Page 31 of Forge of the Highlander’s Destiny

T wo days passed peaceably. Cohen, Arya, and Olivia got their rest, and Cohen’s arm improved a little. The healer returned to the castle to see how it fared, and he planned to return a few days later to take the stitches out. Cohen spent a lot of his time planning and preparing with his men.

Cohen expected Muir’s arrival soon. He had rested, but his sleep was fitful, and he had nightmares about losing Arya to her father again.

On the morning of the second day, he walked down to the great hall.

Arya was not in the bed that morning, and he tried to tamp down the fear for her, realizing that he couldn’t live his life this way.

“I am certain she is with Olivia at breakfast or somewhere else. She doesnae want to feel trapped or imprisoned. I must remember that.” He took a few deep breaths as he made his way downstairs, but he sighed with relief when he found Olivia and Arya in the great hall with Sara, and they were practicing a dance.

Sara was instructing from the side as Arya and Olivia danced, moving in stilted rhythm about each other.

Surprised and delighted, Cohen leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms. He was watching them both with a smile.

Arya’s look was earnest and determined as she moved.

He hadn’t thought that perhaps Arya didn’t know how to dance because of lack of proper instruction from her father.

Arya caught his eye and stopped, coloring. He lifted a brow and grinned even wider, getting a smile from her. “It is proper to announce yer arrival, ye ken, Laird Sinclair.”

“Is it? I had nae idea that that was so, especially in me own home.” He tried to speak sternly, but the smile was giving him away. He stood and walked toward her, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.

“Sara, were ye called upon as dance instructor this mornin’?”

“I was, Me Laird. Requested by Lady Sinclair to get her sister’s mind off of things. And I do believe they wish to have a feast here one day.”

“Och, what a wonderful idea,” he said, smiling at Olivia. But he knew that a feast wouldn’t yet be possible until he had dealt with Laird Muir. Then, perhaps they could put everything behind them and start fresh.

“And as ye can probably see, Olivia and I were nae taught the proper ways of dancing. Our mother died too early, and our faither, well, ye ken about him.” She smiled at Olivia. “Sara was kind enough to show us what she knew.”

“I think it perfectly fine, Arya. And a good idea. We should have a celebration to commemorate Olivia joining the family.”

“Me Laird!” Malcolm’s voice echoed through the hall, and Cohen felt an icy, sinking feeling in his chest. He knew what his man would say before he said it. “An army is here! Muir colors. They will be outside of the castle in minutes!”

Cohen gave Arya a grim look, and she grasped hold of a pale and trembling Olivia.

“Well, we have the men at their stations, aye?” he asked Malcolm.

Malcolm nodded, and Cohen watched as his gaze moved to Sara. A little look of encouragement passed between them. Cohen added, “Bring weapons here.” He turned back to Arya and Olivia. “The gates are barred as are all entrances. They have been checked and re-checked. Daenae worry on that score.”

Arya nodded, still holding tightly to Olivia. “We will join ye in the battle.”

Cohen’s instincts were to fight back against her, to take her to a room and lock her away so that nothing would happen to her. But he knew that would get him nowhere. Arya would be determined at every turn to fight against him.

He swallowed, and she said, “On the battlements. Olivia is also skilled with a bow and arrow. We will work from there.”

“But yer faither’s men,” he said feebly, and she shook her head.

“They are nay kinsmen of mine. And it will give us somethin’ to dae rather than to hide away and lie in wait.”

He bit back a retort and nodded. “Aye, then. To the battlements. Malcolm, bring the weapons. We will stay inside the castle for as long as possible, but I want guards at every exit and entrance.”

“Aye, Me Laird,” Malcolm said, hurrying off, and Cohen’s hand fell to the blade at his side. His arm wasn’t yet ready, but he would have to forget all the pain that day and use it as if it hadn’t been injured.

Arya’s heart was thumping madly as she took the bow and arrows given to her by Malcolm and gave one set to Olivia.

She nodded to her sister. “This is somethin’ we must dae, Sister.

At long last, we can defeat Faither. It will be the makin’ of us, I think.

Once he is out of our lives forever, then we can move on and start our lives anew.

He willnae be a weight upon us any longer. Dae ye nae think?”

“Aye,” Olivia said in a small voice.

“Go to the battlements, Lass. I will come with ye. But I may need to leave to fight out in the front of the castle if things should turn poorly.”

She nodded and together, they walked up the stairs to the battlements, guards and warriors running past them up and down the stairs to find their place.

She breathed slowly in and out, trying to calm her fear at facing her father in battle.

There was no feeling for him in her heart, and yet, it would still be hard to fight against him.

Malcolm was dispatched to guard the main gate. But Arya knew her father’s men would penetrate the castle walls soon enough. And it was not because of the castle’s lack of defenses but because both she and Cohen were certain there was still a traitor among his men. It would be out soon enough.

She gripped onto her bow to give her courage as she stepped out onto the battlements. The wind was icy, and she shivered despite the thick plaid Sara had belted around her. But their arms were not as well covered since they had to use them to fight.

When she peeked over the side of the wall, she gasped at the size of the army. “Cohen,” she said, her heart racing in fear.

“I ken, love,” he replied, touching her shoulder. “Daenae fear.”

He called down from the battlements while she and Olivia and the other warriors prepared their arrows. “And what are ye doin’ here on me doorstep? What business have ye with Clan Sinclair?”

One rider moved forward, and the man pulled down his hood and looked up at Cohen. “I am here to take back me daughter, ye bastard. Ye can only marry one of them!” He lifted his sword as he spoke. “And I mean to take the other back, one way or another. So, let the battle begin!”

Arya grit her teeth, feeling the terror that her father expected her to fear in that moment, but she could never let him know that fear. She had to at least appear strong.

“And if ye daenae give me what I want, then I shall have yer head again, Laird Sinclair, and I shall take me daughter’s as well!

” Arya’s heart sank, for she knew that he was talking about her.

Her fear increased tenfold but so did her determination.

Olivia would not be harmed by him, or at least her life would not be taken.

She was still too valuable to him, and he could marry her off to that old laird for the sake of money and power.

“I will kill ye before that happens, Laird Muir,” Cohen said angrily, and Arya turned to look at her husband’s angry expression. She loved the fierceness of it and the power that he held in his hands right then.

“Aye,” he called. “So let it begin, Laird Muir! Ye will regret it this day.” Cohen yelled, and with a motion to his men, he bid them to set their arrows.

With a glance at Olivia, Arya pulled out her first arrow from its place and placed it in the bow. She pointed it toward the army huddled outside of Sinclair Castle.

“Fire!” Cohen yelled, and along with Arya and Olivia’s help, arrows rained down upon Laird Muir and his men causing them to cry out, their horses to rise up, and for the men to scatter around the castle walls.

“I ken what he means to dae, Arya,” Cohen said, under his breath, a white curl twisting out of his mouth in the cold air. She too knew what her father’s plan was, and it was only a matter of time before he entered the castle.

“We will fire arrows until then,” she said, and began to fire anew, catching a young soldier in the neck. Olivia shot an arrow, catching another man in the shoulder.

“Well done, ye two,” Cohen said with an impressed look. There were men on either side of them, shooting down into the crowd of scattered men until many lay down on their backs.

Cohen continued to watch until things slowed, and Arya knew the time was coming. There was too much quiet for the men to not have entered the castle.

“I must go, Arya,” Cohen said, shaking his head. He had paled a little, and she could see the tight grip he had on his sword as he stood in front of her. “I need to lead the men below.”

“Aye,” she said, lifting her chin, hoping to appear strong. “We shall handle things here.”

He nodded and left, but when he swung open the door to leave the battlements, a breathless Malcolm rushed up. “There has been a breach! I think we have found the traitor. The back gate was broken into, and now Muir’s men are rushing in!”

Cohen looked back at Arya with a sad look, and she frowned, wondering what he was going to do. “Stay here as long as ye can,” he said and rushed away from her, shutting the door behind him.

“I kenned the stupid man would need a little help. Sometimes all men need is a woman…to dae all the work.” Sienna sighed as she sat on her horse next to Calvin.

They watched as her men rushed into the broken back entrance to Sinclair Castle where her spy stood guard.

“Some foolish miscommunication and the spy wouldnae let Muir’s men in. ” She laughed.

Calvin grinned, looking over at her with pride in his eyes.

She turned back to the entrance, listening to the sounds of battle and groans as her men entered.

She wanted to roll her eyes at Calvin’s besotted expression.

She had no need for weak men anymore, but it was nice for someone to at least see her worth.

Her husband had stopped seeing it years ago.

He still underestimated her, even though he depended entirely upon her.

“Laird Muir,” she said, watching him ride up to her with a frown. “It seems ye needed me faster than ye thought.

“I admit that I didnae expect to have so many arrows come upon me men in the beginnin’,” he said gruffly. “And that idiot wouldnae let us in like was planned. Said he didnae recognize it.”

“And ye certainly didnae expect to have yer daughters there among the archers?” she asked with a smirk. Even if she cared nothing for those women, and her main goal was to take the castle and the Lairdship from her brother, she couldn’t help but feel a little pride.

“The bitches have their wily ways.” He scowled.

“But we are almost there and will almost be victorious. Let yer men and mine take care of the lower guards here inside the castle. Then ye and I can get our victory. Ye will have yer daughters, even though ye seem to have trouble keepin’ them, and I will have me brother.”

Most of the men finally were inside the castle, and with a smile, she jumped down from her horse and took up her broadsword.

“I think the time is now. The men are instructed to nae lay a hand on me brother or yer sisters. Are ye ready?” she asked as Calvin and Laird Muir jumped down from their horses too.

“Ready,” Calvin said, pulling out his sword from his belt. “I will go first, My Lady.”

“Fine then,” she said with a grin and allowed him to enter first, his sword held high. “But I will go next,” she said to Laird Muir, and the old man scowled at her but made room for her to go in front.

She knew it ate at him that he had to follow her orders in hopes to get his daughters back and to earn his position by defeating the powerful Laird Sinclair.

Once she entered her family home, she felt even more confident that her plan would work. She would take down her brother and earn the Lairdship for herself. It was what she deserved after being pushed aside for so long because she was a woman.

The sounds of pain and metal filled the stone walls as she walked up the steps, getting closer to the great hall. She planned to corner her brother there and thus end his life and take back what she deserved.

Her eyes were focused on the doors of the great hall.

She opened them, and she saw men everywhere, fighting against each other, blood sprayed across the stone floor.

It made her grin, knowing that her goal was close.

She stepped inside and found Cohen in the corner, fighting off one of her men.

He downed him easily, as expected, but now she had Calvin and Laird Muir with her, and when Cohen spotted her, he froze.

“Sienna?” he asked, looking between her and Laird Muir. “What in God’s name are ye doin’ here?”

Mayhem was occurring around them, and yet in that moment, it seemed like it was just the two of them.

She could see the fear and hurt in his eyes, but she wouldn’t let that sway her.

It wasn’t as if she hated her brother, per se.

He had been kind to her as opposed to their father, but she did hate what he represented.

And she hated all the privileges that he’d been given over her.

“I, Brother, am here to take Sinclair Castle from yer hands and become Laird Sinclair.”