Page 9 of The Rightful Highland King (The Last Celtic King #4)

Chapter Five

"We'll remove the sling, but ye still must be very careful," the healer, Patty, warned. "Though if I had me own way, ye'd be in it for at least another week."

"Ferda's arm has healed well," Neala said as she heated her knife over a flame to sterilize it. "It's best she starts usin' it again before she has tae retrain entirely."

Ferda beamed. "Listen tae the princess, Patty. This thing's been wrapped up for so long I'm nae convinced it willnae fall off when ye're rid of this thing."

Neala laughed as Patty tutted and shook her head.

The healer woman removed the sling then moved off to fetch a herbal concoction.

While she did, Neala took Ferda's bandaged arm and used her sharp knife to cut away the part most tightly bonded to the scout's arm.

The bandages fell away, leaving behind Ferda's bare arm, paler than the rest of her skin but otherwise whole.

"It looks good," Neala said encouragingly. "Ye'll be leadin' the scouts in nae time."

Ferda smiled at Neala as Patty returned.

She accepted the steaming hot potion that Patty forced her to drink, and gulped in down with a grimace.

"Ugh! Are ye tryin' tae kill me? Neala, ye may be actin' as a healer's apprentice for now, but ye're still the princess. Lock her up for tryin' tae poison me."

"Watch yerself or I'll do worse," Patty scolded, though she was grinning as she said it. "And Neala's nae me apprentice. She's just been helpin' me these last few weeks with some of the knowledge of the Sparrows. It's been a blessin'."

Neala shook her head. " Ye're the blessin', Patty.

Ye and the scouts and even Ben the cook—everyone who's shown me how tae get involved in different parts of the camp and show what I ken.

I'm determined that I'll be useful. I've been a Sparrow me whole life, and now I'm here.

I'll be more than just Cailean's sister. "

"And so ye should!" Ferda replied, grinning as she lightly punched her shoulder. "Ye and Maeve are a formidable pair for poor Cailean tae deal with. I'm honored tae be a part of it."

The three women continued to laugh and chat as they finished tending to Ferda's arm, but just as they were finished, the door to the healing room opened. Maeve stood there, and she impatiently beckoned.

"There ye are. Neala, Ferda, Cailean wants ye in the war room at once," Maeve said. She paused, glancing at Ferda's arm, and smiled. "Wonderful work as always, Patty."

Patty smiled. "Thank ye. Take these two away, then—they've been gettin' underfoot, and I've got work tae do."

Neala frowned, but Patty winked to show she was only teasing. The two younger women said their farewells to Patty, then followed Maeve out of the door.

As they strolled along the corridor, Ferda happily flexing her newly-freed fingers, Neala turned to Maeve.

"What's goin' on?" she asked. "I was plannin' on workin' with Patty the rest of the day. Has somethin' happened that Cailean needs us?"

Maeve glanced at her with an unreadable expression. "Darren's back," she said.

Ferda brightened at that. "Good! Does he ken we were expectin' him back from his journey over a month ago? I ken he wrote tae tell us he was goin' tae be longer, but I was worried I was gonnae have tae write tae me Uncle with the worst news."

Despite Ferda's obvious happiness, though, Neala could see something in Maeve's expression, hidden behind her careful neutrality. A flash of something dark. Something dangerous. And something all-too-familiar.

It had been a month since Darren had sent the announcement through Eoin that Nessa O'Sullivan was to be wed to the prince.

A whole month of planning and chaos and arguing that had shown Neala the full scope of the rebellion.

She had reached out to the Sparrows in Blackthorn Castle and been advised the wedding date had been placed three months from the day of the announcement, and, with that information, everyone had concluded it was best to wait and plan before acting.

They had time. Eventually, even Maeve and Breana had agreed to that path—though Neala had felt a simmering undertone of resentment from her sister-in-law with each passing day.

Neala understood. She knew what it was to wait when your body screamed at you to act. And she, too, had lost someone to the darkness of Blackthorn Castle. The only difference was that she would never be able to rescue him as she hoped they could Nessa.

"Come," Neala said, taking both Maeve and Ferda by the hand. "It seems me brother is waitin'. Let's see what's happened now."

Darren Bruce sat at the head of the table next to Cailean. His hair was a little longer, and a short beard now decorated his face, but the real difference was in the tone of his voice. Neala had never heard the young man sound so serious.

"—more tae report than I'd like," Darren was explaining as he pointed at a map on the table. He cut himself off and looked up as Maeve, Ferda, and Neala entered the room. In a second, his seriousness was gone, and his usual easy grin appeared. "Well! Look who it is!"

He got to his feet and embraced his cousin, who hugged him back tightly then punched him on the shoulder and scolded him for taking too long. He hugged Maeve too, and then, to Neala's surprise, pulled her into one too.

"Oh!" Neala exclaimed, but she returned the hug. "I'm glad tae see ye're safe."

Darren pulled back and winked. "Of course I'm safe. I'm always safe. That's why Cailean cannae cope without me. Nice hair, by the way. Suits ye much better."

Neala touched her hand to her hair. It had grown back a little of its length, but more importantly, the dark dye was entirely gone. She and Cailean now both boasted the woven gold of their family, and she vowed she would never hide it away again. "Thank ye."

"Sit down and stop bein' daft," Cailean said, but he did smile at the three women. "Come, sit, all of ye. Darren's been fillin' us in on what he's gathered in this month away."

The three of them found seats in their usual spots around the table, the rest of the council greeting them quietly as they did. Once they were settled, Darren began to speak again.

"As I was sayin', there's a lot. But first, the good news. I visited Lady McKenzie and Fergus. It seems the plan went further than we expected." Darren looked amused for some reason. "Me cousin, Fergus, is Fergus Bruce nae longer, assumin' the king approves this writ I've brought along tae say so."

A mutter sounded around the table, and both Ferda and Cailean demanded, "What?"

"It seems the false marriage became a wee bit more serious than we expected," Darren explained. "Who kent our Fergus was such a romantic?"

Breana was the first to gasp in understanding. "He married her! Fergus has married Sorcha McKenzie!"

Darren nodded, laughing. "He did! Apparently the two of them fell in love or somethin' of the sort. Good thing I didnae go ahead and wed her as ye suggested, eh, Cailean?"

Cailean nodded, a small smile on his face.

"Let me guess the rest. Lady McKenzie approved the marriage, but under one condition, am I right?

Since the death of her husband and family means there's naebody tae follow her once we win back her husband's land from Murtagh, she wants tae ensure the security of her family's true legacy. "

"Fergus McKenzie," Maeve said. "Oh, good for Sorcha. And good for Fergus, as well. Though Kier will be furious he missed the weddin'."

Ferda snorted. " I'm furious," she said, though she, too, looked thrilled. "They owe us a feast when this is all over."

Cailean signed the writ that Darren offered him. "So now we have the might of the Campbells and the revived McKenzies both, combined with the strength of the Bruce Clan. Every new bond is new strength for us. This is wonderful, Darren."

"Indeed," Senan replied. "And me older brother Angus—Laird Macrae—has declared for us after many years of stayin' out of things. Aye, it's a tiny clan, but it's another ally. We're accumulatin' power at an alarmin' rate, Cailean. We're nearly ready tae make our final strike."

"And tae get our sister back?" Breana asked. Neala hadn't even noticed that the oldest of the sisters was in the room; she had been so quiet until this point that she had blended into the background. Now, though, her quiet voice rang like a clanging bell.

The elation in the room dimmed a little. Eoin took Breana's hand. All eyes turned toward Cailean, Neala's included.

Cailean let out a breath. "Breana, ye ken Nessa is one of our main priorities. But Neala's given us the information we needed—she's safe for now. Until we have the strength tae fully attack Blackthorn Castle and succeed, she's safer where she is."

Hamish nodded. "Aye. And Neala's assured us that Ansel Ashkirk isnae the demon he's been made out tae be.

Even Maeve's agreed tae wait, we all did.

We ken the false prince is nae an ally, nae by any means, but it seems based on what the princess has assured us, he's nae gonnae hurt anyone without cause.

Aye, he'll need tae be defeated, but he's nae an active threat.

So long as this is true, we've already agreed?—"

Darren cleared his throat. Everyone else fell silent, turning to him. "I'm sorry," he said. "But there's more I need tae tell ye."

Something caught Neala's stomach in an iron grip and bile burned the back of her throat. Whatever Darren was about to say, she knew that she didn't want to hear it.

"Speak," Cailean told him. "Ye asked for a map. What was it ye wanted tae show us?"

Darren's expression was serious again, so much so that he looked like an entirely different person. He jabbed a spot on the map with his finger, then reached for a piece of charcoal that was in the center of the table.

Neala leaned closer to see, and several of the others did the same.