Chapter Twenty-Five: Heeding the Call to Arms
As the glorious brillianceof autumn raged across the land, the Bruce’s army grew by the day as word of his successes over the English. He gained control over much of the lowlands, spread farther throughout Scotland. His successes bred solidarity, and Auchinleck and the surrounding lands filled to bursting with MacKenzies, MacDonalds, and Cunninghams.
Asper Sinclair had sent word via messengers that his wedding was complete — Haleigh had finally made an honest man of him, and his brothers were presenting themselves in advance of his own return within a fortnight.
John Sinclair, in all his fiery charm, entered the hall with his brother Marcus, the red Sinclair giants ready to resume the Bruce’s mantle.
Robert welcomed them with a bear-like embrace. “I hear that congratulations are in order for ye, John! That ye won the wager?”
Robert winked at the younger brother, Marcus, who shook his head in jest.
“Och, such a fair lass, to be sure, but I’m far too young to be wed. Let the old men that my brothers are be shackled to one woman. No’ enough lasses have yet fallen to my charms for me to think of marriage!”
John’s cutting gaze at his boisterous brother let Robert know what he thought ofthatinflated claim.
“Marcus,haut yer wheest!” John flapped his hand at his brother. “There be ladies present!”
Marcus waggled his eyebrows in an annoyingly suggestive manner. “That I know, and I want them to know I’m no’ wed!”
John brushed off his brother’s antics and focused his gaze on the Bruce.
“And how is Aislynn? She fares well?”
John gave the king a curt bow of his bright red head. “Aye. She has adapted well to the Highlands. She had designs to join me, but I thought it best for her to remain in the Highlands, for now.”
Robert nodded at John’s sage decision. The English-borne niece of an English earl might not be well received amid the sizable number of Scots under the Bruce’s banner.
“And your brother, he will join us soon?”
John nodded. “Aye. After he spends a bit of time with Haleigh, aye?”
This time, it was John who waggled his eyebrows, and the king burst in a rich belly laugh, the smile driving away the deep worry lines on his face. He clapped John on the back.
“Och, then we should celebrate these nuptials with mead! Shall we?”
The Bruce gestured toward his study, and the sprightly Sinclair men followed.
Late the next day,a buzz of excitement rustled amongst the orange-tinted leaves and reached the ears of the Bruce. Following the sounds of the commotion, Robert made his way to the bailey where the sight of the well-built, raven-haired man made his eyes widen. The Bruce rushed to him before the man dismounted his horse.
“MacLeod! What are ye doing here? I sent orders that ye were to remain on the coast, to guard it against the English!”
Ewan swept his leg easily over his beast. The tawny hair-man who accompanied him, Gavin, followed suit, slipping from his steed. Several other MacLeod men had ridden in with Laird Ewan MacLeod, and the king regarded them with a drowning sense of shock.
“Dinna fret, ye old bugger!” Ewan teased as he clasped the Bruce’s forearm. “I’ve no’ disobeyed my king. I left my brothers in charge with a contingent of men as ye directed. Your shores are well protected. Gavin here,” Ewan flicked his thumb to the other man, “could no’ well wait any longer to fight by your side. Our swords were rusting from lack of use.”
A slow smiled worked its way across Robert’s face. “Well, ‘tis good to have ye. We are forming our plan to reclaim all of the Highlands. Ye and the Sinclairs are most welcome, as ye can provide information as to the movements and allies in the north and west.”
“What of the eastern Highlands?” Ewan asked, as he waved at his men to care for the horses as he and Gavin entered the hall with the king.
“The MacColloughs were kind enough to relive me of the Ross and his machinations, so that helped secure it a bit. But the Gordons and Frasers have worked tirelessly to keep some control. The Fraser Laird and clansmen should be joining us within the next few days.” As they walked through the cavernous hall, the Bruce cut his eyes to the left and right. “But, I must warn ye, Ewan, that MacCollough is here and he did no’ come alone —”
