Page 22 of The Lost Highland Prince (The Last Celtic King #1)

21

Chapter Twenty-One

A while later, Cailean and Maeve sat together on the grass of the riverbank, watching the water go by, hand in hand. They sat in silence, both lost in their thoughts, but there was no awkwardness between them. In fact, just being together felt as natural a part of the world as the trees and plants around them.

Cailean didn't remember the last time he had felt so calm. He was happy, of course, but more than that, he was beginning to feel whole . A part of him that he didn't realize had been missing had finally returned to him, and a renewed strength filled his heart and soul. Maeve's hand in his made him feel like he could do anything, be anything, and it made him feel a new kind of wonder that he was almost afraid to explore — and yet, he couldn't wait to see where it took him. He knew now that whatever steps he took next, he wanted her with him.

"So," Maeve said, breaking the silence at last. "What do we do now?"

"We could kiss again," Cailean teased her, though he had to admit that he also enjoyed the idea immensely. "We could just stay here for the rest of the day and?—"

Maeve laughed and gently smacked his arm. The sound of her laugh was like warm sunlight, and he felt his soul lift to hear her so carefree, so joyful. She deserved to be like that all the time. Happiness suited her, and if he could remain honored by being part of that happiness, then he knew it was a life well-lived.

"Much as I like the sound of that, ye ken what I mean," she playfully scolded. "What comes next?"

It was a good question, and as much as he would like to stay in the moment that the world was just the two of them, the weight of his newfound commitment slowly settled on his shoulders. It was a burden, and a heavy one, there was no denying that, but with Maeve at his side, he felt like it was one he could bear.

"Do ye think it's too much? Tae manage somethin' as new and precious as this, and manage tae lead them as?—"

"A king," she corrected him, touching his cheek gently. "Ye're a king, Cailean. Dinnae forget it."

Cailean didn't know how he felt about that yet, but the touch of her skin against his gave him strength. "Whoever I must be, I'll be that with ye by me side," he said. "We've got a lot of work tae do, but I'll need ye with me. Can I count on that?"

She smiled at him, that rosy, sunny smile that he loved so much. "Always," she told him. "Whatever ye need from me, I'm here." She glanced away at the sky and said, "Even if it means we have tae wait before…"

"Ye'll never have tae wait for me," Cailean told her. "We'll just have tae… balance."

"Balance." Maeve chuckled. "Well, neither of us have been good at that. But maybe we'll balance each other well."

"What we have is somethin' I didnae ken I was lookin' for," Cailean admitted. "But now that I've found it…" He leaned down and kissed her again, lightly this time, once on the lips and once on the forehead. Even that little flutter was enough to make his pulse pound again. He could have stayed there with her in his arms forever. "I never intend tae let it go."

Her eyes held a softness that he knew would never leave his mind. She spoke gently, though she was clearly teasing him as well. "What is it we have?"

"That's easy," Cailean said, and to his surprise, it was. He took her in his arms again, and the words leaped to his lips with ease, as if they'd just been waiting to be formed. "I'm fallin' in love with ye, Maeve O'Sullivan. I've never felt like this before, never kent a feelin' like it, but I ken I want nothin' more than tae be with ye."

She leaned into him and kissed his cheek softly, just once, so gently it was like a butterfly floating against his lips. "Good," she said. "Because I think I may be fallin' in love with ye as well. God kens it's as new tae me as it is for ye."

The sun was high in the sky now. They'd whittled the entire morning away, here in one another's arms. Cailean didn't feel any regret about it, but he knew that he couldn't stay here forever. Maeve was warm against him, and though he was reluctant to pull away, he kissed her hair one more time before letting go. There was so much that he had to do, so much that they had to do together, and now at last he felt ready for it. He wiped his hands and got to his feet, holding out a hand to help Maeve up as well. She took it and they both stood, though their hands lingered within each other's touch.

"Are ye ready?" she asked him gently. "Ready tae be that king that I ken is inside ye?"

Cailean didn't know if he'd go that far. He still felt a lot of doubt inside about his own abilities, about how right it was that he should be the one to take the throne, but…

He had too much to lose now. His sense of duty needed to outweigh his fear. And besides, until he could believe in himself, he needed to remember that he had people he could lean on, who believed in him on his behalf. Kier, Senan, Ewan, and Hamish. Darren, Fergus, Ferda, and so many more of the rebels. The woman on the farm and the blacksmith in the village.

And now, Maeve. Wonderful, beautiful, steadfast Maeve. The woman who'd changed everything, then changed it again. What couldn't he achieve with her by his side?

"I'm ready tae try," he told her. "Is that good enough for now?"

Maeve took his hand. "Ye'll try, and ye'll succeed," she promised him. "And I'll be with ye."

"That's all I ask," Cailean told her, and he meant it. "Now, come on. Let's go save yer sister and take back Kier's castle once and for all."

* * *

The sun had started to set when the council gathered in the war room, ready to hear why Cailean had summoned them at last. He could see the way that they were watching him with anticipation and excitement, and wondered how long they had truly been waiting for him to be the one to do this — to call a meeting and decide an action.

Too long, he decided. He owed it to them to be the leader that they needed.

"What brought about the change of heart, lad?" Ewan asked. "What made ye decide we need tae take back Darach Castle — forgive me, Bruce Castle?"

Cailean tried not to glance at Maeve, who stood by his side, but he couldn't help it. When he looked back at the elders, Kier was watching him with a knowing look in his eyes. Senan wore a slight grin on his face. Ewan chuckled, and Hamish subtly gave a little nod of approval.

Embarrassed but also pleased, Cailean said, "I've realized that me duties and me family are more important than me fear," he said, and the words felt right. "Forgive me for makin' ye wait so long."

"Nae apologies," Kier told him gruffly. "Only movin' forward. What's the plan?"

"It's bold," Maeve said, surprising them all by stepping up. "We thought of it together."

"Good. A wee bit of union is what we need," Senan told her. "Go on, lassie. Tell us what ye've thought of."

Maeve nodded, obviously pleased by the term of endearment. Cailean liked the way she reacted to his family — their family. "A dual approach," she told him. "We're gonnae get me sister out by usin' cunnin', nae just brute force."

Cailean nodded. "I was inspired by Maeve's brave — if foolish — response tae the Darach attack a few days ago. We send in a team tae perform a direct attack, make Darach think his forces are completely under threat, and force him tae respond. We distract the majority of the soldiers and draw them away."

"Meanwhile, a second, smaller team is actin' in stealth," Maeve continued. "This team infiltrates the castle usin' the logistics we've got from the Sparrows and the internal knowledge that I'm able tae share. We find me sister and we attack from within."

The four elders looked at each other. Cailean watched them all carefully, looking to see how they'd react, hoping for their approval. To his relief, all of their faces wore varying degrees of cautious optimism, from Hamish stroking his chin in thought to Senan wearing an outright beaming smile. Ewan was nodding slowly, but Cailean's eyes sought Kier — Kier, who was the most fatherly of all to him, the one who stood to gain his clan's lands back if this succeeded but could lose everything if it failed.

Kier didn't smile, but his eyes twinkled in an unusual way. He nodded at Cailean and dipped his head to Maeve. "Do ye think this plan is gonnae succeed, Cailean?"

"I do," Cailean said. "I ken it's risky. I ken I've been the one preachin' caution. I need ye tae ken that I'm fully present now. I will give each of the rebels a choice. None will need tae take part in this mission, but those who do will do so with me own leadership, under me command. Nae as Cailean McManus, the soldier… but as Cailean McNair, the lost prince."

Maeve's hand slid into his. "The True King," she corrected gently.

"The True King!" each of the others proclaimed, raising their cups.

Cailean watched them, a strange feeling fluttering in his chest. He still had fear within him, still had worries that it could go wrong, but he was ready.

* * *

"We'll attack Darach castle, and we'll take back our home!" Kier declared, finishing his speech to the camp. The rebels all cheered in unison, and Cailean watched them with a mix of pride and excitement. Preparations had been busy in the camp for many days, and each of the rebels had been given the chance to back out if they wanted. Of course, not a single one had.

The scouts were out making sure their path to the old Bruce lands was clear, and the weaponsmiths and armor crafters had been hard at work. The healers were preparing poultices and bandages for the warriors to take with them, and everyone else in the camp was buzzing with excitement and activity as they each played their part.

Now, they were all gathered in the training field, watching as Kier made the speech announcing the plan in greater detail. He described exactly what Cailean and Maeve had proposed, along with some adjustments that they had made in planning over the past few days. When he was done, there was general approval from the crowd. Darren and Cailean stood at either side of him, facing the crowd. At the front, Maeve was watching, and Cailean felt strength emanating from her.

"We're ready, Kier!" someone shouted.

"Aye!" young Dirk added. "Let's take our home back!"

This caused another cheer. Cailean could feel it from them — from his friends, his family — how they were finally ready to get some payback, to make a claim against the False King and the Darachs, and to stop running at last and start fighting back.

He looked to the left and saw Darren watching him rather than the crowd. His friend gave him a fierce smile, then nodded. Cailean hesitated, but Darren's reassurance told him that it was time. He looked out to the crowd and saw Maeve was smiling at him too.

"Before we make our attack," he said, "I must be honest with ye all."

Silence fell across the field. Even Kier turned toward Cailean, his bushy eyebrows raised in surprise. In a quiet voice, Kier said, "Are ye sure, son?"

"He's sure, Da," Darren said. "Go on, me friend. Me brother."

Heartened, Cailean cast his eyes over the gathered rebels and spoke in a loud enough voice to make sure it carried. He knew that the scouts were missing out on this speech, but no doubt they'd be informed as soon as they got back. Ferda would kill him for not including her, but he was sure she'd get over it. She was, after all, one of the few who knew the truth already. And after all, the whole point was to get the truth out to everyone.

"I've nae been honest with ye all," he announced. "I've never lied, but ye all deserve the full truth."

A low murmur went through the crowd. A few of those who knew — mostly Bruce cousins — were watching with wide eyes. Fergus looked up from the front with a fierce approval in his gaze, and this heartened Cailean too.

"Ye've kent me for a long time as Cailean McManus," he announced. His voice didn't shake but instead came out bold and confident, and he felt a thrill of pride in himself for the first time. "But McManus was me mother's name, nae the one me father gave tae me. That name was… Cailean McNair."

The murmuring grew louder, and a few people gasped.

"Recently, we all learned a shockin' truth about Maeve and who she really is. Ye were all able tae accept her. And since she was brave enough tae admit her history, let me be clear about mine." He smiled, meeting Maeve's eyes once more before speaking out to the rest. "Me father was the True King, before the Darachs and the O'Sullivans and the other traitors turned against him and allowed the False King tae take power." Cailean lifted a hand in the air. "And now, if ye'll have me, I'd like tae help us take it back."

Silence.

"Ye're the lost prince?" asked one of the healers — Maeve's friend, Patty — in a stunned voice.

"Nae lost anymore. And nae prince," spoke up the cook, Ben. "The True King has returned tae us." He sank to one knee. "For the king! For freedom!"

Cailean could not believe his eyes. One by one, the rebels took a knee before him, men and women alike, each echoing Ben's proclamation. Each held a hand over their heart, each reverently declaring themselves to the cause… and to Cailean.

He turned his head to see how Darren was reacting, and he was shocked to see that Darren, too, had taken a knee — and so, too, had Kier. A little further away, all three of the other elders also knelt and declared themselves.

Cailean's heart pounded in his chest, and then a new sense of tranquility washed over them. He was ready. They needed him — and he was prepared, at last, to be the man they needed. No more fear. No more doubt.

"For me father," he announced. "For me clan. And for me country. Let's take back our lands!"

A cheer rose up, and Cailean's eyes sought Maeve again. She watched him from the crowd, and the pride that shone in her eyes proved that there would always be hope. He just had to be the one to lead the way.

* * *

The stealth operation was a small one, filled with only a select few of Cailean's most trusted warriors. Darren, Fergus, and Maeve all stood by his side, along with seven others. It was a big risk to bring such a small force, but Cailean was certain that this was the best way to make sure they achieved their objectives without losing control of the operation, and Maeve and the elders had agreed.

They approached Darach Castle as one. Maeve was debriefing them on some of the things they needed to know, though Cailean still had his doubts about what she was talking about now.

"We need tae get a message tae Eoin," she said. "We have the White Sparrows already on the inside, so they'll be able tae help us. I dinnae ken how many are still there, but I hope at least a few. Ann told me that the stable master's daughter is one of them, so if we can get tae her, she can pass on our message and Eoin can help us."

"Eoin is a Darach," Cailean said, doubt coloring his voice. "I ken he'll be useful, as the leader of the guards, in gettin' information even ye cannae give us, but Maeve, he cannae be trusted."

"Because of his blood?" Maeve challenged. "He's a Darach, aye — but I'm an O'Sullivan."

This made Cailean blanch. He looked up and saw Darren watching him, a small smile playing on his friend's face.

"Ye've met yer match with this one," Darren told him, grinning. "Maeve, how sure are ye that Eoin Darach can be turned?"

"He doesnae need tae be turned," Maeve insisted. "He just needs tae ken there's hope. I've told ye already, I'm alive because of him. If he kens that the True King has returned, then he'll turn on his father in an instant. He already works with the Sparrows, and he already helped me get out. He saved me life, surely that matters more than who his father is."

Cailean sighed, but he knew in his heart that she was right. Her pointing out her own father's name had been a stark reminder that, though his own legacy was one to be proud of, not everyone was so lucky — and they deserved as much right as him to fight for the country they loved.

"All right," he said finally. "We'll find the stable lassie and we'll send a message along. It has tae be in code, though, or else we might be discovered and all will be lost. The Sparrow will help with that. Do ye ken her well?"

Maeve shook her head. "I only kent Ann, and she's gone now. She said she was goin' back tae their headquarters. I ken the stable master's name was Jim, and I think his daughter was Sadie. Hopefully, it's the same person. There are some old ruins in the woods; Eoin will be able tae meet us there."

They were approaching the edge of the castle grounds now, and the stables loomed ahead of them. "Let's hope so," Cailean said grimly. "Time tae put our plan intae action."