Morg reached out and grabbed William by the throat, taking him away from Saracen.
"This is the one ye have been watching?"
"Aye!"
"No, William isn't a traitor, Saracen. He wouldn't have anything to do with the Lady Kat's disappearance. Release him, my Lord, please!” Stephen stepped forward and placed his hand on Morg's arm.
Saracen knocked his brother's hand off Morgan and stepped between them. “He has been seen meeting with Canton,” he hissed into Stephen's face.
"So?” William struggled in Morg's grasp, his face furious and defiant. “Canton is the true leader of the McAlester's, he always has been ... just as my father should have been clan leader were it not for you getting in the way."
Morg threw William to the ground, then drew his sword and held it at his throat. “Tell me where my wife is ... or I'll run ye through."
William stared defiantly up at his tormentor refusing to answer. When the blood began trickling around the sword point, his father let out a strangled gasp. “For God's sake, my Lord, he is just a lad!"
Morg didn't take his eyes off William, his glittering green gaze menacing and full of promise. “I'll nae hesitate to slice his throat if he doesn't talk. I want to know where the Lady Kat is, and I want to know now!"
"William, if ye know anything, tell him,” begged Stephen harshly, his voice full of horror for his son. “Canton has been deceiving ye if ye believe I should have been clan leader. Saracen was the right choice, the only choice in the circumstances. I could never lead the clan!"
"Maybe not, but I can,” boasted William angrily. “Or at least I can—someday."
"We'll talk about that another time, just tell Lord McAlester where his lady is—if ye know!"
There was a pause, and then William replied mulishly, “Canton has her."
The sword pricked his throat a little further and he shrank back into the ground, trying to evade it.
"Where has he taken her?” Morg asked ominously, his voice deceptively quiet.
"To ... to his stronghold, in the hills. I don't know where it is; I've never been there. He has always been very secretive about it."
Morg yanked the boy to his feet with his free hand and shoved him at Stephen. “See that he goes into the dungeon, I'll deal with him later. Saracen, I need your expert knowledge of the Highlands."
William shook his fist at Morg as his father hustled him off. “Ye won't be the Earl of McKenna for much longer! Ye will lose the challenge when Canton fights you—just like last time! Ye are going to lose!"
"What challenge?” Morg asked Saracen, looking skeptical as the lad was hauled away.
"That's the other thing I needed to tell ye,” replied Saracen, his hard blue eyes staring at Morg. He took a piece of rolled parchment out of his vest. “Here is Canton's declaration to me. He has invoked his right to challenge ye as ruler of Castle McKenna and the McAlester clan."
"He has no rights,” raged Morg furiously. “The man is a traitor, and he has my wife! I'm going to kill him and hang his head from the castle parapet!"
"Nay, Morg,” responded Saracen quietly. “He still holds the ring of your father's. Many of the clan feel he has the right, and many are loyal to him still."
Morg studied the older man. Saracen was a highland warrior, a big red headed man with arms like tree trunks and Morg was sure of his loyalty. Saracen's father had been loyal to Morg's father, and Saracen had been given clan leader by succession, as was proper.
"What happened, Saracen, that young William should feel that his father should have been appointed?” Morg walked to Kat's horse, inspecting it carefully, looking for any clues. It was odd that his men's horses should be taken, but not Kats. “And why didn't Canton keep Kat on her own horse?” He stroked the white flank gently, looking in the saddlebag.
"He left the Lady Kats horse with this missive tied to the saddle,” replied Saracen. When my men and I came upon William leading it, I was instantly suspicious. “It was simply too coincidental that your men's throats should be cut, but William left unharmed."
Saracen went on. “I've long suspected Canton had an ear close to the heart of the clan, and I believe William is that ear. Far too many things point in his direction, and it's common knowledge that he has been getting increasingly dissatisfied with his lot in life. He has often complained that his own father should have been appointed, instead of me, but I had no idea he aspired to the position himself, until just now. Canton must have been filling his young head with all kinds of false promises and lies in return for information."
Finding nothing else in the saddlebags, Morg turned back to Saracen, his jaw resolute. “Canton has long been a thorn in my life, Saracen. I intend to end that. When I find him, one of us will die."
"I think you should wait and take the challenge, Morgan,” replied Saracen, objecting. “That way it will be to the clan's satisfaction that all was done properly. If ye kill in revenge, there will still be unrest amongst those loyal to Canton."
Morg swung up onto his horse and turned to face Saracen. “If ye think Canton won't take this opportunity to kill me, ye are a fool. In fact, I'm quite sure the whole setup has been engineered to accomplish just that.” He leaned over his pommel to look Saracen determinedly in the eye. “He has no intention of completing the challenge. It's a smokescreen. He wants me dead and intends to make it happen when I come for Kat. She is the bait to lure me away from the castle."
"Ye may be right.” Saracen stroked his long red beard thoughtfully.
"I know I'm right. Now, where do ye think this fortress is that my half brother has entrenched himself in, and how long will it take to get there?"
* * * *
Gallagher came awake, instantly alert. He registered Eileen's absence just as quickly, and he swore softly under his breath. He had warned her last night not to go out alone, but apparently, she hadn't listened.
He rolled over and sprang to his feet. Blast the fact that her close proximity had rendered him sleepless for too many hours these last few nights. It had caused him to sleep deeply once he finally went under. He opened the barn door in the early morning light, gazing towards the privy. The cock hadn't even crowed yet, but a sense of uneasiness bade him draw his sword before he stepped out, barefooted, to walk along the path.
Reaching the privy, he knocked on the door. “Eileen? Are you in there?"
Receiving no answer, he tried the handle—it swung open wide. Eileen was not inside. His uneasiness growing, he headed towards the house. He knew she hadn't run off again, their horses were still in the barn.
He was just approaching the back door of the house when it swung open and Allen greeted him, looking askance at Gallagher's bare feet.
"Good morning!"
"Is Eileen inside?” Gallagher wasted no time on the preliminaries. His gaze swung to Mary, who had appeared behind her husband.
"No,” replied Mary. “She's not with you?” She frowned.
"No, she's not!"
"Oh dear,” said Mary.
The three spread out to look for Eileen, Gallagher swearing under his breath that he would spank her hard if she were off being foolish. Inside, he prayed she was off doing something foolish, like taking an early morning bath in the stream.
When Allen called his name, he turned from his trek towards the stream and followed the sound of his voice. Not too far from the privy, Allen pointed to horse droppings on the ground. “Someone has been here.” He pointed out the footprints in the loose soil. There were no prints small enough to be Eileen's, however.
The two men followed the tracks of the horse and the footprints a few hundred yards into the woods and came upon more hoof prints. At that point, the footprints ceased and Gallagher realized that whoever was on foot must have mounted horses.
"Someone's taken her,” growled Gallagher, turning back toward Allen's homestead. “I'm willing to bet it was Canton."
"Why didn't he just kill you in your sleep?” Allen asked speculatively as he
ran with Gallagher back to the house.
"That would raise too many eyebrows,” replied Gallagher, scowling. “The Earl of Brincairn, murdered in his sleep in a stable, would cause too many questions—maybe even bring the King's attention. No, he wants Eileen because she is Morg's sister, and he knows Morg will come to help find her. It's not me he is after, it's Morgan McAlester."
"If so, then why not just take his wife? It would have the same effect.” Allen looked puzzled and thoughtful.
"I don't, know. Maybe Kat has not presented an easy target, whereas Eileen has."
"You be careful my Lord, there may be more to this than what appears on the surface."
"I'm always careful,” replied Gallagher.
Mary met them, looking anxious. “Did you find anything?"
"She's been taken,” Gallagher said flatly. “I'm going after them."
"I'll go with you,” said Allen, following him to the barn.
"No, you stay here. The Brincairn clan ought to be along anytime. Go out to meet them and tell Jamie and Dungally what is going on. Have Jamie send half a dozen of his fastest and best fighters—the rest of the clan can come on behind them.” He finished with his boots and scabbard and swung up onto Minion.
"And have Dungally send word to Morg, just in case he doesn't know yet. Forewarned is forearmed."
Allen nodded. “Tis good as done."
"Here, take this,” said Mary breathlessly, running up and handing Gallagher a packet of food. “You might need it."
"God speed,” said Allen, and he stepped back and put his arm around Mary.
Gallagher never realized how wrong he was as he started after Eileen and her captors. Canton did want him out of the way; he just didn't know it yet!
Dungally called a halt to the clan as the lone rider sped towards him. “Looks like someone is in a hurry,” he said to Jamie. They cantered slowly towards the rider that was coming to greet them, his arm waving in the air.
When Allen brought his horse to a halt, the snorting horse still skittered from side to side. “I need to see Dungally or Jamie, right away,” he panted. “Its an emergency."
"I'm Dungally, and this is Jamie. What's going on?"
Jamie eyed the young man thinking he looked familiar. Then he realized who it was. He was the husband of Eileen's friend, Mary. “You're Allen Montgomery, aren't you?"
"Yes, and Eileen and Gallagher Brincairn spent the night at my home. When we awoke, the Lady Eileen was gone. Lord Brincairn requests that you send six of your fastest and best fighters after him, and the rest of the clan can follow. And also send word to Morgan McAlester that his sister has been taken."
Jamie started at the use of Gallagher's title, his eyes narrowing as the full implication of Eileen's relationship to Gallagher sunk home with a vengeance. Eileen belonged to another man. She would never be his ... unless...
For the first time, he began to seriously consider Canton's proposal. It was in the back of his mind as he and Dungally quickly handpicked the men to go to Eileen's rescue. Then Jamie urged his mount forward. “I'm going with them, Dungally."
His set face dared Dungally to refute him, so Dungally just nodded and waved them on. “God speed, Jamie. Bring them back safely."
"I'll bring Eileen back safely,” Jamie vowed fiercely to himself, “but I can't say the same for Gallagher."
Gallagher followed the trail for a few hours, and then came to a point where he could see that the party he was following had joined with several others. ‘More of Canton's followers,’ he thought. He urged Minion on, only stopping long enough to get a drink at the stream.
The day began to wind down and they were getting further into the highlands. It was starting to get rockier now, as the forest began to give way to shrubs and smaller trees.
Gallagher picked his way carefully, avoiding being seen topping any horizons. Finally, he dismounted near a large rock outcropping and took out his spyglass. Following the direction of the riders, he looked up into the higher hills, searching for any sign of them in the gathering twilight.
If he wasn't mistaken, this was where the old castle of Thane McCormick was. The one Thane had abandoned to rot and ruin a decade ago after a clan war. Carefully, he inspected the hills and soon spotted what he was looking for.
"Huh?” He grunted. It was the old McCormick place, but it wasn't going to rack and ruin anymore. Someone had been doing a lot of work on it! As he watched, he saw the drawbridge being lowered, but there was too much hillside and rock in the way to see who was going in. He would bet his life it was being lowered for the men that had kidnapped Eileen. With the fortress being surrounded by rock and mountainside, it was in somewhat of a dip, making it hard to see down into it very far unless you were standing right above it. That made it easy for the lookout towers to observe the only pass into the canyon and the walls above them.
He put his spyglass back in his saddlebag and swung up on Minion. Time to check out the perimeter. He knew there would be lookouts in the towers, and he didn't intend to give them any warning. The fortress itself was still thirty minutes ride away, but they had spyglasses too. He would have to be careful not to be spotted. After checking around, he would wait for Jamie. He wanted someone he trusted at his back when he went in.
As they crossed the moat into the small fortress, Eileen felt more trapped than ever. Even Kat's encouraging looks did nothing to lift her spirits—only thoughts of Soren kept her head up.
Kat, however, looked around her with fervent interest. She wanted to know every detail of the grounds and towers, how she came in and how she might get out! The fortress itself was built into the rock of the mountain, with guard towers on the front two corners. There was a parapet running along the top of the inside wall. The entrance into the fortress ground area was a long narrow passageway, big enough for a wagon, or three riders abreast. But it was in a very good defensive position to ward off large numbers. There was a large trench around the fortress, butting up against the mountainside on both sides, and a drawbridge to cross in front.
There didn't seem to be a large number of men about, but Kat did recognize a few from the McAlester clan. She looked scornfully down her small nose at them and they had the grace to flush. “Traitors,” she muttered fiercely. Luckily, she had her small daggers still in the folds of her clothing beneath her emerald riding dress. Canton hadn't thought to search her. Most likely he figured her for a helpless little thing—a mistake he would regret when the time was right!
She glanced back at Eileen. The girl's face at least had a more determined air, but she remained ghostly pale, and Kat was worried about her. From the rumors she had heard, and the things Morg had told her, Eileen must have been to hell and beyond—and it wasn't over yet! Canton had a lot to answer for.
Kat was even more worried when Canton shoved her into a bedroom alone, and began to shut the door. “Hey, what are you doing with Eileen? At least put her in here with me,” she yelled at the closing door.
Canton paused and looked around the doorway. “Now, why would I want to do that?” He grinned mockingly. “I have plans for ye tonight, sweetling. I don't think my dear sister would approve, so I don't want her looking on."
"Go to hell,” raged Kat, her emerald eyes furious. She heard his derisive laughter as the bar outside the door slammed into place, locking her in. In spite of her tied hands, Kat began looking around. She didn't intend to be a sitting duck, but she needed to make her plans carefully. She would only get one chance to use her knives, so she had to make it good!
Eileen was shown into a room near the end of the hallway, three doors down from Kat. At least she knew where Kat was, if the opportunity arose to get her out. She scowled at Canton, hating him with all her being. When he grabbed hold of her arm, she tried to jerk away. “Take your hands off me; I despise ye,” she said with a deadly calm.
"Poor Eileen,” soothed Canton, brushing his finger across her cheek. “I'm just trying to look out for my little sister,” he taunted, gri
nning at her. “I'm even sorry Gallagher is dead, but he put a damper on my plans."
In a sudden flash of knowledge, Eileen knew he was lying! He didn't know that Gallagher was dead; he was trying to discourage her, make her feel defeated and unwilling to help herself. The knowledge burst into her consciousness like white light, and Eileen lifted her head exultantly. She wouldn't let him play mind games with her anymore!
"Gallagher isn't dead,” she replied vehemently, her purple eyes lighting up. “And your reign of evil is about to come to an end, Canton. He will come for me—I know it. And when he does, he won't rest until ye are dead!"
Canton slapped her then, his hand leaving a fiery red print across her cheek. He felt as if lightning had shot down his spine at her words, and he couldn't deny the prophetic feel of them. His skin crawled, and he was insanely angry. When she staggered backwards, he grabbed her arm and slapped her again.
"Be silent! Don't ever speak his name again!"
Eileen nursed her swollen cheek and bowed her head. She could feel his rage out of control, if she continued to defy him, he would beat her senseless. She needed to be prepared for when Gallagher came after her, so she bowed her head and said nothing at all.
Canton took a deep breath and strove to get his red rage under control. “Ye will marry Jamie Brincairn. If ye don't, something unfortunate might happen to little Soren, and we wouldn't want that now, would we?"
He was satisfied when her head shot up in disbelief, the paleness of her face making a garish backdrop of his fingers against the porcelain smoothness. Still, she said nothing, and he was pleased.
"It looks like we finally understand each other,” he murmured. He turned and left, leaving Eileen praying for Gallagher to come soon.
The depth of Canton's evil truly astounded Eileen, and she feared greatly for Kat in the coming night. She also feared for Jamie. What hold did Canton havc over her beloved friend that he would agree to such nonsense? She sent a prayer heavenward for Morg to come also, to reward Kat's faith in him. She hoped that maybe God might hear her, just this once.
Gallagher slipped stealthily along the parapet, already having dispatched the tower guards, leaving them propped up as if still at their post. It had taken the better part of the evening for he and Jamie to work their way into the fortress after he had dispatched a courier back to Dungally to apprise him of the situation.
Highland Revenge Page 10