by Barbara Bard
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 by Barbara Bard
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Table of Contents
Highlander’s Revenge
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
The Extended Epilogue
Highlander’s Captive -A Preview
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Highlander’s Savior-A Preview
Prologue
Chapter 1
Be A Part of Barbara Bard’s Family
Also by Barbara Bard
Highlander’s Revenge
Chapter 1
Alastar pinched himself to convince himself that he was not dreaming. Being isolated in captivity had played with his mind, but now that the fresh air was on his body again and he could breathe in the scents of the outside world, he was feeling more like his old self and was thankful that he had managed to keep hold of a shred of his sanity.
Alastar stretched his legs as he looked around at the natural world, a sight he had not seen in years. He relished being free and wished that he could have thanked Declan and Catherine more fully. He was sure that the two of them would have a good life together, if they made it back to the Highlands safely. They were well-suited, and Declan seemed to have a good future ahead of him. In some ways, Declan reminded Alastar of his own father, a devout and dutiful man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, a weight that was Alastar's to carry now.
When Declan had been placed into the prison with him, Alastar pitied the young man. He seemed afraid and unsure of himself. Alastar didn't think he would last long, but the young man had proven resourceful and managed to escape, returning to the Highlands to send word of Lord Flynn's planned attack.
There was much that Alastar didn't understand, such as how a man like Declan and Lord Flynn's daughter had met and developed such a bond that she was willing to set them free and flee with him to the Highlands, but he was glad that the magic happened because he was finally able to stretch his legs and be a part of the world again.
The plan for their escape had been daring. He and Declan had been ushered out quickly. There had been no time to get his revenge on Lord Flynn. Declan and Catherine had gone back to the Highlands as soon as possible.
He hoped that he would see Declan again, to thank him properly. Alastar had been tempted to return to the Highlands, to see the land of his birth, but there was much business Alastar had yet to do in England.
Firstly, he had to make sure nobody followed Declan and Catherine. He wanted to make sure they got away safely. A wagon in the night may have raised some suspicion, and if anyone gave pursuit they would soon catch up with the fleeing pair. Declan had tried to make Alastar go with him, but Alastar knew what he needed to do.
His body ached, and he straightened his back, avoiding the stoop he had developed over the years in prison. He was still a young man, although he was not sure how many years had passed exactly. The days and nights blended into one while stuck in the dungeon. It was a wonder he hadn’t lost his mind, but as he was now free he felt the strength slowly return to his limbs.
The years had not been kind to Alastar, but he had nurtured a growing resentment and festering need for revenge for the entirety of his captivity. He hadn't been completely honest with Declan when the young lad had asked him how he had survived all this time. Alastar's mind was a dark place, filled with thoughts of vengeance against the man who had sentenced him to a lifetime of imprisonment, and against the man who had killed his father.
That last day of freedom lived long in his mind. He and his father had been defending a small village near the Lowlands.. They had a simple way of life. Being farmers they did not possess the skills needed to defend themselves, so the Blue Thistle would defend them.
The English had come loud and brash, claiming that the land was their own and the Highlanders should move. Of course, the Highlanders did not want to do that. This was their home, and they felt that nobody had a right to ask them to leave, certainly not the English. But the English were hungry, greedy. They wanted more, and they wanted to drive the Highlanders away.
It would have been a slaughter had it happened, but Alastar and his father prevented it. The fight was long and hard, for the English did not give up easily. Alastar and his father had not been used to defeat, but it had to come to every man at some point in his life, and that day was dark for the both of them.
They managed to fight back most of the English, but the price they extracted was a heavy one. The Blue Thistle had been killed. The men, led by Athelred Flynn, never usually took prisoners, but he had made an exception in Alastar’s case Alastar had been forced to watch as his father had been killed and the farm was burned, razed to the ground. He could still hear the screams of the victims in his mind, pleading for salvation, only finding it in death.
Alastar had thought that his life was going to be forfeit as well, but Athelred Flynn had bitter plans for him. The Blue Thistle had plagued him in the war, so it gave him great satisfaction to know that the man was finally dead, and that he now held his son as prisoner. For his greatest revenge, he said that he was going to ensure that nobody remembered Alastar, that he would do nothing of note in his life, and spend the days that remained in the dungeon, and it would be as though he didn't exist at all.
Over the years, he had proven himself to be true to his word. Alastar had to suffer humiliation at the hands of the guards. He kept himself fit with exercise, but the food with which he had to nourish himself was meager and bland, so his body was gaunt, and weaker than before.
But all through that dark period of his life he never gave up hope that one day he would be released and walk the world again. When he did, he would get his revenge on Athelred Flynn, and avenge the death of his father, the farmers, and anyone else who had died by the order of Flynn. The evil of him ran like a deep river through this land and it was Alastar’s duty to end it.
Alastar prowled the woods and waited, lurking in the trees. He stood poised on a branch, ready to jump, and indeed, before too long a wagon rushed along the road, a patrol sent to search for Athelred's missing daughter. Alastar smiled. He knew Athelred would send someone, although it didn't seem as though he was part of the search party himself.
As soon as the wagon was underneath him, Alastar jumped down and landed in the middle. There were
five men, but two of them were knocked out by his elbows before they could react, for they were all shocked by his presence. The other two that were sitting in the back of the wagon jumped up with surprise, and only just managed to keep their balance.
One was swifter than Alastar assumed and drew his sword, thrusting it forward. Alastar only just managed to dodge, the blade coming too close to his skin. It had been a long time since he had tested himself in combat and he was sluggish, but today was not his day to die. He had too much to do.
He spun on his heels and moved closer to the man, then took hold of the man's wrist and bashed it with the side of his palm. The man cried out in pain and dropped his sword. Alastar dropped to his knees and picked up the blade, narrowly avoiding having his neck slashed by the other soldier who had joined the fight. Without hesitation, Alastar jabbed the blade upwards into the first man's stomach, ending his life instantly.
He withdrew the blade quickly and deflected another swipe from the other man. It was easy enough to disarm him and slash his chest, sending him crashing over the side of the wagon to his death.
That just left the driver, who was torn between holding the reins and fighting Alastar. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that all the other guards had been killed, so he turned to draw his sword, but when Alastar saw the threatening move he acted quickly, thrusting his sword through the man's neck.
The horses continued to run along the road, carrying the dead bodies. Alastar leapt from the wagon and turned back to face the estate. A smiled curled on his face. The Blue Thistle had returned, and he had much to do.
Chapter 2
A mixture of anxiety and fear beat through Rebecca’s chest. She watched from a shadowed place as Lady Flynn and her strange friends left. Rebecca knew in her heart that she had done the right thing, but she hoped that she was not going to be discovered, for it had gone against the law of the estate.
As soon as the wagon left, she saw George walk back. Rebecca rushed up to him.
“Is this for the best?” she asked, her face pale in the moonlight.
“Trust me, it is.”
“But surely soon Lord Flynn will discover the disappearance of his daughter?” Rebecca said in a harsh whisper.
“No doubt that he will, but she is much better now. Just be quiet and go about your business as usual. Nobody will suspect you. Act normally, and blend into the crowd.”
With that, George left. Rebecca blended into the crowd just as she had been doing her entire life, being the youngest of a litter of children. Now she was just one of a number of servants working on the estate. There had been many strange goings on recently, and the estate had been in turmoil.
She spun on her heels to return to her chambers. The hallways of the estate were dim. The moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by starlight. It was deathly beautiful, and every moment was laced with fear and danger. Rebecca had always been taught to be a good girl, and she was so terrified of being discovered.
She slipped back into her room and made her way to her bed. She stopped as she heard her companion move. Rebecca held her breath, then continued to her bed when a soft snore emanated from her friend.
Rebecca pulled the blanket over her and closed her eyes, trying to get to sleep, although her mind was a whirl.
Who was that man, and why had Lady Flynn gone with him? The rumors had swirled around the estate. Even though Lord Flynn had banned any talk about his daughter, many of the rumors were unsavory. She had definitely changed since the last time Rebecca had seen her. Lady Flynn seemed far more aware of the world around her, and compassionate to her fellow man. Whatever she had been through it had changed her, many would say for the better.
She had also managed to enlist Rebecca's help. Aiding them had been easy, but now Rebecca had to live with the knowledge that she had betrayed Lord Flynn. How was she supposed to carry the lie with her?
Part of her wished that she had been taken with them just so that she would have been able to avoid all this tension, but she never would be able to make it away from this estate. Never before had she lived anywhere else. Her entire life had revolved around servitude and she couldn't imagine doing anything else.
She hoped that when the morning sun presented itself, she would be a little happier. She simply had to remain quiet and out of sight. Nobody would pay any attention to her, for she was just a simple servant. Indeed, it was doubtful that anyone would think her capable of such a transgression, anyway.
It was a pure twist of fate that Lady Flynn had sought her help. Rebecca was the only person who bothered to see that the prisoners were properly fed, but her kindness had tangled her up in a dangerous plan. Lady Flynn had stressed to Rebecca that she would be safe, but now Rebecca wasn't sure.
She knew how Lord Flynn treated his enemies, and despite her tender nature, Rebecca had proven herself to be one by letting the prisoners escape. Declan seemed fresh-faced, and there was evidently much affection between himself and Lady Flynn. He was far from the image of an English noble though, and Rebecca found herself wondering how he had captured Lady Flynn's affection.
If anyone had told her this story, Rebecca would have accused them of lying, or been sure that the Highlander had worked some magic upon Catherine but having been in their presence it was clear that Catherine held Declan in high regard, and her heart was true.
Rebecca also thought of the other man she had helped escape, the prisoner who had been held in the dungeon for as long as she could remember. Although she had never spoken to him before she had always pitied him, for it seemed as though the man had been forgotten. If she hadn't bothered taking him food, he would likely have died a long time ago.
Often, she had heard him muttering to himself, rambling about things gone past. He seemed to have lived a tragic life, but at least now he could be free of that pain and find peace.
There was something about the way he asked her name, something about the look in his eyes when he passed her that was so vibrant, she could not stop thinking about him. In a way he had more light in his eyes than she did in hers.
Was this what her life amounted to? Was this all she was going to be, just a simple serving girl with no other ambitions?
Rebecca sighed as she turned over in bed and faced the wall. It would do no good thinking about what might happen tomorrow, for nobody could ever be sure of that. She should be happy with her lot and hope that suspicion would pass over her head.
She was sure that she would never see that man again, and she was worrying herself over nothing. All she had to do was remain quiet and do her duty like the good serving girl she was. With that, she closed her eyes and let sweet slumber overwhelm her, little knowing that the strings of fate were drawing around her, luring her into a web from which she could not escape.
The rest of the night passed without incident, and as the dawn sun rose, she awakened to the sound of her companion yawning. Rebecca opened her eyes. The things she had done almost seemed like a dream, but she had done them, nonetheless. It was only a matter of time until Lord Flynn discovered that his daughter had left the estate. Rebecca took a deep breath, then stepped out of bed and began her day.
“Are you well?” Elayne asked as she stretched her arms over her head and yawned. The golden-blonde hair of her friend shimmered as the dawn sunlight shone through the small window of their quarters.
“I am fine, although I did not have a restful sleep,” Rebecca said, rubbing her eyes.
“I thought I heard some disturbance in the night. Did you get up?”
Rebecca's cheeks flushed red. She turned her back on Elayne, making her bed. Rebecca cursed herself. She knew that she would have to get better with lying if she was to avoid any suspicion.
“I did. I thought if I got up for a walk, sleep would come easier for me when I returned.”
“Did it?” Elayne asked.
“A little.”
“I am looking forward to today. Did you hear that Lady Flynn's new husband is in the estate? I am goi
ng to try and impress her so that she will choose me to be a part of her entourage when she leaves.” Elayne stretched out her long legs and then began making her bed too. Rebecca's heart froze on her chest at the mention of Catherine. She would have to play dumb, and act as though she didn't know that Lady Flynn was no longer in the estate.
“You really wish to leave that much?”
“Of course! I hate being up here, so near the North. This part of the country is the past. We need to be looking south, towards Europe and beyond. That is where the future lies, and that is where the prospects for a husband are best. The pickings are rather slim here.”
“Do you still hold out hope that you will find some lord to take pity on you?” Rebecca asked.
“Pity? No, I shall charm him and make him see that those of us who live in servitude make more capable wives than the nobles. I am sure that one of them will see sense, especially when I flash them my smile and remind them that in bed a woman is a woman,” she gave Rebecca a teasing smile.
Elayne had always been the bawdy sort. She was the kind of girl that caught men's attention, and was often on the receiving end of many gifts. She was a spirited girl, and always ready with a laugh. She had a way about her that was completely alien to Rebecca, who saw herself as being rather plain.