"Which is the larger?" Tristan asked him.
Bruce tapped the circle that followed the forest. "This one. They mean to hide their greater numbers until they are gathered for a fight in the valley."
"Then I will take a chosen few and face them," Tristan suggested.
Alan's eyes widened. "My laird, we haven't the men to split into two groups. Many of them are newly trained."
Tristan looked past Alan's shoulders at the men. They stood shoulder to shoulder in long rows and watched the whispering with unease. Tristan pushed through our small group and moved to stand before them. When he spoke he spoke with a loud, clear voice that echoed over the whole of the group.
"My loyal men, I have heard dire news," Tristan told them. "These men-" he gestured to the three, "-have brought news of an army of Menzies who come from the northeast to avenge their fallen brethren." The eyes of the men widened and they glanced at one another to whisper frightened words to their companions. Tristan held up his hand and they quieted. "I know you fear for your loved ones and yourself, but fear not when god is on our side. I myself will confront the greater of the army and trap them in the woods while you meet the lesser portion on the High Road where you command the territory."
"But who will go with you, my laird?" a soldier shouted.
"A chosen few, but I will not separate any of you from your brothers-in-arms," Tristan assured them.
"But we are not afraid, are we, men?" another soldier called to those around him.
"No!"
"Never!"
"This is for our homes!"
Tristan smiled and held his hand higher. "I will never call such loyal men cowards, but what I have planned in the woods is better taken by few men." He stepped aside and gestured to Alan and Chamberlain. "They will lead you into battle when I cannot, and trust in them as you would me. Besides, you fight not for me alone, but for all your families." The men looked at each other and nodded their heads. Tristan unsheathed his sword and held it over his head for all to see. "I know you will make them proud!"
The men echoed his gesture and raised their swords and those taken from the defeated Menzies.
"Hooray!" they shouted. "Hooray!"
Alan pursed his lips and moved to stand beside Tristan. "Is this wise, my laird? Should we not instead gather more men?" he whispered.
Tristan lowered his sword and turned to Alan with a grin. "I would not miss a challenge such as this, and recall that we have god on our side." His eyes flickered past Alan and settled on me. I smiled and nodded, and Tristan returned his attention to Alan. He set one hand on the trusted captain's shoulder. "But fear not for us while you have your own battle to fight. I and those I take with me will have the advantage of tree cover, but you must brave the open field."
Alan straightened and bowed his head. "Your men are ready, my laird."
"Our men, my friend, and I know they will fight well for their families," Tristan replied. He passed Alan and walked over to the small group of men. His eyes settled on Duncan and Angus. "Will you both fight alongside me?" he asked them.
They both nodded.
"With our dying breath," Duncan assured him.
Tristan laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "I don't believe it shall be as terrible as that."
Bruce stepped forward. "I will come with you," he offered.
Some of Tristan's humor fell off his face and he shook his head. "The main army will need another strong fighter."
"The main army will need its commander," Bruce countered.
Tristan shook his head. "I would not stretch god's will across two areas of combat."
"You needn't. I will go in your stead and take his faithful servant, your wife, with me," Bruce offered.
Tristan frowned and his eyes flickered to me. "I would prefer she remain with me, and I against the main part of their army."
"What you would prefer is not of greater importance than you at the head of your men. They will need you to rally them, and I have experience with god's will," Bruce reminded him.
"I would trust Bruce with my life. He has saved it once before," I spoke up.
Tristan stepped up to me and clasped my hands in his. He pursed his lips and looked into my eyes. "You are sure?" he whispered. "You have never been alone with god's will."
I smiled and squeezed his hands. "It must come at some time, my laird, or I will never know this new me," I pointed out.
A hint of a smile passed his lips and he nodded. "Very well," he called out loud enough so all to hear. He turned to the group of men and his soldiers. "I will ride with the main army, and others will go in my stead to defeat the portion that travels through the forest."
"Hooray!" the men shouted.
Tristan looked to our close friends. "Let us return to the castle and prepare for battle."
Alan took control of the men and led them from the grounds. Chamberlain, Duncan and Bruce walked along with us with the reins of their horses in hand to give their steeds some rest. Duncan stepped up to the side of Tristan and lowered his voice so few could overhear but those with the gift.
"I have lived three days with this man named Bruce and know of his great tracking skills, but I have not seen him fight. Is he competent?" Duncan whispered.
"I trust him to be as great a fighter as myself," Tristan assured him.
A crooked grin slipped onto Duncan's lips. "I don't recall you being the most competent-"
Tristan unsheathed his sword and spun around to press the blade against Duncan's throat. The action took less than the blink of an eye. Tristan smiled into Duncan's bewildered face.
"You were saying?" Tristan asked him.
Duncan gathered himself and grinned. "I was saying you've changed a great deal since we last met."
Tristan chuckled and sheathed his weapon. "I will accept your words as a compliment."
"Now what was that show with your lovely bride" Duncan wondered as we continued on our way to the castle.
"She is to be among your group in the battle," Tristan revealed.
Duncan started to a stop and Angus' mouth dropped open.
"A woman?" Angus choked out.
"A child of god," Tristan corrected him.
"For once my brother has some sense about him," Duncan chimed in. Angus glared at him, but the look was ignored. "This is no time to jest, old friend. Battle is no place for a fair maiden."
"She will be far more useful than any of our swords," Bruce spoke up. "She will be as a shield to us, and I wonder if we shall have any sport this day."
Duncan scoffed. "A shield maiden? Like of old? Those are fairy tales to tell children."
"Our wet nurse was fond of those stories," Angus chimed in.
Bruce chuckled and pulled ahead of us. "Then you shall learn old tales today," he called over his shoulder.
We continued on our way and arrived at the castle. The courtyard was filled with soldiers as they armed themselves in what armor they owned. The horses were brought from the stables and those that belonged to our three spies were brushed down and given ample food and water. Their rest would be short-lived. They would go out again to the fields of battle.
Tristan turned to Chamberlain. "Prepare my armor as before along with your lady's horse, and we shall be down presently."
Chamberlain bowed his head. "As you wish, my laird."
Tristan took my hand and led me to our bed chambers. He closed the door firmly behind us and turned to me with worried eyes. My laird moved to stand before me and set his hands on my shoulders as he studied my face.
"You are sure you wish to do this without me?" he asked me again.
I clutched the necklace I wore and gave a nod. "I do, my laird. I will be protecting my family and friends."
"She will not be alone," a voice spoke up, and Ciardha rose from the chair turned to the fire. She was as herself, the beautiful Lady Campbell, and there was a smile on her lips. "I will protect and guide her."
Tristan's face brightened, and he hurried o
ver to clasp her hands. "Mother, you have returned. I feared you had left forever."
She chuckled and shook her head. "Never, my son. I merely kept a far eye on you and your own. Now I see you have more need of my services than a mere watch."
"How will you help me?" I asked her.
"By assisting you in focusing the goddess' power," she revealed. "She is a rather strong spirit, and sometimes fickle, but with my help there will be no worry."
I smiled and gave a nod. "Then with so many friends by my side I will have no fear."
Lady Campbell turned her attention back to her son. "Where does Bruce mean to ride?"
"With you, though he doesn't know it yet," Tristan told her.
She chuckled. "Excellent. I shall see if there is any rust in his swing and tease him accordingly."
A dark shadow fell over Tristan's face and he pursed his lips. "Mother, why did you never tell me the truth of my true heritage?"
Lady Campbell's smile slipped off her face and she sighed. "Because I never wished for you to know." She cupped his cheek in one hand and studied his face. "Though your parentage shown through regardless of my wishes. The heritage of the wolf."
Tristan set his hand over hers and smiled. "I would have it no other way."
His mother smiled and gave a nod. "That is the son I raised. Now come. War is upon us and chatter is not the wisest strategy."
CHAPTER 47
Lady Campbell reverted to her Ciardha disguise and we rejoined our friends, and a few acquaintances, in the entrance hall. The men were decked in leather and metal armor and bore swords. Our acquaintances, Seumas, Laird Graham, Lady Annabel, and Laird MacLaren with his wife, stood to the side. Laird MacNaughton and Duncan stood at the center of the group, and their heated voices echoed down the halls.
"Lies!" MacNaughton insisted.
"They are not lies, Father! I saw our men among their troops!" Duncan insisted.
MacNaughton looked up and down Duncan and sneered at his son. "Then you are blinded by the lies of that man." A nod indicated Bruce who stood to one side with a small smile on his lips.
"What is this about?" Tristan spoke up as we joined the group in front of the doors.
MacNaughton stood tall with his lips tightly pursed together. "I have heard reports that my people follow the Menzies, and I do not believe it."
"If you doubt the word of your own son then there is but one way to prove to you it is true. You must come with us," Tristan replied.
The laird's stance stiffened. "I had thought to remain behind with Seumas and see to the castle and village."
Seumas stepped forward and bowed to MacNaughton. "If it pleases you, my laird, I would rather join in the fray and defend my cousin's lands."
MacNaughton's eyes hardened. "It does not. You informed me of a different desire."
"Whatever you vassal desires, Laird MacNaughton, you must fulfill your obligation as a laird of the Campbell lands and ride out," Laird MacLaren reminded him.
MacNaughton's eyebrows crashed down, but he gave a nod. "Very well."
Tristan turned to Laird Graham. "And you, my laird? Will you ride with us?"
Graham coughed into his fist and rubbed his chest. "I feel poorly these days, my laird, and must beg ill-health. There is also the matter of my unmarried daughter."
"I would gladly marry her if it would give us another able-bodied man," Duncan spoke up. Lady Annabel sneered at Duncan, and I noticed the corner's of Tristan's mouth twitched upward.
Laird Graham paled and sputtered. "B-but I am still old, my laird, and-" Tristan held up his hand.
"I understand, and allow you to remain here with your daughter until our return," Tristan told him.
Graham grinned broadly and bowed low to Tristan. 'Thank you, my laird. Thank you."
Tristan looked to MacLaren. "Will you, also remain, my laird?"
MacLaren smiled and shook his head. "I would join you on the battlefield and give what advice I may. If the worst is to come, I would at least be able to attest to God of my bravery."
Tristan set his hand on MacLaren's shoulder and smiled. "I would be honored to receive your advice." He looked out on all our other faces. "Now we shall go to war, and may god grant us favor."
"Amen," everyone replied.
Tristan led us out into the courtyard where our horses waited. Those of the three riders were either exchanged for a fresh one or, in the case of Bruce's unique steed, rested enough for one last confrontation. Soldiers crowded the courtyard and many hundreds more lay beyond the castle walls. We mounted our beasts with Ciardha at the back of my saddle, and split ourselves into the two groups. Duncan and Angus eyed Bruce with apprehension, and Angus gave Ciardha a quizzical look.
Tristan lay at the head of his men, and Bruce was our leader. My love cast a longing glance in my direction.
"Farewell, beloved," he called to me.
I smiled. "I will see you soon, my laird," I assured him.
He gave a nod and looked to Bruce. "Keep her safe."
Bruce grinned and moved aside so the main body of soldiers could pass him. "As though she was my own daughter, and you fare well in battle, as well."
Tristan smiled and nodded. "I guarantee it." He turned to the soldiers in the courtyard and those beyond. "Come, my soldiers! To god's victory!"
"Hurrah!" they shouted.
Tristan marched his men forth to battle until all that remained was our four horses and we five people.
Duncan turned his attention to Bruce. "What trap has Tristan devised to fare us through this battle?" he questioned the stranger.
Bruce turned to him with a grin and nodded at we two women. "Them."
Duncan raised an eyebrow, and Angus frowned.
"Are we to surprise the soldiers with women as soldiers? Their laughter will hardly give us time to cut down more than a dozen," Angus guessed.
Bruce chuckled and turned his horse so the beast faced the gates. "You shall see, but we haven't much time. Our enemies will be upon the valley before nightfall unless we stop them."
Bruce galloped forward on his horse and we followed. He led us down the High Road where I saw the rear guard of Tristan's long march of men, but we did not keep with them for long. Bruce turned off onto the road taken by Tristan and me on that fateful night. The road wound slowly down the mountain along many miles.
"We will take the shortest path," Bruce called to us.
He turned his horse towards the steep hill on our left and we clamored down the rocks that covered the sides of the road. They were the rocks taken from the road itself over hundreds of years and tossed out of the path of many carts. Great, immovable boulders also lay in our path, but though the way was hard the direction was straight to the northeast section of forest.
All was still and quiet around us. Even the birds had muted their song for the coming battle. The banter between the old lovers lightened the tense mood among our group as we navigated the steep and rocky hillside.
"I hope the road is not too rough for you, Old Mother," Bruce called to Ciardha.
She faced straight ahead and towards Bruce and his horse. "No, but the view leaves much to be desired."
"Perhaps you would prefer riding with me?" he offered.
Ciardha turned up her nose and sniffed the air. "Only when the gods are among us," she told him.
"Laird Bruce, I would ask a question of you regarding what we're to do," Duncan spoke up.
Bruce stopped us at a small patch of flat ground and turned the side of his horse to we three who followed him. "You are to protect these ladies from our foes, and I will do the same."
"Begging their pardon, but they are merely women," Angus pointed out.
"Women who have the power of god with them," Bruce reminded him. "And none may smite harder than a godly woman unless she be scorned."
"But they are still women," Angus persisted.
Bruce chuckled. "You have a lot to learn about women, young man."
Angus frowned and opene
d his mouth, but Duncan held up his hand to silence his younger brother. "We shall see this plan of his, and the women are in need of our protection."
"But they would not if they were not present," Angus pointed out.
"But they are, and we will put our faith in God and Tristan," Duncan told him. He smiled and shook his head. "I have seen many impressive tricks pulled by Tristan, and I am curious to see how this one succeeds."
"And succeed it will if you would follow me," Bruce commented.
We hurried on our way. The light of the cold winter day waxed and was on its wane before we reached the bottom of the valley. The castle was only a speck in the distance, some twenty miles off. I had never been so far from home, and wondered at the long fields of cut grain and the wilderness that abutted the riches of food. The geography was not much different save for the many boulders that dotted the fields. They could not be moved.
Bruce guided us to the edge of the forest where lay a small footpath. The trail curved and bent beyond sight, and seemed to be not but a wild creature path through the brambles and trees. Bruce stopped and dismounted, and tied his horse to a nearby tree. Angus and Duncan hesitated, though Ciardha and I joined Bruce.
"We're to abandon our horses?" Duncan asked him.
"Only if we don't mean to return, and I mean to return," Bruce retorted.
"There is no other way?" Duncan persisted.
Bruce shook his head. "None that would meet our foes long before they reached the valley, but haste is not mired in questions. Come or we will be too late."
Bruce strode into the path with Ciardha and I behind him. Duncan and Angus hurried after us, and we traveled on foot along the narrow way. The weak sun overhead began its slow descent towards the western horizon. All was quiet save for our footsteps, and the canopy above us blocked out much of the light of the day. Dark shadows lengthened over us and covered the path in a thick veil.
There came a cry, and turned to find Duncan glaring angrily at his younger brother who stood behind him on the trail.
"Watch your step!" Duncan hissed at him.
"Can I help following you closely? There is something not quite right here," Angus returned.
"That would be the great age of the untouched forest," Ciardha spoke up. She tilted her head back and swept her eyes over the trees around us. "It dislikes intrusions, and the army of our foes is a great intrusion."