Marcus gave a curt nod in return, his mind already working through their next steps. The wheels of clan politics were never simple, but he was determined to stop the sabotage before it destroyed everything he had worked for.
Anthony glanced at Noah. “Was there a witness who said that Marcus was leadin’ these attacks too?” he asked, his voice calm but sharp with curiosity.
Noah hesitated for a moment, his expression hardening as he looked at Marcus. “Aye,” he replied, his tone heavy with the weight of the accusation. “There was a witness.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes, a flicker of suspicion passing through him. “Who was this witness?”
Anthony pressed, his voice sharp now, “Laird MacCormack by any chance?”
Noah’s eyes flickered with surprise as Anthony’s guess rang true. “Aye.”
Anthony let out a soft curse then turned to Marcus. “MacCormack?” he muttered, a deep frown creasing his forehead. “The same man who’s been sayin’ it ’twas ye in me territory too?”
Noah nodded, visibly startled at the connection. “Aye,” he replied, glancing between the two men. “It seems he’s been the one stirrin’ up trouble, but why he would accuse ye, Marcus, I daenae understand.”
Marcus’ jaw clenched, his mind racing to make sense of this new revelation. “I’ve nay idea why he’d do such a thing,” he said, his voice steady despite the confusion swirling in his mind. “The only time I approached MacCormack was when I sent in a trade request. That’s all, and we have nay real relations between us.”
Noah exchanged a look with Anthony, both men puzzled by the turn of events.
“So ye didnae provoke him in any way?” Anthony asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Marcus.
“I never laid a hand on him, nor did I threaten his land or people,” Marcus replied, his voice low but firm. “This whole thin’ doesnae make sense.”
“Well, there ye have it,” Anthony muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “MacCormack is playin’ a game, and it’s one that puts us all at risk. We need to find out why he’s so eager to see us at each other’s throats.”
Marcus’ eyes burned with a quiet fury. “Aye,” he agreed, his fists clenching. “And I’ll find out what he’s up to.”
Noah crossed his arms, his stance firm as he considered their options. “If MacCormack is behind these false claims, then he must be after somethin’,” he said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. “It’s nae just about the attacks—it’s about what he stands to gain from it.”
Marcus nodded, his mind working furiously. “I’ve always suspected there was more to this, and now, it seems we’re bein’ used as pawns in someone else’s game.”
Marcus stood still for a long moment, considering everything he’d learned in the last hour. His thoughts kept returning to Annabeth—he had to make sure she was safe and that she didn’t get caught in the middle of all this. But the clan was his responsibility, and if MacCormack was the one stirring up the trouble, he would not let the man get away with it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Annabeth sat tall on the horse, her hands steady on the reins as the two guards flanked her. Behind her, the fox was safely secured in a cage on the back of the horse, its bright eyes gleaming with curiosity. The steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves on the dirt road provided a comforting sound, but Annabeth’s thoughts were elsewhere. She had left the castle without so much as a final word to Marcus, and it gnawed at her, the pain of unsaid farewells tightening in her chest.
As the landscape blurred by, her mind wandered back to the courtyard. She had thought he would come to see her off—Marcus, strong and steady as ever, would stand tall in the shadows and say something, anything, to make the departure easier. But he never came, and the only one who had watched her leave was Lady Elizabeth from the window above. Elena had been there too, with a sad smile and a tight hug, but it wasn’t the same as the man Annabeth had hoped would be by her side, offering his quiet reassurance.
The thought of Marcus, silent and absent, lingered in Annabeth’s mind as the miles passed by. The disapointment settled in heavier with the growing distance. Even now, with the open sky before her, she couldn’t shake the emptiness that seemed to follow her like a shadow. The fox shifted in its cage, snapping Annabeth from her thoughts, and for a moment, she was grateful for the small creature’s presence.
As the road curved, Annabeth could see the familiar outline of her village on the horizon, and something inside her softened. It had been months since she’d been home, and her heart lifted with every step closer. The sight of the green hills and the wooden cottages brought a sense of peace, a warmth she hadn’t realized she’d missed. It was home—where the memories were simpler, where she could breathe without the weight of unanswered questions hanging over her.
“Maither, I’m home!” Annabeth called out, her voice ringing through the quiet air. She couldn’t contain the relief that washed over her as she stood outside the cottage, the familiar landscape of her village stretching before her.
For a moment, everything felt right again—until the weight in her chest reminded her of the pain she had left behind. She heard the creak of the door, and then Claire appeared, her face lighting up with joy at the sight of her daughter.
“Annabeth, lass!” Claire cried, her arms opening wide as she stepped forward.
In an instant, Annabeth was enveloped in her mother’s warm embrace, and she felt the tension in her body begin to ease. Tears welled up in Annabeth’s eyes, but she swallowed them down, not wanting to show the turmoil that had followed her all the way home.
“I’ve missed ye so much,” Claire whispered, her voice thick with emotion, and Annabeth could only nod, her heart full of conflicting feelings.
“I’ve missed ye too, Maither,” Annabeth managed, her voice cracking as she pulled back to look at Claire. The older woman’s face was lined with age, but her eyes were still bright with warmth, the same comfort Annabeth had known her whole life. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the words she had been holding in for so long felt like they were just about to spill out. Claire smiled, wiping a tear from her own cheek, and kissed Annabeth’s forehead gently.
Annabeth turned to the two guards who had escorted her, giving them a respectful nod.
“Thank ye, both of ye,” she said, her voice sincere. “I’ll be fine from here.”
