Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
"The Royal party is preparin’ tae depart, me laird."
David looked up from the report he'd been reviewing to find Malcolm standing in the doorway of his study. Dawn light filtered through the window, painting everything in shades of gold and grey.
"Good. Make sure they have everythin' they need fer the journey." David set down the parchment.
"Aye, me laird." Malcolm hesitated. "If I may, ye handled the Regent’s visit well. Both of ye did."
"We survived it," David corrected.
"Perhaps. But ye convinced him. That's what matters." Malcolm's expression turned more serious. "Though I'd wager Langley willnae be pleased when he hears."
"Langley can rot in hell fer all I care." David stood, moving to the window. He could see the courtyard below, where the Duke’s men were loading supplies onto horses. "His opinion stopped matterin’ the moment the Duke declared our marriage legitimate."
"Assumin’ he accepts the Duke’s judgment."
"He'll have nay choice." But even as David said it, he felt doubt niggling at the back of his mind. Men like Langley didn't accept defeat gracefully. Didn't bow to authority when it contradicted what they wanted.
They plotted. Schemed. Found ways around obstacles rather than accepting them.
"I hope ye're right, me laird." Malcolm moved to leave, then paused. "Lady Elinor asked me to tell ye breakfast is ready. She's waitin' fer ye in the solar."
David found Elinor exactly where Malcolm had said, curled up in one of the chairs by the fire. She wore a simpler, more comfortable gown that morning, and her hair was loose around her shoulders.
She looked relaxed. Happy, even.
"There ye are," she said, smiling up at him. "I wasn't sure if you'd eaten yet."
"I havenae. Been busy with reports." He moved to the chair opposite her, accepting the plate she'd prepared for him. "Ye look pleased with yerself."
"I am. We survived the Crown’s visit. The Duke believed us. He's leaving today convinced our marriage is real." Her smile widened. "That's worth being pleased about, don't you think?"
"Aye. It is." David took a bite of bread, chewing thoughtfully. "Though I'll feel better once he's actually gone and we can stop performin' fer royal approval."
"We weren't performing. Not really." Elinor set down her plate, her expression turning more serious. "Everything we told him was true. The important parts, at least."
"The parts about us, aye. The parts about how we met—" He shook his head. "That was fabrication."
"Necessary fabrication." She reached across the space between them, taking his hand. "And it worked. That's what matters."
David squeezed her hand gently, wanting to believe her optimism. Wanting to think that the worst was behind them.
But years of experience had taught him that letting your guard down was when disaster struck.
"What are ye thinkin'?" Elinor asked, reading his expression.
"Just wonderin' what Langley will dae when he hears. He willnae be happy."
"No. But he'll have to accept it." Elinor's voice was firm.
A sharp knock interrupted them. David stood, moving to the door to find one of his guards, looking agitated.
"Me laird. A messenger just arrived. Says it's urgent."
"From who?"
"Scouts. On the north border."
David's stomach dropped. "Send him to me study. I'll be there shortly."
He closed the door and turned back to Elinor, who was already standing, concern written across her face.
"What is it?"
"Probably naethin'. Just the scouts reportin' in." But his tone suggested otherwise. "Stay here. Finish yer breakfast. I'll come find ye once I ken what's happenin'."
"David…"
"Please, lass. Let me handle this first." He crossed to her, kissing her forehead. "I'll tell ye everythin' once I ken more. I promise."
She nodded reluctantly, and David left before she could argue further.
The messenger was young, barely twenty, and clearly exhausted from hard riding. He stood in David's study with mud splattered on his clothes and his face drawn with fatigue.
"Report," David said without preamble.
"Scouts spotted movement on the north border, me laird. Large group. At least fifty men, maybe more. Armed and movin' with purpose."
"Langley's men?"
"We couldnae get close enough to confirm. But they're organized. Disciplined."
David moved to the map on his wall, studying the northern approaches. "Where exactly?"
The messenger pointed to a valley that led directly toward Keppoch. "Here. They made camp two days ago. Havenae moved since."
"Two days?" David's jaw tightened. "Why am I only hearin' about this now?"
"The scout who spotted them was injured gettin' away. Took him a day to make it back to the outpost. Then another day to get word here." The messenger looked apologetic. "We came as fast as we could."
"Aye. I ken that." David studied the map, his mind racing. Fifty men wasn't a large force. Not enough for a full assault on Keppoch's walls. But enough to cause problems. Enough to harass his lands, attack supply lines, make life difficult.
Or enough to be a distraction while something else happened.
"Increase patrols," he ordered. "I want eyes on every approach tae Keppoch. And send word tae our allies, although it is a bit late fer help. MacLeod, MacKinnon, the others. Tell them we may have a situation developin'."
"Aye, me laird." The messenger bowed and left quickly.
David remained at the map, staring at the mark indicating where Langley's men—if that's who they were—had made camp. Two days. They'd been there two days, just sitting. Waiting.
For what?
David remained in his study, staring at the map and trying to think several moves ahead. If Langley was camped to the north, what was his actual plan? A direct assault seemed foolish, Keppoch's walls were strong, its defenses sound.
Unless the point wasn't to take the castle. Unless the point was something else entirely.
David found Elinor in their bedchamber, pacing nervously. She turned as soon as he entered, her eyes wide with questions.
"What happened? What did the messenger say?"
"Come here." He pulled her down to sit beside him on the bed. "I need tae tell ye somethin', and I need ye tae stay calm."
"That's not a reassuring way to start." But she gripped his hand tightly. "Tell me."
"Scouts have spotted men on our northern border. Armed. Organized. At least fifty of them."
Her face went pale. "Langley."
"Most likely, aye."
"But the Duke just declared our marriage legitimate. He said he'd order Langley to stand down."
"I ken. And he's goin' tae send a letter makin' his position clear." David squeezed her hand. "But men like Langley, they dinnae always listen tae reason. Even when it comes from the Crown."
"So what do we do?"
"We prepare. I've already increased patrols, sent word to our allies." He tried to keep his voice calm, reassuring. "Keppoch's defenses are strong. We've plenty of supplies. And Langley daesnae have the numbers fer a proper siege."
"Then what's he planning?" Elinor's voice was sharp with fear. "Why would he position men there if he's not planning to attack?"
"I dinnae ken yet. But I will." He pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I promise ye, lass. Whatever he's plannin', we'll be ready fer it."
They sat like that for several minutes, neither speaking. David could feel the tension radiating from Elinor's body, could hear the slight tremor in her breathing.
"The Duke thinks the letter will help," he said finally. "That it might make Langley reconsider."
"Do you believe that?"
David wanted to lie. Wanted to tell her yes, that everything would be fine, that Langley would read the king's letter and immediately withdraw.
But he'd promised her honesty.
"Nay," he admitted quietly. "I wish I could say yes. That men like Langley respond to authority and reason. But in me experience, obsessed men dinnae stop just because they're told tae. They find ways around obstacles. They plot and scheme until they get what they want."
"So he's going to attack."
"Probably. Eventually." David shifted to face her fully. "But that daesnae mean he'll succeed. Keppoch has never been breached. Never. We've withstood worse than one English knight with delusions of ownership."
"He doesn't just think he owns me." Elinor's voice was bitter. "He thinks he deserves me. That I was stolen from him unfairly. In his mind, he's the wronged party. The hero coming to rescue me from the barbarian Highlander."
"Let him think that. It'll make him sloppy." David cupped her face with both hands. "Listen tae me. Whatever happens, I will protect ye. I swear it. He willnae take ye from here. Nae while I'm alive."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Tears shone in her eyes. "That protecting me will cost you everything. Your life. Your clan. Everything you've built."
"Then it costs me everythin'." His voice was fierce. "Because ye're worth it. Ye're worth all of it and more."
"Promise me something," she whispered.
"Anythin'."
"Promise me you won't do anything reckless. That you'll think about the clan. About yourself. Not just about protecting me."
"Elinor."
"Please. I need to know that if it comes down to a choice between your life and mine, you won't just—" Her voice broke. "I couldn't bear it. If something happened to you because of me."
David pulled back enough to look at her. "Naethin's goin' tae happen tae me. Or tae ye. We're goin' tae survive this taegether."
"You can't promise that."
"Nay. But I can promise I'll dae everythin' in me power tae make it true." He brushed away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "Now come on. Let's go see what Cook can prepare fer a potential siege. We might as well make sure we're well-fed while we wait fer Langley tae make his move."
Three days passed in tense anticipation.
David increased security, posted extra guards, and drilled his men until they moved like a well-oiled machine.
And they waited.
Elinor threw herself into practical preparations—organizing supplies, checking inventories, making sure the castle was ready for anything. David watched her transform from terrified wife to capable chatelaine, and felt pride mix with his worry.
On the third day, the scouts returned with news.
David was in the courtyard, overseeing sword practice, when he saw the rider approaching at full gallop. He knew before the man even opened his mouth that the news would be bad.
"Me laird!" The scout dismounted in a rush. "They're movin'. Langley's forces. Headin' this way."
"How many?"
"We counted at least a hundred. Maybe more. They've been reinforced."
A hundred men. That was a proper army. Enough for a siege.
"How long until they arrive?"
"If they maintain their current pace? Tomorrow mornin' at the latest."
David's mind raced. "Send word tae the Covenant.
Tell them we need reinforcements. Now." He turned to his captain.
"Lock down the castle. Nay one in or out without me express permission.
And get everyone inside the walls. I want every crofter, every family from the surrounding lands, brought inside where they'll be safe. "
Orders were shouted. Men scrambled to obey. David stood in the center of the chaos, his mind already moving through defensive strategies.
"David."
He turned to find Elinor standing a few paces away, her face pale but composed. She'd heard.
"How long?" she asked quietly.
"Tomorrow mornin', maybe. If we're lucky, we'll have until afternoon." He moved to her, taking her hands. "I need ye tae dae somethin' fer me."
"Anything."
"I need ye tae go tae the keep. The most defensible part of the castle. And I need ye tae stay there until this is over."
"No." Her voice was flat. "I'm not hiding while you fight."
"Elinor, listen tae me."
"I said no." She squeezed his hands. "I'm not some delicate flower who needs to be locked away for her own protection. I can help. I can tend the wounded. Organize supplies. Coordinate with the servants. I can do something useful instead of just sitting in a room waiting and worrying."
"If Langley breaches the walls—"
"Then I'll deal with it when it happens. But I won't hide. Not from this. Not from him." Her eyes were fierce. "You said we face things together. So let's face this together."
David wanted to argue. Wanted to order her to the keep and post guards to make sure she stayed there.
But looking at her face, at the determination written in every line of it, he knew it would be pointless. She'd made her decision. And he'd promised to treat her as a partner, not a possession to be protected.
"Alright," he said finally. "But ye stay away from the walls. Away from anywhere arrows can reach. Understood?"
"Understood."
"And if I give an order, any order, ye follow it immediately. Nay questions. Nay arguments."
"I can agree to that."
He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "I love ye, lass."
"I love you too." She pulled back, cupping his face. "Now go. Dae what ye need tae dae. I'll handle things here."
David watched her walk away, her spine straight and her shoulders squared. His wife. His partner. The woman who refused to hide even when death was coming for them.
God, he loved her.
"Me laird?" His captain was waiting. "What are yer orders?"
David turned back to the courtyard, to his men waiting for direction. To the castle that needed defending and the people who needed protecting.
"We prepare," he said, his voice carrying across the suddenly quiet space. "We prepare, and we show Langley what happens when ye threaten a MacDonald's home."
The men roared their approval.
And as the sun began its descent toward the horizon, Keppoch prepared for war.