Twenty-Four
“Douglas, doona be so stubborn. Ye’re bleeding and injured. Let us summon James. He can take command.”
Douglas shook his head. He’d been in the midst of battle against a small grouping of Kerrs and Munros, one of their allies. When the Kerrs continued to burn cottages and livestock, and engage in other acts of aggression, Douglas had no other option but to retaliate.
“Nay. I willna burden him further and cause him to suffer the consequences of my decision, Connor.”
Connor groaned, and Maddie placed her free hand on his shoulder. “Father, don’t be obstinate.”
Connor snorted and Maddie looked down at him with wide eyes. “Something tickling your nose, husband?”
Douglas laughed as Connor twisted his lips.
“‘Tis quite hypocritical of ye, love, to accuse yer father of stubbornness when ye reign as queen in that regard.”
Maddie gasped, slapping his shoulder. Anne stirred, and Maddie patted her back to sleep. She turned to her father again, face serious.
“Father, I’ve only just known you. I don’t wish to be an orphan.”
Douglas’ eyes widened, her words sobering him. “Lass…” He was touched, moved really. Her words seemed to sober him, and he looked at Connor again.
“I will wait some more. We were close to discovering who is aiding Kerr. This is important. If we can determine who that is, we can halt the support. Kerr will be weakened and ineffective in his defense.”
Connor looked at his father, who was speaking to one of his old commanders and his son. The Ramsays and Menzies had numerous allies, and the coordination of them was not an easy task. It required quick communication if they were to be successful. Somehow, the Kerrs had amounted a strong defense and surprising allies, which had caused much chaos in the Highlands.
One never knew who your allies were until your feet were held to the fire. The allies who came forth on behalf of Kerr had surprised, and angered, many clans.
A war in the Highlands was commencing.
This was yet another reason why Douglas needed to find who was Kerr’s main ally.
They needed to avoid an outright Highland war. It would mean their destruction.
All of theirs.
“This was a sign, Douglas. What if something had happened to ye? We doona know where my sister and James are.”
“Connor, ‘tis nay as if they are lost and in danger. Eventually, they would return.”
Connor looked at Iain. “How long is eventually?”
Iain shrugged, and Connor narrowed his gaze on Douglas.
“Tell us. It goes no where beyond here and us.”
Douglas nodded.
“On the northeast area of our land, there is a lake and waterfall. It is sacred to our clan, only known to us and never discussed with others outside of the clan.”
Maddie perked up.
“Did ye take Mother there?”
Douglas looked at his daughter, visibly swallowing as he took a few moments to compose himself. Physical pain forgotten, mental pain came forth, apparent on his face. His eyes became glazed as memories of the woman he loved came forth.
“Father?”
Maddie’s worried voice brought him out of his cherished memories.
“Aye, lass. I did.”
Not wanting to cause her father further pain by asking the questions that wanted to be released from her tongue, Maddie simply nodded.
Douglas hardened his face and looked at Connor.
“There ye will find them.”
They stayed silent for a moment, as Douglas’ arm wound was dressed.
“May we help you with anything, Alpin?”
Surprised, Alpin’s gaze moved from Douglas to Maddie. His lips pursed as if it was below him to answer her. Connor took note and stepped next to his wife. When Alpin noticed Connor’s annoyance, he took a step backwards and attempted to ease the insult.
“Nay, milady. Lost in thought ‘tis all.”
Connor’s eyes would not veer from Alpin.
“Come, Alpin. We’ve much to do,” Gilroy said and walked out of the great room.
Maddie’s eyes lingered on Alpin, who nodded at Connor, and ignored her.
“Is there aught amiss, love?”
She continued to look at Alpin until he left and then turned to Connor.
“Nay.”
Connor continued to look at her, and then looked down at her wringing hands. “Lass.”
She smiled at him and kissed him on the lips. “I must go nurse Anne. Excuse me.”
Before Connor could say anything more, his infuriating little wife left. Douglas, Malcolm, and Iain laughed.
Maddie would always have her way with Connor. That was apparent to all, especially to Connor.
“Let us resume our discussion,” Douglas said, rising. “I want it understood that I doona wish to send for James until it is our only option. We will take a step back and make another attempt to discover who aids Kerr.”
Connor grimaced but nodded.
Douglas continued. “Kerr is nay a sane man. ‘Tis as if over the decades, his paranoia has worsened.”
Connor and Malcolm nodded.
“Aye. ‘Tis the reason I believe Athyn to have left. We spoke little about it, but ‘twas obvious he had many frustrations with his father.” Connor paused. “We could seek him out. He would be the rightful man to lead the Kerrs come Boyd’s…”
Connor didn’t complete the sentence, but Douglas did.
“Death.” He looked at all of them. “There is no other way. His very presence threatens the well-being of my family and clan, as well as both of my daughters.”
Both Connor and Malcolm asked at the same time, “Both of yer daughters?”
“Aye. Maddie and Katie. The veiled threats…the man is ill of the mind, a madman.” He stopped for a moment. “He will pay with his life.” Anger blazed into his eyes, when he punched a fist into other hand. “He will die for threatening me and mine.”
Connor’s face had hardened. “Then we shall seek Athyn out. He’s become a wanderer, and has his own contingency of loyal men who left Boyd with him.”
Douglas’ gaze fixed on him. “Then we must find Athyn, and have him at the ready.”
Connor snorted. “I’m nay so sure he’d stand idly by, Douglas, while we fight his father. The manner in which he spoke of his father leads me to believe that he would raise his sword against him.”
“Better yet,” Douglas added. “We should use any and all available men and allies, Athyn’s men too, no thanks to Kerr’s mysterious benefactor.”
Douglas laughed after his comment, but it wasn’t lighthearted. It was laughter laced with disgust and annoyed aggression. Hands like claws that turned into fists, he said, “When I discover who the bastard is, he’ll willingly run into the arms of the devil to avoid my wrath.”