Page 11 of The Mad Highlander
11
T he men all eyed Cayden wearily as a low susurration of whispers broke out as he entered the room. He hadn’t addressed what had happened during the previous meeting, and nobody had had the nerve to approach him either.
The younger man who had been the recipient of his anger clenched his jaw and averted his eyes, avoiding looking directly at Cayden as Duncan stood to call the meeting into order.
“Welcome, Me Laird an’ Laird McLaren.” Duncan nodded to them both, acknowledging Hunter who took up a seat beside Cayden.
The men all seemed to eye Cayden wearily as several of them crossed their arms over their chests and waited to hear what he would say.
Cayden cleared his throat. “I thank ye all for coming. I ken that we didn’t reach a decision after the last meeting, so I am hoping that we can all agree on this one.” His voice held a note of warning as he narrowed his eyes at Duncan and the rest of the members.
Duncan exchanged a warning look with the blonde man who clenched his jaw once again and stared at the wall past Duncan’s ear. It was clear to Cayden that words of warning had been exchanged in his absence.
Good.
It was better for everyone involved if nobody came up against him; it was easier to control his temper with no opposition.
“We have discussed the information ye have provided us with at the last council meeting, Me Laird, an’ if ye dinnae mind, we would like to address some of the concerns that we have on the matter,” Duncan spoke respectfully before taking his seat.
Reaching for the jug of ale in the middle of the table, Cayden nodded and poured himself a frothy mug.
“Firstly, the council would like to congratulate ye on yer impending handfasting ceremony. An alliance of this magnitude with a clan as powerful as the McCabes can only be to our benefit.” Duncan offered his congratulations, yet the tone of disapproval in his voice was just as evident as it had been at the last meeting.
Hunter spoke up now, clapping Cayden on the shoulder just as he was about to take a sip. “Clan McLaren stand by the Laird an’ hope to receive an invitation to the handfasting ceremony.” Hunter sat back smugly, eyeing the rest of the council with a warning glare.
Duncan wrinkled his nose in obvious displeasure. “Yes, be that as it may, there is still a matter of great importance that needs to be discussed before any kind of celebrations can be held.”
One of the other men stood now, looking around the room as he used his arm to sweep over the men’s heads in an inclusive gesture. His dark brown hair had been braided down his back, matching the depths of his brown eyes. “I think I speak for all of us when I say that we cannot allow an attack on the Murdoch clan. They have left us alone for many years; launching an attack will only prove to evoke their anger.”
The room broke into a wave of murmurs again as all the men agreed.
Pushing his chair back with the back of his knees, Cayden stood and glared at the men, forcing the man to take a seat as he stared him down. “I ken very well that launching a full-scale attack on the Murdoch clan isnae a good idea. Do ye think me a simpleton, McReed?”
The man cowered a little under Cayden’s gaze, sinking into his seat.
“I take it that ye have another plan, Me Laird?” Duncan intervened, glaring at McReed.
Cayden fought back the urge to shout as he clenched his jaw. “Aye, we have come up with a plan to retrieve Ashton Whyte without starting a war. If we do it correctly, then the Murdochs need not ken who or where the attack came from, but it would involve the cooperation of our finest men.”
“We?” Duncan interrupted his speech with his eyebrows raised.
“Aye, the Laird of McCabe an’ I have come up with a plan,” Cayden informed him, trying not to lose his temper. He hated being questioned, especially when it came to matters as important as involving themselves with the Murdoch clan.
Duncan exchanged a glance with McReed. “Then please enlighten us of this miracle plan that will not place our own people in jeopardy, Me Laird.”
The sarcasm in the man’s voice grated on his nerves. “The plan was to have Laird McCabe go on ahead and try an’ approach Castle Murdoch. I would then infiltrate the back of the castle with just a few men, creating as little of a disturbance as possible. We would make our way directly to the dungeons an’ retrieve Ashton, making it look as if he’d escaped.”
The men all began to frown before Duncan spoke again. “Ye started yer plan with ‘was’, Me Laird. Are we to understand that that will nae be taking place now?”
Cayden nodded, reaching into his belt and retrieving a note that had arrived that morning. “I have received word from Laird McCabe that a fever has broken out amongst the men at his castle; they will nae be able to leave for quite some time. Since we dinnae have a lot of time to retrieve Ashton, I have asked Laird McLaren if he would be willing to take up the very dangerous task of being his replacement.”
Hunter stood now, scraping the legs of the chair across the stone floor as he pushed it aside with one hand. “Clan McLaren will gladly accept this challenge. We call those who have stood by us kin, nae just those who were birthed by our maithers.” He narrowed his eyes as he looked around the room defiantly.
“That may be very well for the Laird here to offer himself up as a distraction, but that doesnae mean that we are foolish enough to place our men’s lives at risk.” Duncan drummed his fingers on the table, glaring back at Hunter as the men sized each other up.
Cayden quickly intervened, not wanting things to escalate as they had done before. “Aye, it is a dangerous mission, but are ye all afraid of a little danger? Are ye tellin’ me that ye have so little influence that ye cannae stir the hearts of our men? Of course, every man will have a choice, but it is painfully obvious that none will refuse what their laird asks of them. If ye think otherwise, then maybe yer hearts are nae in this?”
Silence filled the room as all the men of the council sat back in their chairs. It was clear by the expressions on their faces that they had prepared to fight Cayden on every front. None of them, however, were prepared to face Cayden head-on.
“That is all well and guid, but what if yer plan fails, an’ the Murdochs take ye into captivity or even discover the identities of the clans involved?” McReed held Cayden’s gaze as the corner of his mouth hooked into a smirk.
“If we fight like I ken we can, none of us shall be taken by the Murdoch clan, and even if one of us is, I ken nae honest man of our clans would dare give information to Laird Murdoch or any of his men. I would rather die than betray any of ye, and I expect the same from all of ye. If ye are nae willin’ to promise that, then ye are free to leave,” Cayden stated.
“Clan McLaren stands with ye,” Hunter said. “Never has it been said that any of our clan is a coward, and we shall prove that.”
Cayden moved to his friend and clapped him fiercely on the back. “Clan McLaren are true Scots as are my men. If any are taken on this mission, we shall break the castle walls to get them back. I can assure ye now that the rest of our allies will rally behind us. There is nae a man among me men who will stand down in the face of danger. Young Ashton is a Scotlander as much as the rest of us, making him kin. We will nae stand by while he wastes away in a dungeon.”
“Are ye calling us cowards?” McReed jumped to his feet, and glowered at Cayden, knocking a mug of ale over in the process.
“Nay, nae yet, McReed!” Cayden boomed. “Yer actions will speak to that. I’m goin’ into battle, and I only expect the strongest and bravest by me side. Give me all or give me nothin’!” Cayden shot back, invoking a wave of anger from the men.
“I will have order!” Duncan came to his feet now, calling for all the men to take their seats.
McReed sat back down reluctantly, keeping his eyes fixed on Cayden.
“Now, the council has heard the Laird’s suggestions, an’ I will ask ye all to vote as ye see fit. Is everyone in favor of joining His Lairdship on the dangerous mission?” Duncan raised the question irritably, looking around the room at all the faces.
Cayden’s words seemed to have put them all to shame as the men glanced down at the table, avoiding looking at him.
Their consciences are bothering them.
Hunter stood up while most stared down at the table. “I will stand by yer side, Laird O’Brien. Laird Murdoch has caused enough trouble in these lands even before he took the boy. I willnae have an innocent lad rot away in a dungeon for Laird Murdoch’s amusement.”
Cayden read the room, feeling a sense of pride at the way his friend had come to his aid. He’d given his life to the clan, keeping them safe from attacks for years. Yet now that he needed them to save the life of his bride’s brother, none of them seemed to feel even the slightest inkling of loyalty.
“This is still a suicide mission.” McReed clenched his jaw as he spoke, balling his hand into a fist on top of the table.
“That may be, but only if we falter in our hearts. Nae a single man who doesnae wish to come along will be forced, ye have me word. I will personally address the men an’ explain the situation. The men have been trained in stealth maneuvers for years, gliding over the lands without so much a single whisper that anyone has ever seen us. I have every confidence that we will be able to do this without being seen.” Cayden spoke passionately, allowing the men time to make a decision.
None of the men so much as stirred as they kept their eyes fixed on the table.
“I will leave ye to make up yer minds.” Cayden nodded and turned to leave, gesturing for Hunter to follow him.
“I will go with ye, Me Laird. It is true what ye say. We have moved about these lands for years, gathering information on all sides without ever being seen.” One of the men stood, causing Cayden and Hunter to stop in their tracks and turn around.
Cayden was shocked to see the young man who had fought him in the previous meeting standing.
His eyes were filled with fire as he met their gazes with an unwavering glare. “Nae man will say that I am a coward, an’ I hope that the example I am giving show the men who are loyal to me that we will stand by our own.”
Cayden nodded as the rest of the men remained seated. “Good man, I will forever be in yer debt. I will wait for the rest of yer replies, but I dinnae expect them to be an aye, nor will I look at any of ye differently if ye say nay.” He turned again, leaving the room this time as Hunter followed suit.
The silence that continued behind the closed doors let them both know that nobody else had joined the young man.
“Now, that was a surprise that I wasnae expecting; it would seem as if yer ugly mug can actually persuade a room.” Hunter whistled through his teeth as they made their way down the hall.
Cayden shook his head, ignoring his friend’s jab. “I wasnae expecting any support, but I am glad that at least one man is willing to fight.”
Hunter nodded. “An’ I meant what I said, ye will have me men at yer disposal. I will arrange for one of the neighboring clans to have our backs as well. Ye never ken what can go wrong with situations like this.”
“Aye, I am truly grateful to ye.” Cayden felt a deep sense of pride at the way Hunter always had his back.
“That aside, when are ye planning on making the lass yer wife? I meant what I said, I want to attend yer handfasting. There are nae enough problems in the world to keep me from drinking a toast at yer banquet.” Hunter held his head high as if he meant every word he was saying.
“Nae until I’ve gotten Ashton back,” Cayden said coolly.
“Now, why in the God’s name would ye wait that long? I have nae met the lass yet, but I can tell ye now that men have spoken of her beauty for as long as I can recall. Iris McCabe has denied many a hand in marriage. Yer a lucky man, an’ I dinnae think ye should tempt fate by waiting.” Hunter spoke more seriously.
Something uncomfortable nudged at the back of his mind as Cayden listened to his friend speak. He had noticed that Iris was exceptionally beautiful from the moment he laid eyes on her, but he hadn’t realized that other men had noticed her either. It made sense to him that she would have drawn attention, yet she seemed so focused on her brother that he hadn’t even considered the fact.
“I willnae marry her until I’ve held up me end of the bargain.” He spoke with an air of finality, hoping that Hunter would lay the matter to rest.
Pausing, Hunter tilted his head to the side before allowing a bright smile to crack his face. “Well, I will be dammed; I never thought I would live to see the day.” He shook his head in amusement and looked down, pursing his lips into an impressed smile.
“What are ye getting at?” Cayden felt his annoyance growing again.
Lifting his hands in a mock surrender, Hunter took a step back. “Nothing, nothing, all I meant was that I can see that the lass has gotten under yer skin.”
“Ye better clarify what ye are saying ’afore I lose me temper.” Cayden bristled under his friends’ teasing.
“I never thought I’d see the day when Cayden Hart was trying to prove his worth to a lass.” Hunter grinned from ear to ear, narrowing his eyes at Cayden.
“I am nae trying to prove meself to Iris, I made a deal with her cousin. Any man worth his word would do the same thing.” His jaw clenched in anger before he turned to leave.
Why did everyone around him insist on making his life so difficult? He had agreed to marry her; why did they need to tease and push him all the time?
Hunter’s laughter carried down the hall. “Aye, any man would have waited, but ye are nae just any man. Ye are Cayden Hart, an’ I never thought I would see the day when Cayden Hart allowed his mind to be influenced by a lass!” he called after Cayden.
“She isnae influencing me!” Cayden called back angrily, wanting to place as much distance between them as possible.
“Keep telling yerself that, Cayden; ye might just believe it if ye do!”
Cayden sighed heavily and stormed away in search of Iris. He had made a promise to her, and he wasn’t about to go back on it just because Hunter had annoyed him.