Page 15 of Highland Heroine (Brides of the Highlands #3)
M oira paced the chamber, her red hair a dim ember in the darkness. The walls of McAfee Keep loomed with foreboding intensity.
Clyde Stewart’s treachery ignited an urgency within her. A single misstep could disrupt the precarious balance of power among Highland clans. Drawing a deep breath, Moira steeled herself for action.
The door creaked open, admitting Brodie. His lean figure exuded steadfast resolve, and his deep brown eyes brought calm to her chaotic thoughts.
“Moira,” he greeted solemnly.
“Brodie,” she responded, “a serpent lies among us.” It was the only thing she’d been able to think about all day.
His expression revealed readiness to confront any threat. “Speak plainly.”
“That man claims Clyde Stewart planted spies among our kin. What say ye?”
Brodie considered the claim. “Such tactics are not beyond Clyde’s cunning,” he acknowledged tensely. “We must consider the possibility.”
Brodie paced by the hearth, embers casting a weak glow across the room. “Identifying Clyde’s loyalists without alerting them is like trying to catch smoke,” he said, facing Moira.
“We must weave our own web, Brodie,” Moira replied, stepping closer. “We’ll tell a tale as a decoy for traitors.”
“Feign weakness in our defenses?” Brodie considered the plan, nodding. “Yes, a controlled falsehood could draw them out. We’ll be cunning.” He smiled at her. “It is good I married a woman with a devious side.”
“And I am happy to marry a man who appreciates me,” Moira said with a grin. Then her face grew serious, and he knew she was thinking about their problem again. “We take two men at a time. Feed them each a different lie. Their allegiance will be revealed when word reaches the Stewarts.”
“Agreed.” Brodie’s tone was resolute. “I shall be the one to spread this false intelligence.”
“And I will keep watch from above,” Moira declared, looking toward the courtyard below.
Their plan was a dance of shadows and subterfuge amid uncertain loyalties. Failure would come at a steep price, but they crafted their scheme tight enough to ensnare even the cleverest of spies.
“Then it’s settled,” Brodie said, his gaze meeting Moira’s. They shared an unspoken oath to protect their clans at any cost—their fates now irrevocably intertwined within this conspiracy.
Brodie navigated the dim corridors of McAfee Keep, with Moira’s steps a whisper behind him. They passed tapestries depicting tales of valor and hardship, their colors muted in the scarce light. The McAfees descended from the Picts, and they were a storied and ancient clan.
The library door creaked open to reveal walls lined with weathered tomes and parchment scrolls. Brodie moved directly to a hefty oak table and unfurled a map, its edges worn from countless strategists’ touch. It was the very same map the lairds had used as they’d planned their defenses.
“Here,” he pointed to several lines on the map. “These are the paths our traitor might take to carry word to the Stewarts.”
Moira leaned over the map, studying the routes etched with precision, each line a possible thread of betrayal weaving through their lands. The paths ran like scars across her beloved Highlands—a land tainted by treachery.
Her gaze lifted to meet Brodie’s unwavering eyes, seeking his quiet strength. The air between them grew dense with gravity as they shared an unyielding resolve without spoken words.
In Brodie’s gaze, Moira found support—a testament to their bond formed by a common cause. Together, they stood on the precipice of danger, their destiny as uncharted as the maps before them.
The musty scent of old leather and ink enveloped the room as they considered each route on the map, aware that their fate hinged upon these ink-stained trails.
Brodie pushed back his chair, the scrape of wood barely audible in the silence that had engulfed them. He stood beside Moira, his hand a gentle weight on her shoulder.
“Ye have me word, Moira,” he said with resolve. “We’ll guard our clans with everything we possess.”
Gratitude laced her voice as she replied, “Thank ye, Brodie. I trust yer word.”
They leaned over the map, pointing out potential hiding spots for traitors or secret messages.
“Here and here,” Moira murmured. “Anyone lingering without cause would be suspect.”
Their voices filled the room with strategy and foresight. Brodie mapped out their chessboard of defenses while Moira breathed life into their plans.
“Perhaps a rumor of weakened walls, or an unguarded post,” Brodie suggested.
“Let them believe they have the upper hand,” Moira said, determination in her gaze. “We’ll set a trap of our own making and watch as they reveal themselves.”
He looked up from the map, admiration flickering in his eyes. “Yer courage is what will lead us through this night. Ye are an amazing lass.”
“Then let us hope it burns bright enough to blind our enemies,” she answered.
Together, they prepared to weave a web of deception—one that would ensnare those who threatened their kin and lands.
Flickering candlelight cast shadows on the chamber walls as Moira paced. “We must gather more insights,” she said, stopping before Brodie. “Trusted kin can help us uncover Clyde’s pawns.”
Brodie nodded, his eyes meeting hers. “We’ll need to be subtle. If word spreads, it might spook them into hiding or hasten their plans.”
“Discretion will be our ally,” Moira agreed, approaching the table where a map lay unfurled. “First, secure McAfee Keep.”
Brodie leaned over the map beside her, studying the lines marking forests and glens. “The watchtowers—”
“Double the guard and have our best archers rotate shifts,” Moira interjected. “No one approaches unseen.”
“Traps along the routes as well,” Brodie added, pointing to narrow passes snaking through the terrain.
With determination in their eyes, they fortified not just the stones of their keep but the spirit of their people.
Brodie’s fingers traced a river on the map before stopping at a fork. “Clyde is cunning, but predictable,” he murmured. “He’ll expect us to fortify the main road into the keep, but it’s the hidden trails he might use to his advantage.”
Moira’s brow furrowed as she considered his words. “Then we shall turn his predictability against him,” she declared. “We will make him believe our focus lies elsewhere while we secure every possible approach.”
“Exactly,” Brodie replied, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “We’ll set false camps along the obvious routes, giving the impression of vulnerability where there is none.”
“Let’s walk the grounds at dawn,” she proposed, “to survey the land and decide where these decoys will be most convincing.”
“Agreed,” Brodie responded, rising to his feet.
As they stood side by side, a silence settled over them—a shared moment of determination. Theirs was a union forged by mutual respect and an unspoken oath to protect their people.
“Whatever comes,” Moira said quietly, her hand brushing against Brodie’s, “we face it together.”
“Absolutely,” he said, his dark eyes reflecting the solemn vow.
Moira studied the map, its intricate lines and symbols foreshadowing their struggle. She looked up at Brodie, the library hearth casting shadows upon his face. “Brodie,” she began earnestly, “thank ye for standing with me.”
He met her gaze, his eyes conveying deep promises. “No need to thank me, Moira,” he replied confidently. “You are the heart of yer clan—fierce, unyielding. Together, we’ll weather the storm.”
Her lips curved into a small smile as her fears lessened in his presence—a man of quiet strength.
With a nod, she stepped away from the table, smoothing her tartan skirts. “We should set forth then,” she declared resolutely.
Brodie tucked the map under his arm and joined her by the door. They shared a meaningful glance before stepping into the dark corridor together. The air buzzed with the Highlands’ ancient energy as they ventured into the night.
As they left the warmth of the library behind, Moira and Brodie faced whatever lay ahead—their alliance guiding their clans through impending challenges.
The stone corridors of McAfee Keep echoed with Moira’s and Brodie’s footsteps. Candles cast a glow on their faces as they entered their private chamber. The door closed, sealing them away from looming threats.
Moira leaned against the oak door, her eyes meeting Brodie’s with intensity. Their fingers intertwined, finding comfort in their connection.
“Tomorrow, we set our destiny,” she whispered, moving gracefully toward the hearth.
“Aye,” Brodie replied, joining her by the fire. “With your sisters and me brothers, we’ll trap Clyde Stewart.”
Their plan relied on deception and strategy, relying on their siblings’ unique skills. Moira mused aloud about the need for precision as she watched shadows play across Brodie’s face.
“One misstep could lead to ruin.”
Brodie brushed a strand of hair from Moira’s cheek. “Precision is our ally, and discretion our shield,” he assured her. “We have planned for every contingency.”
In the silence that followed, they savored a rare moment of stillness before the storm.
Moira’s determination returned. “We should rest,” she said, her urgency contradicting the need for sleep. “We will need our strength come morning.”
Brodie agreed. “No matter what tomorrow brings, I stand with you.”
Her heart swelled, recognizing him as more than an ally but a symbol of courage and hope.
“Let us face the dawn as one,” Moira declared.
They prepared for bed in silence, contemplating the upcoming day. Only the hearth’s crackling and the wind’s whispers accompanied them.
In the darkness, Brodie’s hand found Moira’s, their silent vow resonating. Together, they drifted into fitful sleep, dreaming of a future won by their clans’ unity.