Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
The execution was public.
It was held in the ruined courtyard of Dunrath Keep after the remnants of the battle had been cleaned. Laird Sutherland came riding from Stormhaven, as did Lady MacKinley and her son from Caerloch Glen, along with an envoy of wolves.
The gates had yet to be erected the walls were still charred. A somber atmosphere lingered in the air. Laird Sinclair’s hands were bound behind his back and there was a gag around his mouth. His silver tongue would not wag any longer.
Everyone gathered around him. Kirsty, Kai, Aidan, Elara, Rowena, Gavin, and Isla. She had her arm linked with his, barely able to believe that it had come to this. Even Lape had managed to gather the strength to be present.
When Isla looked at her she was surprised to see that there was no coldness in her eyes but sorrow. Perhaps regretting the life that could have been instead of the one that happened.
This was not a time of joy, but of necessity. The group had already sent messengers out recounting Sinclair’s deeds, including his murder of Iain Anderson. They had rooted out his spies as well and gained confessions from them, confessions that were made public.
Laird Sinclair’s crimes had been hidden for too long.
Now everything was exposed.
Kai stepped forward, wielding a blade that had been sharpened for hours.
He stepped up to his father. Isla watched with bated breath.
She noticed how Elara and Rowena clasped hands, weeping for the fallen MacKinleys.
Coll’s eyes were hard, no doubt thinking of his brother.
Aidan and Kirsty had their heads bowed. Gavin was beside Isla, as steady as a rock.
Kai said nothing as he placed the sword against his father’s neck. There was a hushed gasp from everyone as he raised his sword. The pale sunlight caught it as he held it above his head.
It seemed to linger there for an eternity, and then eternity ended with a crashing blow.
Kai put all of his might into the strike and brought the sword clean through Sinclair’s head.
It fell into a basket and his lifeless eyes stared up at the horizon.
Isla gulped hard, unsure about the emotions she felt.
Relief? Sorrow? Pity? She wasn’t sure she could identify any of them clearly.
They were all just a big mess inside her.
A heavy silence fell upon them all. This was no triumph and it certainly didn’t feel like victory. None of them were entirely sure what to do now.
Isla whispered to Gavin. “Ye should say something.”
“Me?” he replied, looking confused.
“Ye are the eldest of us all,” she replied.
Gavin swallowed hard and looked at the others before nodding in response. He strode forward and cleared his throat. All eyes turned towards him.
“The war is over, although this is nae a celebration. There hae been too much death for that. It was my decision, but I take nae enjoyment from it. It was necessary tae bring justice for those who had been killed and tae prevent others from suffering the same fate. This man was a criminal who toyed with the Highlands, thinking that we were all his pawns. It started a long time ago with the Pact that united the clans, but that Pact was never supposed tae last. It was just a way for him tae bide his time and plan.”
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to settle with the crowd. Isla gazed at him with pride in her eyes. It was so thrilling to see him like this rather than as a brooding, humbled prisoner.
“There shall now be a new Pact, a Pact forged by shared suffering, by brotherhood, by friendship, and by love,” Gavin continued, looking at each of his friends in turn.
“Coll and Kai, I hae rarely witnessed such bravery. I am proud tae call ye both brothers now. And Aidan, ye make a fine Laird, finer than I ever would hae been. It will be a monumental task tae rebuild Dunrath Keep, but I ken it shall be even better than before,” Gavin smiled at his brother.
“And of course I cannae fail tae mention the unyielding spirit of our women, Elara, Rowena, Kirsty, and Isla. They hae served their clans well, and this way they will serve the Highlands too. But there is someone else I must mention. Iain Anderson,” Isla’s eyes glazed over with unshed tears at the mention of her friend’s name.
“I was unable tae prevent him from being killed before my eyes. He was a good man, and he showed me mercy when he hae nae reason tae. I shall always remember him, and I shall try tae follow his example, although I ken I will never be as good a man as he. This is a new era for the Highlands, and today begins a peace that will last.”
The crowd cheered and gave encouraging nods, for this new era was for the people. Not the Lairds or heirs. Gavin bowed his head and glanced towards Isla, seeking her approval. She gave him a wide smile. He returned to her and the crowd began to disperse. Isla and Gavin gathered with the others.
“I’m sorry that I could nae contribute tae the battle. I felt sae useless,” Elara said, frowning. Rowena had her arm around Elara and squeezed her tight.
“That may be true, but ye will hae a big contribution tae the future of the Highlands,” Aidan said, directing his gaze to her abdomen. She blushed and smiled, reassured by his words. Rowena had a troubled look on her face.
“Should we be worried about his final words? What if this Pact does fail like the other one? What if our clans fall intae the old patterns? Is there a way for us tae escape our past?” she asked.
“We will nae let that happen,” Kai replied.
“We are nae like our ancestors. We hae lived in each other’s homes.
We hae married each other. Our clans are bound taegether now, and there is nae untangling them.
If we hurt another, we will only end up hurting ourselves.
That Pact was made out of desperation, this one is forged out of hope. ”
The others nodded at his words, their doubts calmed. Gavin was pulled aside by Aidan, leaving Isla temporarily alone.
She went to wander in the garden for a while, enjoying the peace after so much chaos.
Sometimes when she closed her eyes she could still hear the thunder of battle, but it disappeared whenever she opened them again.
She brushed her fingers against the flowers.
Eventually she noticed another presence in the garden.
It was Gavin. She smiled when she saw him.
“What did Aidan want?” she asked.
“Just tae tell me that he would support me in whatever I chose tae dae next, and that I would always hae a home here.”
“And what are we gaeing tae dae next? I was nae sure this would ever end.”
“I ken what I want tae dae,” he said, and plucked a flower.
He offered it to her. “Be my wife, Isla. Nae as a political alliance, nae as a bargain, but as the only home we hae left. I cannae imagine my life without ye and I dinnae want tae ken a life without ye. I ken I am nae a good man but I will try… for ye.”
She silenced him with a kiss, placing both her hands on his chest. “Ye are a good man, Gavin. And I will always be there tae remind ye of that.”
A smile formed on his face. “Sae ye accept?”
She laughed and tossed her hair. “Aye! As long as ye are happy tae hae a bride with scars,” she said, tilting her face to the side.
Gavin ran his finger along the marks on her neck and cheek—both made by father’s blade—then kissed them softly.
“Ye still hae a few more before ye hae as many as me,” he replied.
They clasped hands and kissed again as the sun shone upon them and a sweet breeze drifted through the air. They were finally together, and this time there would be no parting them.