Colin rose and went to her. “Aye, I love ye tae. I’ve always loved ye and I’ll no’ e’er stop lovin’ ye, e’en if it means lovin’ ye from heaven should me soul rest there fer eternity aft this night.”
Audrina felt the tears slip down her cheeks and she leaned up on her toes and kissed him. She had precipitated so few of the kisses, and she made the third vow to herself. If God or whatever power deemed it necessary to return her Colin to her that night, she would be sure to kiss him every day until the end of their days in order to show him that love.
She leaned back and glanced out the window. She caught sight of Lord Weatherby and cursed. Colin raised his eyebrows, never having heard her curse before, and it caught him by surprise.
“What vexes ye, lass?” he asked.
“If only there was a way to make Lord Weatherby see.” She chewed on her lip. “Cotswold is a slippery eel. If we could just show Weatherby what a lying, murdering…” she trailed off looking pensive.
“Lass, what is it. Out w’it it!” Colin gave her shoulders a little shake.
“That’s it, Colin. He has lied!” she exclaimed excitedly.
“Aye, we ken it, but…” he trailed off, catching up with her train of thought.
“It would be the ultimate downfall of Cotswold, if we point out that he has always claimed the brides he has taken by rights of Prima Noctem got lost on the way home. He claimed he never knew what happened to me, but how would he have known I had died if he didn’t know what happened to the brides?” Audrina’s words came out in a rush.
Colin’s brow lifted in concentration. “T’will be tricky and risky tae call him out on it wit’out bein’ shot at by arrows, lass,” he commented.
“Tricky yes, but you’re an expert at goading him. What if, you start by goading him? Burn the stake that he has set up. Make sure you have their undivided attention. Although I don’t think that will be an issue, you need to make sure you capture the attention of Lord Weatherby as well. You need to get Cotswold good and enraged and then…”
“Then when he loses control o’er himself, he’ll confess all in front o’Lord Weatherby, in an attempt tae save face!” Colin finished her sentence.
“Exactly!” she cried.
Colin dragged her to him and pulled her into another embrace and kiss. Together they had seen themselves through the denial of their love, a secret wedding, the agony of being wrenched apart and lost to one another, the torture of murder and despair and then the confusion and chaos of being thrust back together by a spell that neither could comprehend. They had endured the almost insurmountable task of trusting one another again, and finally realizing and professing their love for one another all over again. With each other, they realized they could do anything.
When they broke free, she and Colin rushed to the door. He paused a moment and turned, “Lass, I think ye should go to me mam and let me call Cotswold on…”
“Don’t even think about excluding me from this, Colin MacClaran. I may be a woman, but I’ve faced the fires of hell at the hands of that man, I will not miss this opportunity to be avenged.” She stamped her foot for emphasis, and he stepped back in surprise at the vehemence on her face.
“Alrigh’, woman. Ye’ve made yer point. I’ll no’ deny ye.” He snorted at the fiery flush in her cheeks and then opened the door. “But ye’ll stay betwixt yer personal guard when we march out tae face him. Deal?” He held out his hand. It was her turn to snort in mirth as he bargained with her for the security and feeling of having the upper hand.
“Deal,” she agreed, and she shook it.
Colin kissed the top of her hand, then he pulled a small dirk from the sheath on his belt and handed it to her. T’was yers when ye arrived from Skye. T’was yer sister, Catriona’s. I kept it, but ye should ha’ it if ye intend tae walk w’it me into battle. I suspect my men will see ye tae safety if our plan doosnae work, but tis a good weapon if ye use yer moves ye taught me yesterday on the ride out to Donal and Alisdair.”
Audrina took the dirk and a flash of a face that resembled her own went through her mind. Catriona’s. She was smiling at her, and for the briefest moment, the dirk warmed in her palm under her fingers. It felt right in her hand. It felt like it belonged.
CHAPTER 31
A lot of activity buzzed in the great hall when they came back downstairs. Colin began barking orders again, and Audrina was left standing to the side and waiting for the time when they would march out. She looked down at the dirk and discovered it to be gem encrusted with the same gems as on her kilt pin. She touches the pin, finding solace in the weight of it hanging near her shoulder. The dirk felt equally as comforting. Back in San Francisco, she had carried a can of pepper spray, and she always felt a mild sense of security when she had it, but nothing like the assurance of a weapon that could be lethal to the attacker who was trying to kill her. Pepper spray had been used to ward off an attack long enough to run away. It felt like to Audrina that she had been running away for a very long time. But this dirk meant that she didn’t have to run anymore. She could stand up to what and who she feared and be brave in the face of adversity and staggering odds.
Audrina had never understood the pride that she had inherited from her Scottish ancestors. It was always joked about, her stubbornness and proud attitude. She understood it now. With only a few years before the Scots would as a whole, stake their claim against the English and proudly proclaim their independence as a free nation, she could see why that feeling inflated within her chest and made her feel like she was standing for something worth fighting for, something she believed in.
Audrina had the strangest feeling that, even though he wasn’t born yet, or had been deceased for many years now, the soul of her grandfather was with her and basking in the pride she was emulating. He had understood it. He had known the people and the lands that were rich with history, culture, love and life was something unique to Scotland. Audrina hadn’t fully understood this when they had poured over the many books. She had always known Grandfather missed the highlands. But with a young girl to take care of, and the responsibility to her and his own life, he had never returned to his homeland.
“Grandfather, if you can hear me, I promise you I will travel to Skye. I will see the land you came from, that I came from and I will bask in the beauty and magnitude of the magic that can be found there,” she prayed to her grandfather.
A spark of hope lit her chest as he answered her in his own way. She knew without a shadow of doubt, she was home. Scotland was and always would be her home. She felt the fernweh and wanderlust settle and cease within her soul, as she realized she had found what she had been looking for. She looked at Colin who was going over the plan with his men.
“Are ye mad?” Alisdair asked him.
“Aye, mayhap a little, but it’s our last chance,” he told Alisdair.
Some of the men grumbled, but Colin silenced them with a wave.
“We’ve no’ the resources or allies at our aid this eve tae take on all o’them,” he reasoned.
One man called from the back, “Aye, but it could be the chance we have tae take down the murderous Sassenach!”
A chorus of cheers erupted, but Colin again held his hand up. “Aye, we could. But we’ve learnt tha’ attacking them only sees our men hanged by the noose. We could kill Cotswold tonight, or we could beat him at his own game. I’ll no’deny my brothers, the day o’reckonin’ is comin’ fer the English, but it isnae tonight. Weatherby will be forced tae retaliate if we kill Cotswold outright. We cannae stand a chance against his armies alone. If we need tae, we’ll gather the clans and make our stand. There’s already talks of it ye ken tha’ well enough. Tonight is aboot takin’ back the MacClaran pride that he stole from us.” Colin pointed to Audrina who gasped.
It had never occurred to her that the assault Cotswold had performed against her, was just as much an affront to the MacClaran people and men, as she was their Laird’s wife. She stepped forward and held her head high as she ad
dressed them.
“My fellow Claran’s, I’ve only known some of you these past two weeks. And I’ve known some of you since I was a child.” She looked at Alisdair. “But one thing I know for certain, is you are my people. My clan. I will stand by my husband’s decision to take down Lord Cotswold in this way and I of anyone have more reason to seek revenge against that man. You’ve known families of other clans who have had their pride wounded and broken at the hands of him, but I have known my own self-pride and body to be broken by him. And I say it is enough. If you strike against the crown of England, it will not be to avenge anyone but your own honor. Show Weatherby that Cotswold’s actions have dishonored the very crown he hides behind. Show Weatherby, that although Cotswold may have broken my body, he has never broken my spirit, or that of the clan Claran!”
At her words, the great hall erupted in a wave of cheers, shouts and cry to arms. She knew she had won them over. She and Colin had never spoken truer words to the clan en mass. She knew the hearts of men were roused by the unification and certainty of the leaders they placed their love and loyalty in. She and Colin had never shown them a unified front until now, and they proved every bit as loyal to them and their word, as they had always professed to be.
Audrina held up her dirk and Colin his sword, as the castle halls shook with the loudest cheer yet.
Colin kissed her long and hard in front of everyone as the whoops and whistles and battle cries sounded from his men.
When he broke off the kiss, they turned to the door together, and hand in hand they marched out into the courtyard. As the Scotsmen swarmed the courtyard, firing flaming arrows into the pyre and the cross, lighting it on fire, at first the English took a step back as the thunderous sound of the marching Scotsman sounded as they emerged, undaunted and unfearful from the castle walls.
Audrina watched from the top of the steps as the pyre burned and the Englishmen scattered from their formations, confused. It wasn’t until Cotswold rode through the masses and called them back into formation, that they began to fall in line and surround the clansmen.
Hooded black figures race along the walls of the castle, as the gates were drawn open once more, and the Scotsmen in turn took up position against the English.
It is times like these, Audrina thought, that truly define a person’s character. She had been given the opportunity to run and hide with the rest of the women and children. But she was not ever that kind of person. She was a fighter. She knew that much as she stared into the outraged face of Lord Cotswold. She knew it the moment she met the haze of red blur from her nightmares about what Cotswold had done to her in that tower. She even knew it when she had faced the thief and chased him down in the museum. She, Audrina, Maeve, MacClaran was never going to run in the face of a fight. She was going to stand her ground and hold fast to what she believed in and she believed in seeking justice against a man who was a monster the likes of Cotswold.
Audrina felt Colin’s fingers slip into her own as she felt the rush of power from her love. She had been so loved by her mother and her grandfather. She had been loved by her sisters Catriona and Moira and even by Colin’s family. Mary, Donal, Alisdair and even Uncle Dougal had and did love her. The strongest love she felt though, was Colin’s love as it warmed her through. She knew that no matter what happened, that love would always win out.
CHAPTER 32
“Witch! Witch!” Cotswold shrieked. He pointed at her as his men formed ranks again. “You’ve cast your spell on all of them, haven’t you! I knew this day would come when the devil himself infiltrated the enemy of England and it has come at last! Witch!” he continued to curse at her.
Colin and she walked slowly toward him. His horse was dancing, threatening to toss him at a moment’s notice if the wrong move was made. She understood why the horse was skittish. This much raucous noise and chaos would spook most animals. But she also noted how Cotswold had chosen the horse based on appearance alone. It was a fine-looking animal to be sure, but she guessed that it had never been properly battle trained, if necessary, that was a grave mistake she would prey upon if she needed to.
She did notice that Lord Weatherby’s horse stood calmly amongst the fray and din. Lord Weatherby himself, however, barely held a mask of calmness over his visage.
He gritted out, “What manner is this that you destroy the bed on which she will rest if she is proven guilty? This is an affront to the honor of the English code of ethics. It is the most humane way to dispose of a witch if she is so tried and judged to be such a woman possessed of the devil’s spirit.”
“The only call tae question o’honor here, is Lord Cotswold’s honor,” Colin called back.
Lord Weatherby raised his eyebrows and sniffed through his enormous nose. “I say, how do you dare speak such a thing? There is an etiquette to be observed here, Lord MacClaran,” he thundered.
“Aye, I agree,” Colin said. “But ye didnae offer me the same regard when ye stormed the gate and accused me wife o’witchcraft. She should ha’e been given fair trial and a chance tae speak her peace, but Lord Cotswold, shut her down,” he responded evenly.
Lord Weatherby seemed to take this into consideration.
But Lord Cotswold rode up, still purple faced with rage. “I told you, no testimony was necessary. My word is law here and it is my word we will be standing on! You have no authority here!” he shouted.
“Actually, my Lord Cotswold,” it was Lord Weatherby who interjected on their behalf.
Audrina and Colin remained silent, allowing this to hopefully play out in their favor.
“He does have the authority to demand consideration. When the crown bestowed upon us, the royal duty of partnering with our Scottish brethren, it was with the knowledge, that we would take into consideration, a reasonable request for audience.”
“Do you call their aggressive behavior thus far, a reasonable request!” Lord Cotswold shouted at his friend.
“The simplest answer I can give to that is, yes,” he replied. “Lord MacClaran has never given the crown cause for concern. I find it hard to believe he would greet fellow Lords in such open hostility without just cause to do so. I for one, would like to hear his reasoning. It would be far simpler for the Claran clan to hand over the witch, and maintain a peaceable relation with the crown, they must have a rousing reason to so vehemently protest the forego of her trial and stand upon your word alone. I will hear that reasoning now,” he finished.
Whatever Lord Cotswold was about to retort, was silenced by Lord Weatherby’s wave of his hand. Lord Weatherby clearly held a more powerful sway than the two men, because Lord Cotswold blew out a frustrated breath.
“Very well, if you insist on listening to this mad drivel, then let’s hear it. Let’s hear the reasons they have crafted under the influence of the witch’s spell that they would so willingly lay down their lives for her. Do tell us, Lord MacClaran, what is it you wish to say on her behalf?”
Colin smiled at Lord Cotswold, which seemed to unnerve the man. His sneer faltered on his face as he looked back and forth between Lord Weatherby and Colin.
“Actually, t’will be you who has somat tae say on her behalf,” he began.
Lord Weatherby leaned forward in his saddle, clearly intrigued by whatever Colin was about to say.
Colin continued, “I ha’e but a few questions. How can ye claim she is a witch, when ye yerself told all and sunder that Maeve here, wandered off when ye were done claimin’ yer rights o’Prima Noctem? If she died, why did ye cover tha’ up? I ask this, because t’would only make sense if ye were the responsible party,” Colin finished.
Apart from the crackling of the fire, not a sound could be heard through the courtyard.
Cotswold’s face went white as he looked between Colin and Maeve. It took him a long moment before he began to speak.
“Are you accusing a Lord of the crown of speaking falsehoods? Are you actually going to stand there, in my presence, and profess that I, a Lord and your superior, would commit m
urder?” he thundered.
Audrina saw his face turn an ugly shade of puce. He could only be feeling the nausea of being confronted by his deeds and accused of lying. He could of course lie some more.
Which was exactly what he tried to do when Lord Weatherby turned to his friend and asked, “What’s this he speaks of? What is the truth in this? Does he speak true words to me? Upon your honor and that of the crown, speak up man!”
“I…I…I did let the witch go. It was after she had wandered off that I learnt she was murdered!” he stammered.
His fear grew evident upon his face as Weatherby stared between them all. He had obviously been blind to his friend’s habits, and he may have heard rumors, but he had brushed them aside in favor of the honor he believed the Lords of the English crown held. Weatherby was a shrewd man and knew of the open hostilities between the Scots and the English. He was well aware that rumors abounded because of these hostilities. He himself had worked tirelessly and diligently to be a fair ruler, and not be prey to their devastating effects.
“Tell me, man, you were supposed to return the bride to her home via a safe journey and escort. You just let her wander off to be murdered? And then you did nothing to assuage the rumors that surrounded you? Why didn’t you see to your duties to remain honorable? Her clan, if it is to be believed, should have been given recompense for her plight. What is the meaning of these atrocities?” Lord Weatherby’s calm resolve was cracking under the pressure of his immense distaste for Lords who abused their power.
Lord Cotswold could only stammer in terror as the man rounded on him.
Audrina took this as her opportunity to pounce on the weakened Lord Cotswold’s resolve. She looked up at Colin, finding support in his eyes as she stepped forward to confront her tormentor, torturer, and murderer.
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