Chapter 28

DUNVEGAN CASTLE - SEPTEMBER 13, 1385

M oira's azure-colored eyes kept peeking over her shoulder at him under the glow of the lantern as the skiff made its way toward the shore. Devotion ignited in Léo's chest, and he marveled at how deeply he was falling in love with her, so different was she from the woman he'd wanted her to be.

Théa had been soft summer breeze and gentle waves upon the shore, a balm of peace to his battle-wearied soul. With her he'd had the first blushes of a young, innocent love. Forever he would be grateful for her, and for the legacy they'd left behind in Gabriel. But for too long, he'd been consumed with finding a replacement for her and failed to see the new blessings that God was trying to bestow upon him.

Never had he expected what he would find in Moira. Together they were like flame and pitch, and she consumed him with a passion he'd never felt before. Though unable to speak, she was far from quiet. She infuriated him almost as much as she pleased him, unafraid to battle alongside him, and with him. Able to encourage him, and to put him in his place. How he wanted to please her, to be the man she believed he was, to live up to the challenge she gave him.

Théa he'd loved with the unshakable fealty of the boy he'd been. Moira he loved with the ardent fire of the man he'd become .

Moira looked over her shoulder again, noticing his staring. What?

The words fell out of his lips, unable to be stopped. "Je t'aime."

Her mouth twitched. What?

The guard at the sea gate called to them and Léo called back, leaving her question unanswered.

Jittery as a lad, he helped her up the stairs of the seagate, and found himself unable to take his eyes off her. For once, he didn't mind the finery of the gown she wore for tonight's gathering. Her hair remained unbound, her face untouched by rouge, no coronet in sight. Tonight she didn't look like Niall's leman. Tonight, she looked like his lady. Her peach lips lifted into a wordless smile as they climbed the stairs to the hall. Are you ready to become chief?

He gave a small sigh. "I'm ready for this all to be behind us. And I pray we are successful. But I confess, sometimes I wish there was another way. I enjoy a simple life with my son."

Something flickered in her eyes. You can have that on Skye.

"Only with the right woman by my side."

She paused, her face contemplative, and he stopped beside her reading her signs. Gabriel will need a mother. And you'll need a wife. A proper lady of the clan.

Léo wanted to marry her. He was ready to ask her, tonight. "Is that something you might consider one day for yourself? To be a wife and mother?"

Moira didn't answer right away, and began walking slowly down the corridor again. It's an important responsibility. Something that would take all my time. I'm not sure that path is for me.

It wasn't the answer he was hoping for.

They climbed a short flight of stairs to the great hall, trepidation beginning to grow in his chest. The small gathering turned to look at her as they entered, and he held out her hand and led her around the room, showing off their champion.

Iain choked on his claret, and it spurted between his fingers. Eilidh handed him a napkin, and he mopped his face. His eyes were huge, drinking in Moira's beauty. "Birdy…ye look…ye are soo…that dress. Ye look like a lass. "

Léo glowered as Iain's eyes lingered on her. "She is a lass, idiote ."

Moira rolled her clear blue eyes. He's never seen me dressed in these ridiculous clothes. It's all right, Léo. I know I look absurd. I'm not fit to be a lady.

His trepidation started to multiply. Why did she say that?

Iain shook his head. "Absurd? Noo lass. Ye look breathtakin'."

Hector strode over, something excited in his aqua eyes, and for a moment Léo was startled by the eerie resemblance to Moira. Hector kissed Moira's cheeks.

Moira searched around the gathering. Is Cara here?

Bright beams of pride shot from Hector's broad half-smile, but he didn't say anything.

Léo pushed him. "Hec, what is it?"

Hector smoothed a colossal hand over his scarred face, unable to wipe the smile away. "Cara's had to stay home, though she sends her love and wants you to visit us when things are settled. She's feeling a bit ill. We've just found out she's with child again."

A feeling of genuine excitement raced over him. For years Cara had believed she'd never have any children. Now they'd have two. "That's wonderful, old man. What a blessing."

Hector nodded, rubbing his hands together with anticipation. "Aye. We think the child will come in early spring. I cannae believe it, two children."

Gabriel's curious face sprang to mind, his little blue eyes examining a caterpillar crawling up a branch with a look of close study and interest. "What does Eamon think?"

Hec laughed. "Beyond Mammy and Da, Gan, Ghousie, and eat, he hasn't said much on the subject."

Sudden longing for Gabriel took hold of his heart and he felt thrown off balance.

Moira smiled. Congratulations, Beithir. You must be sure to bring Eamon and the new baby to Dun Ringill in the summer to meet Gabriel. What playmates your boys could make.

Léo shook his head in disbelief. " Gabriel will be five next summer ." The sentence came out hard and wooden . " I've spent more of his life away from him than with him now. He probably doesn't know who I am or remember me at all."

Hector's hand came to Léo's shoulder. "At this time next month, you'll be on your way to Calais to get him."

Doubt niggled at Leo's mind and he wondered again if their plan was worth executing, or if he should go to Calais and forget all thoughts of being chief. How could he uproot Gabriel from France, the only home he'd ever known? Was it right to take him from his grandmother, the only mother he'd ever known? Was that best for him? Or dare he hope for everything—to be chief, with Gabriel and Moira beside him?

Moira touched his arm, reading his expression. What matters is that you'll be together. You're a good father, Léo. And you'll be a good chief. You'll find your way. I can remember hoping my father would come for me. Imagine Gabriel's face when you do.

Gabriel's smile lit up his thoughts, and then a feeling of peace. And then confusion. What did she mean?

The sound of Eoghan's voice cut through his contemplation. "Francach!"

"Irlandais."

It was the first time he'd ever seen Eoghan's bare face. Gone was the long beard, dirty hair, and the haunted look in his green eyes. Had Eoghan not used their nicknames, he never would have recognized him.

Eoghan crossed the room and pulled him into an embrace. "We're out, mate."

Léo smiled and clapped him on the back. "Look at you, you're not ugly."

"Aye, and you're …still handsome, you eejit." Eoghan bowed to Moira. "You must be Moira. It seems mad we never met. I was a great friend of your father."

Forgetting herself, she signed to him with enthusiasm. Eoghan's brow furrowed.

Léo gave voice to her words. "She says thank you, and she's been eager to meet you. Hector says the O'Donnells' cavalry is the most fearsome in Ireland. Can you explain why you used light cavalry instead of heavy during the 1383 strike against the O'Neills? It seems like warhorses and heavier weapons would have been more effective but you prove me wrong with the victory you won."

Eoghan blinked several times. "I…uh…light cavalry is more effective over long distances. Smaller, faster horses. Armed with only javelins they're better for fast strikes. It proved to be what we needed to cover the large area the O'Neills were occupying."

A smile almost as wide as Hector's spread across Léo's face. "Let me enlighten you who you're talking to. Do you remember the Bird?"

Eoghan's eyes narrowed. "Aye."

Hector inclined his head toward her. "That's Moira."

Eoghan shook his head. "She's a woman."

Feeling surly, Léo looked at Moira who seemed unfazed. "What does that matter?"

Moira's hands moved, a question in her expression. "She says, ‘but you had to break the O'Neills' center line. How did you accomplish that without heavy weapons? Most unusual.'"

Befuddlement cramped Eoghan's face. "She's the Bird?"

Léo rested his hand on the velvet-covered small of her back. "She's the Bird."

A look of complete awe overtook Eoghan and he took Moira's hand, shaking it in his own. "The Bird. I can't tell you how I've wanted to talk to you and tell you how grateful I am. We would have died without you. It's cos of you I'm not rotting in prison. And taking out a siege engine by yourself? You're legendary."

Moira shook her head, face solemn, and waved him off. "It was nothing. And call me A—" Léo stopped speaking as her hands froze, a strange expression coming over her face. "Call me Birdy."

The mark of a true warrior, she wouldn't brag about her accomplishments or boast about the things she'd done. Her respect for their team was too great.

Eilidh MacLeod appeared holding a crystal goblet and motioned to Eoghan. "I've brought ye claret." Eilidh's violet eyes traveled over Eoghan's nut brown hair and lingered on the dimple in his chin.

Eoghan shuddered. "No thanks. I don't care for that fine stuff. Much rather have a flagon of ale."

The look of admiration in her face vanished, and she stared at the glass of claret in her hand, her cheeks growing red.

Wanting to comfort her bruised feelings, Léo took Eilidh's left hand and kissed it, using the tone that didn't seem to work on Moira but did on nearly every other woman.

" Mademoiselle ," he lifted his eyes to hers, his voice purring. "You did not bring me claret? C'est dommage ." Color rose in Eilidh's cheeks, matching the strawberry of her hair, and a smile lifted the pretty bow of her lips. " Est-ce que ton père a été un voleur? Parce qu'il a volé les étoiles du ciel pour les mettre dans tes yeux .? 1 " It was a tired line, one that would have earned him an eye roll in Paris, but to Eilidh's uncomprehending ears, it had its desired effect.

She handed him the goblet, her shoulders back and her head a little higher. "Here."

As she made her way back across the room toward her brother, Eoghan's forehead creased, seeming to notice her for the first time. He looked back at Léo astonished.

Sipping the claret, Léo stifled a grimace at the terrible vintage. "What?"

Making a noise of disgust, Eoghan eyed him. "Francach."

Beside him, Moira and Hector snorted at the same time. For the third time that night, a feeling of recollection unsettled Léo but he couldn't put his finger on why.

Calling everyone to attention, Hector moved toward the long table at the center of the room. He stood at the head and motioned to the seat on his right. "Brother."

Warmth for his friend flooded Léo's chest and he took his position next to him. Hector motioned to Birdy and then the seat to his left. Bewildered, she looked around and behind her. Hector signed to her. You. Come on. You've earned it.

Every member of the Shield clapped her on the back as she passed by on her way to the seat. "Thank ye, Birdy…You've done it, Birdy…That's our lass…"

Color high, she took the seat across from Léo. Feeling as though he'd swallowed the moon, his chest swelled. The Shield had delivered a punishing year to the Wolf, perhaps the most punishing year his forces had yet experienced. There would be a strike back, but the Kingdom of the Isles was not yet experiencing the terror that the Highlands had been suffering for twelve years, and it was all because of her.

After their team took their seats, Hector raised his voice. "I've asked you here tonight so we can go over tactics for Michaelmas. We've been preparing for this for so long it seems strange that we are only sixteen days away. I want to recognize that with the gold and silver taken from Staffa we've ransomed Eoghan O'Gallagher, and thanks to his help, we've been able to engage caterans from the O'Donnell Lucht Tighe cavalry who should now be on their way to Dunvegan, ready to aid in the uprising."

Potent relief flooded Léo and he looked at Eoghan at the end of the table, who gave him a nod. With an experienced cavalry they now stood a real chance of defeating Niall. Moira's eyes met his, and he wondered if she was thinking about a future together. He would tell her on the way home how much he loved her, and ask her to be his wife. He needed her by his side. He needed to know before the uprising that she would be his lady.

Hector continued. "The MacKays have committed to perimeter patrols. That leaves the MacKenzies, both houses of the MacLeans, and the O'Gallagher and Isles caterans for the assault on Loch Slapin and Dun Ringill."

Moira raised her hand.

Hector nodded. "Yes?"

Fingon and Malvina are back from Iona.

Léo looked at her open-mouthed. He'd met her at the the tunnel having snuck away from the encampment at the Elgol granary without returning to the keep. Why had she not told him? He couldn't keep the shock and annoyance out of his voice. "Already?"

Eoghan called from the end of the table. "What's she saying?"

Hector's brow furrowed. "Fingon and Malvina MacKinnon are back from Iona."

Eilidh made a groan of frustration from Eoghan's side and he looked at her. "What does that matter?"

She twirled a lock of red-gold hair around her finger. "Malvina and Fingon are aff their heid. Niall's brutal but no' as ruthless."

Moira clapped and everyone turned to her. A housemaid gave away that I was absent for two days when I was summoned to break my fast with them. They don't seem to have connected me to the theft at Staffa, but they may have their suspicions.

Hope died in Léo's chest, and fear overtook him. Frustration with her, and the need to protect her, made his voice hard. "That's it. You're staying here. I refuse to take you back."

Clouds of war formed in her expression. I was only bringing it up so that everyone knows that Fingon and his men from Iona are close by, and that Niall will probably return early. You can't tell me I'm done with the mission. That isn't your decision.

The memory of Malvina's cold cruelty to Maman tightened the fear in his chest. If she had any suspicion that Moira had been involved in the Staffa raid she would be lethal. "Why did you come to Dunvegan tonight if you believed they were suspicious of you?"

Moira's brow creased. They told me to make myself scarce and not make them ill. They told me to stay away from them.

He gave a bitter laugh. "She's probably sitting in your room right now waiting for you to return. You're not going back, Moira. Malvina is too keen to be trusted. You've never been a proper target of hers. I refuse to put you at her mercy. You're done."

She touched the crinkle in-between her eyebrows . Are we really arguing again, in front of everyone? In front of Hector? Can you not let anything go past you? You always have to weigh in on what I'm doing.

Panic threatened to overtake him. Maman, Théa…he couldn't lose her too. "I'm not arguing with you on this, I'm telling you. You're not going back."

Everyone's faces pivoted from Moira to him, beginning to shift in their seats. Eoghan's face was scrunched, and Eilidh whispered to him.

A look of serene determination came over her. You can tell me whatever you want to. I don't have to obey you, Léo.

Her calm dismissal scared him more than her arguing. She couldn't go back. He wouldn't allow it. "Moira…" She crossed her arms and glared at him. "I can give you an order and you must obey it."

Her eyebrows shot straight up and her face looked shocked. Are you?

"Yes. "

Iain raised his hands. "Nooo less jus' calm doon. Léo…I nooo ye want tae keep Moira safe, but we need her inside. If Niall returns she'll gather valuable information before the attack. I worried about her in the beginning, but Birdy knows her limits."

Thank you!

But she didn't know her limits, not on this. She was a skilled warrior, but dangerously ignorant. "Did she know her limits when she disobeyed direct orders from Hector and destroyed the siege engine and fifty men?"

She shot to her feet. How dare you!

Hector got to his feet and held up a hand to her. "Birdy, sit down. Léo, enough."

Memories crashed in on him hard and fast. Malvina's abuse. The dozens of times she'd tried to trick, trap, and kill Maman and himself. His mother's tears through the wall, the fear that consumed her every minute.

Léo's voice trembled with finality. "I refuse to sail her back with me. Do you hear me? I refuse."

Fine. I'll walk. I don't need you.

An annoyed growl emitted from Hector's throat and he brought his hands to his head. "Enough!"

Everyone around the table jumped except for Eilidh and Eoghan who whispered to each other at the end of the table, clearly amused.

"Léo, the fact of the matter is Iain and Moira are correct. We need her on the inside to keep watch for any pertinent information."

"NO—"

Hector held up his hands. "Hold it! Moira, I trust you. I'll send you back into Dun Rungill, but with one important directive. As soon as Léo tells you to leave, you go. You're to listen to him because he's second-in-command, and he…he…"

David leaned over to Angus bark-whispering, "He what?"

Murdoch smoothed a hand over his mustache and whispered back. "He loves her, it's obvious."

Calum nodded. "Och. I'll say. He's letting it get in the way of the mission."

Moira glared at him, triumphant, arms still crossed .

Hector shook his head. "I meant he has a better instinct for danger."

Fear heaved Léo's stomach and prickled along his neck. "Which is why she shouldn't be going back. She needs to stay here, out of danger. There's only one person in this room who grew up in that household and knows what they're capable of."

Eoghan raised his hand. "Moira's had both of her parents murdered by them. I think she may have an inkling."

Moira put a hand to her hip and stared at Léo, gloating.

It was all he could take. He burst out of his chair his voice rising against all others in the room, frustrated that they discounted everything he said. "No she doesn't have an inkling of what it's like to be plotted against from the moment you take your first breath. To have your mother terrorized and nearly killed half a dozen times. To watch as your parents are poisoned to death because of a stupid dream you had."

All mirth drained from every face around the table.

"She doesn't know what it's like to grow up on constant vigil for the trap they've set. To never trust anyone. To be seven years old and have your maman claw a hole in a dungeon wall for your escape in case she dies. To train in French all day, every day because you may have to sail for family in a foreign land, because you cannot trust your father to keep you safe if your maman is dead." Tears sprang to his eyes, and he regretted revealing so much, but he couldn't make himself stop. "I know the evil in their hearts and how it stains everything they do. She may not think Malvina and Fingon are on to her yet, but I promise you they are. They'll destroy her!"

Stinging with betrayal, he advanced on Hector and grabbed his cuirass in his hands. "You warned me once about hurting Cara, and I'm warning you now. If you send Moira back in there and they harm her in any way, I won't ever forgive you. No more chances." Hector's ice blue eyes investigated his own and he nodded. Léo let him go and turned back to the open mouths around the table.

"If I wasn't positive she'd head immediately to Dun Ringill, I'd go to Calais right now and forget this whole mess and all of you. I don't want any of this at the cost of her safety, or worse, her life. So now, instead of going to my boy, I'm going to follow her. Because you're right. I do love her. And I know no matter what I say, no matter how I beg her, no matter how much I love her or how much it destroys me to see her hurt, she will put herself in danger to help all of you. I won't forget how you've helped her do this. If something happens to her I won't ever forgive any of you."

He couldn't bring himself to look at Moira, or her quick-signing hands. He needed to be alone. Striding out of the hall, nauseating truth dawned on him in fast, violent waves. He wanted all of her, by his side, forever, but she wanted none of a life with him.