heavens he’d thought to have Helen pass along the message. “How many are there?” he asked.
“Forty, near enough,” said Rob.
“All mounted?”
“Aye. I reckon they rode down from Tioram.”
Eoin looked at the sky and shook his head. The news was just as he’d predicted. If only Aleck MacIain had a brain the size of his cods, they might have stopped the invasion before it began. Now a poor crofter was out of a home, his farm burned.
“Have they set up camp for the night?”
“Aye.” Malcolm pointed to a range of craggy hills, a darker black against the cloudy sky. “Behind them crags.”
“Gather round, men,” Eoin said, beckoning the group in a huddle. “We’ll eat and camp here for the night. I want the watch changed every hour. Before dawn, we’ll ride to the southeast and set a trap in the ravine.” He looked to William. “What say you, how long will it take us to ride to the base of the hill, yonder?”
“An hour. If we head out afore the birds start chirping, we’ll be there by dawn for certain.”
“Very well.” Eoin looked at the expectant faces staring at him. “That’ll be the plan then. Get some rest. I guarantee we’ll have a nasty battle to face on the morrow.”
“Get up you laggards!” Eoin had no sooner found a comfortable patch of grass when Aleck MacIain’s irritating voice brayed across the campsite. “What the hell are you doing making camp, you miserable flea-bitten swine?”
“M-m’laird.” William immediately sprang to his feet. “Sir Eoin gave us orders to rest afore we head off the MacDonald.”
“Sir Eoin, aye?” Aleck panned his glare around the camp until he found Eoin. “Why haven’t we attacked?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Eoin stood and sauntered forward. “Why are you not protecting Mingary’s sea gate? I left word with Lady Helen—”
“A woman will never give me orders. And you’re wrong. The MacDonalds have nearly moved all their men to Colonsay.”
“Aye?” Eoin leveled his stare with MacIain’s. “That’s only a half-day’s sailing from Mingary at most. I wouldn’t put it past them to double back. Och aye, they’re uniting.”
“And I aim to stop them right here in Sunart.” Aleck shoved Eoin’s shoulder. “I asked you to tell me why we have not yet attacked.”
Grinding his back molars, it took every bit of self-control Eoin possessed to explain his plan while MacIain glared at him with those beady black eyes. Satan’s bones, Eoin wanted to slap the bastard—not only slap him, wrap his fingers around his neck and squeeze until he dropped—Aleck would be a whole lot more use if he were unconscious.
When Eoin finished, Aleck snorted with an arrogant smirk. “That’s the poorest idea I’ve ever heard. And from you, a king’s enforcer? My mother was a better strategist.”
Enough.
Before he blinked, Eoin’s hand darted out and clutched MacIain’s throat. The big man’s eyes bulged. Aleck tried to pull away, making choking gasps, but with his every move, Eoin clamped his grip harder while his gut churned with bile. “You might play the almighty chieftain to a lesser man,” Eoin hissed in a low growl. “But if you ever try to belittle me again, especially in front of the men, I’ll reach down your throat and cut that flippant tongue out.”
Aleck gurgled and clawed at Eoin’s hand. It was a matter of heartbeats before the bastard would drop from lack of air.
“Do. You. Understand?” Eoin demanded.
MacIain gave an eye rolling nod—at least as much of a nod as he could manage. Eoin shoved Aleck away. The dull-witted toad launched into a coughing fit, clutching his hands around his neck.
“He tried to kill me,” MacIain coughed out. “D-did you see that? He nearly c-committed the abominable sin of murder!”
Eoin gave him an emotionless stare. “If I’d wanted to kill you, you’d be dead, you daft Highlander.” He backed away and stood between Fergus and Samuel. As far as he was concerned this battle of wills was over, but he didn’t trust MacIain to let it rest. “Now, I’d like to get some sleep afore I ride into battle.”
The firelight was bright enough for Eoin to see the faces of Aleck’s men. They were unshaven and haggard—each one looked like he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in a sennight. Not that this night would be restful. “You all look like shite.”
“The MacIain Clan can withstand a night without sleep,” Aleck rasped. “And I will not take orders from a MacGregor.” He pointed to the horses tied at the edge of camp.