Chapter 41

LOCH SLAPIN - SEPTEMBER 28, 1385

A ileen should have been there hours ago but somewhere on the road she'd gone the wrong way in the heather. Thirst burned in her ragged throat, so she began to travel east, praying she was far enough along in her journey that she would pass a burn or a pond. And then, she saw it. The banks of Allt na Dunaiche, the freshwater burn that emptied into Loch Slapin.

Running forward, she collapsed onto the pebbles and lifted leaky handfuls of fresh water to her dry mouth. Rinsing blood from her throat, she drank greedily until the front of her black tunic was soaked. Tired, face and head throbbing, she sat on her bottom and looked toward the sea trying to decide what to do next.

On the horizon, she could see hundreds of bìrlinns with distinctive sails. MacDonald, MacLean, MacLeod, and the MacKinnon contingents from Mull. It was happening. The attack was underway, and she was missing it. Wishing she had more energy, she wobbled to her feet again, looking for something she could eat to strengthen her.

"AILEEN!"

At the sound of her name she went rigid. It was the first time she'd ever heard it aloud. The deep voice boomed across the peaceful waters of the loch, and she turned around and around, knowing at once whose voice it was.

"AILEEN!"

She swiveled, hearing Hector, but not seeing him. Where was he?

"AILEEN!"

Sprinting through the heather, three men burst onto the shore. Calum, Hector, and another man.

"AILEEN MACLEAN!"

Frantically, she waved, relieved that someone had come to help—but something was different about Hector. His face was contorted. It was wet with tears.

"AILEEN MACLEAN!"

Why was he yelling her Christian name and his clan name?

Faster and faster he raced, outpacing Calum, and she was suddenly overcome by the emotion from a man so strong and tough. Getting to her feet, she ran, stumbled, and got to her feet again, racing toward him. Hector knocked into her like a destrier, sweeping her up in his arms and squeezing her so tight she couldn't breathe.

"Aileen." He was sobbing now, his hand cradling her head. "Our girl…our girl…" He passed her to the man she didn't know who squeezed her just as tightly, and bewildered, she patted him on the shoulder.

The man held her close. "Thank God you are alive. We thought you drowned. And then we thought you drowned again…" The man was sobbing now too, and she didn't even know him. She continued to pat his back trying to comfort him, and he put her on the ground.

Calum was next, picking her up and crushing her. "We sailed into Cràdh this morning just after the prison break. They said you jumped from the boulders and were pulled under. How did you make it?"

She signed. Something pulled me through the water, and then I hit driftwood. It carried me to shore. I've walked all the way from the other side of the island.

Hector got to his knees in front of her, taking her face in his palm. "Do you know who I am?" He pointed to the blond man. "Do you know who this is?"

What was he talking about? Her face scrunched up and she winced against the pain. You're Beithir. I've never met this man. Calum repeated her signs out loud so the man could understand them. Eyes glassy, Hector shook his head. "Nay, lass. Nay. You have. This is Lachlan."

Oh. Hector's brother. You live at Duart. But I've never met him…

Lachlan's eyes misted over. He nodded. "Aye, you have. I'm Hector's brother. I'm your brother too."

Unable to comprehend the meaning of his words, she shook her head. I have no brother. What do you mean?

Hector unfolded a battered piece of paper, holding it out to her. She took it.

It was her letter to Léo. He'd found it. That's why Léo had signed her name, and that's why they were calling her Aileen now. He knew. They all knew.

She nodded. I am A-I-L-E-E-N. Not M-O-I-R-A.

Hector wiped his nose. "Aye. I know exactly who you are, and so does Lachlan. You're Aileen Lorna MacLean. You were born on February 2, 1352, in Gaodhail, on the Isle of Mull. Your father was Iain MacLean and your mother was Shona Morgan. They loved you very much and mourned you until the day they died. Your favorite food is mussels, and you cannae go tae sleep without a light on. At least, you used to. You've always been our wild lass. Always tagging along with us so you didn't miss a thing."

Mussels . Her favorite dish. Emotion clogged her throat, her hands beginning to shake. The only thing I can remember of my family is my father carrying me up the stairs when I had fallen to sleep. I remember his big shoulders. And I remember his black spirals of hair.

Hector and Lachlan looked at each other. Lachlan swallowed hard, struggling to keep his voice steady. "Lass, our father had spirally hair, that's true. But his hair was red."

Feeling as if she had just watched a gold coin fall into a loch, her heart dropped. Of course, it couldn't be true.

"Hector takes after our grandfather, Malcolm, who had black hair. It was Hector who used to stay up with you and tell you stories until you fell asleep. Hector who would pick you up and carry you to bed each night and leave a rushlight for you. You were inseparable. "

But he would have been only seven or eight years old then. Not as large as my da.

Lachlan chuckled. "Aye. No' quite as big as Da, but much bigger than an average eight-year-old, and bigger than me at twelve. He was already over five-and-a-half feet tall."

Aileen barked with silent laughter and investigated Hector's face, the feeling of always wanting his approval suddenly making sense. Her heart had recognized him when her mind had not. You're the one who carried me to bed?

Hector sniffed tears away. "Every night for almost a year. You thought the monsters were afraid of me cos I looked like a meanie." He laughed and wiped his eyes. "You called me Toad because I was so ugly I scared the banshees away. Of course you wouldnae have known me as Hector."

Sobs escaped her throat and she laughed, amazed that her brain had clung to this tiny character trait from her youth. Toad, her first sign-name. One of her favorite nicknames for anything ugly or repulsive. All this time I've been with you—you were my brother?

He nodded.

Without hesitation she jumped into his arms, laying her head upon his strong chest. He closed his arms around her and rumbled with laughter.

Hector was her brother. Her brother! She had two brothers. And a mother, and a father. A middle name, and a birthday. They knew who she'd been and could tell her anything she wanted to know. She had a family. She belonged to someone. Many someones.

How, God? How have you loved me this much to bring them back to me?

Hector sniffed. "The day we sailed to Staffa to steal the MacKinnon treasure you popped out from under the oilcloth. I wanted to take you back, but it took us all day to row there. Lachlan didn't want to give up and go back without even going in. We fought, and while we were occupied, you fell out of the boat right at the mouth of the cave and went under fast, just like the guard you pushed. I'm so sorry, lass. I'm sorry. If I hadn't fought with Lachlan, you never would have been lost. I wasnae paying attention like I should've been. You were my special girl, and I let you…I let you…"

Lachlan's hand came to her back. "It's me that should be apologizing. I'm sorry I started the fight with Hector—that I took everyone out on that tiny rowboat all the way to Staffa. I'm sorry, lass. I should've known better. I always have been stubborn. It's why you called me Donkey."

Toad and Donkey. The names of her long-forgotten brothers. That's why the names Hector and Lachlan had meant nothing to her—she had never used them.

Aileen pushed out of Hector's arms and dabbed the tears from her pummeled face with her sleeve. You two are mad. What can be done about it now? We were children. I'm not angry with you. I'm O-V-E-R-J-O-Y-E-D I have you. Besides, I finally stole the MacKinnon treasure.

All three of them laughed, and she wrapped her arms around her brothers, finally feeling whole.

Calum shivered. "Och. Those eyes. Seeing all three of you with them is unnerving."

Aileen pointed to the boats on the horizon. That's more unnerving. Let's go. I'm sure Léo has already landed. I'm starving. Does anyone have a bannock, or something I could eat?

All three men gave her the same worried look.

What is it?

Hector fidgeted in the pouch on his belt and handed her a handful of dried meat. "Here, it's venison. Come on, let's go. We need to hurry."

She took it and began to eat, and Calum handed her a skin of water, the same worried look in his eye.

Something's wrong. What is it?

They trudged up the pebbled shore heading toward Dun Ringill, all conversation coming to an abrupt halt. Finally, she stopped.

Tell me what's wrong or I won't move another inch.

Hector scratched his forehead. "We sailed into Cràdh this morning as we told you. Lachlan, Calum, myself…and Léo."

Seized by fear so swift and punishing it stole her breath away; her hands began to shake. Where is he? Is he hurt ?

"No, lass, he's not hurt." Hector took her arm and began to hurry her along the shore, Calum and Lachlan jogging behind.

She struggled to sign and hurry beside him. What happened?

Sweat trickled down his forehead. "We moved through the prison, clearing each cell. Looking for you. We go' tae the top and found the interrogation room and your blood on the floor. Léo went mad trying to find you. He searched everywhere and eventually found Mowbray and a man called Gillie outside. They told him they saw you jump into the sound."

Heart pumping, she picked up her pace.

"We didnae know where Léo went. We were on the top floor looking everywhere for you when we heard the most gut-wrenching scream. In all my years of fighting I have never heard such an unearthly howl."

Sweat broke out over her neck and her heart broke.

Mowbray and Gillie told him they believed you were drowned. They said he was shattered with grief."

He thought her dead like Théa.

Voice tight with emotion, Hector continued. "By the time we made it out to the yard Léo was gone. Ran through the prison and took a small boat. We think he was heading for Dun Ringill and Niall, but we're not certain."

Full of grief and rage, Léo was running into battle. By himself.

He needed her. Strength renewed, she tossed the skin to Calum and began to sprint.