashed through his mind. The terror in her grey eyes. The way she'd fought despite knowing it was hopeless. The broken sound of her voice when she had talked about how Graham had told her the truth about her father.
No.
He wasn’t taking on too much. He was doing exactly what needed to be done.
And if that meant standing against Graham, against Ashcombe, against anyone who thought they could buy and sell human lives, then so be it.
Alpin rose from his chair and moved to the window, looking out over the courtyard. Somewhere in this castle, Mhairi was settling into her chamber. Hopefully resting. Hopefully beginning to feel safe.
He'd make sure it stayed that way.
No matter what it cost him.