Highland Vengeance

by Saydee Bennett

  “Aye, and it was a lovely sight. My only flaw in this plan was not killing Camden himself,” Lorna smiled.

  “You are a fool if you thought to kill the most powerful Highland warrior,” Olivia replied.

  Lorna’s laugh was wicked and cold. Olivia was grateful that this woman seemed to be a bit delirious for it would make killing her much easier.

  “Well, it is safe to say then that the most powerful Highland warrior is rotting in a cell deep below the earth right now. Personally I think that is rather weak, don’t you?” Lorna taunted.

  “Weak is someone that would watch their own men die before their eyes without doing anything to help. You and your second assembly of men waited by while the others in your army were being killed. You cowardly hid out of sight to save yourself. My husband would never be so gutless,” Olivia declared with anger.

  “I assumed you were the English bride that was rumored to be a female warrior. I must say I am a bit jealous that you were able to gain the power that you have gotten from his men. You must have used your womanly shape to seduce them all,” Lorna said as she started to move slowly towards Olivia with her hands shaking.

  “I used my strength, power and wisdom to gain their trust. I did have a difficult time though because they are accustomed to useless and feeble Highland women like you,” Olivia threw at her.

  “Have I not already proved my power by taking over this clan?” Lorna asked incredulously.

  “Aye,” Olivia said mimicking the thick brogue, “you have shown me your power. You think to battle me with that little dagger while I have this beautiful sword in my hands, Laird Camden Sinclair’s sword. You have shown no mercy for the Sinclairs and I will show you no mercy now.” Olivia said harshly.

  Within moments of finishing her sentence, Camden’s beautiful English wife ran her blade clean through Lorna’s belly. The traitorous woman fell forward to the floor as Olivia pulled her husband’s sword back. She watched with no sympathy as the woman that deceived her husband and his father, slowly bleed to death before her.

  Olivia ran from the room and into the turret stairwell. She suddenly felt dizzy and the steps began to blur together in front of her. The countess heard her men coming up the stairs, calling her name and Olivia was grateful they were close for her legs started to quiver. She had never killed a woman before and Olivia had just done so without any remorse.

  Broderick reached her first and he could see that Olivia was trembling and dazed. He saw Camden’s large sword covered in blood and he searched her body over to make sure she was unharmed.

  “M’lady, are you all right?” He asked frantically.

  “I killed her. She admitted that she killed Camden’s father and then I did not even try to fight her. I just stuck my blade straight through her,” Olivia replied with no emotion.

  With all the protesting about her being a warrior, Broderick realized Olivia had probably never harmed a woman before. This was this first time since he had met her that she seemed more like the usual fragile woman. Her face was pale except for the large bruises from Ian’s fist and she looked weary.

  “M’lady, are you not harmed? That is all the matters now.” Liam asked.

  “I am fine. How goes the battle outside? Broderick are your men hurt? How are the Sutherlands and the other clans? How many men were lost?” She rattled on as they helped her down the winding staircase.

  “We haven’t lost any men as of yet. There are many wounded but with God’s mercy they will survive,” Liam answered.

  “Have they found the women and children? My God, what if we are too late?” She worried.

  “They are still searching m’lady,” Liam answered.

  Olivia, Broderick and Liam made their way outside the main castle doors to survey the damage among the men. Olivia was grateful to God that good had won over evil in this battle. She had worried most about the newly trained men but Lady Sinclair could see that they had fared well. From her right side, she could see Calum running towards her.

  “We have found them m’lady. They are tired and weak but they are unharmed. They had been held in the cells below the castle,” Calum yelled with a smile.

  Olivia could not help but smile in return at the good news.

  “Where are they now Calum? I would like to speak with them,” she replied.

  The group followed Calum to where the members of Camden’s clan had been held captive and Olivia sighed deeply as she watched them pour out of the stone building. Those that were not tending to the injured warriors began to care for the Sinclair clan. Olivia could hear inquiries as to where Laird Sinclair was and she wondered if his people were angry with him as he thought maybe they would be.

  Broderick yelled to command everyone’s attention.

  “Your laird planned and prepared for this retaliation but he himself was taken captive and is now being held prisoner at the MacKay holding. I want you all to show your respect to your laird’s new wife. This is Lady Sinclair and you have her to thank as well for this rescue. We will take another battle group early in the morning to the MacKay holding to find your laird,” Broderick announced.

  Olivia was a bit embarrassed as everyone inspected her thoroughly and she quickly felt at ease as the Sinclair clan cheered. A few small little girls that were covered in filth came running up to her and curtsied to their laird’s new wife. Olivia was feeling accepted and she desperately wanted to help these people further.

  It was late in the afternoon and everything was already gaining order with the help of the other clans. The soldiers were dumping the MacKay bodies at sea and the women were preparing food to eat for the men. Olivia was frustrated that Broderick was making her wait until morning to help Camden. She wanted to go to her husband now and if they did not make it in time, Olivia would never forgive herself.

  Amid all the commotion of the hundreds of people trying to work together, Olivia heard shouting outside in the courtyard. The laird’s wife ran quickly to see what was happening and before she could get too far, Liam stopped her.

  “What is going on out there? Why are there woman crying?” Olivia asked urgently.

  “It’s Stephan m’lady. He has returned with Maggie’s body.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Bring her body inside and I will tend to it. Have someone ready a grave by Camden’s mother, for that is where he wanted her buried,” Olivia said softly.

  “Yes m’lady,” Liam answered.

  Olivia paced back and forth waiting for Camden’s sister to be brought inside the holding. She had a few women with her to help wash and dress the body but Olivia was still extremely nervous to do so. As the door to the chamber opened, Olivia could see Stephan cradling a frail looking woman in his arms and she seemed to be clinging to his plaid. Olivia was confused at the sight and then she saw Stephan break into a large grin.

  “It is Maggie, she is alive!” Stephan whispered to Olivia.

  “Bring her to the bed quickly,” Olivia ordered.

  Stephan gently laid the thin, pale woman on top of the beautiful coverlet on the bed. Olivia hurried to her side and ran her fingers through the woman’s hair. Maggie opened her eyes and smiled weakly.

  “You must be Olivia,” Maggie said hoarsely.

  “I am and I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you are alive. Do you know what has happened to you? I need to know in order to help you heal.”

  “I am well, just tired and weak. I lost the babe that I carried and a lot of blood but I survived when they thought I would not. The midwife said I just need time to regain my strength,” Maggie said softly.

  “I will do everything I can to help you. I am married to your brother and that makes us sisters. Although I must confess, I have committed a sin against you and pray for your forgiveness,” Olivia said nervously.

  “What would that be?”

  “I killed your husband,” Olivia said with no feeling.

  Maggie smiled. “You do not need my forgiveness. You deserve my gratitude for killi
ng the bastard. He pushed me down a flight of stairs and caused me to lose the baby. I am finally out of his evil hands.”

  The two exchanged smiles and Olivia immediately saw her husband’s grin in Maggie. The desperate urge she felt to save him had not left her and now Olivia needed him more than ever.

  “I will find Camden and we will return to help nurse you back to health,” Olivia promised.

  “You love him. I can see it in your eyes Olivia. Besides, I do not think an English woman would climb the Highland mountains through the snow if she did not love the man she looked for,” Maggie said with a grin.

  “I do love him and I need to tell him. Broderick wants to leave in the morning to reach Camden but I fear that we will be too late.”

  “Trust Broderick, for he knows what is best,” Maggie replied.

  “Of course, I am so grateful that you are well. Camden will be more than joyful when he learns you are alive. These women are here to help you, please let them do whatever they can for you. I must see to the warriors outside but I will check on you in a while.”

  “Olivia, thank you for loving my brother. He needs you as much as you need him.”

  Maggie watched as her brother’s beautiful wife smiled with magic and then left the chamber. Camden’s sister quietly thanked God for her return home and then prayed for her brother’s safety.

  The sky was beginning to darken as the night replaced day. Olivia anxiously walked around the large castle as the servants continued to restore it to its beauty before the wedding massacre. The wait for dawn would surely be the death of her and she had begged Broderick many times to change his mind. As the clans settled down for the night, Liam showed Olivia to her husband’s bed chamber. As the warrior opened the door, she noticed that the room was covered in dust and cobwebs.

  “Has it been that long since my husband has used this room?” She wondered.

  Liam grinned. “My laird never slept in here m’lady. He slept in the barracks with us.”

  “Always the modest isn’t he?” She smiled.

  “M’lady, Stephan, Keith, Calum and I will be in the next room and one of us will always be at your door. You will sleep safe tonight.”

  “Liam, I am too tired to argue with you so I will just thank you for your protection,” she chuckled softly.

  Liam laughed too and then closed the door as he left the chamber. Olivia walked around the room and inspected everything she came across hoping to find something that reminded her of Camden. The laird’s wife wanted a tunic with his scent to hold while she slept but Olivia found nothing that cured her need. As the minutes went by, they seemed like days and the countess felt as if she were going mad. She knew her body was beginning to catch fever and she feared the injury to her side was infected. Olivia carefully restitched the wound again before wrapping it thoroughly. She knew she was not giving the gash time to heal and with her movements during the battle, it had torn open again. The laird’s wife tried to rest but Olivia could not just lay there and wait to help Camden. Never in her life had Olivia sat still and now would not be the time to start. The warrior woman would do now as she had always done before, disobey.

  Olivia opened her door slowly and found Keith standing by the large wooden frame.

  “M’lady, is everything alright?” He asked frantically.

  “No Keith. I want you to go and wake Liam, Stephan and Calum and tell them I wish to speak to them now, in my chamber. Be silent and do not disturb any others. Now go!” She said in a loud whisper.

  He immediately obeyed her and then quickly returned with the other warriors. The four men were nervous about entering their laird’s chamber, especially with his wife present. Olivia stood in front of the men and prepared herself for the commands she was about to give.

  “I have taken your laird’s rule until he can return. I expect you to do as I say as if he were giving the order. God has cleared the storm tonight and I will not stand by waiting for the morn to save Camden. You will lead me now to the MacKay holding and we will free my husband.”

  “M’lady your valor is honorable but we have no knowledge of how many men wait for us there. We need to have the full battalion with us,” Liam replied.

  “Yes, m’lady we do. If not, we will be walking into a death trap,” Keith said.

  “I know the consequences and I do not fear them. The pledge I made was in life and in death. I am not planning to go in fighting. I wish to negotiate a trade with Malcolm and we will go in to bargain for Camden’s life in return for Malcolm’s sister,” Olivia answered.

  “But she is dead m’lady. You killed her,” Calum said.

  “Malcolm does not know that and he wouldn’t expect us to bring her with us during the negotiation. I will demand to see that my husband is well and tell Malcolm that Broderick is holding his sister not far from the holding. By that time, the clans will have arrived and we will have our reinforcements there and I will know that Camden is safe,” she explained.

  “What if he doesn’t want to bargain with you m’lady?” Calum asked.

  “It is his sister’s life, of course he will want to bargain,” she pointed out.

  “This is a huge risk m’lady. Are you sure this is what you wish to do?” Liam asked quietly.

  “I ask you all, what would Camden do if I were the one being held prisoner?” She said staring at each one.

  “When do we leave m’lady?” Liam asked.

  Olivia and the four giant warriors quietly moved through the halls of the castle and outside to the stables. It did not take long for them to prepare their horses and then Liam led them around the far backside of the castle so they would not disturb the clans that slept outside. They maneuvered the horses slowly and silently. Once they were far enough for anyone to not hear, the group began to ride at a furious pace. The noise of their massive stallions pounding the frozen earth, sounded like thunder rumbling in the night.

  As the early morning hours approached, the sun peeked over the ridge of the mountains and began warming the frigid air. Olivia’s face was already numb and stinging from the harsh cold wind but she knew with each step, they were getting closer to Camden. Liam slowed the pace as the group reached the valley where the old brittle castle stood. When Olivia saw the MacKay holding, she was not surprised at its condition. The horrid place was fitting for such evil people.

  Before they moved forward to the holding, Liam asked Olivia again if this was for certain, what she wanted to do.

  Olivia smiled at the man and her answer was clear.

  “I want to save my husband. Before I give my next orders, I want promises from all of you that you will not argue with what I say.”

  All four of the men nodded and agreed with Lady Sinclair.

  “I will go alone, unarmed to make my trade known to Laird MacKay. When I come back, we will wait for Broderick and the rest of the men,” Olivia explained.

  “Unarmed m’lady?” Stephan asked.

  Olivia gave the man that challenged her statement a wicked glare and Stephan was immediately remorseful.

  “I am certain Malcolm’s men will not let me anywhere near him if I am armed and it will also show him that I have come to negotiate.”

  Liam nodded and then the rest of the men agreed. Olivia left her sword and bow with the rest of the men. She decided to leave her horse behind and make the rest of the journey on foot. The countess climbed down a rocky path towards the pathetic looking castle and once she was off the cliff, Olivia hurried through the clearing. As she continued ahead, Olivia stared at the ruins of what was perhaps, a magnificent castle and wondered where her husband was being held. She remembered Lorna say that he was in a cell below the castle and Olivia then prayed to God again for his safety.

  The closer she moved towards the MacKay holding, the more aware Olivia became of the men scattered about watching her. She felt their presence and knew that the MacKay men were hiding. Olivia stopped and then silently looked all around her.

  “I am unarmed. I am Lady Sin
clair and I wish to speak with Laird MacKay. We hold his sister hostage as you hold my husband,” Olivia shouted at the unseen men.

  When she had finished her sentence, at least twenty men appeared from their hiding spots, all with swords and arrows drawn. The warrior woman had never felt uneasy when it came to fighting but now Olivia knew she was at their mercy. The dirty man closest to her, grabbed Olivia’s arm and then guided her towards the holding. The four Sinclair warriors stood at the top of the cliff and watched as their laird’s wife was being taken away. Liam had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach and the man instantly regretted letting her go alone.

  Stephan and Calum were pacing back and forth while Liam and Keith knelt with their heads down. The warriors then heard a familiar call through the woods and they easily knew who it was that signaled them. Broderick and his men had left the Sinclair land only minutes after Olivia had. He fully knew the woman would not wait for the morning light before leaving to find her husband. Broderick had men posted all over to watch for Olivia leaving and when she did, his men followed her shortly behind. Although he was upset that she left without him, Broderick commended her courage.

  Now as the Sinclair warriors explained to Broderick what Olivia’s plan was, the giant man was furious with himself for letting her leave without him. She did not know Malcolm and the things he was capable of doing. Broderick feared that Olivia underestimated the evil man and now he waited while fearless woman was in the sinister man’s holding.

  The MacKay men immediately tied Olivia up as soon as she was within the walls of the castle. Olivia was led into a dark room and the pungent musty smell almost made her gag. Every step she took on the muddy wet floor brought her closer to the man sitting at the table in the center of the room. Olivia assumed this was Malcolm from the smug look on his face.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” Malcolm asked his soldier.

  “She says she’s Laird Sinclairs wife and that she holds yer sister hostage.”