Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
A larmed, she sat bolt upright, instantly alert to the sounds of preparation going on outside, shouted orders, loud voices, the rattle of weaponry, men and horses moving about in numbers.
Is he goin’ without me? He cannae dae that! He promised tae take me with him!
She got up, pulled on her cap, shirt, and trousers and ran outside.
She spotted Ewan immediately. He was standing over a small table with Colin and his sergeants gathered around him. A broad, powerful figure, he stood a head taller than the tallest of them and was talking and stabbing a finger at a map on the table, clearly engrossed in going over the plans for the attack. He looked every inch the fearsome, seasoned warrior, clad in full battle gear.
He wore his leather trews and long boots, and a long mail shirt that reached almost to his knees showed below the hem of his studded leather jerkin. Thick leather pads protected his shoulders and laced leather vambraces his wrists and hands. His gloves were stuck in his belt, his helmet rested by his feet along with his shield. His weapon’s belt held his sword and two, foot-long dirks. With his dark, determined features and look of intent, he was a sight to instill fear in the bravest of fighters.
Nevertheless, she feared for his safety, and she was not about to let him go without her. She was terrified that if it came down to it and Gregory got the better of him in the fray, she had to be there to plead for his life, and vice versa. So, she did not hesitate to run over to him and confront him. She pushed herself between him and Colin and said loudly, “What are ye doin’? Were ye plannin’ on goin’ without me when ye promised tae take me with ye? Why have ye nae called me tae get ready?!”
With Colin and the other men looking on with surprise, and some amusement, Ewan proceeded to tell her gently but firmly, “I changed me mind. ’Tis too dangerous, Harris, and ye’re too young and inexperienced. So, I’ve decided ye’ll nae be comin’ with us after all.”
Frustrated and angry, Isla grabbed his arm. “But ye promised! I havetae come with ye!” she cried.
Ewan looked at Colin and his men and said calmly, “Ye’ll havetae excuse me fer a minute. Carry on.” Then she grasped Isla firmly by her arm and steered her into the tent.
“Ye havetae take me with ye, Ewan, ye gave me yer word last night,” she repeated, toe to toe with him, desperate to change his mind.
“Annie, what’s all this about? Look, I told ye, I’ve made me decision. ’Tis best if ye stay here out of harm’s way,” he told her in a low voice.
“Nay! I’m nae lettin’ ye leave me here. I havetae come with ye,” she exclaimed, unwilling to give in.
“Can ye nae understand why I changed me mind? I cannae bear the idea of ye gettin’ hurt, especially nae now,” he argued. “Ye must stay here, Annie, where ye’ll be safe and can get away if things go bad.”
“But d’ye nae see that’s why I havetae come with ye?! I cannae bear the thought of somethin’ bad happenin’ tae ye either. I need tae be there tae protect ye!”
He looked taken aback and almost smiled. “What? How the hell are ye gonnae protect me? What d’ye think ye’re gonnae dae if I get injured or someone tries tae kill me? Are ye gonnae fight them off with yer dirk?” he asked, clearly exasperated by her insistence.
“Ach, why will ye nae listen tae me?” she cried, bunching her fists at her sides. “I can protect ye!”
He shook his head, obviously bewildered. “Have ye gone mad? Ye are gonnae protect me?”
“Aye!”
He folded his arms and stared down at her, clearly humoring her. “All right, explain tae me exactly how ye mean tae dae that.”
She lost her temper completely then, and before she knew what she was saying, she blurted out, “Because Gregory Galbraith is me braither, and I might just be able tae stop ye from killin’ each other!”
A deafening silence fell between them. Ewan’s mouth had fallen open, and he was staring at her, looking as though he had been poleaxed. Eventually he said, “Say that again.”
Isla sighed, knowing there was no going back now. Taking a deep breath, she explained as calmly as she could, “Me name is Isla Galbraith, and I’m the sister of Laird Gregory Galbraith. I care deeply about the both of ye, and I dinnae want either of ye tae get hurt. But without me there today, ye’ll try tae kill each other. That’s why ye must take me with ye.”
He was so stunned by the revelation, he had to grip the back of the chair tightly to stop himself from staggering and falling on his knees. For a moment or two he could only stare at her in dumb shock. Eventually, he found his voice. “Ye-ye’re Galbraith’s sister, the one that’s supposed tae be missin’?” he said, hating the way his voice shook.
Annie, no, Isla Galbraith, lifted her chin, looked him in the eye, and nodded. “Aye. I’m sorry I had tae lie tae ye about me true identity, Ewan, but I couldnae think of any other way of protectin’ mesel’ and gettin’ ye tae let me stay in the camp and learn more,” she explained with an almost calm voice.
He turned aside, raking his fingers through his hair as the truth came crashing in on him from all sides. “That’s why ye came here in the first place, tae kill me, because ye’re his sister! And ye stayed because ye’ve been spyin’ on me all this time, lyin’ tae me about who ye are.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve been a fool. Colin was right all along. Nay wonder ye’ve been sneakin’ off every chance ye get. I suppose ye’ve been reportin’ back tae yer braither every word I’ve said.”
“If I had, then why has the siege lasted so long? And why are ye now plannin’ tae attack the castle, the castle full of people I’ve kent all me life? Besides, how could I when ye’ve hardly let me out of yer sight? And of course, I wanted tae kill ye at first because ye threatened me braither and clan, the only family I have left. I had tae try tae dae somethin’ tae protect him. Ye were me enemy!” she cried passionately. “I was afraid that if ye kent who I was, ye’d hold me fer ransom, use me tae force Gregory intae givin’ way tae ye. I couldnae let that happen.”
Ewan rounded on her angrily. “That’s a dammed lie! I’m nae like Allan. I would never stoop so low as tae use a woman that way. I ken what it is tae lose a sister. I meant tae find ye and send ye back safe tae yer braither,” he declared, breathing hard with emotion.
“All right, I ken that now, but that was what I believed at first,” she replied. “That was afore I got tae ken ye, Ewan,” she went on in a gentler tone, trying to approach him. But he turned away from her, unable to look at her. The betrayal hurt so much, he could hardly stand it.
“Ye lied tae me, ye made me care about ye, ye laid with me fer God’s sake! And all the time ye were the sister of the very man I seek tae defeat, the woman I sent me men out huntin fer, who I was so worried about.” Pain stabbed at his heart like a dagger.
“Ewan, please, listen tae me—” she began, but he held up his hand to cut her off.
“Dinnae say anymore. I’ve heard enough.” Shocked and heartbroken, he realized that their relationship was fraught with impossible obstacles. He quickly came to a decision. “I cannae trust ye, I’ll never be able tae trust ye. What we have had can only lead only tae ruin. Leave now and go back tae yer braither. ’Tis best if we dinnae speak again.”
“But, Ewan, I dinnae wantae leave ye,” she said pleadingly, starting to sob. “Let me help ye win yer peace. I can help ye. I can talk tae Gregory.”
He shook his head, hardening his heart. “Go, I said. Now.” He turned his back on her. She waited for a few moments in silence and then did as he said, stifling her sobs as she left the tent. He was shaking, so he spent a few minutes taking deep breaths, assembling a mask of composure before he pulled himself up, straightened his shoulders, and marched out of the tent to join his men.