Chapter 30

The horn sounded again; Alex jumped off the bed and searched for his leather trews and war coat.

“You must get dressed!” he shouted, when he realized Isobel was still in bed.

“What’s going on?”

“That was the alarm for an impending attack,” Alex said. “The Macleans must be approaching our border.”

“But I thought we had more time,” Isobel said. She quickly dressed as Alex donned his armor. “Do you think Ewan said something to his father?”

“Nae,” Alex said. “But I think he knows more than he shared.”

After Alex had strapped on all his weapons, he led Isobel from their room and down the corridor, checking on each of his sisters and Agnes along the way. Alex instructed Anna, who was still in her fine gown, to come down to the great hall; he then instructed Joan, Flora, and Agnes to stay in their rooms and await further instruction from the guards.

By the time Alex and Isobel reached the great hall, Robbie and Murdoch were already waiting by the main doors to the bailey.

“Is it the Macleans?” Alex asked, approaching Robbie with Isobel at his side. His friend looked exhausted; no doubt Alex looked the same. He feared half the men were still drunk but prayed the battle horn helped to sober them.

“Aye,” Robbie said. “A rider spotted them; they’ll be here within the hour. Your uncle is preparing his men while Donald prepares the MacKinnons.”

“Where is Ewan?” Alex demanded, looking around the hall.

“I’ll go in search of him,” Robbie offered.

“I’m here,” Ewan called, approaching from the bailey.

Alex squeezed Isobel’s hand. “Wait here.”

He, Robbie, and Murdoch met Ewan outside. “What are you doing?” Alex asked.

“I went to see what was going on,” Ewan said. “My father is on his way.”

“You wouldn’t have a hand in that, would you?” Alex drew himself up against Ewan, staring the man in the eye. They were almost equally matched in height, but Alex had more muscle on him. “Your father said I had until the full moon.”

“He did,” Ewan agreed.

“Does he know of my father’s passing?” His motivation for moving up the timeline could mean he suspected the MacKinnon forces were even weaker because of the loss of the chief.

“Aye,” Ewan said. “Two riders brought news of his death from Fionnphort the day you departed Duart.”

Those were the men Isobel and I saw in the valley on our way to Iona, Alex thought.

“But that is not why he moves against you.”

“Then why?” Alex demanded.

“He is concerned you are strengthening your defenses. He is no longer convinced you will submit to him.”

“No clan ever willingly submits to another, Ewan. You know this. Your father knows this too.”

“In truth, I convinced him you would agree to submission.”

“What?!” It did not make sense. “Why?”

“My father’s cruelty has grown.” Ewan’s eyes clouded over.

What has the chief done? Alex’s face remained impassive, but a chill ran down his spine at Ewan’s words.

“I wanted to protect you and your clan for as long as I could,” Ewan continued. “I was searching for ways to change the chief’s fixation on expanding his lands. When you saw me that night at Duart Keep, I’d come from the Isle of Man. I was seeking a marriage alliance in hopes of appeasing the chief’s desire for more connections and control.”

“You were unsuccessful?”

“I am free to form a contract with your sister, MacKinnon, if that is what you are suggesting. I am bound to no one else.”

Alex nodded. “I do not think the dowry we offer will tempt your father alone.”

Worry passed over his friend’s face. Ewan had the same concern. “I will do everything I can to convince him,” he began.

“Nae. I will meet him first. When I whistle twice, ride out to join us.”

Ewan nodded.

“I must know, Ewan, why do you do this for me and my people?” Alex and his clan gained much from this alliance, and Ewan gained a wife and a fair dowry. He did not want to diminish Anna’s value, but he wanted to make certain his old friend would not come to regret the match or hurt Anna in any way. He needed to know his true intent before he went out to negotiate with the chief.

“We were friends once, Alexander. You know I desire peace. If this brings peace between our clans, then I will be happy,” Ewan said, then frowned and studied Alex’s face. “I will be a good husband to Anna. I promise you this.”

“If we survive this morn, I’ll hold you to that, Ewan.”

Alex tasked Robbie and Murdoch with keeping an eye on Ewan while he went to the armory to check on the progress there. He found his uncle handing out the last of the clogadan and shields to soldiers who would be on the front line. The clogadan, strong iron helmets, offered extra protection for the men who would be most vulnerable. The rest of the soldiers were armed with axes and bows and arrows, and a select few had swords like Alex and Robbie.

“The men are ready,” his uncle told him.

“You remember the signals?” Alex asked.

“Aye,” he said. “We’ll be in position and ready for battle before the Maclean shows himself.”

The men reached out and grasped each other’s shoulders. “For the MacKinnons,” they said in unison.

They parted, and Alex went back into the keep in search of Isobel. He found her standing with Anna near the hearth where a fresh fire had been lit. The great hall was still strewn with platters of food and empty ale tankards from the night’s festivities.

He drew her away, out of earshot of Anna, and whispered, “Everything will be all right. But if something should happen…if the negotiations fail…”

“Alex, you don’t have to say anything,” Isobel whispered back. “We will get through this.”

“Nae. Listen,” he said. “If the keep falls, take my sisters and as many of the women and children as you can gather and make the crossing to Iona. There are over a dozen boats in the harbor. Seek sanctuary at the nunnery. Maclean will not harm you there.”

Isobel nodded, her face solemn.

The battle horn sounded again. The Macleans are within view.

“Stay with Anna.” Alex reached out and touched the side of Isobel’s face. She placed her hand over his and leaned into his palm. “Remember what I said.”

“I will.”

With one final look into her violet eyes, Alex dropped his hand and strode from the great hall. He went directly to the stables and mounted one of the horses he’d taken from the English. Alex’s uncle had wrapped the horse in protective chainmail, a grandeur that was not afforded to any of the other horses in his small contingent.

Alex rode through the gates with Robbie and Donald. They rode out some fifty paces in front of the gates and waited. To their right was the sea. To their left was a steep hill. The Macleans could only attack from one direction—the grasslands before them. A short time later, the Maclean soldiers came into view. As they marched on, line after line of Maclean soldiers filled the southern horizon.

God help us. There had to be a thousand men.

“They are too great in number!” Donald cried. “We’ll all be slaughtered within the hour.”

“Hold your damn tongue!” Alex warned.

“Chief, ye must surrender,” Donald begged. “Death is certain.”

Alex had heard enough. He spun on his horse and faced Donald. “I am the chief! You will do as I command! Hold your ground, Donald, or I will throw you into the sea myself!”

Wisely, Donald stayed silent. Alex spun around again and faced the approaching army.

Soon, the Maclean army stopped. It looked as though the sea had swallowed the land for the dark figures of the Maclean men stood so close together that Alex could not see the ground beneath them.

Within moments of halting the army, the Maclean chief rode forward with his top men at his side. When he came within ten paces of Alex, he held up his hand, and the Maclean men fell back. Only the chief approached.

Alex instructed Robbie and Donald to wait and went out to meet the chief on his own.

“Maclean,” Alex said, nodding at the old chief.

“MacKinnon,” he said. “A fine morning for battle, but let us hope it does not come to that, aye?”

Alex said nothing. Best to let the Maclean talk first to gauge the situation.

“Many MacKinnons deserted your clan when the old chief took ill,” Maclean said. “I know you’ve less than two hundred men behind those walls. Submit to me now, and no one will die.”

“My force is much greater, Maclean.”

“Expect me to believe ye have amassed a thousand men from thin air?” He laughed.

“Aye.” Alex whistled over his shoulder and from behind the hill, next to the keep, came the sound of soldiers marching. Feet pounded over the granite earth as soldiers crested the hill. The Irish mercenaries wore their black leather war coats, the whites of their eyes visible in the predawn light. Because the hill was flanked by the keep and a steep granite face, the men were squeezed into a narrow area, giving the appearance of a greater force. The Irish mercenaries let out a war cry.

“Do you doubt me still?” Alex asked the old chief.

“There may only be a few hundred men on that hill,” Maclean said.

Alex whistled again, and MacKinnon archers appeared above the keep walls, arrows nocked and bows raised. The Maclean frowned at the growing display of force before him.

“Are you willing to take that chance when you could still leave with a fine prize?” Alex asked.

“What prize?” The old man’s gray brows knitted together.

Alex whistled twice, signaling Ewan to ride out.

“What the hell are ye doing here?” the chief demanded of Ewan when he rode up to join them.

“I am here seeking a marriage alliance.”

“What?” he shouted. “The MacKinnons are impoverished. They’ve nothing to offer us.”

“That is nae true, Father.”

“I have just married Isobel Campbell, King David’s daughter,” Alex said.

“The lass ye brought to Duart is King David’s daughter?” the Maclean chief asked, seeming confused.

“Aye,” Alex replied. “I am now able to give each of my sisters a fine dowry.”

“Chief, think on this,” Ewan urged him. “We could lose many men to the MacKinnons, or we could gain coin and strengthen our alliance with our neighbors.”

The old chief’s expression transformed from anger to thoughtful contemplation. He’s considering it!

The Maclean gazed up behind Alex and Ewan, taking in the sight of the MacKinnon force. The Irish wore impressive armor, and the archers had finely crafted bows. By all appearances, they were unmistakably warriors. Alex knew Maclean was smart; he could not risk the loss, especially if what Ewan said was true about Maclean’s plan to extend his reach beyond Mull. He would need a large force. He knows he cannot risk it. Alex felt confident, but his face remained expressionless. He could not show concern. He had to hold his bluff.

Alex’s horse snorted and stomped. The animal was restless. Maclean was taking a long time to consider.

“What are yer terms, MacKinnon?”

“Accept a marriage alliance between my sister, Anna, and Ewan, with a handsome dowry, and let us resume our alliance.”

“If your army is a thousand strong, then why offer the marriage alliance?”

“I want peace,” Alex said. “My sister also needs a good match. The Macleans are revered in the Isles.”

The chief’s eyes narrowed on Alex.

Hold your bluff, Alex reminded himself, taking care to keep his face still.

Maclean turned to look at his son. “Ye are agreeable to this?”

“Aye,” Ewan said.

After a few moments, Maclean finally spoke again. “I accept yer terms, MacKinnon.”

He nodded to Alex, then rode back to his men. Briefly, he exchanged some words with them. As the Maclean chief disappeared into the sea of men, one of his seconds rode up to speak with Ewan and Alex.

“Ye are to put everything in writing and get a date for the wedding, then return home,” the man said to Ewan.

Ewan agreed, and the man galloped off.

Alex remained firmly in place until the Maclean contingent turned around. He and Ewan sat atop their horses in silence until the thundering sound of a thousand men marching into the distance became a faint rumble.

Once they were out of sight, Alex turned to Ewan and asked, “Will he keep his word?”

“Aye.”

“Then it is done,” Alex said. He and Ewan were joined by Robbie and Donald as they rode through the keep’s gates.

Alex approached a group of riders he had on the ready.

“Follow the Macleans until they clear our borders,” Alex instructed them.

“Aye, Chief,” the lead rider said, and the men left. The gate closed firmly behind them.

Alex instructed the soldiers to remain atop the ramparts for the morning but gave the signal for the Irish to stand down. He finally dismounted his horse and took it back to the stables where he confronted Donald.

“You are no longer in charge of my guard,” he told the man.

“But Chief, I have served as the head of the guard since before ye were even born.”

“No longer,” Alex replied. “You are a weak man and unfit to serve me.”

“Weak?” Donald shouted. “Ye almost killed us all!”

He shoved the man against the stable door. “Nae. I saved us all!” Alex turned to leave, but Donald wouldn’t be silenced yet.

“Yer father would have listened to me.”

Alex sighed and turned to face Donald once more. Their disagreement was drawing a crowd. Ready to be done with it, Alex decided there was only one course of action. Alex looked at the two guardsmen posted by the stables, then fixed his gaze on Donald.

“Take him to the dungeon,” he ordered the guards, and then turned to leave once more.

Donald shouted curses and damned him to hell as the guardsmen led him away, but Alex did not care. He would not tolerate weakness in his guard.

In the commotion, Alex managed to find Robbie, Murdoch, and Ewan.

“Come,” he told the men. “Let’s share the good news with the others.”