Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
The dawn sun crept over Isla’s face and made her stir. She blinked slowly, gathering her senses. She turned and smiled at Gavin, who was looking at her. He seemed more relaxed than she had ever seen him before.
“How long hae ye been awake?”
“A while. I enjoyed watching ye sleep. Ye looked sae peaceful,” he replied.
She nipped her lower lip and then kissed him again before pressing her forehead against his. They shared the same breath and she felt his heart beating. It was powerful and it thundered in her mind. She never wanted to lose it. She gripped his hand and kissed his fingers.
“Gavin, I never want tae lose this. Whatever happens, let us never be parted again. I swear that I will nae let my father come between us. We need tae be strong. We can finally hae all we hae ever wanted.”
Gavin had a somber look on his face. “There’s naething I want more, but I am afraid, Isla. I’ve wanted this for sae long but I am nae the type of man tae enjoy happy endings. Everything turns tae ash.”
“Nae this. Nae us,” Isla said quickly, kissing him again.
She nuzzled against him and held him with the intention of never letting him go.
“But we should return. They might start wondering where we are,” she whispered, even though she did not want to tear herself away from him or this place that they had made their own.
She took a lingering look at Gavin’s naked body, as he did with her, and then they pulled their clothes back over their heads.
They walked hand in hand back towards the Keep.
There was something beautiful about it as the dawn light filtered through the sky and illuminated the dark, jagged angles of the castle.
Isla felt at peace for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.
While there was still an element of shame in her heart because of what happened to Iain, she intended to live well.
Not just for Iain, but for all those who had died in her father’s pursuit of power.
As they entered the Keep the echoes of loud weeping pouring out from the main chamber reached them.
Isla and Gavin glanced at each other, then broke into a run.
In the chamber they found Laird Sutherland sitting on his throne with a somber expression.
Kai and Kirsty were standing to the side.
They offered a curious glance when they saw Isla and Gavin approach.
Isla and Gavin let go of each other’s hands.
In the middle of the chamber Rowena was on her knees. Coll cradled her shoulders, as though he was the only thing holding her together. She wept profusely, her loud wails filling the space in the chamber.
“What happened?” Isla asked.
Coll turned to her, his face like thunder.
“Laird MacKinley is dead.”
Rowena wailed again and Coll hugged her more tightly. Gavin and Isla stared at each other, astonished. Laird Sutherland slammed his fist against his throne. The impact was so forceful Isla was surprised that the chair did not shatter.
“This cannae be allowed tae happen. I am nae fool. I ken that I am next. Renard is trying tae kill us one by one. Kai, Coll, question everyone in the Keep. I want tae root out his spies!” he boomed.
He rose and summoned guards to his side, a grisly look on his face. Kai jerked his head, indicating that Isla and Gavin should join him and Kirsty. They left the main chamber and walked to the war room, where the map of the Highland was laid out atop the table.
When Kai saw it, he cursed and slammed his fist upon it.
“He is like a ghost. He is moving before I can anticipate what he does,” he said.
Kirsty came to his side and rubbed his back. “If there’s anyone who can outsmart him, ‘tis ye. Ye just need tae put less pressure on yerself.”
“Aye, he might think he’s a god, but he’s just a man,” Isla said.
“Where were ye two?”
Color came to Isla’s cheeks. Kirsty looked at them in such a way as if to say that she knew what had happened, although there was an element of tension in her gaze when she looked at Isla.
Gavin cleared his throat. “What happened?”
“Coll and Rowena were patrolling the north road. They came across some Sinclair soldiers and brought them back here. They revealed that he hae spies everywhere, which we already kenned, and when the time comes the gates of all the Keeps will open and there’s naething we can dae,” Kai said.
“They said all that?” Gavin asked.
“Aye,” Isla said knowingly. “Because Da wants us tae listen tae his message. He believes it’s just a matter of time before he is standing above everything. He wants us tae believe that he is untouchable, that there is naething we can dae. He wants us tae be frightened.”
“If sae, then he’s succeeded. If he can get tae Laird MacKinley he can get tae anyone,” Kirsty said.
“I will nae let him win. He cannae take the Highlands,” Kai said, his words burning with frustration.
He was still looming over the map, as though if he stared at it long enough some form of inspiration would present itself to him. Kirsty was still stroking his back, but for a moment it seemed as though Kai was lost in his stratagems. Isla approached the map and studied it with him.
“Remember, Kai, that Da looks at everything. He is nae just fighting a war, he seeks tae collapse alliances. He wants everyone focused on defending their Keeps instead of working taegether. Our greatest strength is that we are allied. All the clans. The Pact lives on in us. People think it hae been destroyed, but it hae nae. We are all living proof of that and we can stand against him. We just hae tae be strong. We cannae let anything break us apart,” she said, staring at Gavin and smiling.
She felt the skeptical glare of Kirsty, however, and the smile fell from Isla’s face.
While she gave time for Kai to think, she gestured for Kirsty to join her at the side of the room. Isla had an apologetic look upon her face.
“Kirsty, I’m sorry for the way I treated ye. The truth is we are friends and I hae treated ye shamefully. Ye were only trying tae speak sense tae me, but I was too blinded by anger and guilt tae listen. I’m sorry. I hope I hae nae ruined things between us.”
As Isla spoke, Kirsty became mollified. She touched Isla’s arm.
“I would nae be much of a friend if I wrote ye off after a difficult time. I’m glad that ye hae come tae ye senses, and I’m glad that ye and Gavin seem tae hae made up.”
Isla smiled and blushed. “Aye, we hae a good talk last night and cleared the air.”
“I bet,” Kirsty said, and the wicked smile on her face made Isla laugh.
Together they returned to the map. Kai had a stern look on his face. Gavin was standing beside him, waiting to be told what to do.
“Isla, ye are right. Father might hae an army, but the four clans are united. I’m afraid that the Sinclair Clan cannae offer much as the elders won’t accept me to lead while Father is alive.
But if we remain strong then Father should nae be able tae sow discord.
He was able tae succeed before because everyone was used tae war.
They thought it was inevitable. We ken better.
Ride tae Dunrath. Help Aidan and Elara. Warn them about what ye hae learned here,” he said.
Isla was thrilled that she had the opportunity to spend more time with Gavin, but there was something nagging at the back of her mind.
“Kai, it’s nae enough tae confront Da. We hae tae play his game. We need tae dae something that he dinnae plan for, if that’s even possible,” she said.
Kai tilted her head and looked at her. “What dae ye hae in mind?”
Isla pursed her lips. “I will be bait. Father must be close to his men, he wouldn’t trust in them doing his dirty work anymore, so he’s probably close in a war camp.
If we learn about the location of the camp from the captured men then I can gae there.
I will give myself up. He will nae be able tae refuse making a prisoner of me again, but this time I shall be there by choice and I can turn it tae our advantage. ”
“Nae,” Gavin said, shaking his head immediately. “This is too risky. I hae lost ye too many times. I will nae lose ye again. What makes ye think he will nae kill ye on sight?”
“Because I ken how he thinks. What use is a victory if there is naebody there tae witness it? He will want me tae watch. He will think it a punishment for me, and he dinnae see me as a threat. Besides, ye will nae be losing me. Ye will be close by. It will nae be a trap if ye are on hand ready tae break it apart,” she said, taking his hand and smiling sweetly.
It was clear that he was still uncomfortable.
“Is there nae any other way?” he asked with a pained voice.
“Trust me, Gavin. I ken my father. I ken how tae beat him,” Isla said.
He pressed his lips together but did not say anything. Kai nodded his head and hugged his sister.
“We must be careful,” he replied.
“Just find out the location of the camp,” she said.
While Isla and Gavin waited for the captured men to be questioned, they visited Lape. She was sitting up in bed, looking better and better with every day that passed. She held a mug of tea in her hand and took small sips. She smiled when she saw Isla and Gavin enter the room together.
“I assume ye hae made peace with yer feelings,” she said, directing her words towards Isla.
Isla blushed and smiled.
“Aye, we did.”
“I’m glad,” Lape said.
“But I hope ye can talk some sense intae yer daughter. She wants tae gae off and offer herself up as bait,” Gavin said, an edge to his voice.
Isla glared at him. Lape smiled.
“If ye are gaeing tae be taegether, ye will hae tae accept each other as ye are. My mistake was that I thought I could change Renard. There is nae point loving someone for what they could be.”
Gavin bowed his head. “I just dinnae want tae lose ye again.”
“Ye will never lose me,” Isla said, taking his hand. She turned to Lape and had an intent look in her eyes. “I intend tae help rid the Highlands of our father. I want us tae live again without fear and without haeing tae bow tae his whims. But if anything should happen…”
She let go of Gavin’s hand and perched on the edge of Lape’s bed. She leaned in and hugged her mother. Tears stained her cheeks. “I love ye Ma, and I want ye tae ken I dae this for all of us, for the Highlands.”
Lape squeezed Isla tight. “I would never expect anything less. Ye were always strong, Isla. I am proud of ye. Thank ye for everything ye hae done for me.”
Isla allowed the hug to linger before moving away. She then took a deep breath and said that she should prepare herself. She walked towards the door, waiting for Gavin to join her. Gavin spent a moment longer in Lape’s presence.
“Ye will just let her walk out like that?” he asked.
“That’s the thing with children, Gavin. Ye hae tae let them make their own choices; otherwise, what’s the point of haeing them? And I ken she will be fine because she hae ye watching over her, and ye will never let harm come tae her, will ye, lad?”
She offered Gavin a smile that was like a blessing.