Page 99 of The Splendor of Fire
Beside him, Moira and Hector snorted at the same time. For the third time that night, a feeling of recollection unsettled Léo but he couldn’t put his finger on why.
Calling everyone to attention, Hector moved toward the long table at the center of the room. He stood at the head and motioned to the seat on his right. “Brother.”
Warmth for his friend flooded Léo’s chest and he took his position next to him. Hector motioned to Birdy and then the seat to his left. Bewildered, she looked around and behind her. Hector signed to her.You. Come on. You’ve earned it.
Every member of the Shieldclapped her on the back as she passed by on her way to the seat. “Thank ye, Birdy…You’ve done it, Birdy…That’s our lass…”
Color high, she took the seat across from Léo. Feeling as though he’d swallowed the moon, his chest swelled. The Shield had delivered a punishing year to the Wolf, perhaps the most punishing year his forceshad yet experienced. There would be a strike back, but the Kingdom of the Isles was not yet experiencing the terror that the Highlands had been suffering for twelve years, and it was all because of her.
After their team took their seats, Hector raised his voice. “I’ve asked you here tonight so we can go over tactics for Michaelmas. We’ve been preparing for this for so long it seems strange that we are only sixteen days away. I want to recognize that with the gold and silver taken from Staffa we’ve ransomed Eoghan O’Gallagher, and thanks to his help, we’ve been able to engage cateransfrom the O’Donnell Lucht Tighe cavalry who should now be on their way to Dunvegan, ready to aid in the uprising.”
Potent relief flooded Léo and he looked at Eoghan at the end of the table, who gave him a nod. With an experienced cavalry they now stood a real chance of defeating Niall. Moira’s eyes met his, and he wondered if she was thinking about a future together. He would tell her on the way home how much he loved her, and ask her to be his wife. He needed her by his side. He needed to know before the uprising that she would be his lady.
Hector continued. “The MacKays have committed to perimeter patrols. That leaves the MacKenzies, both houses of the MacLeans, and the O’Gallagher and Isles caterans for the assault on Loch Slapin and Dun Ringill.”
Moira raised her hand.
Hector nodded. “Yes?”
Fingon and Malvina are back from Iona.
Léo looked at her open-mouthed. He’d met her at the the tunnel having snuck away from the encampment at the Elgol granary without returning to the keep. Why had she not told him? He couldn’t keep the shock and annoyance out of his voice. “Already?”
Eoghan called from the end of the table. “What’s she saying?”
Hector’s brow furrowed. “Fingon and Malvina MacKinnon are back from Iona.”
Eilidh made a groan of frustration from Eoghan’s side and he looked at her. “What does that matter?”
She twirled a lock of red-gold hair around her finger. “Malvina and Fingon are aff their heid. Niall’s brutal butno’ as ruthless.”
Moira clapped and everyone turned to her.A housemaid gave away that I was absent for two days when I was summoned to break my fast with them. They don’t seem to have connected me to the theft at Staffa, but they may have their suspicions.
Hope died in Léo’s chest, and fear overtook him. Frustration with her, and the need to protect her, made his voice hard. “That’s it. You’re staying here. I refuse to take you back.”
Clouds of war formed in her expression.I was only bringing it up so that everyone knows that Fingon and his men from Iona are close by, and that Niall will probably return early. You can’t tell me I’m done with the mission. That isn’t your decision.
The memory of Malvina’s cold cruelty to Maman tightened the fear in his chest. If she had any suspicion that Moira had been involved in the Staffa raid she would be lethal. “Why did you come to Dunvegan tonight if you believed they were suspicious of you?”
Moira’s brow creased.They told me to make myself scarce and not make them ill. They told me to stay away from them.
He gave a bitter laugh. “She’s probably sitting in your room right now waiting for you to return. You’re not going back, Moira. Malvina is too keen to be trusted. You’ve never been a proper target of hers. I refuse to put you at her mercy. You’re done.”
She touched the crinkle in-between her eyebrows. Are we really arguing again, in front of everyone? In front of Hector? Can you not let anything go past you? You always have to weigh in on what I’m doing.
Panic threatened to overtake him. Maman, Théa…he couldn’t lose her too. “I’m not arguing with you on this, I’m telling you. You’re not going back.”
Everyone’s faces pivoted from Moira to him, beginning to shift in their seats. Eoghan’s face was scrunched, and Eilidh whispered to him.
A look of serene determination came over her.You can tell me whatever you want to. I don’t have to obey you, Léo.
Her calm dismissal scared him more than her arguing. She couldn’t go back. He wouldn’t allow it.“Moira…” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “I can give you an order and you must obey it.”
Her eyebrows shot straight up and her face looked shocked.Are you?
“Yes.”
Iain raised his hands. “Nooo less jus’ calm doon. Léo…I nooo ye want tae keep Moira safe, but we need her inside. If Niall returns she’ll gather valuable information before the attack. I worried about her in the beginning, but Birdy knows her limits.”
