“We can exploit it! To allow for our clan to run them off our land and out of our territory now and forever!" My voice rose above every sound of nature and man.
The sound was new to me. The energy and force of my words were like that of Grania.
The cheering of the men meshed together, creating a victorious sound that filled the entire inlet of the sea. The entire Umhaille territory. But I choked on my powerful words, knowing what they meant.
Exposing Rí.
Could I actually do it? Use Rí to get to the warrior chieftain, to his father? My heart sank and struggled to continue pumping as I thought of his amber hair falling across his sparkling eyes and boyish dimples.
He'd trusted in me. Shared his innermost thoughts. And he liked me, I knew he did. Our connection was undeniable, even I knew that.
My head shook as I thought about him. How could I betray him?
But he betrayed me first. He kept his identity a secret and misled me. But why? And then, he joined his clan in their intimidations of Rockfleet.
I pictured him joining his father after their threats against us. And again, riding up with the band of MacMahunas to spy and send additional warning and insecurity through our clan. He’d kept his gaze down, avoiding me, doing nothing to defend us or help us. As if I’d never existed.
My lips pressed together in resignation. Rí was with the enemy and I had to protect my clan from him and his tribe. My throat tightened as tears threatened to sting my eyes. I shook the thought from my head and grew steadfast in my resolve.
I cleared my throat, readying the words that would place Rí in harm’s way. Sadness darkened my heart, causing my head to fall. As I lifted it, knowing my course to defend my clan, an arrow screeched past my ear and sank into a hay bale with a deep penetrating thwack.
All eyes turned in the direction of the attack and in the same moment, several more arrows sailed toward us.
We spread out like scurrying ants and ran for cover.
I grabbed my shield, thankful I’d been keeping it with me at all times, and pulled my sword from its scabbard. I looked all around, making eye contact with my clansmen and sending hand signals to relay our next moves. My heart pounded out of my chest as I considered how we would navigate a rainfall of arrows from above.
Dom's voice shattered the field as an arrow pierced into his thigh. His cry of pain sent panic through me and I held my shield above my head and shrank my body in as tight as possible.
Oh my god. I was going to die. From an arrow shot from an enemy bow. A MacMahuna bow.
The thought frightened me and visions of my grandparent’s garden filled my mind. Why was I so determined to leave the safety of their garden? I’d placed myself directly in harm’s way.
My mind scrambled on how to stay safe. If I had been able to conjure my visions and travel here to Rockfleet, then surely I could reverse it and go home. I’d never considered it before. The fear of not being able to return was always too great.
My eyebrows rose high, widening my eyes. My safety was within my grasp. But it came with its own risk: never being able to return.
In one deep breath, I pushed the peaceful sanctuary of the garden out of my thoughts and brought myself back to the moment.
The moment I chose to remain in. Where I belonged.
I pressed myself up to standing, pushing into the hay bale as deeply as possible for added protection.
I signaled to the others to get their attention, then gave them a swirling gesture that showed our synchronized attack when surrounded. The gesture told the men that, on three, we would all run in an outward direction to diffuse the focus of the enemy, then circle back and gather out of reach of arrows. At that point, we would form a unified assault in retaliation.
Every man nodded back at me, acknowledging the plan was sound, and I started the countdown with my fingers and lips; three, two, one...
We ran in every direction, war cries shot out of us, enough to turn the enemy’s hair white. One glance at the band of attackers and I saw them struggling with where to point their weapons and how to focus their assault.
It was working.
My adrenaline spiked and I sailed to the far side of our set up. The other clansmen arrived at the same time. All but Hugh.
“Ay, yeh’ve got a fine bit o’ Grania in ya, lass.” Aengus, the most intimidating of the group, smirked as they gathered in together.
Dom was the last to limp in, pressing his hand against the wound in his leg. The butt of the snapped arrow stuck out of his thigh, pointing at the reality of our situation.
I searched every man, desperate to locate Hugh, and jumped to get a better view around me. There, from the side of the ambush, Hugh struggled on the ground, with a leather whip wrapped around his ankles, as he was dragged across the rubble by three gloating MacMahunas. They kicked him as they laughed at our failed attempt at thwarting their attack. In our distraction, the smaller group had focused on Hugh, and captured him.
My idea of going for their weakness, Rí, had played out in a sickening quid pro quo, as they made off with our weakness.
Grania's weakness.
Hugh.
"We haven't a moment to spare!" I gathered the clansmen with my raised voice. "We must retrieve Hugh before he is harmed."
Fear threatened to squeeze out my voice as I considered the torture techniques I'd overheard during our training. They were barbaric, without an ounce of sympathy for the victim. And Hugh was valuable. The MacMahuna chieftain knew that all too well. Hugh had information on Grania's plans of resistance. But he could also be used against her emotionally. Their bond couldn't be hidden, even from the enemy.
"We must get him back to Rockfleet. Before Grania's return."
I looked to Dom and Aengus and they nodded at me.
"Ready the weapons. Ready the horses!" they bellowed.
Every man moved with purpose, gathering their personal weaponry and adding their individual arsenals. Before mid-day, we were armed and ready to take back Hugh DeLacy. Dom stayed behind, knowing that his injury would slow the entire group.
We rode hard and long — covering over twenty miles between Rockfleet and the MacMahuna stronghold, Doona Castle in Ballycroy. By the time Doona came into view, it was close to nightfall.
Five stories high, the fortress rose into the night sky, emanating power and force from its stony walls. A shudder ran through me as I froze, uncertain of what to do next. The outbuildings of the castle were quiet as the settlement prepared for the end of day meal and rest.
Somewhere, though... somewhere within those walls was Hugh.
There would be bloodshed. We'd lose our own clansmen. Maybe several. Maybe all.
I looked at the face of each of my tribe members and they looked back, waiting for command of our next move. My breathing quickened as my heart rate accelerated and sweat covered my palms. My peripheral vision blurred as a panic attack took full force.
How could I put these men's lives in danger? Yet they were so eager to engage. To fight for Rockfleet, for Grania. My breathing turned to short pants as I gasped for the rhythm to return.
The men watched me. Waiting. They trusted I had a plan, that I was the one who would guide them through our attack. As if I were Grania herself.
They didn’t care that I was a woman. Or that I was half their age. They’d seen my loyalty to the clan and my quick thinking. They trusted I had Grania in my soul.
My eyes pinched shut as the insurmountable task flattened me with its weight. The sound of horses, snorting and neighing, drew my attention to the stables. And then my eyes widened.
"We'll create a distraction. Set their horses free and send them scattered through the hills." My voice remained steady as the clansmen gathered closer to me without a single blink of an eye. "As their men scramble to retrieve the horses, we'll split up and search for Hugh."
I hesitated, feeling the burden of lives crushing down on me.
"Keep the innocents out of it. Now is not t
he time for carnage and revenge. Now is the time to recover our brother and return him to the safety of our walls. We will wait for Grania then, to determine our next steps." The authority in my voice left no room for negotiation.
"We should slaughter the bastards!" A voice rose from our ranks.
"Now is not the time. We must focus on our mission of rescue and recovery. Are you with me?" I stood tall, surveying the commitment of each man. "We need to keep our numbers strong. Save our strength for Bingham himself!"
"Aye! She's right." Aengus’ voice lifted from the murmuring. His intimidating size and presence was respected in our group. "We keep it focused on rescue. Find Hugh. Bring him home to Grania."
"Aye!" Voices rose in unison and the men gathered into a tighter circle, waiting for their specific orders. Once we were all in agreement of how the invasion would play out and darkness had fallen, we tied our horses and moved away from our stony shelter.
Avoiding the lookout spots along the perimeter of the territory, we trickled down the side of the hill like a steady mountain stream. Two small groups moved to either side of the stable as lookouts, while Aengus and I moved to the barn doors.
Sounds of raucous dining and celebration travelled out to us from within the thick castle walls. The MacMahuna clan was held tight inside, gloating about their bounty and blindly believing it might help them in some way. Aengus signaled for me to pull on one stable door as he pulled the other.
We planned to untether each horse and herd them to the open doors, agitating them with our unfamiliar voices and rough handling. Then we would bang and smash our swords on our shields, slap their hind quarters with leather, and send them scattering into the hills.
The sound of our attack would surely bring the MacMahunas out of their stronghold and into the open night air. They'd see their horses fleeing, and watch their livelihood and wealth spread across the hills into the wild. They'd have no choice but to chase after them.
My eyes rolled up to the heavens, praying the plan would work, even in the smallest degree. The diversion would give us a chance to search for Hugh.
My heart sank as my gut told me he was within the walls of the castle. The dungeons, most likely. Gaining entry would not be easy and the walls would be defended without mercy.
I looked at Aengus.
Ready.
We pulled the heavy doors open as my eyes pinched shut from the high-pitched squeak of the hinges. My shoulders lifted to my ears, hoping the sound would be lost on the wind.
I stepped lightly into the stables, as if my silent footfalls would negate the jarring sound of the opening doors. Aengus filled the space behind me with his massive girth, all muscle and brawn. My lips pressed together as I felt gratitude at his presence with me.
Anxious hooves began stamping in their stalls as whinnying and snorting passed from one horse to the next. Movement from the end of the stable caught my eye. There was someone there.
The man darted toward the glowing light at the far corner and as he moved back into view, the space around him illuminated with the mellow hue cast from his torch.
"Who's there?" He called out. "Bring yourself into the light." His deep voice held command but was laced with questioning alarm. He stepped closer and shone his torch at us.
Aengus moved up behind me, pressing into my back, encouraging me to move toward the man. His increased breathing proved he was ready to strike the man down with one simple, surprise blow.
My hand moved to Aengus' side, to stop him. Something had calmed me. Paused me. My head tipped to the side as I stared through the light of the torch and into the man's face.
"Rí!" His name flew from my lips.
The torch wobbled and lowered. "Maeve? What the hell are you doing here? Jazus!"
Aengus pressed closer, homing in on his target. My arm held him back with more force.
"Rí." His name fell from my mouth again, as if recovering from the shock of seeing him there. My heart shot to new levels of panic as I considered him in the middle of the danger. I couldn't bear it. I burst forward, leaving Aengus, as I ran to him.
His arms opened to me and pulled me into his chest. "Jazus, Maeve. You must get out of here. What are you doing?" Rí's eyes remained fixed on Aengus but his arm held my head to his heart. The sound of his racing pulse brought clarity to my being.
I was meant to be there. In his arms. And he felt it too. His embrace held me as part of his own body.
I looked back at Aengus. "Aengus, wait. I know him." My hand went up to keep him at a distance.
Aengus stared in shock.
“Trust me, Aengus.”
He hesitated, looking from Rí to me, then moved to the open doors, peering out to be sure no one else was coming.
“By God, Maeve. Why are ya here? You’ll be killed.” Rí’s voice shook with fear.
"They have Hugh. We've come to take him back!" I panted.
"Aye." Rí's head fell and he closed his eyes. “I’ve let you down, Maeve. I can’t bare to live with myself.”
My heart skipped a beat. He was torn as well. We were both equally to blame. I’d betrayed him too. For my clan. The decision had been made in my mind and I couldn’t deny that. Our loyalties to our clans were what made us who we were, and made us a strong match.
But this was my chance to have Rí help us. Instead of using him as a weakness against the MacMahuna, I would ask him to make that choice on his own.
"Do you know where he is, Rí? Can you take us to him?" My eyes begged him as my fingers grabbed the fabric of his shirt.
He released me and ran his hands over his face as his head fell back. Then he turned his attention on Aengus. "I need her unharmed. You must take her away from here," Rí commanded him.
Aengus moved toward him like a freight train. "I'll be takin' no orders from the likes of you." His voice fueled his fury as he planned to blast through Rí, leaving only dust in his wake.
"It's not an order." Rí stood tall against Aengus' intimidation. "It's a request."
Aengus slowed as I placed myself between the two men. My eyes urged him to listen. Rí was working with us. He was going to help. My mind whirled with light that showed the way. Our unusual union was going to be the force that helped our mission.
Rí held eye contact with Aengus and continued. "Take her away from here. And then I’ll show your men where they've taken Hugh."
"What?” My voice shattered his request. “I'm not leaving!"
“It’s not safe.” Rí’s voice turned to a whisper. “I need to know you’ll be out of harm’s way.” His eyes begged mine.
"No. We’re in this together.” I stared into his eyes and pushed on his chest, disgusted at his request. Though it lifted my heart to levels of soaring.
“Bring us to him," I demanded.
I'd come too far to turn back now, to be sheltered. Rage burned in my eyes at his hesitation.
"Take me to him!"
"Fer the love o' Christ!" Rí grabbed my hand and pulled me along, out of the stables.
Aengus followed — sword drawn, eyes alert. We shimmied along the side of the barn and once we’d reached the back we signaled our other clansmen to join us.
"The watchmen are takin' shifts. Sure, they're expecting ye," Rí whispered, gesturing toward the castle. "Didn't expect ya to be looking for a ride on our horses, though, sure." He chuckled at our backward plan.
But it was working.
Adrenaline soared through every inch of me as I kept to the shadows of the outbuildings. For a band of burly clansmen with a vendetta to pay, we moved in a fine-tuned, synchronized formation that could pass for a swirl in the evening mist. Rí led us up a slope behind the settlement and over a ridge.
"Where are we going?" I whispered to his back.
He turned around and shushed me. "Quiet. There's no tellin' who might still be here." He used care with each step, to remain silent.
The Umhailles behind me were equally stealthy. It was shocking how quiet they could be.
His hand ran along the back of his neck and he rubbed it. "They bring them up here if they make no progress with the interrogation. Expose them to the elements, in hopes of weakening them further," he added.
"Why didn't you help him?" I snarled through my clenched teeth.
"Maeve." He stopped in his tracks. "It’s bigger than that.” He pressed his lips together. “I can't dishonor my father. Or my clan. I’m bound to them. I'm sworn to lead them after me father." His eyes penetrated mine, leaving me no place to hide. "You must understand."
I considered his words and wondered what I would do if I were in his shoes. Then I thought back to my original plan. The one that included using Rí as the weakness to get to their chieftain.
I was no different from him. Our loyalty to our clans was our priority.
“I do.” I nodded. “I understand more than you know.” I heard my bland words and added what he needed to hear. “I would have done the same.”
“Please forgive me, Maeve. I had no intention of hurting you. In any way.”
My thoughts shifted to that of a jilted lover and I couldn’t stop them. “But you lied to me,” I whispered and inched closer to him. “You tricked me.”
He huffed with a smirk. “Sure, ya wouldn’a talked to me otherwise, if ya knew I was one of them. And all I wanted was just fer ya to talk with me.” His head tipped as he gazed into my eyes. “And when ya did, I never wanted you to stop. Ever.”
A sound came from over the ridge and we all froze, listening. Each clansman squeezed the hilt of their sword as they prepared for a confrontation.
"Down!" Rí whispered and moved his hands in command for us to lower ourselves. He crawled along the stones that lined the top of the ridge and peered over. He reached back for my hand and pulled me up alongside him.
A gasp flew from my mouth and before it sent alarm into the night, Rí's hand covered it. He slowly removed his hand from my mouth as I stared at the shocking sight.
Rockfleet (The Pirate Queen Book 0) Page 10