Page 67 of Surrendering to her Highland Captor
“Why do ye sit here and say nothing?” Aila asked the Laird. “I can see ye thinking. I ken that ye are listening to everything my husband is saying. I can tell that ye see the truth and the wisdom in what he is asking. But ye say nothing. I dinnae understand.”
“Walk with me for a moment.”
Iona rose from the table and walked towards the bookshelves that sat at the back of the room. Aila went with her, grateful to once again put space between her and the arguments happening at the table.
Scanning the rows and rows of books, Iona’s fingers danced across the gilded letters embossed on the spines, leaving Aila to wonder just what the Laird would do or say next. She pulled out a thick tome that had “McKenzie History” etched on the front cover.
“When I was a young lass, my tutor made me read this entire thing every year from the time I was six until I assumed my role as Laird,” Iona explained. “I hadn’t understood it then. In fact, more often than not, I gave him much grief about the assignment. But now, when I sit in these rooms, I think about what my ancestors might have done in my position. I think about the way their legacies are written and what I wish for people to say about me when I am gone.”
“Surely, they will describe ye as merciful and generous for coming to the aid of those who need it when they call.”
Iona flipped through the pages before reshelving the book. She turned to face Aila head on, a grave expression on her face.
“Only if we are victorious. Only if getting involved does nae cost my clan everything. Can ye promise me that? Can ye assure me that if I engage my armies, those men will return home to their families?”
Aila stood silently.
“I cannae tell ye how much I understand yer plight. It was nae so long ago that I forget what it is like to have outside forces threatening yer home, destroying yer family. We fought hard to regain our freedom. I cannae jeopardize that so quickly.”
“What if there was another way besides war?” Aila tried. “Some way to help save our families, our people, without putting yer own at risk.”
Iona arched an eyebrow as she thought about it. A moment later, a smile broke out across her face. Grabbing Aila’s shoulder, she ushered them both back to the table and put up a hand, getting the attention of her council.
“Gentlemen,” she called, silencing their arguments. “I want ye all to hear what Aila has just proposed to me.”
All eyes shifted to her, and Aila discovered then that she would much rather be on the battlefield with sword in hand than stand before a group to speak. She swallowed hard, unable to shake feeling exposed without Lachlan next to her. Iona gave her a gentle nudge forward, a silent encouragement to speak.
“Well,” she swallowed again. “I only asked Laird Iona if there was a way we could work together to find a solution that would put an end to the Baron’s threats without starting a war. That way, the McKenzie soldiers are nae in any danger, but our clans gain protection.”
Lachlan gave her a proud smile and a nod, pleased with her contribution, but the rest of the table sported skeptical looks. Finn sat with a huff, his arms still crossed, already shaking his head.
“An excellent idea, I think,” Iona added quickly. “Any ideas, lads?”
“We could put up the money for Lachlan to fund an army of his own. Send arms and men to help train the new recruits.”
Aila’s heart soared at the suggestion one of the elders posed. It finally felt like they were getting somewhere.
“So instead of asking our men to risk their lives, ye are simply going to drain their coffers to fund someone else’s battle?” Finn questioned, not really expecting an answer.
“That is the point ye are nae getting,” Lachlan told him, rubbing his temples. “This is nae just ‘someone else’s battle.’ If we dinnae put a stop to the Baron’s influence now, it will grow until he is too powerful to stop. When his forces reach yer borders, and I ken for a fact that they will, it will become yer battle. Only, there will nae be anyone left to come to yer aid because ye would nae come to ours.”
“How do ye ken this? How can ye swear it, be so absolutely sure that the Baron is coming for us?”
“Because I heard his men talking about it while I was in his prison!”
Lachlan’s admission bounced off the stone walls, silencing all other arguments.
“Because for three arduous years, I heard of all the ways his men had been trained and prepared for a war that will stretch across the Highlands. Because they taunted us everyday, telling us that what they did to my clan was only the beginning. They wanted us to sit there and ken that they were coming after our friends and family, and we had nay way to stop it.”
Aila was just as shocked as the rest of the room. Lachlan had so rarely spoken of his time in those cells. She hadn’t expected him to say anything in front of several strangers, let alone something he hadn’t revealed even to her.
“That is why I can promise ye the future. But his men swore it to me. That is why my men sacrificed their lives, starting a fight they kent they would die in, so I could escape, so I could do everything I could to stop Baron Dudley before it was too late. That is why I am here, having dragged my family through the blasted winter winds to come beg for help from strangers, my own pride be damned. Because I ken that if I dinnae, the Highlands will never be the same.”
No one said a word, even Finn stayed mute, as Lachlan’s words settled around them.
“Well,” Iona said, softly breaking the silence.
Before she could finish, a polite knock came from the door, cutting off whatever she was about to say. Lachlan huffed and pushed away from the table, moving to the window that Aila had peered out of only moments before. She watched his back heave up and down as he fought to regain control of himself once more. Unable to sit idly by, she moved to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, providing what little comfort she could.
