The McKinnon (45 page)

“Have you eaten?” Connor asked.

“Yes, after a fashion.”

“Well, I haven't.” He paused and turned her toward him. “Have dinner with me, Rea.”

She recovered quickly from the shock of the unexpected invitation. It was tempting, but she was exhausted.

“I think that I would like that very much, English, but not tonight. I’m exhausted. However, thank you for the invitation. Another time perhaps?” she asked actually feeling hopeful.

Connor nodded. “It would be my pleasure, Princess.”

“Well, we’re here," she said nervously almost as if they were completing a first date. "Thank you for the walk. It was actually pleasant and thank you for sharing your cloak.” After an awkward pause, she placed her hands on his shoulders, stood on tiptoes and gave him a lingering kiss on each cheek.

“Good night, English. Thank you, again for helping me,” she said softly against his cheek.

Connor took her hand from his shoulders before she retreated into the tent and barely resisted the urge to kiss her.

“If I cannot feed you then I shall bid you a fair evening.” He kissed her hands. “Good night, Reagan. Sleep well and call me if you should need another knight’s deed done.” He offered with a courtly bow and then he was gone.

She watched him blend seamless into the darkness, having no idea he had taken up sentry to guard her safety through the night. It was something he had already been doing now for weeks.

The following morning the men rose early to make the final preparations to secure Seabridge. The day was bright and cold, with the north sea winds blowing up and over the cliffs. Morgan felt better than she had in days, but still knew she and Nic were not out of the woods. She had angered him and more than that, she had broken his faith and trust in her to do as he would ask of her. And regardless of how justified she felt, he still didn’t totally see her reasoning. He, however, did now accept her being there. They had agreed to disagree. She would take whatever progress she could get.

Morgan was breaking her fast when Reagan rejoined her in the tent.

“May I come in? I don't want to intrude,” Reagan asked before entering.

“Of course, you are always welcome wherever I am. You are family, Reagan. I really do wish you would figure that out. You belong here with us.” Morgan said then hugged her.

"You look better this morning," Reagan said.

“I must thank you for stepping in on my behalf. Things are better. I know that you are right. It would take more than this for Nic to leave me. We still have work to do, but I love him and that is all that matters.”

“And Nic loves you as well, Morgan. However, don’t thank me. Thank Connor. He was the one who talked to Nic.”

“So you asked for Connor’s help? That must have hurt.” Morgan snickered, knowing how the relationship was between those two.

“Oh, you have no idea, but it was well worth it to see the improvement in you this morning," she said cheerfully and honestly. "Connor said his help would be coming with a price. I’m not sure what it will be. Nevertheless, he is collecting his payment this morning.”

“You didn’t ask before agreeing to it? That leaves you open for anything, doesn't it?” Morgan was seeing a side of her friend she had never noticed before. She believed Reagan was softening to Connor. Reagan not asking ahead of time what the stipulations were showed she was beginning to trust him.

“I…well yes, but he is honorable even if he is infuriating at times. I think he was teasing me more than anything. We have had a very strange few days. He even asked me to have dinner with him last night, and I think he was going to kiss me.”

“You could do worse than a man like Connor, Rea. If he is interested, why not give him a chance. You might be surprised at what might develop between the two of you.”

“No, I’m leaving soon. Those plans have never changed.”

“Well, you are not gone yet, and I’m finding fate has a way of taking these decisions out of our hands.”

Reagan felt that Morgan's words would somehow prove to be most prophetic.

How else could she explain the last six months?

Morgan’s heart was racing. Seabridge was her home. Yet, all she felt was terror at facing these gates.

“Open the gate. I have come in the name of the King,” Nic shouted to the gatekeeper.

“Don’t think so,” the man shouted back. “Brentwood will kill me if I open up to you.”

“Open and I'll let you live. I have rightful ownership by marriage to the Lady Morgan Pembridge and King Henry’s decree. So open up, man and receive us.”

Nic and Connor had planned well. If the gates opened then there would be little or no bloodshed if they had their way. However, there was a backup plan in place. Cullen was leading a group of men at arms through the tunnels as they spoke. If the gates did not open then they would take the castle from within after dark.

Nic waited as Hermes pranced sideways in anticipation of the coming encounter. Nic was in full battle dress and his mount was ready for a clash that Nic hoped never arrived.

“I will ask you again to consider your actions,” Nic shouted to the guardsmen. “You are in direct violation of the King of England. Think about it, but not long. You could have a new Over Lord, not entirely a bad prospect from what the Lady tells me. Continue down this path and surely die.”

“You guarantee my safety?” The man shouted, again.

“As your new Lord, yes. I swear to protect you as long as you serve me and my Lady well and truthfully, but should you break my faith in you, I swear by God that I will kill you in a way Brentwood could never dream.”

Momentary silence greeted the group bearing the banners of the Duke of Seabridge and Earl of Featherstone.

“He is weighing his decision,” Connor said after he came up beside Nic, magnificent in his own full battle dress. With helmets on and visors down, only the horses distinguished the two.

“I shall need verification. Is the Lady with you, Sir?” The guard yelled back again.

Nic hesitated. He turned to go back into the crowd where his best guards were surrounding her.

Pulling up his visor, she saw his concern. “Morgan, I had hoped to keep your presence quiet, but it would seem that is not to be. If it is your desire then show yourself. If not...I'll work with it.”

"I have nothing to fear," Morgan said as she placed her trust fully in Nic to protect her.

Morgan came to the forefront with Nic by her side, his breastplate she wore under her cloak giving her courage.

Reaching over she took Nic’s hand in hers. She pulled from his strength.

“Know this and know it well.” She lifted her head in a proud manner as she shouted for all to hear. Throwing her hood back, she revealed herself, taking a deep breath for courage. “I am the Lady Morgan, Seventh Duchess of Seabridge. I have come to stake my claim to the land of my Father, as is my right by birth and the King’s command. I have come with my husband Nic McKinnon, who is now the Seventh Duke by law and marriage, and by such right makes him your overlord. Obey him, now! We will not ask again. Open the gates!”

Nic was proud of his woman. He saw her trembling, but still she held herself with dignity and showed the forcefulness necessary to lead her people, and he was proud of her. She would survive this and be stronger for it.

The gates began to open.

As they crossed under the archway of the outer gate, Cullen was below making his way into the tunnels. Because of all the years Morgan had spent below, her directions she gave were clear-cut. He knew exactly where his position was in the stronghold.

His orders were to wait until nightfall. Should the castle not surrender then they would take it from within. Nic was to send word into the tunnels should it all shake out to their advantage.

Hours passed without a single word and Cullen was beginning to become impatient. There had been no fighting above that he could hear, so it must be that Nic was taking his time to get word to him. Knowing Nic would not send word revealing their presence unless he was positive the holding was secure, Cullen continued to wait.

“Is Brentwood still at Court?” Nic questioned the household and guards.

“Yes, Sir, as far as we know. We are not to expect him for another week at best.”

“Very well,” Nic acknowledged, thinking it had almost been too easy. “The household will report to Lady Morgan. I want a complete inventory of all household assets delivered to her. As to the men at arms, I would have you report to me. I need to see what we have in the way of weapons and manpower. We need to make the determination of who is and is not willing to swear fealty to the Lady and me. Connor, please see to it this is carried out to my specifications.”

“Consider it done.” Connor left to institute Nic’s orders. He was certain that there were going to be a few heads he was going to have to knock together. There were those who enjoyed presiding under men of Brentwood's ilk and a change in Overlord was not going to be to their favor. He was ready for anything.

Nic then turned to his captain of the guard. “Aaron, you are to remain with Morgan at all times. I do not trust this group, and I do not want her out of your sight, not for a moment. Understand?”

Aaron snapped to attention. “Yes, Sir, I understand completely. Anything else?”

Nic hated to leave Morgan. However, given the peaceful nature of day the day, he felt reasonably safe in letting her go with his Master-At-Arms.

“No, nothing else. I am going after Cullen and the others. They are probably chomping at the bits at this point.”

“Oh, I would bet on it, but it will do the boy some good to learn a bit of patience, I think.”

“Aaron, my man, you are probably right and I would be tempted to leave him there if it were not for the fact Reagan is with him and his men. It cannot be pleasant down there from what Morgan has told me.”

“Go. I'll watch over your Lady for you.”

“Thank You,” Nic said, placing a hand on the older man’s shoulder.

“It is my pleasure, Sir. She is no trouble.”

“Maybe not for you.” Nic laughed ironically.

“Ahh, matrimonial bliss. And I wonder why I passed it by?”

“You crotchety old warrior. Don’t you have a task to do?” Nic said with more irritation then he felt.

“I’m going.” Aaron held up his hands in defeat.

“Good. So am I. I’ll be back with Cullen and the others shortly.”

“I can do this,” Morgan repeated to herself with each ascending step.

She was going up to the tower room. Why she felt the need to do so was beyond her, but she had learned to follow her instincts. With Aaron just steps behind her, she ascended the stairs with the familiar feeling of dread washing over her. The sweat was forming on her forehead, and her palms felt clammy, her knees weak. She would conquer this demon. Nic was here with her. She could do this.

“Is this too, soon, Lady Morgan?” Aaron was asking as they entered the room.

“No. I need to do this. I will do this,” she said with renewed resolve as she looked at the filthy cot where she had spent years sleeping.

Morgan stood by the window slit looking out over the land that belonged to her. Her property went as far as she could see. It was hers and she would leave it to their children and her children’s children.

Aaron had his back to the door so was unaware the door was silently closing behind them.

Looking out of the window, Morgan saw her uncle coming across the outer area just past the training grounds. At that same moment, she saw Nic passing into the bolt-hole. Trying to gain his attention, Morgan screamed out the window as a warning, but Nic was too far away to hear her. Someone from within these walls was betraying them as she heard the bolt slide home, locking them inside.

“I’m sorry, I should have been standing guard.”

Morgan sprang into action. “No time for guilt, Aaron. Come here and help me. There is a passage leading out of here. Unless my uncle has discovered it and blocked the way, we can still get out of here and hopefully in time to warn Nic and the others.”

They quickly found the passage. Thankfully, it was just as she had left it a year earlier. Quickly descending the stairs and through the narrow passage, they came to an intersection of the tunnels.

“This way, quickly,” she whispered.

Veering to the left, they continued to run as fast as the darkness would allow them. The candle she carried shed little light. Her fear for Nic and the others outweighed her own fears of the darkened tunnels buried deeply below the castle's foundations.

“Nic! It’s a trap! It’s a trap!” Morgan was shouting at the top of her lungs. “Nic! Run!”

Nic could hear her warning echoing through the tunnels. Instantly, Reagan knew Nic’s worst nightmare was coming true. They were in the dragon’s lair and his woman was in danger.

“Morgan! Where are you?” Nic was frantic to find her.

“Run, Nic! Run! It’s a trap. My uncle is here. Run!”

Cullen ordered the retreat and they all began to backtrack. There were several ways to retreat thanks to Morgan’s memory and clear instructions. The only problem was it splintered their defenses. Nic and Cullen did not move until they saw her coming around the corner.

“Nic, go! Hurry. There is no time. He will be on us in moments.” Morgan was waving them forward.

“Not without you.” Nic ran to meet her and grabbed her by the hand. Dragging her back the way he had come, he had not gone twenty paces before an explosion rocked the castle. Debris began falling, blocking their route. However, having memorized the maps, Nic and Cullen quickly veered directions, averting the falling debris and keeping the women sheltered from any harm.

They exited the passage to the cliffs, and the burst of sunlight blinded Nic for a moment. Fierce winds pulled at them as the ocean crashed on the jagged rocks of the deadly drop below. Reagan was just behind Nic and Morgan. Cullen was still in the tunnel bringing up the rear. He had his vision because he had not yet emerged into the daylight.

What he saw behind Nic were Brentwood and two others coming out from behind the boulders. Their weapons were drawn and poised for attack.