Chapter 10

Two tense nights later, Tadgh did arrive home, with the shaft of an arrow embedded his left shoulder, wrapped in dirty, bloody bandages. He clattered into the courtyard on his tired stallion, his coat heavily stained with blood, looking pale and exhausted from pain.

"By God, Braither, what's happened tae ye?" Liam cried anxiously as he and Odhrán rushed out of the keep to greet him, having been told of Tadgh's approach. Tadgh slipped from his saddle, grimacing with pain from his injured shoulder when he hit the floor.

"I was ambushed near Tarryvale last night. It was dusk, and I couldnae see who shot at me from amongst the rocks. All I glimpsed was a black shadow runnin' away before I passed out fer a while," Tadgh told them, handing the horse over to a waiting stable man.

"Ye need tae see Alana at once about that wound," Odhrán instructed him, eyeing the stained bandages dubiously. "It disnae look awful clean, and ye dinnae want tae get an infection."

"Aye, I'll go and see her, but at least grant me a pint or two of good ale beforehand. Me throat's as dry as a duck's bum," Tadgh replied. "I'll feel ten times better after some ale, man," Tadgh said a little pleadingly.

"I'll have the ale sent over tae the infirmary. Ye can kill two birds with one stone, eh?" Odhrán said, knowing Tadgh was nervous about seeing Alana but also genuinely scared for his friend's welfare. It was not necessary that Alana should talk to Tadgh if she did not wish to, just as long as she healed him. Odhrán looked around and saw a servant hovering nearby. Odhrán caught his eye.

"Will ye see tae it that a flagon of ale is sent tae the infirmary right away fer the captain, lad?" he asked him.

"At once, me laird," the servant replied with a respectful nod before darting away.

Odhrán looked at Tadgh, who was cradling his injured shoulder with his palm. "Come on, man. Yer ale's on the way. Me and Liam will take ye tae see Alana. We need tae get that arrow out of ye."

"All right, all right. I can give ye me report on the way," Tadgh offered, walking between them as they made for the healer's cottage.

"What did ye find out?" Odhrán asked, looking at him keenly.

"I was comin' from the house of a man I heard was involved in the attack on us," Tadgh began, but Odhrán interrupted him.

"There was a second attack, a few days back, on a village further down the north-east border," he said. "It was the same men, by all accounts."

"Ach, I feared somethin' like that would happen while I was away," Tadgh said with regret. "I was on me way back tae tell ye what I found out when I got this arrow." He gestured at his wound. "I've nae proof what this fellow told me is true yet, but I heard the same thing from several sources. I'm certain I ken who's behind it all. Ye're nae gonnae like it, but maybe ye'll nae be so surprised either," Tadgh told them.

"Go ahead and tell me, will ye?" Odhrán demanded flexing his hands, feeling excited and vengeful. "Whoever it is, they'll rue the day they crossed Clan Lennox."

"Rollo. 'Tis Rollo staging' the attacks, tryin' tae divide yer forces before he attacks the castle," Tadgh said simply.

"Rollo. I might have guessed," Odhrán growled, his blood boiling at his cousin's underhand attempts to undermine him. "Ye're right, I'm nae surprised, but I didnae expect him tae try anythin' so soon. We're supposed tae be family, but ye wouldnae think so, fer that greedy, connivin' bastard will dae anythin' tae get his hands on me lairdship, even murder innocent people." He was incensed by the cruel and unnecessary slaughter of his people just to satisfy Rollo's need for power.

"Well, at least we ken who the enemy is now, eh? Shall I call a meeting, tell the council?" Liam asked.

"Aye, ye and I will see tae it after we leave the infirmary," he said, thinking fast. "I want troops sent out to reinforce every settlement we have along that border, and I want regular patrols, with orders tae repel if threatened."

"Aye, me laird," Liam said with a nod, all business now. They had reached the cottage and were soon standing at the front door. The window was open, so they all knew the healer was inside and free to see to Tadgh's wound.

"Now, are ye ready?" Odhrán asked Tadgh, giving his friend time to steel himself for what was bound to be an awkward meeting.

Tadgh took a deep breath then groaned in pain. "Aye, I'm ready. If this arrow doesnae kill me then Alana probably willnae, eh?"

"That's the spirit," Odhrán said, knocking on the door. Alana opened it, and as soon as she laid eyes on Tadgh, she went white, and her hands flew to her lips, stifling a cry of distress.

"What have ye done tae yersel', ye damned fool?" she said when she had composed herself somewhat. She frowned as she moved rapidly forward to inspect his shoulder. "Is the arrow still in there?" she asked in what Odhrán thought was a deliberately cold and businesslike manner. He felt sorry to see two people he cared about being on such terrible terms. It was obvious they were both suffering, just as he was with Maddison. He wished things could be different for them all.

Tadgh's voice brought him back to himself. "Aye, it came from behind and went straight through. I cut off the barb and most of the shaft. Most of what's left is inside."

"Hmm," Alana said. Pursing her lips, she looked at his face critically for a few moments, lifting his eyelids and staring into his eyes.

"Put him on the bed," she said finally. "Then wash yer hands. I'll need yer help in getting the arrow shaft out."

"Of course, anythin' we can dae," Odhrán assured her, used to helping out with similar tasks after battles. He and Liam went to help Tadgh on to the bed, but he shrugged them off with his good shoulder.

"I'm nae an invalid," he said irritably. "I still have the use of me legs." As if to prove it, he swung himself onto the bed and made himself comfortable against the pillow.

"Ye can wash up over there," Alana told Liam and Odhrán, pointing to a washstand across the room. While they did that, she went and fetched the equipment she needed as well as some herbs and salves for treating Tadgh's wound. Next, she fetched a large flask of whisky from the counter. Some she poured into a beaker in which she doused her medical instruments, the rest she handed to Tadgh. He was now sitting propped up against the pillows on the bed.

"Drink that," she told him as he took the flask from her, immediately resuming her task of cutting away the dirty bandages and placing them in a bowl.

"All of it?" he asked.

"Yes, it would be best if ye drank all of it because when I pull that arrow out, 'tis gonnae hurt like the devil."

"It hurts like the devil now, so what have I got tae lose?" Tadgh joked, his face the color of parchment. He drank deeply of the whisky while Odhrán and Liam exchanged a look of concern. Then, they spent the next half an hour helping Tadgh drink down the liquor until he had almost passed out.

"Right, hold him tight will ye, please?" Alana asked, poised with her pliers by the bloody, swollen arrow hole.

"Ready?" Liam asked as Odhrán took a deep breath and steeled himself for the ordeal ahead.

"Ready."

A while later, after the bloody work of helping to remove the fragment of arrow was completed, Odhrán fancied he could still hear Tadgh's roars of pain echoing in his ears. He split from Liam once they returned to the castle, and Odhrán barely had time to return to his chambers and wash and change before they met again, to head an emergency council meeting to discuss the crisis.

"'Tis hard tae believe that yer own cousin would act against ye this, me laird. I dinnae like tae believe it. I need tae see proof before I can recommend any military action," Renly said.

"Tadgh didnae have time tae get the proof. He was shot with an arrow and wounded, likely by one of Rollo's men. But he swears his sources are true. I need the council tae back me in retaliating against Rollo before things get out of hand," Odhrán told them, praying they would vote in his favor. But a show of hands soon told him he would not get his way, not immediately at least.

"Whatever Rollo may be, me laird, he is of yer line, and therefore, we dinnae feel it would be right to act against him with nae proof to back it up," Angus spoke for the council.

"But if I can get proof, ye'll back me?" Odhrán asked, understanding their reluctance yet frustrated by it all the same.

"We will, me laird," Angus said with a gracious nod.

"Then I'll get it. Meeting ended," Odhrán told them all, tightlipped as he rose from his seat and made for the door, to be quickly followed by Liam.

Shortly afterwards, they convened in Odhrán's study to discuss the matter further over a strengthening dram.

"Why d'ye think Rollo's chosen tae attack us now? Why did he nae wait until the year was up?" Liam asked.

"The weddin'" Odhrán said. "He must nae have liked hearin' I'm married now."

"Aye, of course. He's afeared there's a good chance ye'll fulfil the terms of yer faither's will now ye have a wife."

"Either that or Rollo's annoyed he didnae get an invite tae the weddin'," Odhrán replied drily, nodding. Neither mentioned the fact that the marriage had yet to be consummated, thus delaying the arrival of the baby required to confirm Odhrán's lairdship before the stipulated year expired.

"Well, he had tae find out some time," he added, swallowing the last of his whisky. "He was never gonnae take the news well. I'm hopin' he still thinks we have nay idea he's behind the attacks. We need tae draw him out, expose his scheming, so the council will have their proof at last. And when they agree tae an offensive and we go after him, I'll kill that miserable dog mesel' and enjoy every moment of his dyin'."

"Ye can count on me tae be there cheerin' ye on," Liam said, placing his empty glass down on a side table and standing up. "'Tis very late. I'm off tae me bed. I hope ye can get some decent rest, Odhrán," he added making for the door.

"I'm gettin' used tae the floor now," Odhrán said, resigned. "But it disnae get any comfier. Ye're a lucky bastard ye have yer nice soft bed tae go tae."

"How d'ye think yer strategy's goin' about changin' that?" Liam asked him, stopping by the door.

"'Tis hard tae say. I'll keep ye posted," Odhrán told him. "Good night, me friend."

"Aye, goodnight."

After Liam had gone, Odhrán wearily gathered his things and headed upstairs. Even sleeping on the floor seemed appealing, for it was already into the early hours of the morning, and he was thoroughly worn out. The question was, would Maddison be awake? Or would she be lying in wait for him, ready to give him a tongue lashing over some new grievance?

Though she was ensconced in her nice, comfortable bed, Maddison woke up feeling cold. She could tell from a gap in the curtains that it was till night outside. The chamber was dark but for the glowing embers in the hearth, but she could see Odhrán was not in his usual sleeping spot before it. She guessed he was still caught up dealing with the attacks, and she quickly dismissed the brief flash of pity she felt for him.

"I need more blankets," she muttered to herself, pulling on her robe and deciding she had no choice but to find a maid to provide them. Still groggy from sleep, she half pushed her feet into her slippers and quietly left the room, hoping she would not bump into her husband on the way. She reached the landing, glad to see no one was about, and she was just going down the stairs when her foot caught in her slipper.

"Ach!" she cried out, teetering on the edge of the stair, waving her arms frantically in an effort to regain her balance. But it was all in vain; she felt her weight moving inexorably forward, and she instinctively put her arms out to protect herself from the effects of the inevitable fall.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact to come as she tilted into thin air. She opened them when she suddenly heard her name shouted from below. Her heart thumped in her chest to see Odhrán, his face alight with fear, charging up the stairs towards her. He caught her in his arms, but the momentum of her body sent him backwards. He held her tightly in the cage of his arms, protecting her from the worst of the bumps as they careened bodily down to the bottom of the stairs.

"Ow!" she exclaimed when they finally sat up and groaned. She patted her head and encountered a nasty bump. But when she looked across at an obviously dazed Odhrán, she gasped to see a large bump rising on his Odhrán's forehead. Without thinking, she scrambled to help him. But before she could, he was on his feet and had scooped her up in his arms again.