“Or allies,” Moira considered. “Either way, it’s a dangerous game—a game we must unravel to protect our kin and our future.”
“Agreed,” Brodie said. “We must tread carefully. The fate of the Highlands may well rest on what we uncover.” He shook his head. “I want to trust him, but I dinnae ken why. He made things very difficult when we were on Gordon land.”
Moira stepped back into the hall, the responsibility heavy but her posture unbowed. Her eyes held determination as she faced adversity for the safety of her family and the freedom of the Highlands.
*
The Highland breezecarried the scent of pine as Moira nocked an arrow, her gaze locked onto a deer. Beside her, Brodie crouched low, weapon ready. Lucas, Bearnard, and Horas hid in the underbrush.
“Steady,” Brodie whispered.
She released her breath slowly and let the arrow fly. A clean kill. The forest echoed with twangs of bows and thuds of falling game.
As they collected their bounty, Moira strained to hear whispered conspiracies or plans but heard only admiration for precise shots and discussions about loyalty.
“Choosing the right side is like choosing the right moment for the kill,” Lucas said as he dragged a buck by its antlers. “Too soon or too late makes all the difference.”
Brodie met Moira’s gaze, communicating shared uncertainty without words.
By sunset, they had four deer between them. Granny McAfee greeted them at the gate. “Ah, what a sight! The larder will be full tonight.” She gestured for servants to relieve them of their burdens. “I fear we will need to keep hunting, but I worry for those who are doing the hunting. What will happen if the Stewart alliance finds ye?”
“I dinnae believe the Stewarts are watching for hunters,” Lucas added, nodding respectfully toward them.
Granny praised them but later leaned closer to Moira with a solemn expression. “Be wary, child. Trust must be earned. Watch ’em close.”
“I’ll not forget,” Moira said.
As Granny shuffled away, Moira turned back to Brodie, who was studying their guests with vigilance. “Granny wants us to watch them closely.”
“Let us be so,” Brodie replied. Together, they would protect their clans and land.
*
The fire crackledin the great hall as the assembled lairds listened intently. Moira and her sisters stood close to the wall, their breath fogging in the chill air, watching the proceedings.
“Speak yer piece,” Duncan McAfee commanded, his voice rumbling.
The men pled their case, speaking of losses and hearts turned sour against ruthless ambitions. Hours passed, whispers flitted among the sisters as the wind howled its lonely song outside the stone walls.
The heavy oak doors groaned open, and Duncan emerged at the forefront, carrying the weight of their decision. The sisters clustered around him, eyes expectant.
“I believe them,” he said, his gaze meeting Moira’s. “Their tales bear truth, and their desire to stand with us rings clear.”
Relief filled Moira; Ailis and Fiona exhaled in unison. “Then we’ll welcome them as allies,” Moira said with conviction. “Together, we’ll face whatever trials may come.” But in the back of her mind, she promised herself and the entire alliance that she would still keep an eye on the three men. She wasn’t sure she could trust them completely.
Duncan nodded his approval, trust given was a fragile gift that could forge strong bonds in shared purpose.
*
Hoofbeats and murmurscarried on the crisp air as Moira stood upon the parapet, her red hair tousled by the breeze. Across the land, she spotted weary figures emerging from Sinclair territory—which had been taken over by the Stewart alliance.
“More have come,” Moira called to Brodie in the courtyard below.
“Let us greet our new brothers in arms,” he replied.
Together, they descended into the castle heart where Ailis and Fiona joined them, forming a unified trio against their ancestral stronghold. The newcomers halted at the gates, dismounting tensely. Duncan addressed them authoritatively.
“Ye come seeking refuge or purpose?”
