Page 80 of The Bells of Triumph
“Seamus must be told about Campbell, and he must believe that it is the truth. Bring him here to me, so I can tell him myself if ye must. But ye must go together. He cannae doubt the truth of yer claims.”
“But, Aunt?—”
“I will hear nae more of this, Iona. Ye are to go to him. Dinnae deny me this.”
Iona sighed through her nose as she looked at Finn, hoping he would defend her stance. He only shrugged in agreement with Caitria.
“Fine. We will go. Tell the servants to get the horses ready while I gather my things again.”
Finn went to do just that when Caitria stopped them again.
“Tell me about him. Please.”
“Tell ye about whom?”
“My lad. Though, I suspect he is nae much of a lad anymore.”
Iona's heart broke for Caitria and the desperation that hung in her voice. Moving to her bedside, Iona helped Caitria lay back down. Finn moved closer too, but only by a few steps.
“Aye, Caitria. He is a great man, one ye can be proud of. Kind and gentle and strong.”
Iona squeezed her hand, wanting more than anything to offer Caitria some semblance of comfort.
“He has become the leader that the Murray Clan deserves.”
Finn's words were a shock to Iona, though she did her best not to let it show.
“He has the moral compass, the integrity that every man hopes to achieve. He has a wife who is good and strong, worthy of him. He does the right thing at every turn. And I have naydoubt that he will be the one to reorient this clan once again. He will be the one to lead us back into the light, into a time of peace and prosperity. He is everything a mother hopes her son to be.”
Caitria shed silent tears as Finn talked about Seamus. Iona's eyes threatened to do the same. She knew, likely better than anyone, what all these years apart from Seamus had done to Caitria. The picture of Seamus that Finn was painting eased some of the heartache for the mother.
“Thank ye,” Caitria whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
“Ye hang on,” Finn ordered, stepping closer to grasp her other hand. “Ye survive this and see him for yerself.”
She nodded and let her eyes drift shut into a fitful sleep. Iona bent to press a kiss to the woman's burning forehead in what she hoped wasn't her last goodbye. But they didn't have time for more.
All but running out of Drummond Castle, Iona, and Finn climbed back into their saddle, with Iona clutching Finn's waist.
“It will be faster if we ride together. Ye will nae have to think about driving the horse, only holding on to me,” Finn explained when there was only one stallion waiting for them. “Dinnae fash, I will get us there safely.”
Iona did as he said, gripping his shirt as tightly as her fingers could manage as they rode off in a fury towards Murray Castle.
