Mairead could not speak. Tears streamed down her face as she leaned back into his embrace and nodded her head. “I will do everything you said, but I need you to do something for me.”
Hamish grinned in her hair. “I promise to come back to you.”
Mairead turned around and pulled his lips down to hers. Just before she claimed them and reminded him of all that he had to live for, she whispered, “Know that the only reason I married you was because I love you.”
* * *
Robert shook his head, anger shining in the depths of his green eyes. “You agreed that there would be no show of aggression.”
Hamish returned Robert’s glare, but where fire boiled in his brother’s veins, his had grown ice cold. “I will not argue on this. I agreed to let you try negotiation and to keep the majority of the men out of sight. But I never agreed to conceal all my men.”
“I’m the one responsible, Hamish, and this is my decision,” Robert hissed.
They were in the great hall with the few men to whom Hamish had revealed his whole plan. As of yet, Robert was not one of them. Hamish decided his brother would learn about his latest thoughts at the same time Ulrick would. Hamish knew his men were looking to and waiting for directions from him, not Robert.
Hamish glanced out the window. The sun was rising, but it was still dark outside. The clouds were thickening, making it more difficult to tell how much time was passing, but Hamish suspected they had no more than an hour longer to wait.
The lookout had said Ulrick had only stopped to eat. No shelters were erected, which most likely meant they planned to ride through the night, hoping to surprise Robert. And it might have worked if the lookout was not a Kyldoane and intimately familiar with the land. He had shown Hamish a more direct route back to Foinaven, shaving off hours of the journey. And it was one that could only be traversed single file and impossible for an army—even a small one—to use.
Bryan Kyldoane had not stayed to make a definitive headcount, but from what he had seen, he guessed Ulrick was riding with approximately seventy to eighty men—and no priest. Based on what Hamish had learned from Mairead and Amon, Ulrick had taken with him almost sixty soldiers—close to the numbers Hamish had been able to enlist. That meant Ulrick had persuaded approximately twenty mercenaries to help his cause. Most, if any, would not want to stay at Foinaven after it was secure. They were only there to earn their money and then disappear south. They were not loyal to anyone but themselves.
Hamish ignored Robert and looked at Davros. “Get your men into position in the tower and make sure none of them fire unless I tell them to. Understand?” The falconer glanced at Robert and saw that he was not the only one who understood Hamish’s implication. Robert was no longer making the decisions when it came to this confrontation. Hamish was. And if it had been the other way around, Davros would have taken his men and left, choosing not to die for a man who did not respect the value of their lives.
“You, Amon,” Hamish continued, getting his old mentor’s attention. “Make sure all the men are in position. Then take the dozen we discussed and wait by the gate, just outside the wall. Also, I need two sentries on each tower. Make sure they are from Foinaven’s guard. They need men Ulrick will recognize but who will follow my lead.”
“What about Ulrick’s spies?”
Hamish twitched his lips and flashed the older man a smile. “I think Lumley and Jollis should help guard the inside of the tower in order to be ready to welcome their commander. Have the other two inside the tunnel.”
Amon returned the smile and then waved to the other men in the room, gesturing for them to head for their assigned positions and wait for Ulrick. It would not be long.
Robert stood still as everyone left and only he and Hamish were in the room. He did not quiver under Hamish’s quelling stare and crossed his arms over his chest. Anger poured out of him. Every vein was popping on his neck.
Hamish was unapologetic. “I know you want to try negotiations first, brother, and we will. But when I made that agreement, you will remember that I also made another vow. That I would protect Mairead. She, Selah, and Rab . . .”
Hearing the names of his wife and son, Robert exploded. His hands slammed down on the table. “Where are they?”
“In my old chambers. I saw them enter and the door is bolted. If negotiations do not work and if my plan fails, I have made arrangements for them to be taken to McTiernay lands where they will be protected and safe.”
Robert eased back. “I should have been informed.”
“You should have made the arrangements,” Hamish threw back at him.
They both knew that it had not occurred to Robert to protect his family in such a way, that he knew no one he trusted enough to protect his family outside of Hamish. “Thank you.”
Hamish felt his own anger begin to lower. “I will give you the opportunity to negotiate, Robert. And despite what you think, I hope it works. But I will be prepared in case it does not.”
“Then let us go to the curtain wall. I doubt we will have to wait long.”
Hamish shook his head. “Not you. Just me. I will offer Ulrick the chance to talk, but you need to be ready when he takes me up on it.”
Robert’s expression became dubious. “I thought you believed only aggression would work with someone like Ulrick.”
Hamish threw his head back and inhaled deeply. “I never believed that. All sides lose in battle for everyone experiences loss—even the victors. I explained this to Mairead soon after I arrived. Sometimes it is necessary to prevent total loss, but fighting should be the last option considered and definitely the last taken.”
“So you do think Ulrick might be interested in negotiation.”
Hamish clapped his brother on the back. “Oh, I think he will pretend to be interested enough to get in the castle gates.” Hamish moved to open the great hall’s doors but stopped just before he stepped through. “But once he is inside, my plan is to convince him not to just listen but accept your terms.”
Robert opened and closed his mouth several times, before finally keeping his lips shut. He had planned almost every aspect of everything that had happened in the past month, with the exception of getting ill. But even that he had worked to his advantage. Mairead and Hamish falling in love was a twist, but Robert had never doubted that his brother would protect her in some way. The impromptu addition to Foinaven had also been something he had not expected, but ultimately, it did not change the fact that Hamish would be forced to fight Ulrick.
Robert was opposed to an army for all the reasons he had stated. He did not want massive bloodshed. But mostly he needed Hamish to stand up and fight for Foinaven. It was the catalyst to getting him to accept his rightful place as laird.
Never had Robert considered that he might actually end up negotiating with Ulrick.
It did not ruin everything—Mairead was safe and happy. And he and Hamish were no longer estranged, but his happiness, and the happiness of his wife and child, were suddenly at stake. All because he had not realized just how good a strategist Hamish was.
All is not lost, Robert told himself. He had a little bit of time and a lot of ingenuity. Before the day was out, Hamish would finally be back home and for good.
* * *
Hamish stood on top of the curtain wall adjacent to the wooden gates. Most of the servants had family in the village and the few who did not were told to remain behind closed doors either in the chapel or in the storage rooms of the small anchor tower that was attached to the stables. Foinaven, which was normally a hub of activity, felt strangely abandoned it was so quiet. But not to anyone approaching the castle. To them, the only thing amiss was that the large gate doors were uncharacteristically closed.
Hamish’s demeanor was relaxed as he watched the large group of men approach, all holding weapons as they were ready to battle. Bryan Kyldoane’s estimate had been a little low. Ulrick’s army was closer to a hundred men, not eighty. It would make things tight, but the dead
liest men were in front with Ulrick, who, being unafraid of what he might find, was leading the way.
It had been several years since Hamish had seen the man and aside from his pitch-black hair graying along his temples, he had changed little. Like most Highlanders, he was a large man, wide and muscular from hours wielding weapons and besting opponents. His face was somewhat flat and wide with a granite jaw and thin lips that looked like they were snarling even when he smiled.
Ulrick stopped in front of the gate. He paused and assessed Amon and the eleven men with him. None were on horses nor were they blocking the entrance. They were standing to the side in some pathetic display of strength. “I see Robert has recruited you and a few others.” Ulrick looked behind him to his men. “So have I.”
Amon cracked a genuine smile that caused a questioning brow on Ulrick to arch. Amon said not a word. He just looked up.
Ulrick followed his gaze up the wall to where Hamish was standing. Upon recognizing Hamish, his expression changed to one of understanding. He smiled and then returned his attention to Amon. “McTiernays always make one feel invincible. But I know that Hamish is not a real McTiernay.” Then Ulrick returned his eyes upward. His gaze remained cold and unafraid. “Let me in, Hamish.”
Hamish crossed his arms and instead used his chin to point to the men behind Ulrick. “Robert has agreed to see you, but only you and without your weapons. He wants only peace.”
Ulrick’s grin widened. “This can be done peacefully, Hamish, something I’m sure your brother is eager to see happen. Just tell Robert to hand over leadership and Foinaven to me and show me where he keeps the money, then no blood will be shed.”
Hamish pursed his lips and looked at the two sentries placed on every tower, then down to the courtyard. He nodded his head as if he was receiving instructions. Then Hamish returned his attention back to Ulrick. “I’m not the one you need to negotiate with and Robert asks once again that you come in and negotiate with him. Just without your weapons.”
Ulrick slid down off his horse. “Unless you brought a McTiernay army along with you, I have the numbers to take Foinaven. You know it; therefore, Robert does as well. One does not negotiate when the other side has nothing to leverage. I’m entering through these gates, my weapons are coming with me, and so are my men.”
Hamish studied Ulrick for a second and then again looked down at the nearly empty courtyard. He nodded his head several times.
“Stop delaying, Hamish!” There was a snarl in Ulrick’s voice, emphasizing his contempt for anyone and everyone associated with Foinaven and its weak leader. “You know as well as I that Robert is not fit to be laird and you left this life long ago. Leave again right now and I vow that no one will harm you.”
Hamish uncrossed his arms and placed his fists on his hips. “You don’t need a hundred men to negotiate, Ulrick. Leave half of them out here.”
Ulrick waved his sword at Hamish. “I will decide how many men I need to negotiate. And I say I need them all! Now open the gates!”
Hamish pointed to Ulrick’s army. “There is not enough room.”
Ulrick glared at Hamish. Foinaven’s courtyard was large, but not enough for a hundred soldiers on horses. It had plenty of room, however, if they came in on foot. And looking at the quivering, scared sentries on the towers, Hamish was still using pathetic guards he had left behind. If there was a battle, it would be quick and one-sided.
Ulrick signaled to his men to dismount. Most did as told, but a few mercenaries hesitated. “If Hamish was foolish enough to have convinced some of the guard to fight for him, then we may have to teach them a lesson. The horses are a disadvantage.”
Seeing his logic, the mercenaries slid off their horses. Ulrick then smiled back at Hamish. “There. I’ve negotiated.”
“One more thing before you come in,” Hamish stated casually. “Robert offers no ill will to you or anyone in your group, but before he agrees to open the gates, he wants a simple promise.”
Ulrick knew that Hamish was baiting him, trying to incite him into doing something foolish. He refused to show he had been riled. “If it is a simple promise,” he said with the same singsong indifferent tone Hamish had taken.
“He just wants you to promise to be willing to talk to him about a peaceful resolution.”
Ulrick laughed out loud and then turned around to the mercenaries who were keenly following the exchange. None knew Hamish, but some had heard of him. All knew of the McTiernays though. “Seems Robert found a commander even more pathetic than himself.”
One of the mercenaries stepped forward. His eyes were hooded and burned with doubt. “I don’t trifle with McTiernays,” he said, and then grabbed the reins of his horse and left.
Ulrick could see several others were going to follow and shouted out, “Hamish is no McTiernay! He is a MacBrieve who ran away from a wife and a lairdship over a decade ago.” A few paused. “Leave and you return with nothing,” he reminded them. Their hesitation ceased and Ulrick knew he had regained control. But he was done waiting. “I’m done talking. Open the gates or I will burn them open.”
Hamish shrugged as if he did not care, then waved his arm. A moment later the doors slid slowly to the side. Seeing them open, Ulrick raised his sword and ran inside. The mass of men behind him followed him and he was several steps in when he realized his folly. It was too late to stop. A hundred men were plowing down behind him and if he stopped, he would be run over. He had no choice but to continue. But when he and his men exited the tunnel there would be hell to pay.
Ulrick continued through the tunnel, which forced him to enter the bottom floor of the main tower. The torches on the wall were unlit, but the holes above gave enough light for him to see Jollis and Lumley standing guard by the tower’s now only door. They were so incompetent he had almost kicked them both out of his guard before he left, but they were also the kind who were loyal to those with power. So he had given them the grand assignment to observe what happened while he was gone. It never occurred to either fool that telling him about the tunnel after he had secured Foinaven would be meaningless.
He waved his sword at them. “Well, don’t just stand there, open the door!”
Jollis jumped and tried the door. It did not budge. He began to panic. Hamish had told him to guard the door and be prepared to open it for Ulrick when he returned. He had thought it an ideal assignment at the time, and that all the gossip about Hamish being this great warrior and strategist had been unfounded. With each kick and shoulder he threw against the barred exit, he became aware of just how wrong he had been.
“I know it works,” whined Lumley, who was beside Jollis throwing everything he had against the solid door. “I saw Robert’s men working on it when they built the tunnel.”
Ulrick grabbed Jollis’s shoulder and flung him aside. With all his might, he kicked the door and knew instantly it had been seriously reinforced. “Robert did not fix the door, you fool. He blocked it.” His army was still piling in and the little room he had to maneuver was dwindling. He let go a string of curses.
This was Hamish’s plan. He should have known the man had something prepared, but it did not matter. Ulrick had not planned on hurting and killing the villagers to achieve his goal, but the moment he got everyone to go back out, he was going to torture every last one of them.
Ulrick bellowed for everyone to leave as they had come in. He waited, but the mass did not move. If anything, the numbers crowding the bottom of the tower had grown.
Ulrick was about to yell out again, this time with threats of death if they did not move, when he heard a clanking above him. Once again he was looking up at Hamish’s face. This time through a large hole. No longer did he have no quarrel with the man. The pseudo McTiernay was living his last day on Earth.
“Your men cannot leave,” Hamish said with a mocking apologetic tone. “Amon and his men are blocking the way.”
“Twelve men cannot hold a hundred.”
Hamish looked to ponder the statement a
nd then shook his head. “These twelve probably could. And if I am wrong I am sure I can find more to help them.”
Ulrick knew then that Hamish was not nearly as unprepared as it had seemed from outside the castle. If there had been no guards outside the gate when they arrived, he would have been suspicious. Seeing the dozen armed men, Ulrick had just assumed that they were all there was.
Hamish might have him at a disadvantage, but he was not the person in charge. Robert was. And Robert hated violence of any kind.
“I would like to talk to Robert now.”
Hamish stood on the first floor of the tower and gestured to his younger brother. Robert wanted a chance to negotiate, and Hamish had arranged it so that Ulrick would be accepting his terms. But Robert said nothing. He just stared at Hamish, looking helplessly lost.
Hamish was furious and knew he was not alone. Davros and ten men he had personally trained had their bows and arrows ready to fly into every hole and the tension was growing. If a peaceful resolution was going to be made, this was Robert’s chance. “You wanted an opportunity to speak with Ulrick before any blood was spilled. This is that time.”
Robert took a deep breath and looked down into one hole. At least forty angry, violent men were below his feet and they were ready to kill, not talk. He looked back at Hamish. “What should I say?”
“Mo chreach!” Hamish swore. “For once be a laird to these people,” he hissed. “Negotiate with Ulrick or kill him, I don’t care which you choose, but make a decision and lead, Robert!”
Robert’s face closed down, a dark shadow crossed his normally kind features. “I know how to build towers, not how to use them. I can work with any reasonable man, but they,” he said pointing downward, “are not reasonable. They want war and nothing I say is going to change that. There is only one option that will prevent bloodshed.”
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