back again. But I hope we’ll never see each other after this day.”
Osbert said, “’Tis a bit harsh, my lord. She’s just a lass. ’Tis no reason to treat her cruelly. She’s of your own flesh.”
Arnald Denton spun on his heel and left without another word.
Guiltless.
***
When Alick arrived, he came in through the back entrance of MacLintock Castle, pleased that he had seen no more Englishmen on his way to the keep. Once inside, he found his cousins and Grandsire strategizing at a trestle table in the hall. Joya, Els’s wife, and Emmalin, Alasdair’s wife, greeted him first because they were closest to the door, but the others abandoned their tasks to welcome him.
He wished more than anything to tell them he’d finally found the woman of his dreams, that he’d married her, but he knew the time wasn’t right. The English were due to arrive soon, and he needed to tell the others everything he’d discovered about the attack. He would share his good news later, once they’d won.
They all sat around the table, and Emmalin and a serving lass brought out fresh platters of cheese and bread for the group.
“Many thanks,” Alick said, “I am verra hungry.” He grabbed a hunk of bread and started chewing, finishing his first bite before he gave his news. “You’re going to be attacked in the morn.”
Alasdair bolted out of his seat. “And you waited to tell me that?”
“Sit down, Alasdair,” Grandsire said. Then he returned his attention to Alick. “Tell us what you know, and how.”
Alasdair reluctantly took his seat next to his wife, reaching for her hand as he settled. “My apologies. Go ahead.”
“I came upon twenty men talking around a fire. They were awaiting the Earl of Pembroke and around three hundred of his men. The plan is to attack your castle on the morrow.” He took a bite of his bread, secretly thinking of a pair of green eyes that were the most beautiful he’d ever seen. “The group I listened to were English reivers out to gain coin from the English. The ones I saw won’t pose any threat to our warriors.”
“How were they preparing?” Dyna asked.
Alick couldn’t help but chuckle over what he’d seen. Grant warriors on patrol would never have carried on so. “By drinking enough ale to fall over. They’ll be in misery by morn. Everyone but their two leaders. One named Burke. ’Tis all I overheard, except they all seem to prefer the practice of thievery to skirmishes. If Pembroke’s men are anything like them, should be an easy battle.”
“Nonetheless, we don’t wish to lose many men, so we should plan on using your spectral swords. They’ll give us the power to take care of them early and easily.” Grandsire’s gaze traveled from one of his grandbairns to the next, quietly seeking their approval.
Emmalin said, “Surely ’twill work with all of you here. You can just find a spot inside the gates and hold your ground.”
Grandsire turned to Emmalin and said, “We’ll need John.”
All heads turned toward Emmalin for her reaction. Her face turned a deep shade of red, but she remained strong. “John is a wee bairn who toddles about the keep. He is not old enough to join in any battles.” She didn’t look at Grandsire at all.
Alasdair rushed in to defend his wife’s decision. “We can probably do it without John, Grandpapa.”
Persistent as ever, the old man said, “You saw it as clearly as the rest of us did. It only worked reliably around John. I’ll stand down from the fighting and hold him to the side. He can swing his wee sword.”
Emmalin cleared her throat, staring at the middle of the table, deliberately not making eye contact with anyone. “With all respect, my answer is still nay. A bairn his age is too young to be exposed to death and killing.”
Stunned, but impressed with her strength, Alick looked from Alasdair to Grandsire to see how they reacted.
Grandsire said, “Alasdair, you must convince your wife.”
Alasdair cleared his throat and said, “I’ll not go against her wishes, Grandsire, but if we’re strong, we won’t need to rely on the power.”
“But if we do?” Els whispered.
“Nay.” Emmalin held both palms up to the group. “And I’ll not discuss it any longer. My son will not be a participant in your group. He’s a bairn.”
After she left, Dyna said, “Grandsire, we can do it without John. I agree with her.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said.
***
They were all up early, pacing, looking out through