Chapter 15
Anders could see some of the display of men and arms on the Sinclair battlement from his window. The wall towered above him by enough to block his view of the forest beyond, so he couldn’t see what had Sinclair up in arms. But he didn’t have to see to know. Sutherland had arrived.
From his vantage point, it was impossible to know how long it would be before the fate of the men in Sinclair custody would be decided.
There was certainly the potential for a grand battle, but he knew his father and he’d met the Sinclair, so he hoped he was right that both men would try to negotiate and avoid war.
Boden was a problem. How much would he affect his father’s thinking?
Anders worried that Sinclair might think he could win by, as he’d threatened, starting to kill his prisoners one by one, thinking Sutherland would cave in after a few weeks and turn over the ransom.
But Anders knew that would set off Sutherland, and both clans would get the battle they hoped to avoid.
It all depended on patience and how much influence the Sinclair’s women had over him.
Sutherland travelers had come to Sinclair seeking hospitality. Not this.
Sutherland would be setting up for the siege no one wanted but everyone expected. Did the men in the dungeon know? Perhaps Ailsa or Tasgall would tell them, but perhaps not. Unless they overheard conversation between guards, they’d remain ignorant until a battle began.
Tasgall was likely on the wall. Anders didn’t know where Ailsa might be at a time like this, but he wanted her safe, wherever that was.
He wasn’t sure how Stellan would react now that he’d had time to think about Sinclair’s threat to their men.
With Sinclair on guard against forces outside its walls, that could set off an ill-conceived escape attempt that would get Sutherlands killed.
Still, if he was right about what Maesie had implied, all they had to do was get outside the outer orchard wall.
The forest loomed closer there. With less likelihood of being spotted, especially if they could make it out at night, they would stand a much better chance of reaching Sutherland’s lines alive.
He had no idea how to accomplish such a feat with so many Sutherland men at risk, and all of them save himself in the dungeon.
It would take help from at least one Sinclair, and now that he was known to be a Sutherland, he wasn’t sure whom he could trust. Not even Ailsa.
It might take too much time, but he knew how to get down to the beach.
Were any of their Rose or Brodie allies sailing the area around Sinclair Bay?
If he and his men could launch the Sutherland birlinn, they’d have help just offshore.
Getting across the open glen to the woods, though closer, might be too dangerous.
Somehow, they would figure a way out and how to do it. Or die trying.
Anders wanted Ailsa, not war. How could he convince her to trust him, or to help him escape with the rest of the Sutherlands, go home with him and marry him there, all without risking her life?
“We are Sutherland’s first line of defense,” Mariota told the couple sitting around the table in the laird’s solar soon after the midday meal.
They were parents of one of the lasses interested in training in archery.
Brighde and Nan, two of her best friends at Sutherland, were also present.
They were both team leaders and trainers who had learned their archery skills from her.
“Any young lass may train with us. They will be posted on the battlements where they will be as safe as can be in an attack against us, but able to help defend the keep.”
“I ken ye began training lasses soon after ye arrived here,” the mother said, “but I dinna think ’tis the right thing for a lass to do. Certainly no’ my Daviana,” she added with a snort.
“Now, dear,” her husband began, but a glare from his wife silenced him.
Mariota traded a glance with Nan. Their daughter had approached Nan about joining the training.
She wanted to help defend her home and her people, like her friends were learning to do.
The younger members of the clan were well aware that the laird and his sons were away from the keep and there was trouble with another clan.
“Training gives the younger ones a sense of safety, and of being ready to contribute to the success of the clan,” Nan said.
“They may never fire an arrow at an enemy or while hunting for game to feed their family. But they will be ready if they are needed. Yer daughter wants that same chance. And because several of her friends have already begun, she kens well what the training involves. She wants to be with her friends, no’ be left out, or looked down upon because she isna doing the same as they are. ”
“Surely there are plenty of other lads and even lasses for this,” the woman objected.
“Aye, there are, and many of them are already training. Just as the lads also train in hand-to-hand fighting and with other weapons. It makes them stronger and more confident. This does much the same for the lasses.”
“’Twould be good for Daviana, dear,” the husband ventured. This time, the wife didn’t glare at him, merely glanced his way then back to her hands, frowning.
“I wouldna bring this decision to ye,” Mariota continued, “save that Daviana herself asked Nan if she could train her. She’s a good lass. We would be grateful to have her join in.”
The mother’s expression softened. She looked up, first to her husband, then to Nan and Mariota. “Very well, we will try this. If at any time Daviana changes her mind and wishes to cease—”
“She may do so, of course,” Mariota told her. “Why don’t ye go give yer daughter the good news. She can join the other new lasses in a beginning session with Nan in an hour.”
“Today?”
“Aye, there’s nay better time to learn than the present.”
The couple stood and the woman nodded, her expression, if not enthusiastic about the idea, at least accepting. “Very well. She will be there.” They left the solar.
Mariota sat back with a sigh.
Brighde smiled. “I can see that ye were a good laird by how ye dealt with that mother’s concerns.”
“I wasna laird long enough to be good or bad. That was simply acknowledging her fears and showing her the respect a caring parent deserves.”
“Whatever ’twas, I’m glad it worked,” Nan told her. “Daviana was most eager.”
“I hope she’s still eager after she develops some blisters and scrapes.”
All three chuckled at that.
One of the guards poked his head in the door. “Another missive, Lady Sutherland.”
Mariota held out her hand. “Thank ye.” She cracked the seal and read, then nodded.
“All is well so far.” She set it aside. “I got one yesterday from Seamus with the same news. He and his men arrived and were deployed with Sutherland. All is quiet. Sutherland and Sinclair have traded missives, and there has been some shouting over the wall, but no violence. Yet. That gives me hope that all this will soon be over. Sinclair is still going alone. There has been nay sign of Orkneymen or Norse ships.”
“When will ye respond to the Sutherland?”
“I’ll write a reply when ye leave for training.
I need to advise him that Brodie has sent men here, and that Cameron is home and will remain for the duration to be the senior Rose and to help me.
I havena discussed with him what he would do about Rose if the worst came to pass.
His responsibilities lie there, no’ here.
He is nay longer heir to his father and brothers.
” Her son was. Cameron knew that as well as she did.
“We will need to have that conversation at some point. Since he just arrived, I dinna want to make him feel unwelcome.”
“That will complicate everything,” Nan said, frowning. “What would his position be, in that case?”
“He could become regent for my son.”
“Why would he?” Brighde asked. “He has a smart former laird for a sister-in-law. Ye are capable of doing what needs to be done.”
“I’m sure we’ll discuss that. But I hope he will also foster my son, both sons if the bairn I carry is another lad. I imagine Mary Rose will be glad to have him. Or them. I dinna wish to create a rift with Cameron.”
“It sounds as though ye are planning well,” Nan told her and took her hand, knowing how sad it made Mariota to look toward the day not only when Stellan might not be there, but her son as well, sent away to foster.
“Ladies,” a male voice said.
Mariota looked up and fought to keep her expression neutral.
“Cameron, come in. We were just finishing.” Had he heard them talking about him?
It pained her to look at him. His resemblance wasn’t as close to Stellan’s as Anders’ was, but he was cut from the same cloth.
From the back, or in dim light, she might mistake him for either of his older twin brothers.
Nan and Brighde stood to leave. “’Tis good to see ye, cousin,” Nan told him, “despite the circumstances.”
“Aye, and good to see ye, too.” He waited while the two women left, then entered the solar. “Mari, I need a moment of yer time.”
Cam took a seat across from Mariota. “I want to send a missive advising father to withdraw and leave the fight to his men. He should be here, no’ risking his neck in Sinclair.”
“Ye do ken yer da, aye? He’s exactly where he believes he needs to be, negotiating laird-to-laird with the Sinclair.”
Cam nodded, his jaw clenching and unclenching a few times before he spoke.
“I ken it willna work, but someone needs to talk sense to him. Aye he’s the Sutherland, but he’s also of an age where he shouldna be camped out in the woods in enemy territory for weeks—even months.
What will a winter in those conditions do to him? ”
Mariota shook her head. “I ken ye love him, but ye dare no’ send it, Cameron. ’Twill make him more determined to stay, and it might lead to impulsive and unwise action. Trust yer da,” she told him. “In my estimation—and experience, he is a truly wise man.”