Page 17 of The Bells of Triumph
6
FINN'S AMBUSH
It took them longer than he had thought to reach the outskirts of Glenkirk. The fact made Finn huff as they settled into the forest around the castle. The sky had already grown dark, cloaking the stone walls and the happenings within them under the cover of night. He had hoped to get there sooner so they could stake out the scene a bit better, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
“Spread out,” he whispered. “Dinnae leave the tree line. Keep yer eyes on the castle. I want to ken everything that happens; every person that goes in or out, when the guards change postings, what time the lanterns are doused—everything.”
Just as quickly as he had given the order, the men spread out through the forest, covering every inch of the castle grounds with their eyes. Without the benefit of much light, the men were able to hide themselves behind the thick oak tree trunks or nestled within the brush. No one dared to light a fire. The smoke and the light from the flame would only give them away. If the intensity of the moment didn't keep all men wide awake, then the cold, drizzly rain certainly would.
Finn planted himself within view of the main doors before snapping his fingers at two of the servants. He didn't bother tolook the men in the eyes as he barked an order at them. Some small part of the back of his mind that sounded a lot like Brid chastised him. He knew he wasn't winning the favor of any of the men with his briskness. If she were here, she would reprimand him, tell him that these men were on his side, that he should be kinder if he wanted them to like him. But she wasn't here and that voice in the back of his head was easily quieted.
“See to my horse. Make sure he is fed and watered well. Our task for the night is nae over yet.”
He doubted that the rest of the men knew that their night was far from over, but he was in no rush to break the news. Sitting on the trunk of a fallen tree, Finn didn't take his eyes off the door to the castle again for the next hour. He studied every detail he could make out, from the way the door unlocked to the number of windows in the three turret on the right. He made note of the brown stained stone that he could only imagine was once white, and the Campbell flag flapping in the rain from its perch against those stones. The sight made his palms itch as he pictured what it would feel like to rip it down.
One hour turned to two and then three. The sky grew darker and darker, with only a sliver of the moon to light the world beneath it. Their time to act was quickly approaching if they were going to retain the element of surprise. He wanted to ensure that Glenkirk Castle was under their authority before the sun rose and before anyone had a chance to send word to Campbell about the presence of the rebels.
“Sir,” a voice called from behind him.
“What?”
“The men are ready to report, sir.”
Brushing off the back of his pants, Finn relinquished his post, silently directing another man to take over his position. He walked further away from the tree line to where the same men from the meeting earlier that afternoon awaited him. They hadall been put in charge of a group of ten, sorting their army into an orderly six sections. Finn only hoped that he hadn't made any foolish mistakes by putting these men in charge of the rest.
“What have ye?” Finn asked without preamble.
“It is verra strange, sir,” the older man who had argued with Finn told him.
“What is yer name?”
There was no hint or sign of shame at having to ask the question after having been through so much together already. Finn had made it no secret that he was hesitant to trust anyone. Though that didn't stop the flicker of anger and embarrassment from entering the man's eyes.
“Archibald.”
Finn waved for Archibald to continue and then turned his back, seeking out the view of the castle once more.
“As I was saying, it is verra strange. The castle does nae seem to be guarded verra well.”
“Aye, sir. My men have said the same thing.”
It was a voice Finn had not heard before now, but he didn't bother to turn around and put a name to it. He didn't want to forge friendships with these men, let alone know their names and faces. Those names always came with histories; their backgrounds, how many kids they have, how long they have been married. All of it was information that would make things that much harder when they inevitably died. While he doubted that any of them would die tonight, Finn had endured enough loss for one lifetime. He wasn't interested in adding to the list of friends who had died anymore, so it was easier all the way around to simply not have friends.
“I may nae ken much about war, but I have been a castle guard all my life,” Archibald all but boasted. “There is one man posted when there should be three. Some entrances have nayguards at all. It is as though Campbell did nae think to protect this castle, as though he did nae think it was worth protecting.”
“Why would he?” Finn spun back around to face his leaders. “He has gone unchallenged and untried for nearly two decades. I cannae imagine that he would ever guess that we would dare to come this close. That is why we must attack now. Tonight.”
“Tonight?” one of the farmers echoed.
“Yer name,” Finn demanded.
“S-Samuel.”
“Well,Samuel,” Finn said far too sweetly for it to be kind, “allow me to explain it since ye clearly dinnae understand the importance of what we are doing here tonight. We have come to invade Glenkirk Castle and barricade the village, aye?”
“Aye,” Samuel swallowed.
“This must be done so that the villagers get hungry enough to be willing to attack Campbell. That is the only way that we will have enough supporters to ever defeat him. And ye want us to defeat him, aye?”
