Highland Rogue

by Dana D'Angelo

  Alisha pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, and did exactly what Calvin suggested and prayed. She didn’t know how many hours elapsed as she sat with Seamus, and even though she felt herself nodding off several times, she fought her tiredness. It helped that the cold seeped in the cave and prevented her from napping too long.

  Seamus’s face had smoothed out in his sleep, and all signs of his earlier pain were gone. His features had matured over the past few months, but she could still see the traces of her little brother, the brother who was carefree and happy until tragedy struck their family.

  “Ye should take a nap,” Donnell said, interrupting her thoughts. He walked over to where she sat and peered down at her. “We’ll be journeying tae the village at first light. Ye willnae be able tae help anyone if ye are too worn out.”

  “I’ll be fine...”

  “Alisha?” Seamus said, his voice sounding far away and weak.

  Her fatigue disappeared in an instant. “Aiya, ye are awake! Ye should be resting,” she said, pressing him back to the ground. But he pushed her hand aside and sat up anyway. He winced as if his movements caused him pain, and he cradled his head in his hands. Likely Seamus was feeling the effects of the copious amount of alcohol that she had given him.

  “Did Blane get away all right?” Seamus asked when he finally lifted his head from his palms. He examined his bandaged leg before he looked up. “I saw a knight seize him, and that was why I ran in his direction — tae help him. Only I got shot by an arrow.”

  “Blane? Where is he?” Donnell asked, a frown touching his lips. He scanned the men that lay on the rocky floor. “I havenae seen him since the raid.”

  “Do ye think he’s still alive?” Alisha asked, dread entering her voice.

  “I dinnae ken,” he said slowly. “But if he’s alive, then I need tae find him.”

  “What will ye do?” she asked.

  “At first light, ye and the rest will go tae the village as planned. Meanwhile, I’ll need tae return tae the English encampment and find Blane.”

  “But that’s dangerous.” A sudden fright filled her, and she grabbed Donnell’s sleeve. “What if they capture ye too?” What if they killed ye? But she didn’t voice that question aloud even though it hung heavily in the air.

  “That’s a risk that I have tae take,” Donnell said.

  “Nay,” she said shaking her head. “Ye willnae be going alone because I’m coming with ye.”

  “Dinnae be mad,” he said. “’Tis far too treacherous for ye. Besides, I need tae go by myself, since I’ll have a greater chance in penetrating their camp.”

  “That may be true, but we need tae help Seamus and the rest of the injured men.” She crossed her arms over her chest and regarded him with a stubborn tilt to her chin. “We have tae acquire treatment for the wounded, and I ken that the English will have what we need.”

  Donnell let out a sigh. “Fine,” he said. “But if ye come with me, ye will follow my every direction. And,” he glared at her, “ye will ride your own steed.”

  Chapter 14

  When they first left Bracken Ridge, Alisha didn’t know how to ride horses. But now with the success of the raids behind them, there was an extra mount for her to handle. Donnell found the most suitable steed for her. At first she showed some apprehension but since she was determined to go with him, she forced herself on the horse.

  Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the enemy camp. Donnell surveyed the encampment and felt great satisfaction at seeing the damage that they had inflicted on their adversaries. The English army was taken completely off guard by the raid. Some pockets of the campground continued to smolder in the chilly morning, and a heavy smell of smoke still permeated the area.

  Most of the animals that scattered the night before were rounded up, but those that escaped into the woods would likely never be recovered. All this would greatly impact their food rations. Food was already scarce at this time of year, and their shortage would only heighten as they moved further into winter. Of course, many of the Englishmen would die of starvation, but Donnell felt no sympathy toward them. It was payback for all the innocent lives they snuffed. They were foolish to even think that they could successfully invade Scotland.

  But while he was glad that the army was thwarted for now, he recalled that there was still one arrogant English bastard he needed to confront. As he thought about Eadwig Gorbidshire, his grip tightened around the hilt of his dagger. Donnell could feel the moment coming closer. Soon, the man would get his due.

  He saw the commander’s large tent up ahead. After the successful raid against the English, it was unlikely Eadwig expected them to return to the military camp a few hours later.

  “From what Erik told us, the place where the medical supplies are kept should be in that direction,” Alisha said, her voice cutting into his dark thoughts.

  “Let’s get the items ye need, and get Blane out of here,” he said, trying to refocus his attention on the tasks at hand. Dealing with Eadwig would come later.

  They traced their steps to the small structure near where the horses were kept. It seemed almost too quiet, but after waiting several minutes, there was no movement around the structure.

  “This way,” he said, beckoning for her to follow him. Only she would know what medicine to take.

  They quickly approached the tent. He opened the canvas flap and Alisha entered. Standing at the entrance, he held still and surveyed the surroundings to ensure that they were alone. When he was satisfied that they would be undisturbed, he ducked in behind her.

  She was at the shelves, inspecting the bottles. There was a smell of dried herbs and something acidic as well. He didn’t like being in the enclosed area since this left them vulnerable.

  “Ye might want tae hurry up,” he said in a strained voice.

  “I cannae find the Witch’s Herb or the yarrow,” she said tightly. “It appears almost as if they’ve used it all up.”

  “Just grab some things sae we can be on our way.”

  “That’s nae how ye heal people. I’m nae that talented in the healing arts, but I ken that ye need tae have the right cures tae treat specific ailments. Both of these herbs will help with the bleeding and cuts.”

  “Just find them and hurry up,” he said irritably.

  She pulled her arisaid partially to the front of her and created a small pocket. After inspecting a bottle, she threw it in her pouch.

  Ideally if he were alone, he would have already confronted Eadwig, killed him, rescued Blane, and then been on his way. If they stayed too long in the tent, there was a great chance that they would be discovered. Donnell didn’t want to give away his presence before he had a chance to meet his adversary.

  “I’m done,” Alisha said as she turned toward him.

  Just as they started to head out, he heard a slight noise.

  Donnell placed a finger to his lips and indicated for Alisha to stand behind him. There was really no place to hide but the enclosed structure was dark enough to conceal them — at least temporarily. The flap opened and as soon as the person walked in, Donnell jumped forward. Before the individual knew what was happening, he clamped a hand over the man’s mouth. He drew the man to his chest and started to put a knife at his throat.

  “Stop,” Alisha cried. “She’s a lass.”

  Donnell peered down at his captive and frowned. “Nay matter what her gender, she’s still a hindrance tae our escape.”

  “Ye dinnae mean tae terminate her, do ye?” Alisha asked, horrified.

  The eyes of the captive widened in fear, and he could feel her trembling in his grip.

  “Of course nae,” he said in disgust and lowered the dagger. “I dinnae kill lassies. Still, we cannae have her sounding the alarm.”

  “Then what do ye plan tae do?” Alisha asked.

  The tension in the woman’s body remained high. And both she and Alisha watched him as if he butchered innocent lassies for enjoyment. He saw some rope piled in a corner.
>
  “Get that rope and find something tae gag her mouth,” he said to Alisha. “We’ll tie her up, and will leave her for her people tae find her. And as for ye,” he stared at the Englishwoman, “I dinnae want tae hear a sound from ye. Is that clear?”

  The woman nodded while he tied her hands behind her back.

  Alisha found a piece of cloth that lay on the shelf, and handed it to him. He started to wrap the cloth over her mouth.

  “Please, I promise not to sound the alarm,” the captive said quickly before the gag muffled her.

  Donnell paused as he considered her words. It was unwise to trust any English person. But he suspected that she knew where Blane was imprisoned.

  “I’ll leave the gag off if ye will tell us where the Highlander is located.”

  “You can find him at the north end of the camping ground,” she said, her face white. “You will not miss him since he’s tied to a tree.”

  He fixed his stare on the frightened woman. “If ye lie, I’ll return for ye.”

  “I’m not lying. The man has some serious injuries and is in a lot of pain.” She paused. “I applied a bit of the comfrey salve on his cuts, but you’ll need to put more on him.”

  Donnell glanced over at Alisha. “Find the salve.”

  She nodded and located a small container of the prepared ointment and placed it inside her makeshift pouch. When she turned around, Alisha saw that he had taken the cloth and had tied it around the prisoner’s mouth.

  “But ye just told her that ye wouldnae gag her if she revealed Blane’s location,” Alisha protested.

  “The first rule is tae never trust the English,” he said. “Let’s go.”

  They quickly left the tent and found their horses. The campsite was large and the area they found themselves in wasn’t a place the scout had explored well. To avoid any unwanted encounters, they traveled along the forest edge, their mounts trekking silently through the forest. As Donnell traveled, he couldn’t help thinking about how close he was to completing his mission. Unfortunately his friend was captured, and Eadwig was alive and well.

  “We’ll leave the rides here and go toward the camp now,” he said, noticing that the sound of activity had diminished. It appeared that the English kept tortured prisoners in an isolated area.

  Before they reached the fringe of the camp, he turned to her and said, “Stay low and out of sight.” Then dropping to the ground, he crawled closer to get a clear view of the surroundings.

  Alisha gasped beside him when she saw Blane. His hands were bound and attached to a long rope that was strung over a tree branch. The Highlander’s head was bent forward while his legs collapsed underneath him. If it hadn’t been for the rope holding him up, he would have crashed to the ground long ago. In all honesty, Donnell couldn’t tell whether his friend was unconscious or awake.

  “What are we waiting for?” Alisha said urgently. “We have tae free him.” She started to move but his hand shot out, stopping her.

  “We cannae go tae him just yet,” he said.

  “Why?” she asked, distress sounding in her voice.

  “Because he’s under surveillance, that’s why,” he said, pointing to a knight that walked into view.

  Donnell scoped the area a few minutes more before he concluded that there were no other watchmen about. He could easily handle one knight, but he would have to generate another plan if there were more than that.

  “How will we rescue Blane?” she asked.

  Donnell scanned the ground and found a rock that was half the size of his palm. He picked it up and handed it to her.

  “When I give ye a signal, throw this stone toward the guard.”

  Before Alisha could question him further, he shifted away from her. Finding a solid stick on the ground, he gripped it in his hand. When the watchman came into their sights again, Donnell signaled for Alisha to toss the stone.

  The rock shot out from the forest and landed a foot away from the startled knight. As he bent to inspect the object, Donnell emerged from his hiding spot. He circled quickly around the guard. The knight straightened his back, and before the man realized what was happening, Donnell swung the stick, striking him across the temple. The blow was so hard that it caused the knight’s head to rotate and knock off his helm. In the next instant, the guard crumpled to the ground.

  Donnell threw down the stick. “Let’s go get him,” he beckoned to Alisha. They had only a few minutes to release Blane before this guard came to, or some other knight appeared.

  They raced over to Blane.

  “Look what they’ve done tae his face,” Alisha said, slapping a hand to cover her mouth.

  One eye was swollen while dried blood caked Blane’s cheek and temple. He opened his good eye, and when he saw them, the bleakness faded.

  “I was starting tae believe ye were going tae leave me for dead,” he said, his voice raspy.

  “Sorry tae disappoint ye,” Donnell said, cutting the rope loose.

  Blane grunted as he fell to his knees. “An English lass came tae help me.”

  They started to walk toward the horses

  “Who was she?” Alisha said and exchanged a glance with Donnell. He could almost hear the questions churning in her head.

  “She told me that she was the physician’s daughter, and that she was here tae help the wounded.”

  “Perhaps ‘twas the lass that we encountered in the tent,” Alisha said.

  “Perhaps,” Donnell said. They had reached the mounts, and he didn’t have time for idle chat. “Ye will have tae share a steed with Alisha. Are ye well enough tae ride?”

  “I took a bit of a beating but I havenae expired,” Blane said.

  “Guid,” he said, “I’ll meet ye both at the village.”

  “But where are ye going?” Alisha asked.

  “I have some business I need tae take care of,” he said. “I’ll see ye later.”

  Donnell turned away, not wanting to waste time or answer any more of their questions. The light was fading, and he needed to get to Eadwig before the lack of light impeded his plan.

  Through the trees he could make out several structures, but there was one that stood out, and that was where he needed to go. He tethered his horse to a tree and made his way toward the shelter.

  Donnell pulled his claymore out of its sheath and crept inside. His heart raced with anticipation. He had waited years for this moment to manifest. Fortunately he didn’t have long to wait when Eadwig appeared. The English commander apparently wasn’t interested in interacting with his men. But this only made Donnell’s job easier. He would dispatch Eadwig quickly and still have enough time to catch up with Blane and Alisha before they reached the village. Eliminating the top English commander might not stop the conflict, but it was enough to create confusion among the ranks and drop the army’s morale. In the end, by annihilating Eadwig, he would fulfill his oath to his family, and at the same time, help Scotland win the war.

  Donnell came out of his hiding place.

  Eadwig’s face turned white when he saw him. “Who are ye?” he demanded. He glanced at the entrance of his tent as if he wanted to race toward it.

  “Dinnae think about running,” Donnell said calmly. “Ye willnae make it past the opening.”

  “What do ye want from me?” Eadwig asked. A thin film of sweat formed on his forehead.

  “I shouldnae be surprised that ye dinnae remember me,” Donnell said, “but unfortunately I remember ye all too well. Ye are the one who murdered my parents. Now ye will experience nay mercy and will die a similar death.”

  Donnell rushed forward. Before he got to him, the commander moved swiftly and reached for the sword that lay on the ground. With the weapon in hand, the uneasiness disappeared from Eadwig’s countenance. In its place was the cocky expression that had haunted Donnell’s dreams for the past twelve years.

  Anger consumed Donnell and he wanted to wipe that expression from Eadwig’s face. Donnell boldly went forward, attacking his foe with all t
hat he had. Unfortunately his blind rage got the best of him, and all his hard-earned hours of training were lost. He misjudged a step and barreled past his opponent.

  And that was the opening that Eadwig needed. When Donnell wheeled around to charge again, Eadwig was ready for him. The commander slashed his sword, relentlessly raining down one blow after another. Donnell defended himself as well as he could, but he was getting cut in several places. With blood running down from his wounds, he lifted his claymore, blocking the terrible strikes.

  Eadwig had an evil glint in his eyes as he continued to advance. But then he let out a yelp as a dagger sliced through the air. The man threw himself to the side but his reaction wasn’t fast enough. The sharp blade whizzed by and sliced him in the arm.

  “Quick, run,” a voice bellowed behind Donnell.

  Turning, he found that Alisha and Blane had followed him to the tent.

  “Make haste!”

  Donnell could hear angry shouts behind them, and knew that in a few minutes the area would be flooded with reinforcements.

  They ran to their mounts, tore into the woods, and raced through the darkness. Since the English were unfamiliar with the landscape, they would have no chance at catching up to them. This was where they had the upper hand, and Donnell knew enough about the lay of the land to have a sense of where to go. The enemy, on the other hand, wouldn’t risk riding into the foreign terrain, especially when it was dark.

  When they had sufficient distance behind them, they slowed their mounts. Blane appeared drained. Whatever energy he possessed back at the enemy encampment was now gone. The cuts Donnell sustained on his forearm were also bleeding.

  “We need tae stop sae I can examine Blane’s injuries,” Alisha said, her voice curt.

  Donnell and Blane complied. Alisha got off the horse and retrieved one of the ointments that she had taken from the enemy camp. After she finished tending to his friend, she turned to Donnell and said, “I need tae put some of this on your cuts too.”

  He rolled up his sleeve and she applied the salve. The medicine stung at first but it quickly stemmed the flow of blood.