Chapter 33
Ada stood at the window of their chamber, watching the sun sink toward the horizon. Two days had passed in a blur of preparation and planning. Two days of Magnus drilling her on what to do, what to say, how to signal if something went wrong.
Two days of pretending she wasn't terrified.
"It's almost time."
Magnus's voice came from behind her. Ada turned to find him standing in the doorway, already dressed for battle—leather armor, sword at his hip, his face set in grim determination.
"I ken." Ada smoothed her skirts with trembling hands. "Are the others ready?"
"Aye. Harald and his men are positioned on the northern approach.
Ragnar and Ivar are comin' from the south.
Erik and I will follow ye directly, but far enough back that they willnae see us.
" Magnus moved closer. "And Torvald will be closest, just beyond the treeline.
If ye need help, if anythin' goes wrong, he'll be there first."
Ada nodded, trying to commit it all to memory. "And after I create the diversion?"
"Get away. Find cover. And stay down until we've secured the camp." Magnus's hands came up to frame her face. "Promise me, Ada. Promise me ye'll stay safe."
"I promise." Ada leaned into his touch. "And ye promise me the same. Come back tae me, Magnus Haraldson."
"Always." He bent his head, kissed her with a tenderness that made her throat tight. "I love ye."
"I love ye too."
They stood like that fer a moment longer, holding each other, neither wanting to let go. Then Magnus pulled back, his expression hardening into the mask of the warrior everyone feared.
"It's time."
Ada followed him down through the keep, her heart hammering with each step. In the courtyard, she saw the other jarls mounted and ready, their men assembled in quiet formation. No one spoke. No one needed to.
Magnus helped her onto her mare, his hand lingering on hers for just a moment. "Be careful."
"Ye too."
Then she was riding out through the gates, alone, as the sky turned purple with approaching dusk.
The ride to the meeting point felt both endless and far too short. Ada's mind raced through everything that could go wrong—Donnan suspecting the trap, her father seeing through her act, the signal failing to reach Magnus in time.
But she forced herself to breathe. To stay calm. To remember that she wasn't truly alone. Magnus was out there somewhere, watching. Waiting.
She reached the meeting point—a small clearing beyond the eastern wall where a stream cut through the forest. Dismounted. Waited.
Minutes passed. The sun sank lower. Ada's hands clenched and unclenched at her sides.
Then she heard it, the sound of boots on fallen leaves. She turned.
Donnan emerged from the trees, a smile on his face that made her skin crawl. "Ye came. I wasnae sure ye would."
"I said I would." Ada kept her voice steady. "Is me faither here?"
"Aye. Waitin' at the camp." Donnan moved closer, too close. "But first, I wanted a moment alone with ye."
Ada's pulse quickened. "What fer?"
"Tae tell ye how glad I am. That ye're finally seein' sense." Donnan's hand came up to touch her arm. "Yer faither never deserved ye, ye ken. Treatin' ye like property tae be traded. And Magnus—" His lip curled. "He's nae better. Cold. Distant. A man who cannae even appreciate what he has."
"That's why I'm here," Ada said, forcing herself not to pull away from his touch. "Because I realized ye were right. I deserve better than this."
"Ye dae." Donnan's smile widened. "And I've been thinkin', Ada. About us. About what could happen after Magnus is dealt with."
Ada's stomach dropped. "What dae ye mean?"
"I mean that ye'll need someone tae take care of ye. Someone who appreciates ye properly." His hand slid down to grasp hers. "I've wanted ye fer years, Ada. Since before ye ran away. Since before all of this. And now—well, now there's naethin' standin' in the way."
Horror crawled up Ada's spine. "Donnan, wha—"
"Yer faither already agreed. Once Magnus is gone and yer free, ye'll be mine. We'll marry. And I'll show ye what it means to be truly valued." He pulled her closer despite her resistance. "Ye'll learn tae love me, Ada. I promise ye that."
Ada fought to keep the revulsion off her face. "I—we should go. Me faither's waitin' fer us."
"Let him wait." Donnan's other hand came up to cup her face. "I've been patient fer so long. Just let me say this."
"Nay." Ada pulled away sharply. "We need tae go. Now. Before someone notices I'm gone."
Something flickered in Donnan's expression—disappointment, maybe, or anger. But he nodded. "All right. But soon, Ada. Soon ye'll be mine properly."
He led her through the trees, his hand possessive on her arm. Ada's mind raced. She hadn't expected that. Hadn't realized that Donnan's interest went beyond simple loyalty to her father.
The man was delusional. Thought that she'd somehow fall in love with him after he helped destroy Magnus.
It made her sick.
They reached the camp as full darkness settled. Torches burned between the tents, casting dancing shadows. Men moved about—more than the fifteen Magnus had estimated. Ada counted at least twenty, maybe twenty-five.
Her father stood near the central fire, speaking with several armed men. When he saw her, he went still.
"Ada." His voice was flat. Surprised. "Ye actually came."
"Aye." Ada forced herself to move forward, to stand before him. "Donnan said ye wanted tae see me."
Conall studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes assessing. "Did he tell ye why?"
"He said ye had a plan. Tae free me from Magnus."
"Free ye." A cold smile touched Conall's lips. "Is that what ye think this is about? Yer freedom?"
Ada's stomach clenched but she kept her expression neutral. "Isnae it?"
"Oh, daughter. Ye're still so naive." Conall circled her slowly, like a predator assessing prey. "This has never been about ye. Ye were always just a means tae an end. A way tae get inside Magnus's walls. Tae weaken him from within."
"But ye're me faither."
"And ye're me property. Me tool tae use as I see fit." He stopped in front of her. "Though I'll admit, I'm surprised ye came willingly. Thought maybe that Norse savage had actually managed tae turn yer head."
"Nay." Ada forced herself to meet his eyes. "He's exactly what everyone says he is. Cold. Cruel. I couldnae stand another day in that keep."
"And yet ye stayed fer weeks." Conall's eyes narrowed. "Why should I believe ye now?"
"Because I have nowhere else tae go." Ada let desperation creep into her voice—not entirely feigned. "Ye're me blood. Where else would I turn?"
Conall was silent, studying her. Ada's heart hammered against her ribs. If he didn't believe her, if he suspected—
"Very well." He turned away. "Ye're here now. And ye'll be useful at last. When we attack tomorrow—"
"Tomorrow?" Ada couldn't hide her surprise.
"Aye. We've waited long enough. Our forces are in position, our plans are made.
" Conall gestured to the assembled men. "By this time tomorrow, Magnus Haraldson will be dead and I'll control Barra.
With the king's blessin’, of course. Since I'll be the grievin’ faither who had tae save his daughter from her savage husband. "
Ada's mouth went dry. Tomorrow. They were planning to attack tomorrow. Which meant Magnus had even less time than they'd thought.
"And what about me?" she asked. "What happens tae me after?"
"Ye'll do as ye're told." Conall's voice was dismissive. "Donnan seems tae think he wants ye. I'm inclined tae let him have ye, since he's been so useful. Consider it a reward fer his service."
Bile rose in Ada's throat. "I see."
"Good. Now prove yer loyalty." Conall gestured to the camp. "Tell me about Magnus's defenses. His routines. Where he's weakest."
This was it. The moment where Ada had to decide—feed him false information and risk him seeing through it, or tell partial truths to maintain credibility.
"The eastern wall," she said, thinking quickly. "It's the oldest part of the keep. Some of the stones are loose, the mortar crumbling. And the guards there rotate at dawn and dusk. There's always a gap of a few minutes where that section is unwatched."
Conall's eyes gleamed. "How dae ye ken this?"
"I've walked those walls. Explored the keep when Magnus was busy with other matters." Ada forced herself to look him in the eyes. "I'm nae a fool, Faither. I kent this day might come. I wanted tae be prepared."
"Smart girl." It was the closest thing to approval she'd ever heard from him. "What else?"
Ada fed him more details—some true, some false, carefully chosen to sound believable while not actually compromising Magnus's real defenses. All the while, her mind raced ahead to what came next.
She had to create her diversion soon, before Conall decided to test her loyalty in some other way. Before Donnan came back and cornered her again.
"I need tae—" Ada pressed a hand to her stomach. "I need tae relieve meself. The ride was long."
"Go." Conall waved her away dismissively. "But dinnae wander far and dinnae even think about runnin'. There's nowhere fer ye tae go out here."
Ada nodded, hurried toward the edge of camp where she'd seen supply wagons earlier. Her heart pounded so hard she could barely hear anything else.
Behind the wagons, away from the main fire, barrels were stacked—some marked with symbols she recognized. Oil. Pitch. Materials meant for burning.
Perfect.
Ada glanced around. Most of the men were gathered near the fire, listening to Conall outline the attack plan. A few stood guard at the camp's perimeter, but they were facing outward, watching for threats from outside.
No one was watching her.
Ada's hands shook as she reached for one of the smaller oil barrels. Carefully, quietly, she tipped it over. Watched the dark liquid spread across the ground, soaking into the dry grass and fallen leaves.
Then she grabbed a torch from its holder near the wagon. Held it for just a moment, gathering her courage.
I'm sorry.
Though she wasn't sure who she was apologizing to.
But this ends now.
She dropped the torch onto the spreading oil.
Flames erupted instantly, faster and fiercer than she'd expected. They raced across the oil-soaked ground, climbed up the side of the wagon, caught on the canvas covering the supplies.
Within seconds, the entire corner of the camp was ablaze.
Men shouted. Chaos erupted. Ada stumbled backward, away from the flames, her heart racing.
This was it. The signal.
Now she just had to pray that Magnus had seen it. That he was close enough to strike before her father realized what she'd done.
That she'd survive the next few minutes.