Turning toward them, he beckoned them forward. “We need tae get out of here,” he said.
Alisha crept from her hiding place, her eyes drawn to the corpse on the floor.
Donnell winced a little that she had to witness the brutal act. But he had to act quickly otherwise the other man would have fought back. But now they had little time to spare before the English discovered that one of their men had gone missing. And when that happened, there would be no place to hide.
“We’ll go around tae the stable and retrieve our horses.” Donnell turned to the wide-eyed lad. “Is there another way tae the main road?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “Ye need tae travel into yonder woods, go east and ye will find the road. I can show ye how tae get there.”
“Hurry, Alisha,” Seamus said urgently.
She broke out of her stupor and followed them down the stairs.
If the enemy was preoccupied with searching the rest of the village, then Donnell and his companions had a chance of slipping to the back of the inn and escaping undetected. He walked to a corner and retrieved his longbow and arrow. Moving toward the opened door, he peered outside. As far as he could tell, the other scouts were in some other part of the village.
“All right, on a count of three, we’ll make a run for the stable,” he said in a hushed tone.
When he uttered the last number, everyone went through the door and dashed to the back of the establishment. They almost made it to the wooden structure when an English scout emerged with two horses in tow.
“Halt!” he bellowed.
Donnell let out a curse. Withdrawing his own sword, he faced his opponent. They wouldn’t be able to leave the village without being discovered. The man had shouted loud enough to alert his companions, and they would soon be here.
“Get tae the mounts and go,” he shouted to Alisha. He rushed forward and swung his sword at his opponent.
Just as the knight released the reins, Alisha jumped forward and took the startled beasts.
But Donnell was only vaguely aware of what they were doing. His focus was centered on the man before him. But then the man’s face changed and all Donnell could see was the image of Eadwig Gorbidshire. The rage and hate that was buried inside him rose to the fore, and he slammed his sword again and again at his adversary. He was no match for Donnell’s rage and soon, the soldier was lying on the ground.
Donnell looked down at the slain knight as his mind cleared. Suddenly, he found himself staring at someone other than the commander. And the disappointment he felt was tremendous.
“Donnell,” Alisha called.
Hearing his name jarred him out of his thoughts, and he bolted to her charger and swung on its back. Seamus and the boy were mounted on the other horse.
Donnell heard the sound of hooves racing toward the inn. Taking the reins from Alisha, he kicked the horse in motion.
“Ride!” he shouted.
Chapter 18
They crashed through the forest. When they reached the main road, Donnell ordered Seamus to stop. “The lad stays here,” he said.
Donnell got off the horse and approached Seamus’s steed.
“Please, I want tae go with ye,” Boyd pleaded.
Donnell ignored the lad’s distress. “The English scouts ken that we’re on the run. One of them will inform the primary troop, and they’ll be in full pursuit.” He seized the boy and set him on the ground. “’Tis safer for ye tae be with your clansmen and remain hidden.”
If the boy came with them, he would be an extra burden, although Donnell didn’t say this out loud. As if Alisha could hear the echo of Donnell’s thoughts, she observed her brother. Seamus appeared pale since the swift flight from the village had strained him. When the youth saw her stare, he straightened his posture.
“I’m fine,” Seamus said, his tone slightly defensive.
It was obvious that Alisha’s brother didn’t relish going into hiding with the lad, but Donnell never intended for Seamus to head to the hills. Although Alisha’s ministrations were adequate, her brother needed expert care, which the villagers wouldn’t be able to provide.
After a while the settlement was well behind them, and Donnell allowed their pace to slow. Clearly Alisha was tired too, but soon he knew that they had to pick up their speed again. He would be negligent to allow this pace to continue since traveling at this rate would eventually get them killed.
“We’ll need tae ride faster pace now,” Donnell said.
Seamus followed his instruction without questioning him. Alisha had grown quiet but he preferred her silence.
The bitter wind rushed past his ears, and the horse hooves thundered along the hard ground. All the while, he replayed the events that occurred over the last few hours. By now the main troop would have been alerted, and they would be riding swiftly behind them. Although he was confident of his abilities to fight, he was unable to fend off hundreds of knights on his own.
When they finally emerged from the forest, he scanned the horizon. There was a deceptive beauty in what he saw. The terrain had changed and there were more snowcapped mountains, ridges, and plateaus. They had days yet to travel and the stretch of road seemed endless. There was no doubt that the enemy would catch up to them.
“This way!” He veered the charger off to the left.
Following his lead, Seamus rode closely behind him, showing no signs of pain or fatigue from his previous injury.
“Why are we heading toward the mountains?” Alisha shouted, fighting to be heard over the pounding hooves. She turned her head to view behind them. The wind whipped her hair across her face, and she shook it impatiently to clear her line of sight.
“It’ll be safer tae travel along the mountain ridge,” Donnell shouted back.
“Will they be too scared tae follow us into the high pass?” she asked hopefully.
“Nay, they’ll follow us, but it willnae nae be easy.”
Donnell led them to the ridge that ran alongside the trade route. When the base of the mountain came into view, Alisha saw the wisdom of taking this course. By coming this way, they would make it harder for the knights to follow them. And if luck would have it, the enemy might even bypass them.
They quickly climbed the steep slope, but then the horse took a slight misstep. Alisha let out a shriek as the warhorse displaced a rock underfoot; it rolled down below. Fortunately Donnell steadied the mount and brought it to safe ground. Still, Alisha’s heart jumped as if it had actually leapt out of her ribcage, and she now had to find it again.
“Are ye all right?” Donnell asked.
“Aye,” she said, her voice shaky.
He wrapped one of his arms around her waist and pulled her more tightly against his torso. She hugged his arm to her, grateful for his solid strength. If she had been the one who controlled the beast, she would have already lost her head and fallen to her death. She had no wish to die. In fact she wanted them all to live.
They climbed higher and higher up the steep ridge, and with each level they reached, the passage seemed to become even more arduous. Finally, they made it to a spot where the path tapered significantly, and only one horse at a time could pass through.
Although his plan seemed a good one, she couldn’t help thinking that if the English were intent in capturing them, the difficult passage would only slow them down. Before they had escaped the English camp, she had glimpsed the molten expression on the commander’s face. It was clear that he didn’t like to be humiliated not once but twice. Blane had told them that the commander had tried to torture him for information, but he had refused to hand over their military secrets. The English had actually planned to terminate Blane the next day but then Donnell and Alisha showed up to rescue him.
She still believed that this entire mess could have been avoided if Donnell hadn’t challenged Eadwig Gorbidshire. But Donnell did, and whatever he said had ignited the commander’s rage. Now he likely believed that Donnell was the one who initiated the attacks. The mercenary was a c
lear target, and when he was caught, it was doubtful that the commander would show him mercy.
They made it through the passage and found themselves on a plateau that overlooked the trade route. Somehow a tree had grown on this lonely spot, but the harsh conditions had left it in a frozen state.
Donnell put a hand over his brow to block the sun and to study the direction from which they had come.
“I see them,” he said, his tone grim.
“Have they spotted us?” she asked, his words sending a cold streak down her spine. She had hoped and prayed that the enemy had somehow missed seeing them head toward the ridge.
Seamus brought his horse to stand next to theirs and squinted into the distance. He seemed worn out, but when she caught his eye, she saw an excited spark that hadn’t been there yesterday.
“Aye,” he said, confirming Donnell’s words. “It appears that the entire army is on the move. A group of them have broken off and are heading our way!”
Alisha looked at where he pointed and saw a dark mass that seemed to grow bigger and bigger. And sure enough, a smaller branch had broken off the main group and was riding toward the foot of the ridge.
“Surely we cannae stay here on this ledge. Should we nae go?” she said, unable to contain the panic in her voice.
But instead of spurring the horse around, Donnell slid from the mount. The protective warmth at her back was gone.
“What are ye doing?” she asked, alarm rising to her chest. “This isnae a time tae rest.”
“It took more time than I expected for us tae get tae this ridge. But there’s still a chance that ye can get safely tae Bracken Ridge. The pathway is blocked by the boulders on either side.”
“But they can still follow us,” Seamus said tightly.
“Nae if I can help it,” Donnell said.
“Ye cannae mean tae stay here,” she gasped as she realized his intent.
Donnell averted his eyes and set his regard on her brother. “Seamus, take your sister and go tae the mouth of Bracken Ridge. If ye get tae the post quickly, the men there might have enough time tae warn Rosstone.”
“Nay,” she said, shaking her head adamantly. She appealed to her brother. “Tell him, Seamus. Staying here is suicide. There has tae be another way.”
Seamus regarded Donnell, an uncomfortable expression on his face. “My sister is right. Ye willnae survive this.”
“There is nay other way,” he said, his tone flat. “If we stay here or go together, we’ll all die. ‘Tis just a matter of when. However if I remain here and keep the enemy at bay, the two of ye will at least have a chance at escaping.”
Alisha saw the determination on Donnell’s striking face. There was a cold glint in his eyes.
Suddenly, she realized she was wrong about him. She had believed that he was a dishonorable and vile coward. But he selflessly planned to give up his life in order to save her and her brother. She searched his face, trying to memorize every line on his chiseled countenance, since this might be the last time she saw him. Donnell would perish, the voice inside her cried. That knowledge nearly choked her. She hated the idea. Then it dawned upon her that she was so immersed by his perceived betrayal that she was blinded by the obvious. She was still in love with Donnell. In fact she loved him so much that it ached. She regretted every hard feeling she harbored against him, and she wished that she could make amends. Because when he died, all she would have left would be memories. And none of those memories would keep her warm at night.
Alisha came off the horse and grasped the front of his shirt. “Please come with us,” she said, not caring that the tears were sliding down her cheeks. “I ken that we cannae stay here because soon the area will be overrun with the English, but I cannae leave ye here tae confront them alone.”
Donnell’s gaze softened and he reached with both hands to frame her face. Sliding the pads of his thumbs, he wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Ye need tae go now.” He led her back to the animal, and placed his hands on either side of her hips. He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. “Remember me,” he whispered before lifting her back on the horse. It was a farewell kiss. She opened her mouth to tell him that she loved him, but no sound came out. Her head dropped forward. She was no longer able to look at him. Her lips quivered and she pressed her hand to stop them from trembling, and to muffle the sob that was about to escape. Donnell was choosing to die in order to save them, and she needed to be as brave as he.
“Get going, Seamus,” Donnell said, nodding at her brother. “Ye dinnae have much time.”
“Come along, Alisha.” Seamus no longer looked or acted like the bairn that she used to know. There was a flush to his cheeks and a determined set to his jaw; he was ready to accept this new assignment. He grabbed hold of her slackened reins and led them away.
Unable to help it, she turned back to see Donnell one last time. At the same moment the image of the small troop racing toward them floated in front of her. In a matter of minutes the enemy would swarm the area. But Donnell would hold his ground. He was a powerful and magnificent warrior. No fear would show on his face even though it would be one man against many.
Donnell stood by the tree, the wind sweeping across his hair and making his kilt flutter. He lifted one hand in the air as he watched them depart. It broke her heart that this might be the last time she saw the man she loved...
Chapter 19
Donnell set his shield on the ground and leaned his shoulder on the dead tree. Meanwhile, he continued to stare at the empty space before him.
Alisha and her brother were long gone now, but he couldn’t seem to drag his eyes away. The snow had started to fall and had already obscured their tracks. He barely felt the bitter wind that blew through his great kilt. He knew that even if he turned away, he would still see the tragic expression on Alisha’s face. When she asked him to go with them, he almost caved in to the temptation. He wanted more than anything for this war to be finished so he could be with her. Unfortunately that was only wishful thinking. His heart twisted a little knowing that his time with her was too short. Since he met her, all the relations he had with other women seemed meaningless. Getting to know her filled the dark hole in his heart. He admired the dedication and love she expressed for her brother. For many years he had only himself to rely on, and his heart had been closed to everyone around him. But as he got to know her, he felt the darkness sliding away, and he also found himself caring for her and her brother. The emotion shocked him but it wasn’t exactly unpleasant. And then as he became involved with her, he found himself liking her more and more. His heart ached now that he had to let her go, although it was for the best.
But the enemy was near. At least if he stayed behind he could buy them enough time so that they could escape. He didn’t want any harm to befall her or her brother, and he felt that this was the right thing to do.
As he saw her disappearing from his sight, he realized that he loved her and that he wanted what was best for her. He wanted her to live a full life, even if that meant a life without him. It was unfortunate that he didn’t know how much he loved her until she was gone. For so long he had closed his heart and focused on the one goal of avenging his family. He had no time for anyone. But somehow his heart had opened up to Alisha. And acknowledging his feelings actually made him feel whole. He was overwhelmed by the emotions, and he didn’t know how to tell her. He twisted his mouth in derision. Of course now it was too late.
But at least he had one night with her, and he had the opportunity to taste the joy and ecstasy that came with loving her. He never knew something like this existed. All these years he was obsessed with his eventual confrontation with Eadwig Gorbidshire. Aside from fighting, Donnell had no desire to think of anything else. But when Alisha was at his side, thoughts of revenge disappeared and the ice in his heart seemed to melt. For the first time he wondered what it would be like to start a family, and live a life that wasn’t overshadowed by death and vengeance. He had made
that vow many years ago, and he meant to fulfill it. But then when he was near the lass, he no longer had a thirst for the revenge that consumed him in the past.
He smiled as he recalled how she had taken to the archery practice. In more ways than one the lass had surprised him. For the first time, he let down his guard. And instead of replaying the moment he would meet with his archenemy, he imagined languid days with Alisha in his arms. These were the things he thought about but he didn’t know how to put them into words.
“What’s the use of thinking about this now?” Donnell blew out a rush of air as he muttered to himself.
He started to continue with his self-reproach when suddenly, he heard the sounds of horses and men. It was faint at first but it was getting steadily louder. He pulled an arrow from his pouch and strung it on his longbow. They were here.
Donnell didn’t know how many men he was up against, but he was aiming to take out as many as he could.
A few minutes later a knight emerged from around the bend, his standard fluttering in the crisp draft. Donnell let the sharpened shaft whiz through the air, and then ducked behind the tree. He was in a good position to kill him instantly. The man fell to the ground, his blood soaking the pristine snow. The same end met the next man and then the next. Fallen men writhed and moaned pitifully in their death agonies. At the same time, shouts and battle rants pierced the frigid air. And all the while the knights continued to advance through the narrow pass. But none of this deterred Donnell.
“Battle on!” an inner voice urged.
In his mind, he heard the war pipes skirl in the distance. He could feel the presence of his father and the rest of his ancestors fighting at his side. And he thought about the people of Scotland and of victory. Some of the knights shot arrows back at him but somehow they missed him. He felt invincible, and all the knowledge and mastery that he accumulated in the past twelve years came to the fore.
Donnell started to grab yet another arrow from his back pouch when he let out a curse at finding only five shafts remaining. He needed to retreat farther up the incline. From there, he would use up the last few arrows with greater impact.
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