It seemed to Izzy that the whole of Scotia was holding its breath. Even the wind seemed to have stilled. It was then that she realized just how important it was for the mercenaries to lose here. Not only were two of the MacInnis brothers here, the heir of Sinclair, and the 2nd heir of MacDonald, but the Duke of York as well. Second in line to the crown. Gair was right, there was likely far more to this plot than any of them had guessed. As the noise within the castle walls dimmed, Izzy became aware of hoofbeats in the distance. More than one animal and they were running at a good clip. A few of the men on the walls had noticed them too and turned from looking out to looking in and up toward the tower watchman who would have the best view..“A Flag!” He called down. “Too far out yet.”Isobel looked briefly at the door, wishing it was her bedchamber and not Lia’s solar on the other side. Gair’s spyglass would be handy just now. The rider and two horses drew nearer, but nothing else
Gair stood on top of the tower with his spyglass and watched the last of his men descend into the river valley that separated MacInnis and MacDonald lands. It was the first time in his adult life that MacInnis men were going off against his wishes.He didn’t want to send men to MacDonald. It was likely a ruse. A man arriving from MacInnis with word of a mercenary attacking MacDonald just moments after Mercenaries attack from inside MacInnis? More likely their timing was off and the mercenaries who tried to sneak to the gates were meant to attack at the same time as the ones inside the walls. How could Paddy not see that? Worse, he’d overruled Gair and sent the men anyway. Which meant he didn’t really intend to let Gair be in charge of any part of MacInnis. Even their father had given Gair the final word on everything that involved weapons. It had to be that way or nobody would know which order to follow. Or rather they knew, and they’d chosen Paddy. That was likely why he was feelin
Isobel lay under a tree, staring up through the leaves. It always amazed her that the leave knew to change colour at the right time of year. It didn’t matter if the autumn were wet and cold, or warm and sunny like this one, the leaves always changed with the season, not the temperature. There were a few yellows and oranges in the trees now, but not so many that she needed her brown tunic to blend in. The guard that had brought the ladies down to the river to collect water and do some wash hadn’t even noticed her. Being stuck inside the walls was beyond dull. Gair didn’t want her going out in the dark, but they slept all afternoon so really that left only the early morning and then a short while between when they woke and when the meal was ready. Neither gave her much time to enjoy herself and even then he wanted her to take a guard! As if she’d go anywhere with a group of men. Gair didn’t seem to have time to take her hunting anymore either. Since the attack, he’d been completely per
Gair followed his wife up the stairs, trying to reign in his temper with every step. She’d been outside the walls without him and without even a guard. He’d seen her leave with the group of women heading down to do their wash, but he hadn’t realized they didn’t know she was following. When they’d returned without her he had questioned the guard as to why they hadn’t kept her closer, and was shocked to find out they hadn’t even known she was there. The few minutes it took to ready his horse so they could ride out and find her had been torture! Anything could have happened to her and he hadn’t even known where to start looking. Then he’d come out of the stable to see her climbing the steps.She knew the risks and went anyways. Against all reason and against his wishes! His anger spiked again.He stepped into the room after her and slammed the door behind him. She spun around, her eyes wide and her face growing paler as she backed away quickly.“You are angry with me?”“Yes,” he growled
Izzy took her boots off and sighed as she slipped her feet into the cool running water. Last night, she hadn’t been sure this trip would be possible, but the arrival of the MacDonald’s yesterday afternoon and then the return of the Stewarts just before dark had really changed much of the atmosphere in MacInnis keep. Everyone was light hearted and excited. She had never seen anything like it, but Gair said this is what it was always like for the harvest festival. It was a time of peace and plenty with sharing, goodwill, and usually many weddings. He had actually agreed, seemingly without pause, to let Fann accompany her to the water for the afternoon! Fann and Ellie’s guard, Thomas, stood one on each side while she and Ellie say on the bank talking.“It’s oddly warm for autumn, isn’t it?” She said, smiling over at Ellie. “This time last year there was frost on the moat! I had furs on the windows long before the leaves fell from the trees and was wearing my warmer tunic all day long.”
Gair looked towards the river and smiled as he saw the group on their way back. Izzy and Ellie seemed such unlikely friends. At first glance, they seemed opposites in so many ways, but they were fast friends nonetheless. Izzy still was not certain that he didn’t fancy his childhood friend more than her, but in reality, what drew him to Ellie as a child, Izzy had simply magnified and carried with her into adulthood. “I had an interesting chat with James today,” Dair said as he leaned back against the tower wall beside his brother. “The proxy marriage was even more mixed up than we thought.”Gair scowled. “How is that possible?”“Apparently, the original plan was for me to wed Mairead, Paddy to have Lia, just as we thought. But you were to wed Ellie and Fann was to be the one on Sinclair with Izzy. He changed his mind at some point on that one, James wasn’t sure when or why, but that had been the original plan.” Gair looked at his brother, then back out at his wife. “Given his reputati
Izzy skipped along the trail with the two pups yipping at her heels. With her swaying hips and bouncing curls, there was no doubt she was a lass. She looked a wee lass in her excitement. He had never seen her so happy. It saddened him to think that it was leaving his home that made her so light-hearted. She turned to catch his eye and he couldn’t help but grin back at her. She laughed as the pups bumped her knees to get her to continue down the trail. Gair sighed as they dipped out of sight.He could understand her contentment, to be in their own space would be nice, but he couldn’t help but feel he was losing some part of himself, leaving it behind in his childhood home. He scowled for a moment. Izzy had already done that. And as the only child, she was heir to all of Sinclair. He followed along the trail as it dipped down over the edge of the cliffs and looked at the cottage. It was tiny, but it would be warm and cozy. He and Izzy would have plenty of peace, quiet, and time alone.
As the cold rain drizzled down around the tiny home, Izzy sat by the fire with her dogs and watched her husband prowl the room like a caged beast. He was not accustomed to such small quarters. She remembered having the same restless feeling he seemed to be experiencing the first time she took to the tunnels for an extended time. There had been a lot of changes in the last few weeks. They’d enjoyed much time in each other's arms and it was nice to do so without interruption. There were no more meals atop the tower, though they still often ate under the stars. They had hunted until dark many nights at first. That was stopping now too as the air got colder and the rain more frequent. The colder and rainier it got the more moody and restless Gair became. She wasn’t scared of him exactly, but seeing him so agitated wasn’t comfortable either. She looked to the corner where the play stocks were tucked up against the walls and just barely peaking out from under a pile of furs. She shivered a