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They shared a quiet moment in the infirmary, the calm before the storm.

*

In the dim castle kitchen, Ailis and Skye carefully tended to strips of meat hanging above the hearth.

The air held a smoky, salty scent. Their task—drying the meat for sustenance—had an urgency that weighed on them.

If they were unable to leave the keep for fresh meat, this would have to last them.

More was brought in daily, and it was all they could do to keep up with the drying and smoking of the meat.

“We must ensure it’s dried properly,” Skye noted. “If it spoils, we’ll have naught to fall back on.”

Ailis nodded, her thoughts preoccupied by Lachlan, her sisters, and their uncertain future. As they worked in silence, they could hear hurried footsteps. A winded man entered. “News from the Campbells,” he panted, “The army has crossed their lands. They’ll be here within a few days.”

Skye took the note from him, her face composed even as fear flickered in her eyes. “We’d best finish here. The soldiers will need provisions, as will the women and children who take refuge within the keep.”

With renewed urgency, Ailis and Skye prepared rations of dried meat and oat cakes. As they completed the last bundle, Skye reassured Ailis. “They will be grateful. Ye know as well as I do we’ve done all we can.”

Ailis stared at the rations, conflicted with duty and desire. “Should we add blankets? Flagons of ale?”

A distant horn sounded ominously. Skye removed her apron. “The men will assemble. We should go.”

Ailis picked up a ration, feeling its weight. “Give me a moment. I’ll catch up.”

Skye left the kitchen, leaving Ailis to her thoughts. The hearth’s shadows flickered on the walls as she clutched the ration.

In the courtyard, warriors gathered with heavy expressions. Ailis found Lachlan among them, engaged in conversation with another captain. As she approached, he turned and noticed her.

“Ailis,” he gasped. “Ye should be with yer sisters.”

“For ye, and for them,” she replied, offering him the ration.

“We’ve made up enough for each soldier to have one.

If we had more time, I could make more, but I just dinnae think there will be enough time to do so.

We’ll do what we can to make more as there is time.

We can work on that within the keep, even after the battle starts.

And we can throw them to the army out the windows. ”

Lachlan accepted it gratefully. “Thank ye. Knowing ye are working to do all ye can while staying away from the battle fills me with confidence.”

“Be safe,” she whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek before turning away. With as close to the time of battle as they were, she would touch him and kiss him every chance there was.

Inside the great hall, Skye awaited her arrival. “Are ye ready?” she asked.

“As ready as we can be,” Ailis answered, steeling herself as they entered together.

*

The lairds gathered in private, devising battle strategies with utmost care. In the great hall, the army leaders discussed their plans, solemn expressions marking their faces.

Ailis observed from a distance, anxiety haunting her thoughts. The McAfee clan had always been more inclined to storytelling and peace than war, but now they faced an unavoidable conflict. And every man woman and child was helping to prepare, but still she was uneasy.

The men who were not soldiers took up digging tools and carved hidden pits into the earth, hoping to break and delay the enemy soldiers’ march. They wanted to do all they could to help turn the tide of battle.

Lachlan supervised them, his authoritative voice directing their efforts. He was respected for his skill with a blade and unyielding dedication to the clan.

As he assessed their progress, Lachlan’s thoughts strayed to the consequences of war and the families that would be affected. Beyond their lands lay Sinclair territory—a buffer against their foes.

Ailis’s concerned gaze lingered in Lachlan’s mind, reminding him of her plea for safety. But duty came first. Personal desires had no place in times of war.

The sound of a spade striking rock interrupted Lachlan’s thoughts.

One of the men cursed, and he assessed the shallow trap.

The earth refused to yield easily. They needed much deeper holes for their traps, so the men would be injured.

He’d thought of adding spiked poles to the bottom of each trap, but he wanted no more deaths than absolutely necessary.

He wasn’t certain if he felt that way because Ailis was a healer, and he wished to stay on her good side, or if he truly worried about loss of them.

Either way, the traps would be kinder than they could have been.

“Leave it,” Lachlan decided. “Move to the next site.” Thankfully Alisdair was healed and back to leading with their father at his side.

As his men relocated, his gaze lingered on the horizon, anticipating the approaching enemy. When they arrived, they’d find the traps a minor obstacle. The true challenge would come from steel clashing and unwavering hearts.

With one last glance at the incomplete pit, Lachlan followed, caught between loyalty and fate.

*

Food was stockpiled for the impending siege.

Ailis and Moira fretted over Fiona, who hunted daily despite the approaching army.

To protect her sisters, Ailis taught Moira and Fiona infirmary aid.

It would be better if she had another task to accomplish, rather than feeling as if her only task was helping with the hunt.

“If nothing else, we’ll need ye to wash the fevered men’s faces with cold water. But there is always a great deal to do to help in an infirmary, and if there are many wounded, Skye and I won’t be able to do it all ourselves.”

Fiona nodded. “I understand not wanting me out hunting with an army coming our way, but I will do whatever is needed.”

“We both will,” Moira added. “We can come here, work in the kitchens, or simply take care of children. We dinnae care, but we need to work. Somehow.”

Ailis nodded. “I’ll let Granny know she can have ye both when ye’re not needed in the infirmary.

She will be glad for the extra help with all the people we are feeding.

” She smiled. “And she will be thrilled to have someone else to help with the smoking and drying of the meat and fish. It’s a long, onerous task, and not one that I relish, but perhaps ye’ll find it more enjoyable than I do. ”