Chapter 16 #2
"I ken his type." Alpin stood, moving closer to the bars. "So, here's yer choice. Ye can sit here in silence, loyal tae a man who's already fergotten ye exist. Or ye can answer me questions and maybe I'll see about gettin' ye out of this cell alive."
The prisoner stared at him for a long moment. Then: "Ok."
"Good. Let's start with what matters most." Alpin's voice dropped lower. "Why is Ashcombe really here? Is it about the coin he paid Graham, or is it about the lass?"
The man hesitated, then laughed bitterly. "Ye really don’t know, do you?"
"Ken what?"
"The duke doesn’t give a damn about the money. Never did." The prisoner's eyes were hard now, all pretense of resistance gone. "He wants the girl. That's all he cares about. The coin, the auction, the contract with Graham, none of it matters. He just wants her back."
Alpin's hands tightened on the bars. "Why?"
"Because the duke... he doesn’t take kindly to being robbed."
"She's nae property tae be stolen."
"Try telling him that." The prisoner's laugh was bitter. "He's got contracts, proof of purchase. As far as English law is concerned, that girl belongs to him."
"This isnae England."
"No. But that will not stop him from coming for her."
The words hung in the cold air between them. Alpin forced himself to stay calm, to think strategically rather than react emotionally.
"How many men can he call on?" he asked.
"More than ye have."
"That wasnae an answer."
The prisoner considered, then shrugged. "Right now? About fifty at the border camp. But he's got connections. Other English lords who owe him favors. If he decides to make this a real fight, he could bring hundreds."
"Would he?"
"For her? Aye. I think he would." The man's eyes were steady now. "You humiliated him. Took what he'd bought, made him look weak in front of his men. Men like Ashcombe... they don’t forget that kind of slight."
Alpin stepped back from the bars, his mind already racing ahead. Fifty men now, potentially hundreds later. Against his garrison of maybe hundred trained warriors, plus whatever militia he could raise from the surrounding villages.
"One more question," Alpin said. "If I offered Ashcombe the coin he paid fer the girl––returned it in full, with interest––would he take it and leave?"
The prisoner shook his head slowly. "No. As I said, this isn’t about money anymore. It's about pride. About ownership. About proving that a Highland laird cannae just steal from an English duke without consequences."
"Then he's a fool."
"Maybe. But he's a fool with an army."
Alpin nodded slowly, absorbing it all. Then he turned toward the stairs.
"Wait," the prisoner called. "Ye said you'd let me out. If I talked."
"I said maybe." Alpin glanced back. "But I dinnae negotiate with men who threaten me people. Guards!"
The two warriors appeared at the top of the stairs immediately.
"Keep him fed and tended," Alpin ordered. "But nay visitors and nay messages in or out. If he tries anythin', put him in irons."
"Aye, me laird."
Alpin took the stairs two at a time, his mind already moving to the next step. He would speak with his Council. He had to send for reinforcements from allied clans.
Alpin straightened, every inch the laird now.
We prepare fer war.
The council chamber filled quickly once word spread.
Callum, Fergus, Lachlan, Brodie, and the others arrived within minutes, taking their seats around the long table.
Alpin didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"Ashcombe wants Lady Mhairi," he said flatly. "Nae the money. Nae a negotiated settlement. Just her. And he's got fifty men camped at our border right now, with potentially hundreds more he can call on."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled over them.
Fergus was the first to speak. "Fifty now, but hundreds if he calls in favors?"
"Aye." Alpin spread a map across the table. "The prisoner confirmed it. Ashcombe has connections with other English lords. If this escalates, we could be facin' a significant force."
"How many warriors dae we have ready?" Lachlan asked.
"One hundred trained warriors in our garrison," Alpin said, his finger tracing their holdings on the map. "About one hundred militia, probably less, we can call up from the villages if needed. We're the strongest clan in these territories, we have good numbers and trainin’."
Malcolm shifted in his seat, his weathered face troubled. "Me laird, I dinnae question yer strength or yer warriors. But... is it worth riskin' them? Fer one lass?"
The question hung in the air. Several council members exchanged glances, clearly thinking the same thing even if they wouldn't say it aloud.
Alpin's jaw tightened, but he kept his voice level. "What are ye suggestin', Malcolm?"
"I'm suggestin'..." Malcolm chose his words carefully, "that we have tae think of the clan first. Our warriors have families. If we go tae war with an English duke, if men die defendin' this girl... will their wives and children understand why?"
"Malcolm has a point," Brodie said quietly. "It's nae that we dinnae trust yer judgment, me laird. But riskin' our warriors, potentially drawin' other clans intae conflict with the English... that's a heavy price."
"Ye're worried about the cost," Alpin said.
"Aye," Malcolm admitted. "I am. We all are. Nae because we question yer leadership, but because we have tae consider what's best fer everyone. The girl brought trouble with her. Through nay fault of her own, aye, but trouble nonetheless."
Alpin looked around the table, seeing the concern on their faces. They weren't opposing him, they were worried. Worried about their families, their people, the warriors who would have to fight if this came to battle.
And they had every right to be.
"I understand yer concerns," Alpin said. "And ye're right tae voice them. But here's what ye need tae understand, I have more warriors than Ashcombe does right now. Clan MacDougal is the most powerful in these territories. We're nae some small holdin’ he can intimidate."
He straightened, meeting each man's eyes in turn. "If we show weakness now, if we hand over someone under our protection because an English lord demands it, what message daes that send? That the MacDougals bow tae threats? That our word of protection means naethin'?"
"That's nae what we're sayin'—" Malcolm started.
"I ken what ye're sayin'. Ye want tae knkenow if she's worth the risk." Alpin's voice was firm but not harsh. "And I'm tellin' ye, it's nae just about her. It's about what we stand fer. If we let Ashcombe take her, we admit that English gold and English threats matter more than Scottish honor."
Callum stood. "The laird's right. We cannae show weakness. Nae tae the English."
"And if it comes tae war?" Brodie asked. "If hundreds of English soldiers march on our lands?"
"Then we fight," Alpin said simply. "With our two hundred trained warriors, the best fighters in the Highlands. With our knowledge of this terrain. With our alliances."
"So ye'd call in other clans?" Fergus asked. "Bring them intae this?"
"Only if necessary," Alpin said. "Right now, I'm hopin' Ashcombe sees sense. He's camped with fifty men against our two hundred. Those aren't favorable odds for him, and he kens it. He may be posturin', testin' our resolve."
Lachlan nodded slowly. "And if we hold firm, he might back down."
"That's me hope." Alpin's jaw tightened. "But if he daesnae... if he pushes this tae war... then I need tae ken ye're all with me. I need tae ken that when I tell Lady Mhairi she's safe here, that promise is backed by the full strength of Clan MacDougal."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Then Callum spoke. "I'm with ye, me laird. As always."
"As am I," Fergus said. "The girl deserves our protection. And the English deserve tae learn they cannae just buy and sell people on Scottish soil."
One by one, the others nodded their agreement.
Even Malcolm, though he still looked troubled. "I'm with ye, me laird. Though I pray it desnae come tae bloodshed."
"So dae I," Alpin said quietly. "So dae I."
He looked down at the map. "Fer now, we prepare. Lachlan, I want our warriors on heightened alert. Double the patrols along the southern border. I want tae ken immediately if Ashcombe's numbers change."
"Aye, me laird."
"Brodie, make sure our stores are secure. If we need tae withstand a siege, I want us prepared."
"Already on it."
"And Callum..." Alpin met his friend's eyes. "Ride tae Clan MacGregor. Nae tae ask fer warriors yet, but tae let them ken what's happenin'. If this escalates, I want them ready tae help."
"I'll leave at dawn."
"Good." Alpin straightened. "We show Ashcombe that Clan MacDougal doesnae yield to threats. We have the warriors, we have the strength, and we have the will tae defend what's ours. He picked the wrong clan tae challenge."
The council members began to disperse, their expressions resolved now rather than uncertain.