Page 134 of Laird of Smoke
“And then what?”Fergus exploded.“The Fergus clan will singlehandedly hold off the entire armies of England and Scotland?”
“Ye won’t have to, m’laird.Once they’ve besieged the keep, ye’ll summon the neighbor lairds who’ve sworn fealty to ye.They’ll come up from behind and surround the kings’ armies.Ye’ll be in a position to attack from both sides.”
Fergus scowled, considering this.
Adam added, “And since the attack will be upon the Fergus stronghold, ’twill be seen by everyone in Scotland as an act of aggression by the king.”
Fergus nodded.“How many men do they have?”
Adam had to strike a balance with his reply.Too few men, and Fergus might imagine he could defeat them in a surprise attack.Too many, and he might consider retreat an option, which would only extend the battle.
“Five dozen at least.Seven with the Rivenlochs.”To be honest, Adam wasn’t sure there were two dozen Rivenloch warriors of fighting age.Even if there were, some always stayed behind to defend their own keeps.And some like Adam were roving in parts unknown.But the number sounded impressive.
“Shite.”Fergus’s brows came together.He punched his fist into his palm, grinding it as if squashing a bug.“After All Souls Day?”
Adam nodded.
“I want ye by my side,” Fergus told him.
Adam knew his remark had nothing to do with loyalty and everything to do with mistrust.Fergus wanted him close at hand.If things went awry, Adam would be there to receive the brunt of his rage.
Adam would deal with that when the time came.At least for now, he had prevented a surprise attack on the king and kept Eve safe from harm.
Eve had no intention of remaining a prisoner.Not even a privileged prisoner of the king.
She had things to do.A Greater Purpose to achieve.
Adam may have thought he could use her as a means to an end, a pawn he could sacrifice to bring him closer to King Malcolm.
But he’d underestimated her determination and her skill.
She was no helpless hostage, waiting faithfully in the hopes Adam would return to free her.Indeed, she doubted he’d return at all.Why would he?He’d get no ransom from Fergus.
What then was he planning?
She couldn’t guess.
But she wasn’t going to sit idly by until her fate was decided for her.
She couldn’t escape at once, of course.Building trust took time.But abiding in the pavilion of the physician had its advantages.
She found, even shackled, she could be of some use.First of all, she’d cooperated with her captors.They were probably so relieved to have a willing prisoner, they didn’t question her choice when she offered her hands to be shackled in front of her rather than behind.
The physician in whose pavilion she was imprisoned wouldn’t speak to her.At least not at first.He’d likely been warned by the king that she was a spy, that he should beware her lying tongue.
But she quickly discovered, as with most of those in the healing profession, he was a gentle man with a kind nature, driven to help others.All she needed to do was convince him they were kindred spirits.
She began by reciting her prayers at frequent intervals.The king had told the physician she wasn’t really a nun.She would prove him wrong.
She made the usual entreaties, of course.Grant me Your grace.Give me time for repentance.Your will be done.But she added her own personal prayers.For the health and safety of the soldiers on both sides.For the forgiveness of those who had wronged her, wittingly or unwittingly.For God to guide the physician’s hands.And for the improving welfare of all those he treated.
The physician couldn’t help but be influenced by her good will.
Soon a royal guard came in with the complaint of an aching belly.
“Ye as well?”the physician said with a sigh.“The cook must have served rotten meat.Ye’re the fourth today.I’m out o’ ginger, but I have oil o’ rosemary.’Tis the best I can do.”
“Good sir,” Eve said softly, “I have ginger.”She nodded toward the corner of the pavilion, where the guards had left her things.“In my satchel.”
