Page 88 of The Bells of Triumph
27
TEARS IN THE TOWER
Foam gathered in the corners of his horse's mouth, but Seamus couldn't bring himself to care. He had to get to his mother before it was too late. He had to save her from any more agony brought on by Campbell.
Flora stayed by his side, riding just as recklessly fast as he was, while the rest of the Murray army traveled at a more reasonable pace behind them. It sounded like thunder rolling with the number of horses and riders heading for Drummond Castle.
Good. Maybe she can hear me coming.
Glancing over at Flora, he admired the determined set of her brow. She knew just how important this was to him and was willing to do whatever it took to make sure he got to see his mother again. She looked back at him, as though she could feel the weight of his stare, and that determination morphed into concern. Whether it was from his own expression or the fact that neither of them were paying attention to where they were riding when traveling this fast, he didn't know, but he loved her for it all the same.
“Seamus,” she called over the hammering hoofbeats.
He turned to look where she was pointing, and relief came crashing down over him. The ivy covered walls of Drummond Castle were in sight. With four towers facing each direction and a large wall built in between them, it was a menacing sight to anyone who didn't already have ownership of the castle. It would be devastating should Campbell get there first and reclaim his foothold. They couldn't allow that to happen.
Pushing faster and harder, they made it to the gate just as the few soldiers who had been left there managed to open the oversized wooden doors.
“Where is she?” Seamus called out to the shocked crowd of four or five servants who met them in the courtyard. “Where is my mother?”
He hadn't even bothered to dismount before he had asked his questions. Nor did he wait for a response before he jumped out of his saddle and took off sprinting toward the castle doors.
“In the west tower,” one of the women answered.
The sound of Flora's boots hitting the stone behind him let him know that she was there with him. He had nearly made it inside the castle before he skidded to a halt and turned back around.
“Campbell,” he explained to Flora at her silent question.
“We must tell them. We must help them to prepare.”
“Listen, everyone,” he called out, rushing through his orders. “We have word that Campbell will be descending on this castle at any moment. My men are close behind. They will help ye defend this castle. The village has already been cleared out in preparation for a battle. If ye are willing and able to fight, find something to defend yerself with. If ye are nae, get to the dungeons and hide. Dinnae come out until ye are sure that it is safe.”
As if his urgency were contagious, the courtyard became a flurry of activity. Minutes later, the rest of the Murrayarmy poured into the courtyard as well. Horses were stashed while soldiers climbed to the ramparts, gathered their supplies, and secured the gates closed. Errik and Liam were standing at the center of it all, shouting orders. Finn and Connor worked together to arrange men inside the courtyard to ready themselves for a fight. Brid and Iona blew past Seamus and Flora, into the kitchen to start readying whatever they might need for after the battle was over.
The sound of windows being shuttered and furniture scraping against the stone floor to barricade weak points filled Seamus' ears. But all he could do was stand and watch. He wanted nothing more than to forget Campbell, forget this battle, and race upstairs to his mother. Everything in him was screaming to do just that. Yet, his feet stayed glued to the step, not moving, wanting to show his people that he was there to fight with them and for them.
“Seamus. Seamus!”
Flora's voice cut through the chaos going on inside him and all around him. He blinked a few times before looking at her.
“Go to her. I will see that this is taken care of.”
When Seamus didn't move, didn't drop the grip he hadn't realized he had on her hand, Flora repeated herself.
“Seamus, go see yer mother. Nay one will fault ye for wanting to see her after a lifetime apart. Ye dinnae ken how much longer ye have left with her. Errik and Liam have things in hand. It is all right.”
His throat went dry. Despite his urgency to get here, the way he rode like a madman, and sprinted through the courtyard, the idea of facing his mother alone was paralyzing. Even worse than that, Seamus couldn't fathom the idea of leaving Flora's side, not when he knew that Campbell was coming for them. Should he get to Flora, Campbell would unleash untold horrors on her, justto get at Seamus. The thought of it had him shaking his head in refusal,
“I cannae leave ye,” he croaked out.
“I will go with ye then,” she promised. “I will nae leave yer side.”
Finally, he agreed and the two of them disappeared into the castle, leaving the scrambling of the courtyard behind.
Seamus didn't stop to see the deteriorating state of the castle or the bare walls where Drummond had sold off things to fund his drinking habits. He didn't think of the man he had killed or the many that had died since then. He didn't notice the terrified expressions of the servants he passed nor did he count any of the steps on the five flights of stairs it took to reach the top of the tower. All he could think about was Flora's hand in his and seeing his mother.
“In there,” Flora pointed to a door that was left cracked open. “She must be in there.”
He paused only long enough to swallow his nerves and take a deep breath before he pushed the door the rest of the way open.
