Deathstalker was no challenge either. Before he knew it, it was the middle of the fight and the men hurried out of the chamber to place more bets. While they were leaving, the judge caught everyone’s attention by announcing, “The last battle will be Ivan and Deathstalker together against Devil’s Hand.”
Terric shot a frightened look at Daniel, who just stood up and flexed his muscles for show.
“Do not worry, Terric. If I must go down, two against one is the way to go.” He said those words to calm his new friend, though in truth, he knew he had to be strong. He could not succumb, or he would risk losing his only chance to find his bluebell.
The next round started and Ivan and Deathstalker both jumped at Daniel, who side-stepped them so quickly they banged their heads together. The crowd went into a wild frenzy, which fueled Daniel even more.
He took more punches than he usually did because one would get behind him and try to hold him in place while the other swung at him, but after a while, he tired of this game and went for a different strategy.
In fact, he’d had enough of the whole event. Seeing his chance, he came to an abrupt stop in front of the two of them, shifted his arms down low with a deep growl, and then blasted each of them with a swift elbow under the chin.
The growl received such a reaction that he used it a few more times before he finished the two of them off—one with a fist to his temple and the second with a foot to his midsection that threw him against the back stone wall, knocking him out.
The crowd roared to life as the judge congratulated him and declared him the winner. All he could do was fall onto the stool, while Terric, thankfully, threw water on his face and gave him cups of water and ale, wiping the blood from his face and his fist.
“Well done, my lord,” Terric said, a proud grin on his face.
“Terric, you need not call me my lord.”
“Only a lord would fight like that. ’Twas amazing to watch.”
Daniel patted the lad on the back, then collected his coin from the judge. To his surprise, Lamont had joined him in the large chamber.
“Where to?” Daniel asked him, raising a brow.
Lamont said, “Be outside an hour before the sun rises, and I’ll give you complete instructions.”
***
Daniel rose early, spoke briefly to Connor to let him know he was leaving. Connor was to follow him, as they’d discussed, and if he had the chance, Daniel planned to search him out to reveal their destination. Lamont had told him he was sending guards with him, but he had no idea how many.
He met Terric along the way to The Hound and Stag. “Greetings, my lord. Good journey to you!”
“Here’s enough coin for you to sleep in the inn until I get back.” He tossed the lad several coins. He thought for a moment, then added, “Lad, will you take these two bags of coin and hide them for me? I’ll come back for them at a later time. If you need any coin, you’re welcome to what’s inside, but I promise to come back.” It would be dangerous to travel with so much coin. He trusted Terric to look after it for him, and if Daniel could not return, the lad would at least be provided for. “Lad, I speak the truth. Consider a coin or two pay for guarding my winnings.”
“You gave me plenty. I can eat, too,” he said, fingering the coins in the palm of his hand. “Probably for a moon with this much. Many thanks to you, Damien. Godspeed, and I hope we meet upon your return. I’ll hide the bags where no one will find them. I promise.”
Daniel stopped, turned to his new friend. “Is there any particular reason you remain in Edinburgh, lad?”
The lad stared at the ground. “Nay, ’tis all I know.”
Daniel nodded and headed back toward The Hound and the Stag. “I’ll look for you the next time I return.” He made a mental note to make good on his word as he watched the lad run off to hide his bounty.
Blair Lamont met him outside the inn and led him to the town stables. Four guards stood out front, clearly awaiting someone. “I tried to hire five, but all I could find is four.” He moved closer to Daniel so he wouldn’t be overheard by the men. “My usual men are unavailable. Many of the guards for hire were out on another mission. My guess is there’s another force after the lass. Be aware of your surroundings. My two men, Malcolm and his brother, have her at the waterfall northwest of here, two hours out. I told them to stay away from Edinburgh. Bring her to me right away. No stops. If she arrives safely, and untouched, I’ll double the amount I offered. I’ve doubled the guards’ pay so they’ll not leave you if there’s a whisper of trouble.”
Daniel glanced over his shoulder at the goons Lamont had hired. Two carried swords, two carried bows, though he knew their skills were no match for his cousins’. How he prayed they’d be on their way. If he was right, and three separate groups were indeed after Constance, he’d need all the help he could get.
He nodded and retrieved his own horse.
“You better return by nightfall or I’ll tell my superior to send his men after you. And you won’t like how they fight.”
“Your superior? You mean the judge? Or someone else?” Daniel bit his lip, hoping he was about to hear the name of the man who was above Blair Lamont. Could this be the Englishman who was in charge of the entire channel?
“The man who gives me instructions. You’ll never meet him.”
Daniel forced himself not to react. He’d find out which bastard led the group. He and his cousins had vowed to take them all down: Lamont, his superior, the men who carried the cargo, and the men who kidnapped the cargo. It took many unsavory characters to keep this channel running. One break in the chain could finish the entire operation.
Daniel noticed Terric had returned and stood on the opposite side of the street watching.
“I’ll find her.” Daniel mounted his destrier in one swift move, putting on a show for the men in the streets watching them. Wherever he went, he caught people staring at him. Even in Edinburgh, word traveled fast. His reputation had to be bigger than he’d guessed.
That gave him second thoughts about the journey he was about to take with four men he didn’t know. True, Connor would follow, but perhaps he would do well to enlist the help of another trusted friend. Instead of leaving, he made his way over to Terric. “Do you think you can keep up, lad? I need you along if you can.”
“Aye, I can keep up. I have my own dagger, too.”
He hopped down. “I’ll pay you more to come along.” In an undertone, he added, “If anything happens, I want you to find my friend and tell him. He’ll be following us at a distance. He’s the one who’s been at the matches, tall and big with dark hair.”
The lad nodded, so Daniel spoke to the four guards, then strode over to the stables and paid for another horse. “Mount up, lad.” He turned to the guards and said, “We leave now.” The men waited for him to lead the way.
Once they headed out together, passersby began to make comments.
“Look, ’tis Devil’s Hand.”
A few lads even chased him out of Edinburgh, following as far as they could. He growled a few times just for show.
Then he focused on his mission.
He wouldn’t return until he saved his bluebell.
Chapter Twenty
Constance lifted her head from the grass, her head still pounding from the fist she’d taken to her jaw last eve. She’d tried again to escape but failed miserably, earning herself a yank on her hair, a slobbery kiss, a paw to her breasts, and a fist to her jaw.
Would she ever be free of these nasty men?
Malcolm was up and leaving a stream of water not far behind her, the sound making her cringe. His brother followed him and said, “Want to watch, lass?” Then he guffawed as if he often did, laughing at his own foul jests.
It struck her that they were both busy, so she pushed herself to a sitting position, pushing past the pain from the raw wounds on her bound wrists. She was about to stand up when Malcolm’s voice called to her. “Don’t even think about it. We’ve made it this l
ong. I’ll never let you go now.”
She fell back down onto the ground with an unladylike grunt.
“Malcolm, when are the others coming? I’m tired of staying here. Why should it matter that there’s a waterfall?”
“I told you. They’ll be here before the sun is highest, then we’ll get our coin and I’ll take you to the brothel.” Malcolm scratched himself as he meandered back into the clearing. He reached for an oatcake and handed it to her, using the same hand he’d just used to scratch himself under his plaid.
Constance leaned backward, not wanting to get any closer to that hand.
“Fine. Go hungry.”
She got up and they untied her long enough for her to go behind a bush, but then Malcolm moved to bind her hands again. The sound of horses reached their ears before Malcolm finished his job.
He and his brother both ran toward their horses, so she took this as an opportunity from God.
She ran.
***
Daniel would have to do his best to hide his identity. His beard had grown so much since he’d last seen Constance, plus his face was bruised and his hair unclean and unkempt. He suspected she’d have to look at him twice before she recognized him.
Hopefully, it would give him enough time to give her some sort of message.
As soon as they approached the waterfall, they ran into a small group of reivers. He took off toward the thieves, using his sword to cut two of the men down, and left the rest for the guards.
Something else had caught his attention. Two men were headed straight for them from behind a copse of trees, and they looked like the ones Lamont had described.
But he also caught a glimpse of red hair off to the side.
Constance was on the run.
He bellowed to the pair and pointed at them with his sword. “Do not move.”
He took off after Constance, planning to lift her onto his horse and leave the others behind, if they were fool enough not to follow him.
The sounds of horses’ hooves behind him told him he wouldn’t be so fortunate. He’d find another time to steal away. He followed her, listening to the snap of twigs and the rustle of leaves from her feet as he drew close. There was only room for him to pass her on the right, so he would have to use his left arm to grab her. He could only hope she’d hang on to him and not fight him. If she fought hard enough, Treun could come off.
He was almost upon her when she glanced over her shoulder and slowed, which gave him the angle he needed. He leaned over and scooped her up, ignoring her squeals as she faltered in his arms.
“Constance, grab my neck.”
She stared at him and did as she was instructed, hugging him with delight, but she quickly leaned back and wriggled her nose. “Daniel? ’Tis truly you?”
“Hush. Play along or they’ll kill us. I’ll explain later.”
“Daniel?”
“You don’t know me.” He turned around and headed back toward the clearing, surprised to see two of the guards right behind him. If he’d tried to run, he wouldn’t have made it.
When he got there, he lowered Constance down from his horse with a snarl and a growl. “Don’t move, you stupid bitch.”
Constance spun around in a fury. If he’d been within reach, she’d have slapped him.
At least he’d had a wee chance to warn her.
He turned his head so the others couldn’t see him. Then he smiled and winked, just for her.
She picked up a clump of dirt and threw it at him.
***
Constance couldn’t believe her eyes, nor her luck.
At least, she thought it was luck.
A brute on horseback had chased her down. Glancing over her shoulder, she’d feared she’d see Malcolm’s brother.
It wasn’t Malcolm or his brother. In fact, her pursuer looked distinctly like a bedraggled Daniel.
Her Daniel.
She turned around to face him just before he scooped her up with his amputated arm. She knew it because she could feel something hard at the end, but it wasn’t flesh. Other than that surprise, she was ecstatic.
“Daniel?” She wished to hug him and kiss him and jump up and down, but when she saw the expression on his face, something told her not to be effusive in her greeting.
“Hush, play along or they’ll kill us.”
What was he talking about? She glanced behind him and saw two strange men chasing them. She didn’t recognize either one of them.
“You don’t know me,” he ground out.
What was he talking about? Then it dawned on her. Perhaps he had made his way into a bad group of men just to find her. She’d have to be quiet and see what she could find out.
They reached the clearing, and he dropped her off his horse as if she were no better than a sack of oats.
“Don’t move, you stupid bitch.”
Well, hellfire, he didn’t have to speak to her like that, no matter what he was hiding. Then he had the gall to smile and wink as if she were in on the joke. She picked up a clump of dirt and threw it at him.
She reminded herself that this was her Daniel. He had an odd sense of humor, certainly, but he was born a Drummond and had the heart of a Highlander.
She backed away toward a tree at the corner of the clearing, noticing Malcolm hadn’t properly secured her hands. She could free them if she so wished. Ignoring her captors—Daniel could take care of them—she sat and leaned against the tree, setting her bound hands in her lap where the men wouldn’t see the dangling ends of the rope.
Malcolm yelled, “Who the hell are you?”
“Damien. Lamont sent me.” He climbed off his horse and crossed the clearing, standing in front of the two brothers. His expression told her he intended to intimidate them, and the look on Malcolm’s face told her he was succeeding. True, Daniel wasn’t as tall or as broad as some of his cousins, but he still wasn’t afraid of any of these fools.
Damien? Her hunch had been right. Daniel was hiding his identity.
Malcolm swallowed. “Give me my coin and we’ll leave. You can have the wench. She’s done naught but cause me trouble. She kicked me and bruised my leg.”
Daniel snorted. “Looks like she got worse than she gave.” He moved over and bent down, lifting her chin so he could look at the bruises on her face. She did her part and shoved his hand away.
Daniel didn’t hesitate. He strode over to Malcolm, hauled his fist back, and punched him in the jaw. “Lamont said she was not to be touched.”
“I didn’t touch her.”
“Then why does she have two bruises on her face?”
“She fell.”
Malcolm’s brother broke into a gale of laughter.
Daniel strode over to him and gripped him by the tunic. “Did you touch her?” he growled.
“Nay, nay! I didn’t touch her. I wanted to, but he wouldn’t allow it.” He pointed to his brother.
Daniel set him down and said, “You got your coin. Move on. You’ll only slow us down.”
“He promised me more,” Malcolm said, his tone verging on a whine.
“Then take it up with him. He’s still in Edinburgh. Go see what more he’ll give you.”
The two moved toward their horses while Daniel went to chat with the guards he brought with him.
It gave her the chance to look him over.
Daniel looked like hell. His hair looked like it hadn’t been combed in a moon. His beard was the same. In fact, she couldn’t believe Daniel could have grown such a full beard in that short time. His face and clothes were dirty, and he sported several of his own bruises and a black eye.
What had happened to him? She was quite certain he wasn’t with any of his cousins.
Before she had time to give it anymore thought, a young lad emerged from behind some bushes. Another person she’d never seen before.
Daniel turned to the lad and said, “Terric, get the lass some water and a piece of cheese from my saddlebag.”
The lad, Terric, quickly did
as he was bid, handing her the cheese and a skin of water. He untied her hands so she could eat and gave her a linen square to wash with. “Sorry, but ’tis the best I have, my lady. Is there water nearby?”
She pointed in the direction of the waterfall, and he took off, but then he returned to whisper. “Dinnae worry. Damien will not hurt you. He’s the best fighter in all of Edinburgh. They call him Devil’s Hand. But he’d not hurt a lass.”
Constance washed her hands and face, then nibbled on the small piece of cheese. How long had it been since she had eaten? She watched Daniel, his broad shoulders, his lean waist. She thought his shoulders had grown wider, if that were possible. He gave curt instructions to the guards, informing them they had ten minutes to take care of their needs.
Terric returned to her side, and something about him caught her attention. “Lad, what happened to your hand?”
“I was born like this.”
Daniel came over and nodded. “Ten minutes and we leave.”
She looked at his arm and asked, “What is that thing you have on?”
Terric quickly stepped in to defend Daniel. “Damien doesn’t have a hand either. We’re the same ’cept I never had one and he lost his.”
Though she couldn’t reveal she knew him, she thought it fair to press him about the contraption on his left arm. “What is that creation you have where you left hand should be?” She lifted her gaze to his and was instantly lost in those forest green eyes.
Daniel held his left arm up for her to see. “My cousin crafted this for me, and Terric here helped me perfect it.”
“Do you like it?”
He gave her an unreadable look. “Of course, I like it. I don’t have to walk around and have people stare at my stub anymore. Lass, if you need to take care of your needs, Terric will guard you. We leave in ten minutes.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To Edinburgh.”
“What for?” She tried to gauge Daniel’s meaning by searching his face, but he gave away nothing.
Highland Fortitude (The Band of Cousins Book 5) Page 13