Two days after leaving Hermitage Castle, Reed, Murray, and Gair, arrived back at the MacKeefe camp in the Highlands. Since they’d had to walk most the way, only managing a ride on the back of cart when they’d neared Glasgow, it had taken longer to return. The others wanted to stop at the Horn and Hoof for an ale or a whisky, but Reed insisted they keep traveling.
He was anxious to return and start planning the next raid.
Reed was happy to see that the rest of his men had already arrived when they entered the MacKeefe camp. Smoke from the cook fires trailed high into the sky, and the smell of haggis and cock-a-leekie soup filled the air. Reed loved food and could never get enough of it. Just the thought of some haggis or, perhaps, some cock-a-leekie soup made his mouth water.
“Reed, ye’ve returned!” Ross limped over the rolling meadows, making his way to Reed with some of the children of the clan leading the way.
“What have ye got for us?” asked one of the boys, jumping up, trying to touch the purple velvet bed curtains that held the items he’d pilfered from his brother, Rook.
“Gair, Murray, take the things inside, and make sure ye tell the chieftain we’ve brought more goods.”
“Odar – where is Odar?” cried Odar’s wife, running up to Reed with their newborn baby over her shoulder.
“Lassie, I’m sorry,” said Reed softly, laying his hand on the woman’s shoulder. “He died a hero’s death, distractin’ the English soldiers so the rest of our men could escape.”
“Nay! I dinna believe it. I want my husband back.” The woman wailed, making Reed feel responsible for her loss. It never sat well with him when they lost a man.
Several of the clanswomen came to her aid as Ross escorted Reed away from the situation at hand.
“What happened?” asked Ross. “Did ye act recklessly again and cause the laddie to lose his life?”
“Nay,” Reed defended himself. “We did what we had to do. I’m sorry Odar didna make it, but I’ll no’ be blamed for his death.”
“The men tell me that we’ve lost Rook to Edward now, as well as Rowen.”
“Aye,” said Reed, running a hand through his long, red hair. He felt tired and weary and needed to bathe in the loch. “The traitor turned against us and now does Edward’s biddin’ just like Rowen.”
“Reed, welcome back.” Storm, the clan’s chieftain, walked up handing Reed a wooden cup. Reed took it eagerly and downed the Mountain Magic – the MacKeefe’s special brew of strong whisky. The fire burned a path down to his belly, making him feel alive again. “Tell me – were ye the one to release Muck and Lucky from the dungeon of Hermitage Castle?”
Reed was raising the cup to his mouth again but stopped in mid-motion. It would do no good to lie to the chieftain. Storm and his clan had taken in Ross, Reed, and his men, never once saying a word that they raided the English king, although his wife was English, and so were all her relatives. Storm had alliances across the border. Reed’s ploy against Edward put Storm and his clan at risk. If Edward so decided, he could come after the MacKeefes for harboring Reed.
“Aye, I did release them,” Reed admitted, taking another sip of the brew. “How did ye ken?”
“I received a missive from Hermitage Castle by messenger pigeon. My faither tells me the prisoners are missin’. He also said one of his guards saw ye and two others from atop the battlements right around the same time. He said ye were thought to have been sneakin’ out of the castle.”
“They are right. I did do it and I’m not sorry about it.”
“Ye ken Muck and Lucky werena our prisoners, but yer brathair, Rowen’s prisoners.”
“All the more reason to release them. They’re goin’ to commandeer the Sea Mirage and get Rowen’s crew to raid with us again.”
“Reed, ye need to stop all this tomfoolery with the king,” said Ross. “Just let it go.”
“Why would ye say that, Ross? Ye hate the king just as much as I do.”
“I’ve changed my thinkin’ over the years,” said Ross. “I am startin’ to realize that what I’ve lost is much more than what I thought I’d lost.”
“Ye’re talkin’ about Annalyse and yer daughters, are no’ ye?” asked Reed.
Ross bit his lip and just nodded his head. “I’m glad yer brathairs have found new lives and have married and will someday have families of their own. That’s all that’s important, Reed.” A distant sadness filled Ross’ eyes. The fight Reed had seen in the man years ago was now gone.
“He’s right,” said Storm. “When I thought I’d lost Wren, my life started fallin’ apart. We sometimes overlook those people who are really important when we’re blinded by vengeance instead.”
“Enough!” Reed shoved the cup back into Storm’s hand. “If ye all want us to leave, then tell me. I’ll take my men and go.”
“I’m no’ askin’ ye to leave, Reed.” Storm spoke in a loud, steady voice. “I’m just askin’ ye to think things through before ye go out on another raid. I’m grateful for the wealth ye’ve brought the Scots. God kens we needed it. But there’s got to be another way.”
“There is no other way!” shouted Reed. “I’m goin’ back to raidin’ as soon as I ken if Muck got the ship and crew.”
“Edward willna be patient for long,” said Ross. “Sooner or later, he is goin’ to come here and that is no’ fair to the MacKeefes after all they’ve done. They are like family to us.”
“Aye. I never meant to put any of the MacKeefes in danger,” said Reed. “But ye dinna have to worry about me raidin’ Edward, because he isna first on my list anymore.”
“What are ye sayin’?” asked Ross.
“What I’m sayin’ is that I’m goin’ after the two traitors. My next raids will be against my bastard brathairs, Rowen and Rook.”