"And did ye?" Liam asked. "Did ye find information?"
"Ye could have been discovered, lad," Seamus said gravely. "Ye could have been killed."
"Iwasdiscovered," Christopher said. "By Morag. Her father used her tae spy on me. She could have turned me in at any time, but instead, she covered for me. Protected me. Defended me again and again, even when it put her own life at risk."
"I understood at last what a monster Campbell was. What a monster me father is," Morag said in a shaking voice. "I kent… I kent I couldnae live a life of empty lies anymore. I kent…"
"Was?" Flora asked gently. Morag felt warmed by her tone and wondered if this was the truth of a mother's love. "What do ye mean Campbellwasa monster?"
"He's dead," Christopher said coldly. "I shot him through the eye with me own arrow. He was goin' tae kill Morag, and so I killed him instead. Caindach had given her over tae execution. He got away, but he's next on me list."
Someone swore, not in disappointment but in disbelief. Someone else gasped. Seamus leaned forward.
"Alistair Campbell is dead?" Seamus asked. "Are ye sure?"
"I'm sure," Christopher replied. "But dinnae celebrate yet. Alistair Campbell was never our true enemy it seems. He was never the one we had tae fear."
"What do ye mean?" Rolland demanded. "Alistair Campbell tried tae kill me. He tried tae kill Elsie. All of us."
"But he wasnae the true danger, nae really. That danger lies in his son—in the new Laird Campbell. Ian. Our brother by blood." His eyes flicked to Elsie at those words. "He's the real monster."
Elsie clenched her hand into a fist around the table, her face drawn. "Are ye sure? Perhaps he?—"
"He's amonster," Alexandra suddenly burst out in a shriek, tears pouring down her face. "We were fleeing, Rory and I, as fast as we could. Christopher had helped us escape. But Ian caught up with us. He pinned me, and Rory attacked him to save me, and… and…"
She couldn't finish the sentence, Morag realized, and when she glanced at Christopher it was clear he couldn't say it either. It was her time to speak, though she dreaded the words that were about to exit her lips.
"I'm sorry, but Rory McKenzie is dead," she said. "He died defendin' his sister. Ian stabbed him in his gut. We all saw it."
A heavy silence fell onto the table. Seamus's face drained of color and silent tears started rolling down Flora’s cheeks. Arran looked sick, and Elsie shouted out "No!" while Rolland slammed his hand hard against the table. The others turned ashen and sorrowful, stricken by their grief and shock. And no wonder. The boy had been their family, Morag knew, and he had shared Seamus and Rolland's blood.
The scrape of a chair on stone broke the silence as Alexandra got to her feet and hurried from the room, her sobs echoing on the stone walls. Arran stood and followed her without a word to the others, both of them disappearing out of a side door. They left a heavy silence behind them, the kind of loving sorrow that Morag had never known.
"We… will need tae tell me cousin," Seamus said heavily. "We will need tae contact Iona and Finn of their daughter's safe return and of the loss… the loss of their son. Of Rory. God help us." He bowed his head, saying no more.
Flora stood, wiping her eyes. "I will arrange for two messengers, one tae the McKenzies and the other tae the Kincaids. I will go tae Alexandra now, in case she wishes tae travel with them. She should be with her family. Brid?"
Brid and Flora left the room together in the direction that Arran and Alexandra had disappeared. Morag watched them go, feeling heartsick for poor Alexandra. She had never loved a family member so much as to feel that kind of grief, never lovedanyonetruly until she met Christopher, because nobody had ever loved her. But she knew that Alexandra wouldn't leave. Not now.
There was silence in the room for a few minutes. Then, hoarsely, Rolland spoke, the grief and pain raw in his voice. Morag saw the way Elsie squeezed his hand and understood then that the best thing had happened the day that Elsie Kincaid had come to Murray Castle. She and Rolland would have never beenhappy together, but she could see the love between Elsie and Rolland as strongly as she could feel it in her own heart when she looked at Christopher. She hoped one day they could truly forgive her for what she'd done and what she'd tried to do.
"The war isnae over. It's just beginnin'," Rolland said. "I will grieve Rory, but I will also avenge him. His death will nae go unpunished, nor will it have been in vain."
Christopher nodded. "Ken that we—the Kincaids—will be with ye every step of the way. And I, personally, will do whatever it takes tae see Ian gone. Thereisa brighter future out there. I will fight for it until me dyin' breath."
Elsie shook her head, tears on her cheeks but determination in her eyes. "There will be no dyin'. Not anymore. Our future only holds hope. Right, Morag?"
Morag blinked. Then, seeing Elsie give her a sad smile, she felt a new kind of warmth in her heart.
"Aye," she said. "And we'll fight for it together."
Christopher stoodin the doorway of his guest room, still holding Morag's hand and reluctant to let go. She'd been placed in the room next to his, and although it was comforting to know he'd have her nearby, a primal part of him was still scared to let her go. He wanted to talk to her about everything, to tell her everything he felt, the good and the bad and the terrible and the wonderful. He wanted to hold her close and let her know she had become his heart. But he was so exhausted, and so was she, that first they had to sleep.
Someone cleared their throat behind them, and Christopher turned to see Arran standing behind them. His older brother smiled and said, "I'm sorry tae interrupt, but I was wonderin' ifI could have a private word with ye, Chrissy. Alexandra's finally asleep, and I thought now was the best time."
Christopher wanted to agree, but he also didn't want to leave Morag. He looked at her, and she smiled, exhaustion shining on her face. She squeezed his hand, then let go and moved to the door of her own room.
"I'm right next door," she promised, then disappeared inside.
