Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Dinner had been set fer a family meal rather than the usual gathering of the entire household. Just the six of them—Tòrr, Michael, Daemon, and their three sisters—seated around one end of the long table with food spread between them. Liliane had stayed in their chambers to rest before their trial.
Catherine was the first to break the carefully maintained pleasantries.
"So when are ye leavin'?" She set down her cup with more force than necessary. "And dinnae pretend ye dinnae ken what I'm askin' about. The entire keep's been buzzin' about riders and scouts and increased patrols."
Tòrr exchanged glances with his brothers. "Dawn tomorrow. We move fer Foulis tae retrieve Nessa."
The sisters went very still. Even Alyson, usually unflappable, paled slightly.
"That's soon," Sofia said quietly. "I thought ye needed more time tae plan."
"Circumstances changed. Munro's got men watchin' our borders, waitin' tae see what we'll dae." Tòrr kept his voice matter-of-fact. "We need tae move before he can strengthen his defenses."
"And Liliane?" Catherine's eyes were sharp. "She's goin' with ye?"
"Aye. It was her condition fer agreein' tae wait this long." He saw the protest forming on Catherine's face and held up a hand. "I've trained her. She'll be disguised, heavily guarded, and kept well back from any actual fightin'. But she needs tae be there fer her sister."
"That's dangerous." Alyson's voice was steady but her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her wine. "Fer both of ye. If Munro discovers ye're there."
"Then we'll handle it." Michael's voice was firm. "We've planned fer every contingency we could think of. And we're nae goin' in reckless."
"Just goin' in." Sofia looked between her brothers. "Intae enemy territory, tae steal a laird's daughter from under his nose."
"Tae rescue a child from a man who'd sell her like livestock," Tòrr corrected. "There's a difference."
"Tell that tae Munro when he comes fer revenge."
"If he comes fer revenge, he'll find Daemon here with a full garrison of warriors." Tòrr gestured to his youngest brother. "And Michael and I will return as soon as we can."
"Wait." Catherine's eyes went wide. "Daemon's nae goin' with ye?"
"Someone needs tae stay," Daemon said calmly. "Protect the keep. Protect ye three. Make sure if this is some elaborate trap, there's still a MacDonald laird standin' when the dust settles."
"So ye're stayin' here while they ride intae danger." Catherine's voice had gone tight. "Ye drew the short straw then?"
"I chose this." Daemon met her eyes steadily. "And I'd choose it again. Ye're our sisters. Someone needs tae make sure ye're safe."
"We're always safe," Alyson protested. "We've got walls, guards, warriors too."
"Aye, and ye'll have me as well." Daemon's voice gentled. "Which means ye can stop worryin' about us and start thinkin' about what needs tae be done tae prepare fer Nessa's arrival. She'll need a chamber, clothes, someone tae help her adjust. That's where ye come in."
The redirect was obvious but effective. The sisters exchanged glances, and Tòrr could see them already beginning to plan.
"The blue chamber," Sofia said. "Next tae Liliane's old room. It's sunny, warm, has a nice view of the garden."
"And we'll need tae get clothes made," Catherine added. "The lass is only fourteen, she'll need proper gowns, shifts, everything."
"We can use some of our old things as patterns," Alyson suggested. "Alter them tae fit."
As his sisters began discussing preparations, Tòrr felt some of the tension in his shoulders ease. This was good. Giving them something constructive to focus on, something to do while they waited.
"How long will ye be gone?" Sofia asked, bringing the conversation back to the immediate concern.
"Three days there, assumin' we move fast and encounter nay delays. A day, maybe two, tae get Nessa out safely. Three days back." Tòrr did the calculation in his head. "We should return within the week."
"And if ye dinnae?" Catherine's voice was small. "If somethin' goes wrong?"
"Then Daemon becomes laird, and ye follow his orders the same as ye'd follow mine." Tòrr's voice was firm. "But it willnae come tae that."
"Ye cannae promise that." Alyson's eyes were bright with unshed tears. "Ye cannae promise ye'll come back."
The raw fear in her voice made Tòrr's chest tight. She was right, he couldn't promise. Battle was unpredictable, and they were walking into hostile territory with limited information and considerable risk.
But he could give her something else.
"I can promise this," he said, standing and moving to kneel beside her chair.
"As long as I draw breath, as long as there's strength in me body, I will fight tae come back tae ye.
Tae all of ye." He looked around the table, meeting each sister's eyes in turn.
"Ye're me family. Me responsibility. And I dinnae abandon me responsibilities. "
"We ken that," Sofia whispered. "But we also ken ye'd sacrifice yerself tae protect others. And that terrifies us."
"It should." Michael spoke up, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Because it's true. Tòrr would die before lettin' harm come tae any of us. But that's exactly why we need tae trust him. Trust that he'll dae what's necessary tae keep everyone safe, includin' himself."
"Pretty words," Catherine muttered. "But words dinnae stop swords."
"Nae, but skill dees. And plannin'. And havin' good men at yer back.
" Daemon leaned forward. "Ye think we're goin' intae this blind?
We've been scoutin' Foulis fer weeks. We ken their patrol routes, their guard rotations, where their defenses are weakest. This isnae some reckless charge. It's a carefully planned operation."
"That could still go horribly wrong." But some of the panic had left Alyson's voice.
"Aye," Tòrr acknowledged. "It could. But we're daein' it anyway, because it's the right thing to do. Because that girl deserves better than what her faither has planned for her. And because I gave Liliane me word I'd bring her sister home."
"Is that what this is really about?" Catherine asked. "Keepin' yer word tae yer wife? Or is there somethin' more?"
Tòrr returned to his seat, considering how to answer.
"It's about all of it. Keepin' me word, aye.
But also about sendin' a message tae Munro that he cannae threaten what's mine.
About showin' Liliane that I'm a man she can trust. About daein' what's right even when it's dangerous.
" He paused. "And aye, about protectin' a child who deserves protection. Even if that child is a stranger."
"Ye've a good heart, braither." Sofia reached across the table to squeeze his hand.
"Make sure Liliane's careful too," Alyson said. "She's family now. We dinnae want tae lose her any more than we want tae lose ye."
"She'll be careful. I'll make certain of it."
They ate in relative silence after that, the earlier tension somewhat eased but not eliminated. As servants cleared the plates, Daemon stood.
"I've somethin' tae say. Tae all of ye."
The table went quiet, all eyes turning to the youngest MacDonald brother.
"Ye've spent ten years puttin' everyone else first. Puttin' the clan first, puttin' us first, never takin' time fer yerself.
And now, finally, ye've found someone who matters tae ye beyond duty and responsibility.
" He looked at Tòrr directly. "So I want ye tae ken—all of ye—that while ye're gone, I'll protect this keep and everyone in it with me life if necessary.
Because that's what family daes. We stand taegether. "
"As long as we live," Michael added, standing as well. "We stand taegether."
"As long as we live," the sisters echoed, rising.
Tòrr stood last, throat tight with emotion. "As long as we live," he repeated. "We stand together. Nay matter what comes, nay matter what threats we face. Taegether."
They clasped hands across the table, forming a circle of six. In that moment, Tòrr felt the weight of what he was about to do settle fully on his shoulders. Not just the tactical concerns or the physical danger, but the emotional stakes.
These people loved him. Depended on him. Would grieve if he fell.
And Liliane—gods, Liliane had come to mean more to him than he'd ever intended.
"We will come back," he said, looking around the circle. "That's me promise tae all of ye. We will come back."