Page 62 of The Bells of Triumph
Finn couldn't help but be taken aback by Seamus' response. In the midst of a near riot, after being approached by the manwho had never supported him, Seamus didn't turn Finn away but rather gave him an offer to help.
“It is nae what ye can do for me. But there is something I must do for ye.” Finn cleared his throat and shifted his weight on his feet. “I must apologize and ask for yer forgiveness.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want ye to ken how sorry I am.”
“For what?”
The simple question was an honest one.
“There is much I have to atone for, but I will start by saying that I, more than anyone else here, have been manipulated by Campbell. For years, he has played the long game, making the entire clan believe that ye were on his side. And when ye came to the Lost Valley, I refused to hear otherwise. Even when ye proved yer character time and time again, I did nae allow myself to see it.”
“Finn…”
“Please, let me finish.” Seamus nodded and kept quiet, as did the rest of the room. “I divided the rebel efforts, publicly questioning yer ability to lead, so I must make amends publicly. I am ashamed to admit that while I questioned yer ability to lead, I never stopped to question my own. I was so caught up in the lie Campbell told us all about ye that I was ready to do anything to stop him, except trust ye.”
Finn then turned to the full room still standing behind him. He could feel Brid's eyes drilling into him, but he couldn't look at her. His guilt wouldn't let him.
“I was so entirely enthralled in trying to best Seamus that I did nae stop to consider the consequences of my actions. My plan was to siege Murray Village. I wanted to starve the town so that those still alive would riot against Campbell. I wanted to trick ye into joining the rebellion, rather than seeing ye as a group of suffering people who needed protecting. I can onlythank God that Seamus did nae listen to me. Otherwise, an entire village would have starved to fight a tyrant who was nae even here.”
The looks of shock on the faces of those staring back at him would haunt Finn forever, he knew. His own devious plan would haunt him just the same.
“Seamus,” he continued, turning back around, “I am sorry for dividing the rebels, for going against ye every chance I was given. I am sorry that I did nae trust ye when ye have shown yerself to have the highest level of integrity out of all of us. Please forgive me.”
Seamus nodded again, his face softening.
“Ye may nae have killed Campbell yet, but because of yer level head, ye managed to thwart Campbell's attempt to turn us all against ye. If ye will have me, it would be an honor to serve at yer side as we conquer Campbell once and for all.”
Just as the air in the room had shifted so quickly against Seamus, things changed again having heard Finn's declaration. They all knew that Finn had been so wholeheartedly against Seamus, that to say any of this was no small thing. And when Seamus stepped forward and off the dais to extend a handshake, Finn knew that he had managed to begin to repay the debt he owed to the man.
