Keegan glared, but he would see to punishing the woman afterward. Leaving the table, he rushed to the door and called out down the hall for the nearest guard. One was at his side in just a moment, and he informed the man to gather the rest of the guard and the castle’s best shoulders.
“Ye need to see to every door into this castle and have men posted up on the wall immediately. An attack is imminent. Go!”
The guard was off, and Keegan shouted a final command. “Get to Rodrick first!”
His man paused only briefly to nod and respond, “Aye, me laird!”
Returning to Lilith at the table, Keegan planted his palms on the wood surface as he stood over her.
“Go on, lass. Ye’ve much to divulge, and as ye said, we are running out of time.”
She swallowed down a lump Keegan could actually see slide down her throat and nodded. “He has a crew of warriors surroundin' the castle from all sides. They are in the tree line beyond yer courtyard and fields. I was to signal them with this piece of mirror, reflecting the light from the north tower.”
Lilith withdrew the small, reflective glass from a pocket and gave it to Keegan.
“What else? Do ye ken the number or where he seeks to enter from?”
She shook her head, and Keegan cursed, pounding his fist into the table, which served to make both her and Willow jump.
“Nay. I’m sorry. I ken that he’s brought enough of his men that he worried over the safety of Castle McCallum. I’ve also seen archers along with the others. They’ve padded their arrows with a bit of fabric and oil. I think they mean to?—”
“Set the castle ablaze.” Keegan sighed and straightened. “Aye.”
“Fire? God, he must understand that there are innocent people within these walls. Doesnae he ken that—” But Willow stopped herself. “Of course he does. Magnus only doesnae care who he might injure.”
Keegan held his new bride’s eyes for a time, but then his steps took him around the room in frantic pacing. His own castle was not as manned as he would have liked. He’d sent Damon anda rather large group of warriors to scout Magnus’s land, and he had not heard anything back from them since they’d left.
He needed to put the soldiers where they were needed most. But how would he know which direction Magnus would attack from? Then, he recalled the woods on the north side.
“Magnus will want to give the command himself. He’ll need to be able to see yer signal properly.”
Hearing the rush of footsteps outside the room, Keegan hurried to the door and flung it open. Several guards were rushing through the halls to get to their posts.
“Send a good few more men to the north side of the wall. That is where Magnus himself will attack from. If we can cut off the head of the snake, we shall defeat Clan McCallum once and for all.”
“Keegan,” Willow’s voice was low and severe, and he turned to see her striding toward him, “ye truly wish to kill him then?”
His stare flickered to Lilith’s for only a moment and then returned to Willow’s. He took her hands, meeting her gaze without blinking once.
“Aye. He has done enough harm to this clan. I will stand it nay longer. Ye and Lilith will remain here where I will ken yer safe. I shall send Melissa to ye as well. Daenae leave this room unless Rodrick or I come to ye. Understood?”
Willow hesitated, so Keegan took her chin in his grip and shook her gently. “I willnae lose ye, lass. Do ye understand?”
Her eyes were glassy, and Willow blinked several times to clear them before speaking, her voice thick.
“Aye. We willnae leave the chamber.” She dropped her head to his chest, taking his shirt in her hands and squeezing fiercely. “And I willnae lose ye either, Keegan. Daenae risk yerself unnecessarily. Magnus willnae see reason or mercy, and I ken what he’s done, but…ye need nae follow him upon a retreat or?—”
“I have allowed that man to slither away into the darkness to lick his wounds too often, Willow. This will end tonight. One way or another.”
Keegan grabbed Willow’s face, kissing her with everything he had, not caring at all that Lilith was just a few feet away.
“I will come back to ye, lass.” He held her face, touching his forehead to hers. “And ye willnae need to worry over what yer brother might do ever again.”
Without another word, Keegan kissed Willow once more and then seized his sword and scabbard from where he’d set it off to the side. He nodded at her once more as he left the room, and then it was on him to hurry as quickly as he could to the northside wall.
Keegan wasn’t confident if his forces would be enough to withstand this attack. It was all too possible that Magnus would win this. He would tell Rodrick to go to Willow and Lilith and get them out of there. They needed to remain safe—no matter what happened to him.
I will always be with ye, lass, even if I meet me end upon this battlefield. Keegan’s steps pounded on the stone floor.I only pray to God that I will see yer face again…because I find that it has become the only thing I wish to look upon.