Chapter 32 #2
One of the older councilmen shifted in his seat. “There is another concern.”
Colin looked at him. “Speak.”
The man glanced toward Elspeth, then away. That alone was warning enough.
“Munro’s attacks worsened after the marriage. First the cathedral, then the feast. Three guards have now died within days of Lady Elspeth entering these lands.”
The hall grew very still. Elspeth’s hand stopped beside her plate.
The councilman continued, encouraged perhaps by the fact that Colin had not yet killed him.
“I mean nay disrespect. But the lady’s presence may have brought too much danger too quickly. Perhaps until this matter is settled, she should be sent somewhere safer… or returned tae her family.”
Colin set down his cup. The small sound carried farther than shouting would have done.
“Nay.”
The councilman swallowed. “Me laird—”
“Robert attacked the cathedral before Elspeth understood she was being married. He sent men against unarmed families because he chose murder. He killed guards because they stood between him and these walls.”
Colin’s voice remained low. Still, every person in the hall listened.
“Me wife didnae bring violence here. Robert did.”
The councilman lowered his gaze. “I only meant—”
“I ken what ye meant.”
Colin rose.
“He wishes us tae blame one another. He wishes fear tae make strangers of people who share the same walls. And ye have offered him that victory without requiring him tae lift another blade.”
Color left the older man’s face.
“Nay one in this hall will blame Lady Elspeth fer Robert Munro’s crimes,” Colin echoed. “Nay one will speak of sending her away as though she is cargo that has become inconvenient.”
His gaze swept the tables.
“She is Lady MacKenzie. She belongs here.”
The declaration left him before caution could alter it. Elspeth looked up. Emotion crossed her face swiftly in a mixture of surprise, hurt, and something warmer she tried to conceal by lifting her chin.
Colin sat before he gave the hall more than it had already taken. Conversation resumed badly. Niall waited until servants brought the next course, then leaned nearer.
“That sounded little like a man defending an alliance.”
Colin did not look at him. “Eat.”
“It sounded more like a husband defending his heart.”
“Careful.”
Niall reached for bread. “I am being careful. That is why I’m whispering.”
Colin’s hand tightened around his knife. Across the table, Elspeth spoke quietly with Margaret, though her eyes found him once. She did not smile. The look was more dangerous than that.
It was about half an hour later that the women withdrew after dinner. Margaret asked Elspeth to show her the western tower, claiming she wished to admire the view. Domhnall watched them leave.
“She wishes tae discuss us without witnesses,” he said wisely.
Niall poured more wine. “A sensible precaution. We should flee.”
Instead, they went to the council chamber. Maps covered the long table. Small stones marked the northern passage, the village, and the road where the attackers’ tracks had vanished. Colin stood at the head with Niall, Domhnall, Breac, and Murdoch gathered around him.
“The wounded guard remembers near fifteen men,” Breac spoke. “There may have been more above the ridge.”
“They came prepared tae kill the watch and leave,” Murdoch added. “Nae tae enter the lands.”
“A test,” Niall said. “Robert wanted tae ken how quickly ye would answer.”
“Or how easily the route could be opened,” Domhnall replied.
Colin studied the map. “He has men watching our patrols. Perhaps inside the villages.”
Murdoch’s mouth hardened. “Then we question every stranger.”
“And frighten every merchant away?” Breac asked. “By winter, hunger will finish what Robert began.”
The argument continued around him, focusing on patrol numbers, supply roads, the risk of moving families, and whether to strike Robert’s lands before more proof arrived.
Colin listened. He measured. He rejected three suggestions and changed two others. Then a knock sounded and a guard entered carrying a sealed letter.
“From the Crown, me laird.”
Colin recognized the royal mark.
At last.
He broke the seal and read, while the others waited. The letter contained many words and very little courage.
The Crown regretted the violence. It understood Colin’s concern.
It wished to prevent further unrest between respected Highland families.
A royal representative would be sent north to speak with Colin, inspect the evidence, and oversee any action taken.
Until then, Colin was cautioned against open retaliation.
There remained, the letter stated, no clear proof that Laird Robert Munro had ordered the attacks.
Colin read the sentence again.
“Nay clear proof,” he echoed.
Niall held out his hand. Colin gave him the letter. As Niall read, Domhnall’s expression darkened.
“We have a prisoner,” Murdoch said.
“We have dead men,” Breac added.
“We have Robert’s threats,” Colin nodded.
“And the Crown has distance,” Niall replied, passing the letter to Domhnall. “Distance makes doubt remarkably comfortable.”
Colin turned away from the table.
A representative.
His people were buried beneath MacKenzie soil. Families barred their doors at night. Elspeth could not walk beyond the walls without danger following her. And the Crown wished to send a man to observe.
“Their messenger will take days,” Domhnall revealed. “Perhaps longer.”
“And while he travels?” Murdoch demanded.
“We obey the warning against open attack,” Colin urged.
Murdoch stared at him, then Colin looked back at the map.
“But we willnae wait helplessly.”
He placed one finger upon the northern ridge.
“Double scouts beyond the boundary. I want every road intae Munro land watched. Every rider counted. Every supply cart followed.”
“That skirts the Crown’s order,” Breac observed.
“It daesnae cross it.”
Niall’s mouth curved without humor. “And if their representative objects?”
Colin looked at the royal letter in Domhnall’s hand.
“Then he may explain tae the widows why caution required their husbands tae die.”
Silence settled over the chamber. Above them, footsteps moved along the gallery. Elspeth and Margaret passed the open door with their voices low. Elspeth glanced inside. Her gaze found Colin at once.
The anger in him remained. The threat remained. Robert was gathering strength while the Crown hid behind proof that could satisfy men untouched by the graves.
Yet his friends stood around his table.
His wife stood within his walls.
For the first time, Robert’s war had not made Colin more alone.
It revealed precisely who would remain beside him when it finally came.