Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
"They're here."
Alpin looked up from the supply reports he'd been reviewing to find Callum standing in the doorway of his office. Through the window, he could hear the sound of horses entering the courtyard, more than just a few, by the sound of it.
"How many in the party?" he asked, already moving toward the door.
"Maybe twenty guards, plus packhorses. Peadar's nae takin’ any chances travelin’ through uncertain territory."
"Smart." Alpin grabbed his cloak from the hook by the door. "Is Mhairi—"
"Already in the courtyard waitin’ fer ye." Callum's expression was knowing. "She insisted on being there tae greet them."
Of course she had.
Mhairi had been nervous about the meeting all morning, asking questions about Peadar and Kenina, worrying about making a good impression, fretting that her presence might somehow complicate the alliance.
Alpin had finally pulled her aside and told her firmly that she was part of them now, that her perspective mattered. That Kenina, of all people, would understand exactly what she'd been through.
That had seemed to settle her somewhat.
Now, as Alpin emerged into the courtyard, he spotted Mhairi immediately.
She stood near the stable entrance, wearing one of her newer dressess. Her hair was braided and pinned in a style Freya had probably helped with, and her hands were clasped loosely in front of her.
She looked composed. Dignified. Like she belonged.
Their eyes met across the courtyard, and Alpin felt that now-familiar warmth spread through his chest.
Two nights ago, she'd fallen asleep in his arms, and they’d made love. He was falling for her. Had already fallen, if he was being honest with himself.
The sound of hoofbeats drew his attention back to the gate. The first riders were entering now, MacGregor warriors in their clan colors, weapons visible but not drawn. A show of strength and preparedness without aggression.
Then came Peadar himself.
Alpin hadn't seen his friend in nearly six months, and time had clearly been kind to him. Peadar looked more settled somehow, more at peace than Alpin remembered.
Marriage agreed with him.
Beside Peadar rode a woman who could only be Kenina.
Dark hair pulled back in a practical braid, intelligent eyes taking in everything around her, sitting on her horse with the confidence of someone who'd been riding since childhood.
She wore travel-appropriate clothing rather than anything fine, and Alpin respected that immediately.
Peadar dismounted first, then moved to help Kenina down despite her clearly not needing the assistance. The gesture was automatic, affectionate, and she smiled at him as she landed.
"Alpin!" Peadar's voice carried across the courtyard. "Good tae see ye, me friend."
"And ye." Alpin crossed to meet them, clasping Peadar's forearm in the traditional greeting. "Thank ye fer comin’. I ken the journey wasnae easy this time of year."
"Worth it if it means finally bringin’ Graham down." Peadar turned to the woman beside him. "Kenina, this is Alpin MacDougal. Alpin, me wife, Kenina."
"Lady MacGregor." Alpin bowed slightly. "Welcome tae MacDougal lands. Thank ye fer makin’ the journey."
"Please, just Kenina." Her smile was warm but her eyes were sharp, already assessing him. "And thank ye fer the invitation. Peadar's told me much about ye."
"All lies, I'm sure."
"Mostly complimentary, actually." She glanced past him. "And is that—"
"Mhairi." Alpin gestured for her to join them. "Mhairi Munro, may I present Laird Peadar MacGregor and his wife, the Lady Kenina."
Mhairi moved forward, her composure holding despite the nervousness Alpin could see in the tight set of her shoulders. "Me laird. Me lady. Welcome."
"Just Peadar, please." His friend's expression had gone soft with understanding. "Alpin mentioned in his letter what ye've been through. I'm sorry fer it."
"As am I," Kenina added. And there was something in her eyes—recognition, perhaps, of shared trauma. "Though I'm glad Alpin was there tae help ye."
"He saved me life," Mhairi said simply. "More than once."
"That sounds like him." Peadar glanced at Alpin with a knowing look. "Always the hero."
"I'm nae a hero. I just did what needed daein’." Alpin gestured toward the keep. "Come inside. Ye must be exhausted from the journey. We've prepared chambers fer ye, and food if ye're hungry."
"Food sounds wonderful," Kenina said. "Though I'd also appreciate the chance tae discuss strategy sooner rather than later. The sooner we plan, the sooner we can act."
"Agreed." Alpin led them toward the entrance, Mhairi falling into step beside him while Peadar and Kenina followed. "I've had maps and intelligence reports prepared. We can review everything over the meal."
They made their way through the castle to the same small dining room where Alpin and Mhairi usually took their meals. Spread across one end were maps of the Highlands, marked with notes and observations.
As they settled into their seats, Kenina's eyes went immediately to the maps. "May I?"
"Please." Alpin pushed them toward her. "The red marks indicate known auction sites. Blue marks are villages that have reported missin’ women. Green are Graham's known properties and holdings."
Kenina studied the maps intently while servants brought food.
Peadar watched her with obvious pride, and Alpin caught Mhairi's eye, seeing his own thoughts reflected there—these two were clearly a partnership in every sense of the word.
"There's a pattern here," Kenina said after a moment, her finger tracing routes between marks.
"Look, the raids happen in a specific sequence.
He hits the outer villages first, the ones with less protection.
Then he waits a few weeks before moving tae the next territory.
It gives him time to move the women through his network before anyone can organize a proper response. "
"Ye've studied this," Alpin observed.
"I've lived it." Kenina's voice was matter-of-fact. "I was taken in one of those raids. I ken exactly how Graham operates because I saw it firsthand."
"Which means he has scouts," Peadar added. "People who move through clan territories gatherin’ intelligence. Probably traders, tinkers, anyone who has legitimate reason tae travel and willnae draw suspicion."
"We've been thinkin’ the same," Alpin said. "Which makes it difficult tae ken who tae trust. Any stranger could be workin’ fer Graham."
"It's more than just scouts." Kenina pulled another map closer.
"He also uses established routes—rivers, old tradin’ roads, paths that avoid major settlements.
I remember being moved through forests and along waterways, always staying out of sight.
They have safe houses, places where they can hide the women between auctions. "
"Can ye mark them?" Alpin asked. "The routes ye remember, the safe houses?"
"Some of them. It's been over a year, and I was terrified at the time, but I'll dae me best." Kenina accepted a charcoal stick from Peadar and began marking the map carefully.
"Here…there was a building near this river bend.
Old grain storage, abandoned but still intact.
And here, along this road, there was a cottage that looked occupied but wasnae. They kept us there fer two nights."
Mhairi had gone pale, but she didn't look away. Instead, she pulled one of the other maps toward her. "The auction house where I was taken, it was underground. In what looked like an old warehouse from the outside. Stone walls, low ceilings, packed with men."
"That's the same one where I was sold," Kenina said, meeting Mhairi's eyes. "I recognize yer description. It's one of Graham's primary locations, central enough tae draw buyers from multiple regions but hidden enough that authorities dinnae notice. He has more than one auction house."
"So shuttin’ down one auction house willnae be enough," Mhairi said quietly.
"Nay. We'd need tae hit all of them simultaneously, or he'll just move the operation tae whichever sites remain intact." Peadar's expression was grim. "That means coordinatin’ multiple attacks across different territories. Which requires—"
"More clans," Alpin finished. "More warriors. More allies willin’ tae commit tae this fight."
"Dae ye have anyone in mind?" Kenina asked.
"A few. Clan Fraser owes us a favor, they might commit warriors if I call it in. Clan Morrison has lost women tae Graham's raids as well. Clan Campbell..." He hesitated. "Campbell's laird is cautious, but he's also honorable. If we present him with solid evidence, he might join us."
"What about Clan Drummond?" Alpin asked carefully.
The room went quiet. Paedar knew exactly what his friend was really asking—would Torcull Drummond, Graham's former ally and the man who'd nearly destroyed Peadar's clan, be a threat or a resource?
"As ye ken, Drummond is dead," Peadar said. "Killed in the battle when I took Kenina back. His heir is young, untested, and from what I hear, wants nothing tae dae with his father's alliances."
"So potentially an ally rather than an enemy," Alpin mused. "Though we'd need tae approach carefully. The new laird might be wary of joinin’ a coalition that includes the man who killed his faither."
"I killed Torcull in fair combat after he attacked our lands," Peadar said evenly. "If the son has any honor, he'll understand the difference."
They continued discussing potential allies through the meal, marking the map with possibilities and concerns.
Mhairi contributed occasionally, her observations sharp and practical. Alpin noticed Kenina watching her with approval, as if recognizing something in the younger woman.
Finally, as servants cleared the dishes, Kenina sat back and surveyed the marked-up maps.