Chapter 13

"Ispoke with the council," Arran announced over a dram with Madden and Lorcan in the great hall after a bout of training with the men of the clan. They were sweaty, tired, and thirsty, but the training had gone well, and the men were ready for any situation that might arise.

"Oh, aye?" Madden said.

Arran nodded. He opened his mouth to say something in retort when a voice from the courtyard cried out in alarm. Madden turned to Arran; his brows raised in question. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Aye," Lorcan answered. "It is."

All three men took off running towards the door and stepped out into the courtyard to chaos. They were under attack. Arran turned to Madden "Secure the women."

Isabelle was in her room with Cara drinking tea and catching up with one another when she heard the castle guard sound the alarm. She and Cara both looked at one another with concern. "An attack? Who would attack Arran?"

Cara shook her head. "The laird has nae enemies that I am aware of."

Both women arose from their chairs and walked over to the slender window in the wall and looked out but they could not figure out who it was that was attacking them. "Where is Bain?" Isabelle murmured to herself as she peered through the opening on tiptoe.

"When I last saw him, he was with Athol. They left the castle. I dinnae think that they have returned as of yet," Cara answered.

Isabelle frowned in concern. She did not care for her husband and his man, but they were good fighters and would have been of use in defending the castle against whomever was attacking them. "We should go and see if we can be of help. There will be wounded."

"Aye," Cara agreed. They turned away from the window.

Just as they reached the door, Madden burst through it, with Keelin in tow. "We are under attack."

"Who is attacking us?" Isabelle asked, reaching out for Keelin's hand.

"I dinnae ken." Madden shook his head. "Arran asked me tae secure the three of ye while he and Lorcan get the men together. I am tae rejoin them once I have made certain of yer safety."

"Is there anything that we can dae?" Isabelle asked, her heart racing at the idea of the people she cared about being in danger.

Madden shook his head. "I need the three of ye tae stay together in one room. It will be easier fer the men tae protect ye."

"There will be wounded. Women and children from the surrounding area will have come tae the castle fer protection. We should all go tae the hall tae see if we can be of aid there," Isabelle argued. When it looked like he might say no, she pressed on. "As the sister of the laird, it is me duty tae tend tae our people."

Madden sighed. "Ye may go tae the hall, but nae outside. Dinnae step foot out of those doors and should anyone breach the castle run and hide. I will come and find ye." He withdrew a knife from his belt and handed it to Isabelle. It was then that she noticed that Keelin was already carrying one strapped by a belt to her waist. "If anyone that is nae of yer own people comes fer ye, kill them."

Isabelle nodded silently. She looked up into Madden's eyes with so much passing unsaid between them. Turning, they left the bedchamber for the great hall below. Once they reached the hall, Isabelle, Cara, and Keelin joined the other women and children to see what could be done. Madden walked over to two of the guards that had been posted to the inside of the door. Isabelle saw him point to her, then Keelin, and Cara. It was clear by the looks on their faces, as the color drained from their cheeks, that he had just told the men that the three women were their responsibility, and if anything happened to them, the guards would forfeit their lives.

Madden returned to stand beside Isabelle and Keelin. "The men by the door will guard ye with their lives. I must go and aid Arran and Lorcan in the defense of the castle. Ye have yer blades. Ye ken what tae dae. Dinnae let any man bring ye tae harm." He turned to Isabelle, his eyes holding hers. "Promise me that ye will run if the worst should happen. Dinnae remain tae aid the others. Run, hide, and I will come and find ye."

Isabelle stared up into his eyes, fear for his wellbeing gripping her heart. She moved forward, losing herself in the moment. Just before she was about to kiss him, Keelin grabbed her by the arm and stopped her. The hard grip of Keelin's hand on her arm brought Isabelle harshly back to reality. She realized what she had almost done in the plain view of all present. As she turned her gaze to Keelin, she realized without a doubt that her cousin knew the truth.

Isabelle met Madden's eyes once more. "I will find ye," he promised. Then, after he nodded at Keelin, he turned and walked out of the doors and into the chaos of battle.

Madden left the castle in search of Arran and Lorcan. He found them fighting five of the enemy combatants at once. Madden joined the fray in an effort to even the odds. It was a fierce battle. The enemy combatants were strong warriors of skill. They were well trained and fought with a ferocity that was almost animalistic. There was a desperate edge to their fighting style that did not make sense. The Clan MacKay under Arran's leadership was not feuding with anyone. Arran was respected among his fellow lairds. The enemy combatants wore nothing that would reveal their identity or to whom they owed their loyalty.

A shout from behind him caused Madden to turn just in time to see Arran fall to the ground wounded. Madden moved to Arran's side just in time to stop his foe from delivering the final fatal blow. Madden dropped the man like a stone with a stab to the kidney. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bain and Athol fighting back-to-back, but something did not seem right about the way that they were fighting. It lacked the ferocity that Madden, Arran, and Lorcan were experiencing in their own battles. Another attacker launched themselves at Madden, drawing his attention back to the danger in front of him.

Madden and Lorcan fought surrounding Arran. It was as if he was their actual target as more and more of the enemy threw themselves in his direction. The amount of blood that was flowing from Arran's body, staining the ground at their feet, was disconcerting. Every time that Madden thought that he could lift Arran up and carry him to the healer, another enemy got in the way. Lorcan had blood flowing down his left arm, but he fought on, not letting it slow him down. He hacked through the enemy as if he were possessed by the soul of an angry bear.

Another enemy launched himself at Arran in an attempt to finish him off. As he was unable to rise up and defend himself, he attempted to raise his sword, but he no longer had strength. Madden threw his body in the way of the blade intended for the MacKay laird and felt a searing pain in his shoulder as the blade made contact with his skin and the muscle beneath. He fell to the ground, maneuvering his body away from the blade in an effort to avoid further damage. He came up under the enemy and plunged his sword up between the enemy's legs. The enemy combatant screamed the most unholy of screams, then collapsed to the ground bleeding out within mere moments.

Madden arose from the ground and saw that the enemy was beginning to withdraw from the battle. He gathered Arran up into his arms and put him over his shoulder. He met Lorcan's eyes, nodded, and they took off together back towards the castle, cutting down any of the enemy that were foolish enough to get in their way. Arran's blood flowed down Madden's torso, hot and thick, smelling of metal and life.

"Dinnae die on me, Arran MacKay. If ye dae, that lassie of yers will run me clean through."