~ * ~
Niall wasn’t sure what he expected to find when he reached Duncurra, but perhaps the last thing he imagined was Laird Chisholm’s army defending it.
“It looks like your baby brother has your back after all,” Tadhg said, his face splitting into a grin.
“If ye would stop patting yourself on the shoulder for a moment, ye would realized they are about to be surrounded,” Niall growled, pointing to the MacLennan men approaching from the east.
Once the Matheson and MacIan armies joined the fray, however, the battle ended quickly. A small number of MacLennans turned tail as soon as they realized their laird had retreated, but many others died, or fell wounded. When the battle was over, Niall ordered Duncurra opened so the injured could receive treatment. Then he found Fingal and Fearghas Chisholm. Gripping Fearghas’ forearm, he said, “Laird Chisholm, thank ye for defending Duncurra. I will never be able to repay ye.”
“I trust ye will do the same for me if I ever need ye,” Fearghas replied.
Then Niall turned to face Fingal. He had spent much of the ride back wondering what he would say to his brother. He felt he had no right even to ask for Fingal’s forgiveness. Finding Fingal defending Duncurra in spite of everything was humbling.
“Fingal, I am sorry. Ye have never once given me a reason not to trust ye, and rather than rely on that fact, I have listened to barbs and innuendos from people whom I had good reasons not to trust. I fear in my blindness, I have lost something of great value—the love and respect of my brother. Please forgive me.”
Fingal smiled, but there seemed to be a deep sadness behind the smile. He said, “There is nothing to forgive. Malcolm and Eithne have been practicing deceit for so long, they have become masters. I have only just learned the true depths of their treachery today. As fate would have it, I am not truly your brother, after all.”
“Fingal, of course ye are my brother, what are ye talking about?”
With a sad shake of his head, Fingal explained. “Apparently, Eithne was pregnant by Malcolm when she married your father. I am ashamed to say everything that has happened was their attempt to wrest control of Duncurra and Clan MacIan from ye. Malcolm’s primary goal was to expand his own power, and ultimately to pass it all on to me as his heir. To make matters even worse, my father revealed the true depths of his cowardice by fleeing and leaving his men to die as he escaped.”
“He is not among the dead?” asked Niall.
“He never entered the battle,” replied Fingal disgustedly. “He held a position at the rear of his men, surrounded by a handful of guards. Shortly after ye and Matheson arrived, he escaped without ordering a retreat. I intended to follow him, but by the time I fought through, he was long gone.”
Laird Chisholm said, “I think we should run the cur to ground and finish this today.”
Niall answered, “There is nothing I would like more. It is not wise to let him reach Brathanead. Select the men ye wish to take and we will leave immediately.”
As Fingal prepared to join them, Niall pulled him aside and said, “Fingal, I think ye should stay here.” At the pained look on Fingal’s face, Niall added, “It isn’t what ye think. I will never again question your loyalty, and I know ye want vengeance. However, I don’t think ye should be put into the position of possibly having to kill the man who sired ye.”
“Niall, he deserves to die, even if only for abandoning his own men today.”
“I agree, Fingal, but still, no man should have to carry that on his conscience, justified or not. Let me do this. Stay and see to things here for me.”
Fingal reluctantly agreed. Within minutes, Lairds MacIan, Chisholm, and Matheson, with warriors from all three clans, headed south toward the MacLennan border.
~ * ~
Katherine and her escort were only a few miles away from Cnocreidh when Hamish reined in on the edge of a clearing and motioned to Muir. After a quick discussion with Hamish, Muir came to her and said quietly, “My lady, I don’t wish to worry ye, however, there appear to be a large number of men on horseback in the woods beyond the clearing. We can hear them, and Hamish doesn’t know who they might be or why they are here. Until we know differently, we can only assume they are a threat, perhaps sent by Laird MacLennan, but we don’t think they have seen us yet.
“We are going to backtrack with ye and avoid them by circling to the north. Stay as quiet as ye possibly can and, if we are attacked, ye must not leave my side unless I tell ye differently. Do ye understand?”
Katherine nodded.
They quietly retreated a safe distance, and skirted around the threat, reaching the edge of the forest on the northeast side of Cnocreidh.