A mixture of thrill and fear raced threw Alyce at the thought of a possible battle. The men would meet and determine battle plans. Troops of warriors would be dispatched each with a leader who would see to implementing their strategy at a precise moment, or all could be lost. It was a challenge she loved and a talent of hers that her father had once taken pride in bragging about.
They entered the great hall, Lachlan having scooped up a crying young lad no more than three on the way and handing him over to Addie who was tending the women and children along with Zia and Honora.
It came as no surprise to Alyce what her husband ordered next, though her response stunned him.
“Stay with the women,” Lachlan said. “You’ll be safe with them.”
“I will not. I’ll be of no help to them, but I can be of help to your brothers.”
“She’s right,” Honora said, the twins resting contentedly on each hip. “Take her to Cavan and tell him I said that Alyce will be more useful to him than to us.”
“Hurry then,” he said without protest, and she smiled.
She and Lachlan had to step aside when they reached the solar, to give way to two large warriors rushing one after the other out the open door. She followed Lachlan in, close on his heels, anxious to learn what trouble brewed.
“What goes on?” Lachlan asked.
Cavan looked up from his desk. “Merc—what is she doing here?”
Alyce didn’t wait for her husband to explain, she stepped forward. “Your wife suggested I can be of help to you and I agree.”
Cavan stood and slapped his hands on the desk, leaning over in an intimidating pose. “I respect my wife’s opinion and so will allow you to join us this one time.”
“And what if my skills serve you well?” Alyce challenged. “You won’t allow me to help again because I am a woman?”
“I have no time to argue with you,” Cavan said. “You may remain here for now, however the future will be discussed another time.”
“Agreed,” Alyce said as if letting him know he had struck a bargain with her that he would have to keep.
“A large troop of mercenaries appears headed this way,” Cavan said. “They have caused harm to none so far, but that could be because we are their intended target.”
“From what our scouts tell us,” Artair said, “a tall man, who rides his horse with distinction and more handsome than you”—Artair paused to glance at Lachlan, though without a grin—“leads them.”
“I know him!”
The three brothers turned wide eyes on Alyce.
Chapter 31
“How do you know him?” Lachlan demanded, having heard her clearly but somehow not quite understanding her, or perhaps not wanting to. After all he had made it clear to her that part of the reason he also had been at Everagis was to make contact with the mercenaries in the area to see if they could provide information about Carissa and in turn Ronan.
When Alyce still hadn’t answered, Cavan spoke. “Explain,” he ordered with the command of a laird who expected obedience.
“His name is Septimus,” she said. “And I struck a bargain with him so that Everagis would remain safe.”
“A shrewd decision,” Artair said.
“A necessary decision,” she corrected. “I had people to protect.”
Lachlan shook his head. “You knew I wished to make contact with the mercenaries and yet you never told me.”
“I couldn’t,” she said truthfully. “I gave my word to speak of the bargain to no one in exchange for protection.”
While Lachlan knew what it meant to give your word, it disturbed him that she had not confided in him. “But you knew that the mercenaries might be able to provide information about my brother Ronan.”
“Your brother Ronan was not among the mercenaries.”
“How do you know that?” Lachlan asked.
“I’ve been to their camp several times.”
“While I was at Everagis?”
“That was when I first made contact with Septimus.”
Lachlan shook his head. “Wait. Are you telling me that while I was at Everagis you stole off into the woods and made contact with the mercenaries knowing full well I wished to make contact with them?”
“I had a duty to protect my sisters and we were not yet involved.”
“They’re not your blood sisters, nor are they nuns,” Lachlan said raising his voice. “They are simply women, who I have made certain remain protected.”
“No!” she shouted at him. “They are women who survived horrible situations and deserved to have a safe haven. And those women and I joined together and made Everagis just that, a safe haven for us. When the mercenaries arrived, did you really expect me to sit and do nothing but wring my hands and expect you to help us knowing your inevitable departure would leave us vulnerable?” Alyce shook her head. “I long ago abandoned the fantasy that a man would rescue me, love me, and protect me. I decided it was up to me to provide it all for myself.”