Plead Forgiveness: Betrayed Twice (Loyalty Series)

by Dobsyn, Aury

  Before leaving the hall with the other warriors, Ualan stopped in front of Fin. He cupped her face and said, “I ken ye fear greatly for Ella, but-”

  “Aye, but I fear greatly for ye as well,” she cried.

  “I am only half a warrior, but I vow to keep our dearest friend safe, then . . .”

  “Then?”

  “Then I will return and marry ye, if ye will have me. I have loved ye from the moment I saw ye, but I’m nae the man I once was.”

  Fin wrapped her arms around him and said, “I love the man ye are now, and would be honored to be yer wife.”

  He smothered her last word with a passionate kiss, and then turned to follow Laird Gavin from the hall. With Lady Esme, Eva, Maeve, and Father Logan, she watched the men ride out over the drawbridge as she silently prayed that all would be well.

  30

  Ella entered the secret tunnel that lead into the Mackenzie fortress a few hours before dawn. The trap door lay hidden in the hollow of an ancient yew tree, a furlong from the castle. She moved her hand along the wall of the long, narrow tunnel until it branched into two, one leading to the dungeons, the other to the far side of the castle. She turned toward the iron ladder built into the wall that went to the passageway behind the bedchambers..

  Scurrying up the ladder, she heard voices of those occupying the hall. When she reached the first floor, she recognized Philip voice, speaking with one of his men. She quickly learned that Gabriel, confined to a bedchamber above stairs, would receive neither food nor water. Good, she thought, they will not notice Gabriel’s absence immediately.

  With slow, quiet movements, she continued up the ladder to the second floor. Unaware which chamber belonged to Gabriel, she began to panic. She then heard the soft weeping of a child. Gabriel.

  Careful not to startle the frightened boy, she slowly entered the chamber by pushing aside a hidden panel in the wall. To her surprise, the little boy lay face down on the bed. She moved to the bed just as he turned over and before he could react, she quickly covered his mouth with her hand.

  “Gabriel, it’s me, Ella.”

  He recognized her at once, threw himself into her arms and cried, “Ella, thank God! They have-”

  She put her finger to his lips and said, “Shhh . . . I know all. We will get them out. You must listen to me very carefully and do exactly as I say.”

  When he nodded, she continued, “First, you must remain silent, especially when we are in the secret passageways.”

  When she saw his look of confusion, she explained, “There is a reason why you were not told. You have not yet reached your ninth summer, only then are children shown the passageways. We do not have time for me to explain all, for we must get your father and uncles out of the dungeon. I can’t do this alone. I will need your help and complete trust.”

  Gabriel nodded, remembering that she had told him not to speak.

  Before leaving the chamber, she stuffed clothes under the bed cover to give the appearance of Gabriel sleeping. Moments later, they descended the ladder leading to the dungeon.

  She picked up her medicinal satchel that she left at the split, and then headed to where her brothers were imprisoned. Her brother may have injuries that needed immediate attention. In addition, some of her iron tools would assist in removing their shackles.

  After ordering Gabriel to stay in the tunnel, she knelt on the ground and pulled a huge stone out from the wall. She crawled through the small opening, and once inside with her satchel over her shoulder, she walked slowly toward the three figures sitting at the opposite side of the dungeon.

  The torch above the stairwell provided enough light to see her brothers shackled to the stonewall, and only Guy looked conscious. Each one had been beaten, but their injuries appeared not to be life threatening. As she approached, the partial light afforded her a glimpse of the three faces she had not seen in eight years. Even with the bruising, to her, they still looked devastatingly handsome.

  Guy’s brow pulled into an affronted frown and a muscle flicked angrily in his jaw, as he stared at the small dark figure before him.

  “Please, dinna speak. I must get ye out of here.” She spoke with a Scottish accent to alleviate suspicion then pulled iron tools from her satchel.

  Guy choked out, “Gabriel?”

  “He is safe and in the tunnel,” she explained, not bothering to look up as she worked on the shackles. Thankful that her mother had taught her this valuable skill, she worked diligently until they opened. She then pulled his ankle free from the iron.

  “Who are ye? How do ye ken of the tunnel?”

  “Ye can ask me anything after I get ye three to safety.”

  Guy nodded and watched as she removed his brothers’ shackles with strange tools that looked quite familiar to him. When she waved something under Keir’s nose, he assumed that she was a healer. When his brother woke, Guy quickly covered his mouth.

  “Keir, dinna speak. Gabriel is well and waiting in the tunnel. This strange lass removed our shackles and wishes to help us to safety. All will be answered in time, but for now remain silent.”

  Keir nodded as he looked at the female in question, but could not see her face clearly. When she tried to wake Hamon using the same method she had used with him, he whispered, “Drugged.”

  Wasting no time, she grabbed Hamon’s wrist and proceeded to drag his limp body to the tunnel. Both Guy and Keir just stared at her in disbelief, then, on wobbly legs, moved to help her.

  She went through the tunnel first to give Gabriel her satchel and instructed him to follow the tunnel to the end. “It will be dark, so let the wall be your guide. Dinna fear, sweetling. We will follow, but at a slower pace. They have been beaten, but ‘tis naught I canna fix.”

  Gabriel nodded, and then started down the tunnel. Although petrified, he knew Ella needed him to conquer his fear for the sake of all their lives. He would question her later to why she suddenly spoke like a Scot, rather than an English lass.

  The small space proved quite difficult for the large men, but with her assistance in dragging them through the opening, they soon all stood in the tunnel.

  Ella quickly slid the stone back into place to conceal their escape route, then took hold of Hamon’s wrists again and began to drag her limp brother down the tunnel.

  Guy and Keir grabbed their brother’s feet, lifting him to silence the dragging sound. They used the wall to brace themselves, but had to stop twice before they came to the end of the tunnel.

  “Gabriel,” Ella whispered.

  “Aye, I’m here.”

  She found his outstretched hand, pulled him into a hug, and then pushed him into Keir.

  Her heart melted when she heard the two embrace.

  Keir whisper softly, “Gabriel, are ye hurt or harmed in any way?”

  “Nae, Papa. But, we canna talk, Ella says so.”

  “Aye, but I believe she will need our assistance,” Keir replied.

  When Ella tried to climb up the stones embedded in the wall leading to the trap door, a large hand fell upon her shoulder.

  “Let me go first,” Guy whispered.

  “Nae, ye will need my help at the top,” she said in a hushed tone as she continued to climb up.

  “Then allow me to help.”

  “Nae-” Her protest faltered as Guy grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up to the trap door. She did not want Guy wasting his strength on her, but knew they had little time to argue.

  With haste, she retrieved the rope from her saddlebag, tied one end to Apollo, and then dropped the other end to Guy.

  Ignoring the rope, Guy and Keir easily lifted Gabriel into her waiting arms. The two oldest brothers then tied the rope around Hamon and allowed her to use her horse to pull him through the opening of the tree hollow. She used the same method to lift Guy, followed by Keir.

  Once safely out of the tunnel, Ella had Guy mount Apollo, the easiest of the three horses to ride. With Keir’s help, she then tied Hamon to Guy’s back. Before mounting
Righ, she helped Keir and Gabriel onto Coisi.

  Dawn had yet to come when Keir led them through the woods towards the burn. The moon bathed the landscape in a soft white light as it cast shadows that concealed their escape. They stopped occasionally to listen for signs of other riders, but hearing only crickets and moving water beyond, they continued their slow pace.

  As they approached the bridge crossing over onto Fraser land, Ella asked, “Are the Fraser’s nae yer enemy?”

  Due to the excruciating pain rippling through his body, Keir barely heard the feminine whisper. Baron Greystone’s men had whipped his back and feet until he blacked out from the blood loss. He silently prayed to remain conscious long enough to get his son, brothers, and the lass to safety.

  “They are neither enemies nor allies,” replied Guy. “Our chances are better with them than the English.”

  “RIDE,” Ella screamed when she heard horses galloping towards them.

  Both Guy and Keir kicked the flanks of their horses, bolting to the bridge as she stayed behind and moved into the shadows. When she pulled out her bow, she saw flaming arrows light up the darken sky and impale the wooden bridge. They were trying to burn the bridge down, effectively cutting off their escape route.

  There were three of them, she noticed as she took aim, and then let loose an arrow at the lead rider. He fell dead to the ground while his companions continued their chase. She let a second arrow fly, but a sudden gust of wind misdirected it, giving them sufficient time to hit the bridge with two more flaming arrows. She let loose another arrow, hitting one in between the shoulder blades, while the last soldier raced toward the bridge.

  Ella rode hard, following in his wake. Beyond the last soldier, she saw her brothers and Gabriel moments from crossing the bridge, which had caught fire. With her heart pounding in her chest, she took aim and killed the last man.

  When Ella reached the bridge and pulled Righ to a stop, her brothers and Gabriel stood safely on the other side. She closed her eyes, hearing the timber splinter apart and the splash of the wooden bridge falling into the burn. She lost her chance to cross and be with her family. A flash of loneliness stabbed her heart as she opened her eyes and gazed across the water.

  The dawn bathed the horizon in a red and orange glow, illuminating the landscape around the lost sibling. Keir and Guy stood motionless, staring in utter disbelief. In the light of the new day, they saw the face of the one they had loved so fiercely, but thought never to see again. To recognize the sister they believed had died, only to be separated once again, left them trembling with vicious agony and wretched helplessness.

  Hearing riders in the distance, Ella’s chest tightened knowing that this would be the last time she would see her family. She took once last look at her brothers, and then put her hand over her heart to convey her love. Tears blurred her vision as she turned and rode back into the dense woods.

  Had she looked a moment longer, she would have seen Keir and Guy put their tight fist over their hearts while they stared at their beloved sister. Stone-hard determination replaced shock and pain.

  Riding hard to Doran Castle, they thought only of their sister. She risked her life to save them. Now, like a sacrificial lamb, the wolves stalked her.

  With ardent purpose driving them to neck breaking pace, they raced across Fraser land determined to reach the Macleod fortress with haste. They silently vowed not fail her, not lose their beloved sister again.

  31

  A two hours past dawn, Gavin and Alex spotted a large party of Highlanders riding as if the devil chased them. When the two lairds recognized the Fraser plaid worn by the approaching riders, they gave the signal to halt the hundreds of warriors following in their wake.

  “They have Keir and Guy,” Gavin hissed.

  When Laird Fraser slowed his mount to a stop, Alex roared, “Explain!”

  Neither intimidated nor offended by the gruff reception, Laird Cormac Fraser faced the man he had once called ally and friend. It had been many years since Alex allied the Mackenzies with the Macleods. Due to this disloyal act, Cormac had severed all ties with the Mackenzies. That was until now.

  Gavin Macleod’s wife and brother had rescued his daughter yesterday, forcing Cormac to consider putting the past behind him. Last eve, he had trouble forgetting the winsome face of the lass who boldly threatened to cut off his tongue. She had her mother’s green eyes and her father’s memorable smile. She inherited her sun kissed blond hair from both her parents as well as her undeniable spirit. She was Alex Mackenzie’s daughter, and she was very much alive. Realizing the earth-shattering discovery, he did not hesitate to inform his once closest friend.

  “I was on my way to see ye when I happen upon yer sons and grandson. Yer sons have taken a beating, and nae would have made it without our help.”

  Alex saw that Keir and Guy were on their own horses, but looked as if they had just returned from battle. Gabriel sat in front of a Fraser soldier, thankfully unharmed.

  Before Alex could ask about Hamon, Keir rode forward and said, “Hamon was drugged and has been unconscious for many hours. Laird Fraser had him put in a cart and escorted to the Macleod stronghold by his men.”

  Although grateful for the return of his sons and grandson, Alex wanted his daughter, who remained in great danger. Deciding not to mince words, he stated, “Yer sister is alive.”

  Keir, Guy and Laird Fraser said at once, “Ye ken?”

  “Aye, and I will have the bastard’s head on a pike afore the day is out. Baron Greystone has made her life hell for eight years as revenge against me. My daughter went to him in hopes of bartering herself for yer lives.”

  “She dinna go to barter herself, she-” Guy started to say.

  “Explain!” Alex roared with sudden fury.

  “She rescued us,” Guy said slowly.

  Simultaneously, Alex and Gavin asked, “What?”

  “She appeared in the dungeon after retrieving my son from his chamber,” Keir imparted. “She freed us from the shackles-” He startled, hearing his father’s bellow.

  “Where is my daughter?”

  With haste, Keir explained that she stayed behind without their knowledge, to kill the three English soldiers that chased them with flaming arrows.

  “The bridge caught fire, trapping her on the other side of the burn just as the sun broke the horizon. Only then did we see that our baby sister had saved us and . . .” He broke off, overcome by emotion and heartache.

  Rage filled the air as Gavin and Alex listened to the events that occurred only an hour past. The mighty lairds formulated a new plan, which Laird Fraser strengthened by adding his warriors to the mix of fighting men. Their fighting force, well over 600 highland warriors, would split into four groups and surround the enemy, cutting off any chance of escape.

  Before leaving, Alex went to Keir and said, “Ye must take Gabriel to Doran.” Seeing his son about to protest, he stated, “I ken ye want to help get her back, but ye canna fight in yer condition. I can see that yer feet bleed and suspect ye will nae be able walk. Get yer son and my grandson to safety.”

  Although his father spoke the truth, it did nothing to ease the pain torturing his heart. He turned to Guy and said, “I thought ye were whipped as well?”

  “Aye, but nae to the extent ye were, and nae on my feet.”

  “Then go and get our sister back.”

  Guy stated with fierce determination, “Aye, she will be with us once again.”

  32

  Ella had tried to outmaneuver the numerous English scouring the countryside, unfortunately the clear blue sky and warm morning sunlight left her more visible and vulnerable. She sighed, realizing that her defeat was inevitable and only a heartbeat away.

  Righ battled his fatigue, but could not continue. After reining in the spirited animal, she vaulted to the ground, and then removed the cumbersome saddle. She stroked his head then took the bit from his mouth. “You have served me well, my friend, but I will not put you in danger. You have
the choice of returning to the Macleods or claiming your freedom. Thank you, Righ.” She slapped his backside, and then watched him take off into the woods.

  She quickly hid her bow and empty quiver in the base of an old yew tree as tears streamed down her face, remembering the men who gifted it to her last eve.

  After concealing the saddle and reins under a bush, she ran to a group of towering pine trees that would serve as temporary refuge. She scrambled up, and then waited for the inevitable.

  Although she ached for Gavin, he and his clan were better off without her. Baron Greystone’s men would soon discover her whereabouts. At least she had a reprieve from facing Gavin when he learned the truth about his wife. She could not bear to see his loving eyes fill with hatred.

  The sounds of horses interrupted her thoughts, and within moments, a handful of Baron Montgomery soldiers looked up at her perched in the tree. She tried to climb further up, but one man leapt onto a lower limb from his horse and yanked her down. Branches scratched her face and neck before she hit the ground with a mighty blow that expelled all the air from her lungs. She gasped for breath as the vile man grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to her feet.

  “You give me any trouble, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll not soon forget.”

  Another man came forward with rope in his hands and laughed, “I’ll tie the wench to ensure she gives us nae trouble on the way to the ship.”

  They tied her hands behind her back and looped additional rope around her neck. They then forced her to walk behind their mounts.

  “A wench on a leash is a fine sight indeed.”

  Ella asked, “Where are you taking me?”

  “Shut your mouth, whore. You open it again and I’ll. . .” He trailed off when she lowered her eyes.

  She remained quiet, but listened intently. Apparently, Baron Montgomery awaited her arrival on nearby ship, anchored off the coast of Mackenzie land.