Brenda Joyce by A Rose in the Storm Read Free Book Online Page A

Peg cried, “Ye should have surrendered, and it isn’t too late to do so!”
    Margaret tensed, aware that Peg was terrified. When she had left the ramparts, she had gazed at some of the soldiers and women there—everyone was frightened. And how could they not be?
    Alexander MacDonald had been forthright. If they did not surrender, he would defeat the castle and spare no one.
    She hugged herself, chilled to the bone. Should she have surrendered? And dear God, why was such a decision hers to make?
    She inhaled and set the cup down. “Is it possible he is telling the truth? Is it possible that Red John is dead—and that Robert Bruce has seized the royal castle at Dumfries?”
    Sir Neil was pale and stricken. “Bruce has always claimed the throne, but I know nothing of this plot!”
    “Even the Wolf would not make up such a wild tale,” Malcolm said. “I believe him.”
    She could barely comprehend what might be happening. “Is Bruce seeking the throne of Scotland? Is that why he attacked Dumfries?” And did that mean that Sir Guy was there with his men? Sir Guy was in service to King Edward. He was often dispatched to do battle for the king. Was that why MacDonald had claimed no one would come—because Sir Guy would be occupied with his own battles for King Edward?
    Sir Neil shook his head. “Bruce is a man of ambition, but to murder Red John? On holy ground?”
    “If the damned Wolf is telling us the truth,” she said, “if Red John has been murdered, Buchan will be furious.” The Comyns and Bruces had been rivals for years. They had fought over the crown before—and the Comyns had won the last battle, when their kin, John Balliol, had become Scotland’s king. “A great war will ensue.” She was sickened in every fiber of her being—these events were too much to bear.
    “Lady Margaret—what matters is that if this is true, Red John will not be coming to our aid. Nor will Sir Guy.”
    Margaret stared at Malcolm as Peg cried, “We can still surrender!”
    She ignored her maid. “But Argyll will come to our aid if he can.”
    “If the land is at war, he might not be able to come,” Sir Neil said grimly. “And MacDonald claims he has the means to stop him.”
    She looked at Sir Neil and then Malcolm. “I am frightened. I am unsure. So tell me, truly, what you think I should do?”
    Malcolm said, “Your mother would die defending Castle Fyne.”
    Sir Neil stood. “And I would die to defend you, my lady.”
    God, these were not reassuring answers!
    “But, my lady, if you decide you wish to surrender, I will support you,” Malcolm said.
    Sir Neil nodded in agreement. “As would I. And no matter what MacDonald has said, you can decide to surrender at any time—and sue him for the terms he has already said he would give you.”
    But that did not mean the Wolf would give her such terms. He had been very angry when they had last parted company.
    Margaret closed her eyes, trying to shut out the fear gnawing at her. She tried to imagine summoning MacDonald and handing him the great key to the keep. And the moment she did so, she knew she could not do such a thing, and she opened her eyes. They all stared at her.
    “We must fight, and pray that Argyll comes to our aid,” Margaret said, standing. If they were going to fight, she must appear strong, no matter how terrified.
    The men nodded grimly while Peg started to cry.
    * * *
    M ARGARET DID NOT sleep all night, knowing what would begin at dawn. And because Peg kept telling her that she must surrender, and that she was a madwoman to think to fight the Wolf of Lochaber, she had finally banned the maid from her chamber. Now, she stood at her chamber’s single window, the shutters wide. The black sky was turning blue-gray. Smoke filled the coming dawn. The sounds of the soldiers and women above her on the ramparts, speaking in hushed tones as they stoked the fires and burned pots of oil, drifted down to her.
    She could not bear the waiting, and she had