18
Rhys was lost amidst the flurry and fury of battle. He had managed to escape the keep and flee to the battlefield, and there he had gained a sword from a fallen soldier. He had seen Bryn and his boys ride into battle, which had galvanized the McClearey soldiers. But Malcolm was wreaking havoc with his war hammer. Rhys had tried desperately to reach him, but he was always prevented by another wave of enemies. He had them on all sides. He had to defend himself from all angles and soon enough his brow was covered with sweat as he desperately battled through the crowd.
But then he saw something that filled his heart with fear and delight. Caitlin rode in on a mare, but she was caught in the sea of battle and lost her way. Rhys battled to get to her, and then his face turned ashen as he realized that Malcolm had seen her. The horse was driven away and Malcolm was bearing down on her, ready to kill her. Rhys was filled with primal hatred and found hidden strengths. He pushed himself forward, swiping and slashing away anyone who dared try to get in his way, as he wasn’t going to be prevented from saving his wife. She cowered and pleaded for mercy, but it fell on deaf ears as Malcolm was crazed with bloodlust.
“My wife was taken from me. Now I’m taking everything away from him, starting with his daughter!” Malcolm roared as he lifted the war hammer above his head. Rhys’s heart stopped as he flung himself forward, desperately needing to be with his wife. He threw himself over her, shielding her from the blow.
“Da! Stop!” Rhys cried out. Malcolm was stunned to see his son there. The war hammer froze, and while the battle raged on around them, there was a moment of calm. Rhys looked back to check on Caitlin. He took her hand and squeezed it tightly. She panted heavily. Dirt had been smudged over her clothes and skin, but otherwise she looked unharmed. Rhys breathed a sigh of relief.
“Get out of the way lad,” Malcolm growled.
“Nay! She is my wife. If ye want tae take vengeance on the McCleareys then ye are gaeing tae hae tae kill yer own son. I wilnae let ye dae this Da. This is wrong.” Rhys’s voice cracked with emotion and his throat was raw. His eyes were wide as he implored his father to make the right decision, but he worried deeply as he could see the madness in his father’s eyes, the madness that always took hold of him in battle.
“They did naething but treat us kindly! They welcomed us intae their home and showed us all the compassion they had. They were able tae put aside generations of war for the sake of this marriage. Cannae ye dae the same thing?”
“I cannae,” Malcolm replied through gritted teeth, “and ye should know that better than anyone. Peace is impossible. It’s been proven time and time again. There can be only war, and there can be only one victor.”
“Then ye will hae tae prove yerself against me.” Rhys let go of Caitlin’s hand and stood up, clutching his sword. He wiped sweat away from his brow and gripped his sword tightly in both hands. Fear rippled through him as he hated the idea of facing his father, knowing full well that no man could stand against Malcolm when he was in the full depth of his anger. “I cannae let this pass without standing against ye Da. This is wrong. Bryn didnae take Ma from ye. Ye cannae blame him for that, and even if ye did ye would be nae better than him if ye took Caitlin away from me. I love her Da, with everything I have. We can make peace between the two clans. Trust us. We can dae it,” he said.
For a moment he didn’t think his words would get through to Malcolm. Fire flickered in his eyes, and Rhys braced himself for a violent fight. But the longer Malcolm hesitated the more Rhys felt confident of being able to convince his father.
“Think of the children that hae nae been born yet. Think of yer grandchildren that will be born one day. Dae ye really want tae be known as the man who massacred an entire clan, including his own son? If Ma were here dae ye really think she would want ye tae dae this? Naebody here wants this, Da. They’re only following yer lead. Stop this, please.”
Malcolm’s face twisted in fury.
“Get out of my way!” he roared, and swung the war hammer in front of him, but in such a way that it was always destined to miss Rhys. The rush of air made his hair blow back. Rhys stood firm. By now the attention of the men around them had been caught by their argument. Others had ridden up, including Bryn.
“The lad is right, Malcolm. I dinnae want this. I believed in the treaty. I believed in what ye said. If ye turn away now and stop this battle I’ll dae the same, for the sake of our children. Look at them…is this what ye wanted their wedding day tae be like?” Bryn gestured to the couple. Rhys was standing in front of a cowering Caitlin. They were stricken with fear. “Cannae ye see that this is the way forward? We need tae let gae of the past and let our children take control of the future.”
Rhys continued to hold his sword just in case his father did not stand down. But the fighting had stopped all around them as the parley took place. Rhys reached behind him and helped Caitlin to her feet. She stood by her husband, staring resolutely at Malcolm. It
