The Heart of an Highlander

he sound of the wind battering against her window, the chill seeping through the stone walls of the castle. Sleep had

and a steaming cup of tea. Her usual cheer was tempered by a

," Maeve said, sitting on the edge of

admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I acted without t

the Highlands, survival often demands more from us than we think we

st remained. She sipped her tea in silence,

r, his expression unreadable as he relayed the laird's request. Maeve helped Isolde p

gloom. Lachlan stood by the window, his arms crossed as he gazed out at the st

ng," he said, motio

ir, her heart pounding. "Yo

questions-not about you, but about the state of our borders. The Campbells' movements ar

of help," she said, her br

d you're an outsider. Your perspective is different from mine, unclouded by

more training or another task to prove her worth, n

at last, meeting his gaze.

. "The scout you captured yesterday-he remains defiant, ref

t the thought, but sh

ned the walls, casting flickering light over the rough stone. The Campbell scout

a sneer. "So, they send the lady to

g closer until she stood just out

urprised by the questio

t to speak to strang

as he studied her. "Fergus," he said at last. "Not

MacRae territory when you know the consequenc

ritory? The Campbells don't want your barren hill

, her voice steady despite th

and his men," Fergus spat. "He's not

iving. Isolde felt the weight of his words press

aid carefully. "But endless bloodshed benef

rdening. "There's no end to it, not unti

more conflicted than ever. Fergus's words echoed in her mind as she made

ice heavy with frustration. "At l

expression darkening

oosing her words carefully. "He claims you've

ampbells see every skirmish as a personal slight, every death as a vendetta to be

e said?" she pressed. "Have y

something-anger, perhaps, or regret. "I've done wha

hat evening, she stood on the battlements, staring out at the storm that raged o

iet comfort. For a long while, neither of them spo

?" Lachlan asked at

ut I believe he believes it. And

. "You're right. Perception can be as

he weight of two worlds-her loyalty to Lachlan and the questions Fergus had planted in her mind. The path ah