It was a genuine question. Maxwell was not convinced it would, even if the council was. He’d gone along with it, seeing as it was likely the best option, but he knew Laird Johnson far too well. The man was a fiend with a lust for blood and now revenge, and Skylar being Maxwell’s wife would likely make no difference in the man’s eyes. He killed with no mercy, and the fact that she was a woman would not stop him from harming her. It hadn’t before now.
Bram shrugged. “Honestly, I dinnae ken, brother.”
“Then, I suppose we’ll just have tae find out the hard way. He’s here, and we have nae choice but tae defend ourselves and those we care about.”
Maxwell was about to flick the reins to push his horse onward when Laird MacTavish came running across the courtyard toward him.
“Laird Macleod, I ken ye’re going intae battle and we are only guests, but our clans are tied by the history of Highland blood. My men and I want tae be o’ assistance. How can we help?” he said with the air of a man who had seen many battles.
Even though their clans had not united by marriage in the end, they were still battling the same enemy, for Johnson’s allegiance to the English affected all the Highland clans. Given that he and his family were still residing in the castle, the laird clearly felt compelled to offer their help, and Maxwell was not fool enough to refuse it.
“How many men did ye bring with ye, my laird?” he asked, looking down at the older man.
“About fifty. I can send for more, but it’ll be days afore they get here. And ‘tis clear as day we dinnae have the luxury o’ time. But ye can still make use o’ those here with me now.”
If Maxwell waited for Laird MacTavish’s men to ready themselves, they would hardly have the advantage of meeting Johnson’s men before they reached the castle. But that did not mean they were of no use.
“Ready yer men tae defend the castle, my laird. Johnson’s army is large, and I cannae ken how many we are tae face out there.” He nodded beyond the castle walls. “But we may be pushed back tae the castle, and yer men would be o’ great benefit then.”
Laird MacTavish nodded firmly. “Very well. I will ready them immediately.”
With his men already ahead of them, Maxwell and Bram thundered out of Dunvegan Castle gates and pushed their horses at a speeding gallop. Johnson’s army was far nearer than he had expected, for only moments later, they came upon the sound of yelling, screaming, and the metallic sound of clashing swords. Bodies had already fallen, and while some men had remained on their horses, many had dismounted to battle on foot.
While the two armies clashed, Maxwell tried to look for Colum. He needed to tell Johnson’s war chieftain that their attack was too late, that Maxwell had already married Skylar, and therefore, she now belonged to him. But they were outnumbered at least three to one, and Maxwell could not waste time looking for Colum when he needed to help his own men.
Jumping from the horse, he swung his sword at any opposing figure. Many ran at him, but with Bram at his side, those who came at them were either slaughtered or pushed back. While Maxwell sustained slashes from daggers, much of the blood spattered upon him was from another. The battle went on, swords clashing, men screaming and yelling, calling out either in pain or anger, but neither side gave in.
“They’re heading for the castle!”
Maxwell couldn’t see who it was who had let out the warning, but swinging his head around, he watched as a group of the enemy pounded toward the castle on their steeds. Immediately, he turned to Bram who never seemed more than a few feet away, always protecting his brother.
“We need tae defend the castle,” Maxwell bellowed before running toward his horse.
He heard Bram yell out the order, and by the time Maxwell had mounted his horse, his brother had done the same, once more riding beside him as they thundered back the way they had come. Behind him, he heard more horses’ hooves thudding against the solid ground and only hoped they were more of his men than any other. It was probably a combination of both.
As the gates loomed ever closer, Maxwell’s heart thumped hard in his chest, but it was neither because of the battle nor the riding that it did so. His only thought was Skylar. He didn’t want to think what they would do to her if they managed to grab her, and yet, the thoughts tortured him all the same.
While the idea of Johnson’s men being inside the castle terrified him, Maxwell could not be more relieved upon reaching the courtyard. Laird MacTavish had kept his word and readied his men, and many of them battled against the onslaught, fighting as though they were protecting their own home.
Quickly dismounting, Maxwell and Bram hurriedly entered the castle, knowing well some of Johnson’s army had likely slipped through. They were not wrong. MacTavish’s men fought hard inside the castle too, but they were too few in number. At least Maxwell’s own soldiers would arrive soon, and they might have a chance.
At each stroke of his sword, Skylar consumed Maxwell’s thoughts. He had fought hard in battles before, but it had been some time since he had so much to fight for. Eventually, as he defeated a soldier before him, he grabbed him by the throat and slammed him up against the walls.
“Ye are here for the woman,” Maxwell bellowed. “Is that nae right?”
“She belongs tae Johnson,” the soldier spat.
“Nae, that is where ye are wrong. She belongs tae me, for I married her.”
The soldier’s eyes flew wide.
“Aye, that’s right,” Maxwell continued, knowing that information might change things, “and the marriage bed is already consummated. She belongs to me now.”
For a second, the soldier did not appear to know what to say. Maybe he was one of those who only followed orders and could not think for himself. Maxwell decided he ought to speak for him.
“Yer battle here is pointless. Ye are losing men for nae reason. Johnson cannae have the woman, for she is mine. Tell yer men tae retreat and take the message back to him.”
Once more, the man looked bewildered, uncertain what he was to say or do with such information until eventually, Maxwell let him go. “Run back and tell yer laird what I have told ye,” he repeated. “And take these men o’ yers with ye.”
