by Alisa Adams
“Of course, I am. It seemed the only way to get what I wanted.”
“But they’ve taken me. They killed Matthew! You cannot tell me that it was planned all along?”
Thomas sighed. “Matthew’s death was unforeseen. He should have stayed back. He was always too eager to enter the fray.” Thomas scowled. “Perhaps I should have told him the plan, but I didn’t want anyone else to know. You see, Sarina, I knew that I couldn’t depend on you to do what I asked. I hired the bandits to give you a fright in the hope that Seamus would come charging out and he would die. These men are far more reliable killers, although they failed in their task that time.”
“And now, you expect Seamus to come here to meet his doom?”
“Oh, I fully expect that your dear husband has already departed this world. I had a band of men waiting for him to crash into the forest to rescue me. Thank you, by the way, I knew that you couldn’t stand to see me by taken off by these villains. You always were such a devoted sister. It’s a shame that you couldn’t do the one thing I asked of you.”
“I… I’m glad I didn’t. You’re a monster. You’re no brother of mine, Thomas. I can’t believe that you would do this. I… I’ve just been a pawn this whole time. None of this matters to you, does it? None of our lives. We’re all just a game to you. Is there anything you do care about?”
“Oh, yes. Family, Sarina. I care about the legacy Father left us, but that legacy cannot continue until all the wrongs have been made right.”
“There is no legacy left, Thomas. Matthew is dead, I am no longer a part of the family, and poor Harold won’t know what to think.”
“Harold will think exactly what I tell him to think and I don’t need you. I’ve never needed any of you. All I need is a child of my own to continue our name.”
“I pity the woman who marries you,” Sarina spat, “and I’ll do everything I can to ensure that nobody ever comes to you. You want the legacy, Thomas? How about you fight me for it?”
Thomas laughed and was joined in by a chorus of the bandits. “Oh, Sarina, I am going to miss the way you make me laugh. You are just a girl, although I am impressed that you managed to make it this far. I think you’re more trouble than you’re worth though. You’ve served your purpose and I think it’s time you reunited with Father.”
“Nay!” Martha cried, stepping forward. “If ye’re gaeing tae kill anyone then kill me.”
“How noble for the Highlander to want to give her life for the English girl, or lass, as you would say,” Thomas said, mocking her accent. Then he turned to Sarina. “It’s truly touching and it’s clear to me that you were never truly part of the family because no true Bashir would ever have allowed herself to embrace a Highland clan as her own family. You’ve only shown dishonor and this is the best place for you. The three of you will stay here until these bandits are done with you which I imagine will take some time. There are rather a lot of them.” He looked around at the motley band of rogues and arched his eyebrows before he clasped his hands behind his back and made his way to a horse.
Sarina wasn’t ready to let him go so easily though and she didn’t believe that Seamus was dead either. She loved him and she knew that when he died, she would feel it in her bones. The world would shift and the skies would darken and her heart would break into a million pieces. But she was certain he was still out there and if he was out there then he would not rest until she was safely in his arms again, so she would not rest either.
“Wait!” she cried. Thomas turned to face her with a smug look on his face, amused to see what she would come up with now, but Sarina’s words weren’t meant for him, they were meant for the men he had collected to deliver her to this grim fate. Her words shook the very air and stopped all the murmuring that was passing between them. Martha and Emily looked at her in shock. They had no idea what Sarina was going to say. In truth, neither did she.
Looking around at all the gaunt, dirty faces, at the wild-hair, and the hungry eyes, Sarina hated the world for what it had done to these men and hated them for not trying to better themselves. She hated them for what they had done to her and Seamus and she hated the fact that Thomas could buy such services with coin. The gold her father had earned paid for this murderous campaign and if she didn’t do something to stop it, Thomas would ride away and return to the estate, proclaiming himself a conquering hero and a grieving brother. He would convince Harold that the Highlanders had cost Sarina her life and that the brutal bandits were just another sign that the lawless Highlands should remain out of bounds. Life would continue as normal and nobody but Thomas would know the truth.
“You are bandits, but you are all Highlanders. Am I to stand here and believe that you would all willingly listen to this Englishman?” she asked. “Does your blood not boil when you think about the English and all the trouble we have been over the years? Do you have no pride in your country? In your nationality? This man has forced you to fight your own kin, he derides you, he sneers at you, and he pities you. He does not care for you. He has used you for his own means. I look into your eyes and ask you are you really willing to be pawns of this man? Are you going to do as he commands without question?” Her voice was getting more plaintive the more she spoke. It was her hope that the bandits would suddenly realize the futility of their actions and that by helping Thomas, they weren’t doing themselves any favors, but her hopes were soon dashed.
“Ye would hae a point if the Highlanders had nae turned their backs on us a long time ago. Ye man here is the English and we hae nae love for them, but we dae love coin and he hae provided us with much of that. Besides, with a prize like ye, we’d be willing tae gae against anyone. I think ye hae the wrong idea of us, lass. We ain’t high-minded and we dinnae care for anyone except ourselves, so shut ye pretty little mouth and get back in the cave sae we can decide what tae dae with ye.”
Sarina was shocked that she had been dismissed so readily by these men. She looked back toward Martha and Emily, hoping that they would have some idea to offer. Martha looked resolved to her fate, meeting her destiny with a sturdy stoicism, while Emily’s lips trembled and tears trickled down her cheeks. Sarina bowed her head and wished she could have done more. She’d promised Emily that they would come out of this alive and in the end, it had been she who sealed their doom. If she hadn’t been so rash their plan may have worked, but she had condemned them all and she would do anything to be redeemed. So, she summoned up all the strength she could muster and threw herself at the nearest bandit to her, wresting the rusty blade from his grasp. She swung wildly, ready and willing to hurt anyone she was able to, screaming until her throat was raw. She closed her eyes and thrust with all her might and then suddenly the ground shook.
The bandits all gasped as one. Thomas cursed. Sarina’s mind was in turmoil with chaotic, violent thoughts, but when she looked up, she saw a cloud of dust coming toward them and then in the middle, she saw her husband, anger etched on his face and his sword at the ready. Her heart was filled with hope. These bandits would pay for their crimes.
24
Seamus had ridden long and hard to get to the mountains. The rest of the Highlanders had their eyes peeled for any sign of the bandits, especially Angus who had eyes like a hawk. Seamus was too focused on his goal to see anything but the red mist though and he rode recklessly, not caring if a stray arrow would find him. He was going to charge into the fiery gates and run through anything to get to Sarina.
The mountains towered above them and the air grew colder. The white peaks rose into the heavens and were covered with snow. The ground crunched under the horses’ hooves and although the ground was tricky to navigate, Seamus did not let up. He pushed Shadow to her limits and the horse met him with every step.
The Highlanders had to ride through narrow passes until they came to a network of caves and in the distance, Seamus could hear the gathering of people. He heard a shriek and was sure that it was Sarina and this only spurred him on to even greater speed. He crashed against the
rock and a cloud of dust rose around him, announcing his arrival. He drew his sword and roared as he leaped into the fray. The bandits had been so focused on Sarina that their watchmen had failed them and had warned the rest of them too late. Seamus crashed into the middle of them as they scattered around, gathering their weapons to kill the Highlander.
Seamus took one quick look and saw Sarina, his mother, another frightened girl, Thomas, and a whole host of bandits. As soon as he saw Thomas, his entire body throbbed with rage. He directed Shadow toward Thomas, but the cowardly Englishman ran away and bandits swarmed Seamus, each of them eager to earn the honor of killing the Laird.
Seamus wasn’t going to let that distract him though. He cut through them easily and used Shadow to intimidate them into running, for none of them wanted to be crushed under the horse’s mighty hooves. Seamus used their uncertainty against them, slicing and slashing with his greatsword. Blood was splattering all over the place, staining the rocks around them.
He was like a man possessed. These bandits had taken his wife, his mother, and threatened his very home. Soon enough, he realized that remaining seated on Shadow wasn’t going to be suitable enough to slake his thirst for battle. He jumped down and roared, flexing his muscles as he barreled through the bandits, cutting them down like weeds. His world became one of screams, the cacophony surrounded him and lifted him to a place where only wrath mattered. He gave in to his warrior spirit and let his instinct guide his blade. It became an extension of his arm. He killed with his sword, his mind, and his heart. One by one, the bandits fell, their ugly faces twisted in agony as the life slipped from their eyes. Their bones cracked and their flesh was torn asunder.
The other Highlanders poured in as well and began joining the battle. The bandits alerted the rest of their men and they started to pour out from the caves, joining the battle in a seemingly endless deluge of evil. The Highlanders drove them back. Angus remained on his horse, arrows flying from his bow and hitting their mark every time. Seamus was bathed in blood and became something of a mindless beast as he was taken back to a time when he was at war and the only thing that mattered to him was killing the enemy. From his heart poured viciousness and there was no room for anything other than vengeance, but despite all the bandits he slew, there was only one man he really wanted: Sir Thomas Bashir. Seamus turned his head this way and that, peering through the mass of bodies that hurtled before him and then his attention was captured by the sound of Sarina’s voice.
“Seamus!” she cried, waving her arms. Seamus’ concentration was broken and his primal, savage mind receded, replaced by a gentler, kinder spirit. He rushed to his wife’s side with his blade still dripping blood and scooped her in his arms. Oh, what a relief it was to feel her by his side again, to hold her in his arms, and to know that everything was going to be fine. She kissed him on the cheek even though he was dirty and his flesh burned with wrath.
“Oh, Seamus, I’m so happy to see you. They told me you were dead,” she cried.
“I would hae been if they had their way. Sarina, listen, there’s something ye should know, it’s about ye brother—”
“I already know,” Sarina asserted. “He told me of his dastardly plan. I can’t believe that he would go to these lengths just to kill you. He’s not the brother I remember growing up. His heart has been replaced by the bitterest seed and nothing pure is ever going to grow from it. I take back what I said earlier. You have no promise to keep. He has caused no end of trouble, he has threatened our lives, and I know that he will not stop unless we stop him first. Go after him, Seamus, and kill him, if you must.”
Seamus nodded solemnly, glad to be released from the vow he had made. It had been a vow he had never truly believed in but had taken because he valued Sarina’s wishes. Deep in his heart, Seamus knew that this moment was coming. From the first moment Seamus saw Thomas, he knew the man was going to be a thorn in his side and he was glad Sarina realized it was better to deal with him now than to let him fester.
Seamus quickly greeted his mother and was introduced to Emily. The girl seemed awed by what was happening around her and cowered in Martha’s arms. Seamus called out to Angus who rode by and told him to look after the girls. Angus shot off a few arrows and looked down at them, smiling at Emily. She seemed to think he was a beast and recoiled from the sight of him.
“Go,” Sarina said and Seamus didn’t need any more urging.
He strode through the battlefield, killing any bandits who came his way. He heard the valiant cry of the Highlanders ring through the mountains and was certain they had the upper hand. Bandits were only dangerous when employing stealth tactics. When met in the open battlefield like this, they didn’t stand a chance against a trained army and before too long, it became mere child’s play for Seamus’ men. The bandits quickly began to fall apart and retreated to the caverns, disappearing into their hidden network like rats, no doubt ready to emerge again another day. But there was one rat in particular Seamus had to find and he caught sight of Thomas’ blue tunic through the ash and dust.
Seamus tensed every muscle in his body as he walked forward and gripped the hilt of his sword, closing the distance between himself and Thomas. The bandits’ horses had fled, so the only option Thomas had left for retreat was to climb the mountain and hope that nobody followed him. Seamus was determined though and trampled over the dead bodies of the bandits as he moved closer to Thomas, straining his muscles to climb over the sharp rocks and noticing bits of blue cloth—evidence that Thomas’ clothes had been torn as he tried to climb. Seamus rose away from the pit of death. The air was cleansing, but he was a truly fearsome sight. His hair was matted to his scalp by sweat and the dried scarlet blood of all those he had killed was splashed against his flesh. He was every inch a warrior, a hunter, and this hunter was on the heels of his prey.
“Stop!” Seamus cried out. The two men were alone. The pit of death was behind them. The Highlanders were mopping up the last remnants of bandits. “There’s nowhere for ye tae run.”
Thomas was standing with his back to Seamus and he stopped moving. He doubled over, panting, putting his hands on his thighs. He slowly turned to face Seamus. The man’s clothes were torn from his efforts at climbing the rock, but unlike Seamus, his body showed no sign of battle. There was no blood on his blade and no fury in his eyes. Sweat trickled down his temples though and he still stood proudly.
“I have to admit I didn’t think it was going to be this tricky to kill you, Seamus. I knew I should never have trusted the bandits.”
“Aye, ye shouldn’t hae, but it’s nae the only mistake ye’ve made.”
“Of course, I never should have sent my sister to marry such a charming man without suspecting that she would fall in love with him. I was such a fool for believing that a Highland barbarian could not woo an English lady. There’s something that has gone very wrong in the mind of my sister. I blame our mother. Anyway, I suppose it’s all over now. What are you going to do? Arrest me? Take me back to your home and give me your Highland justice?”
“There is only one type of justice in the Highlands,” Seamus said tersely and raised his sword. Thomas raised his hands.
“Now, just wait a minute, Seamus, we can talk about this. After all, we are brothers now and that has to count for something,” Thomas pleaded. “I’m sure that family is as important to you as it is to me and I doubt my sister would want you to do anything rash. I know I sent these bandits after you, but really, it was never meant to go this far. I only told them to rile you a little bit and they went too far. I’ll be sure to punish them myself if you let me.”
“Ye talk tae much and as it happens, ye sister told me tae kill ye. Ye hae driven ye family away, Thomas. Ye father died, ye brother died, ye sister has forsaken ye, and now, ye are gaeing tae die.”
“And there is still time for you to pay for the loss of my family, especially my father. I don’t care what you told my sister, but I can never forgive you for his death.”
Seamu
s hung his head, disappointed that Thomas couldn’t see past his own vengeance. “Ye know for a long time, I was angry at the world for taking away someone I loved. I let it define me. I held onto the anger because I thought if I let it gae then I’d be letting them gae tae, but the only person I was hurting was myself. Anger is nae way tae live life. Look at what ye hae wrought. Ye hae driven away everyone who mattered tae ye and for what? Tae get tae me? Dae ye really think killing me is gaeing tae bring ye any joy now?”
“Spare me your philosophical talk,” Thomas spat. “I don’t need advice from the likes of you. What would you know about love? You’re just a Highland barbarian, a slayer of men. You have no heart. You have no soul. You’re just good at one thing: killing. One day, my sister will see that and come to her senses, but if I have to stand up to you now then so be it. Imprison me all you like. Arrest me. I don’t think you’re going to kill me. You wouldn’t risk another war with my house. My younger brother Harold will go to war to avenge me, so you can take me back to your castle and we can talk about what ransom he’ll pay. It pains me to think of giving you money, but I suppose there’s nothing else for it. Let’s return now and we can talk about our future.”
“Ye hae nae future, Thomas. Ye hae proven yeself a crafty, devious man, and I imagine ye had a hundred different plans as tae the way this would gae, but ye did nae think of the obvious. I am nae taking ye back tae my home, Thomas. Yer end is here. There is nae more future for ye, nae more plans, and ye hae better adjust ye thinking.”
“What? No… No! You can’t be serious. You can’t kill me here. There will be war! I’m an English gentleman. I’m the lord of a manor. You can’t just kill me and hope to get away with it. I will be avenged! My brother Harold is loyal. He’ll come after me. He won’t rest until you’re dead and Sarina too. He’ll burn your entire castle to the ground by the time he’s through with you. You can’t hope to win.”