Page 78 of The Bells of Triumph
Finn gasped behind her just as the woman started to stir.
“I need my bag from my saddle, Finn. Hurry, go and fetch it.”
He didn't move. When Iona peered back at him to see why he was hesitating, she saw the concern written all over his face.
“Finn! This is Seamus' mother. I have kent her all my life. She will nae hurt me. Nae to mention, she is in such a state that I doubt she could so much as lift that dagger. Fetch me my bags, please! I dinnae wish to be the one to tell Seamus that his mother bled out on the forest floor while we stood by and did nothing.”
Her words pushed Finn into action. He all but sprinted back to where they had left their horses tied to fetch her battle supplies. She sent a silent prayer of thanks that she had brought it with her. Without it, she doubted that Caitria would have survived the hour.
“Caitria,” Iona called out gently.
One hand smoothed her thick brown hair out of her face, while the other ran a hand over her body, checking for injuries.
“Aunt Caitria, can ye hear me?”
The woman moaned in pain, but her eyes fluttered open. Iona could see the same kindness, the same resolve, the same warmth there that had so often graced Seamus' face. He might have his father's red hair and blue eyes, but everything else looked like his mother. She had no doubt that was what made Finn gasp when he first laid eyes on her. The resemblance was uncanny.
“Nay!” the bleeding woman cried out. “I must get to Seamus. I must warn him!”
“Warn him about what?” Finn asked, having returned with Iona's medical supplies.
“She is nae making sense. I will need to stop the bleeding and give her something for the pain before we have any chance of understanding her,” Iona told him.
“What do ye need me to do?”
Together they worked to get Caitria to as good of a place as they could manage in the woods with limited supplies. Slowly, Caitria seemed to turn a corner. She guzzled down water and groaned in relief as the tonic Iona had fed her started to take effect. It felt like hours had passed before Caitria opened her eyes with any sort of presence behind them.
“Iona?” she questioned, bringing tears to the younger woman's eyes. “What happened? Where am I?”
“We were hoping ye could tell us that,” Finn answered, crouched beside her.
“Aunt Caitria,” Iona said gently, “ye are in Murray lands. We found ye here, bleeding and shouting about needing to warn Seamus. What is going on?”
As if the questions had sparked her memory, Caitria shot up and then moaned in pain, clutching her side.
“Dinnae move so quickly,” Iona admonished. “Ye are in need of stitches, but I cannae do them. Ye will have to be careful. Please, tell us what is going on.”
Caitria winced as she eased back down with Finn's help, but her eyes remained sharp.
“Campbell,” she forced out in a strained breath. “He invaded MacKenzie Keep. He killed Laird MacKenzie and my brother, nae wanting anyone alive who could claim a right to the clan.”
“Why would he do that?” Iona all but demanded.
The news of her father and grandfather's deaths flooded her with a mix of emotions that she didn't have time to sort through. News of Campbell's whereabouts and seeing Caitria to safety were both more important for now.
“He is planning on using the MacKenzie army to attack Seamus. He is out for revenge. I left as soon as I could. I had to get out. I had to warn Seamus.”
Iona looked at Finn, who wore the same shocked expression that she knew was on her face.
“We have to get back to Seamus,” Iona told Finn. “Nothing else matters. If Campbell is planning on attacking us, we must make sure that our borders are secure, that the soldiers are ready. We have to get to him now.”
“Leave me here,” Caitria wheezed. “I will only slow ye down. Leave me and give Seamus the news.”
“Nay,” Finn answered sternly. “There is nae a world that exists in which we will leave ye here. Ye will ride back with us.”
“She needs care, Finn. She cannae make the trip back to Murray Castle.”
Finn thought for a moment, looking between Caitria, Iona, and the trees.
