It was taking entirely too long. Cien closed his eyes and grit his teeth as he listened to the Buchanan and the Hamilton squirming over some pitiful aspect of their plot. "By Saint. Timothy's teeth!" Cien roared finally tired of the bickering. He stood from the Laird's chair and stomped over to the two over grown children.
"Tis my plan and it shall be carried out to my specifications. UNDERSTOOD?!" The Hamilton backed a few steps away, knowing what was good for him. The Buchanan scoffed.
"Cien yer entirely too hot headed. If we follow this plan accordingly, yer not only gonna kill yer men, but ours as well," he said motioning to the other men. "Ye need to stop and think this through. Yer gonna kill us all with yer idiotic ideas."
With a growl, Cien picked the man up by his neck and tossed him away. "Anyone else think my plan needs more thought?" No one said a word as the Buchanan stood slowly shaking himself.
"We leave within the hour."
He stomped out of the hall and into the bailey. It was raining, and the only men out were the stable boys running from the hall to the stables to ready the numerous horses. He stopped in the middle of the mud soaked field and tried to calm himself.
It had been a week since Rose had been taken, and it had been a hellish week. He had outlined his plan on the first night the Hamiltons, Buchanans and MacBains had arrived. It had been nothing but bickering over it ever since. He'd stayed up all night every night unable to sleep. Wondering what her fate was. Was she already dead? Had they burned her, or had they let her live?
He raised his head to the sky and let the pounding rain wash over him. Maggie had come to him last night and frustrated him further with her tales of Rose.
She'd some to his chamber after he'd retired, and sat down in front of his fire. "Healer, what is it you wished to speak to me about?" Maggie had only smiled, warming herself with the fire.
"Who found our Lady Rose when she first came to the keep, Cien?"
He thought for a moment. "My cousin Kevin, I believe." Maggie smiled.
"Do you remember when he brought her?"
Cien nodded and looked into the fire. "He was holding her in his arms and I bid him take her up to a chamber and see her fixed properly. We sent for you soon after."
Maggie held her hands out to the fire and watched it closely, never looking at Cien.
"Do you remember how she clothed herself?"