Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series)

by Aury Dobsyn

  Guy’s brow pulled into an affronted frown and a muscle flicked angrily in his jaw, as he stared at the small dark figure before him.

  “Please, dinna speak. I must get ye out of here.” She spoke with a Scottish accent to alleviate suspicion then pulled iron tools from her satchel.

  Guy choked out, “Gabriel?”

  “He is safe and in the tunnel,” she explained, not bothering to look up as she worked on the shackles. She was thankful that her mother had taught her this valuable skill when they opened and she pulled his ankle free from the iron.

  “Who are ye? How do ye ken of the tunnel?”

  “Ye can ask me anything after I get ye three to safety.”

  Guy nodded, then watched as she removed his brothers’ shackles with strange tools that suddenly looked quite familiar to him. When she waved something under Keir’s nose, he knew then she was a healer and was quick to cover his brother’s mouth when he woke.

  “Keir, dinna speak. Gabriel is well and waiting in the tunnel. This strange lass has removed our shackles and wishes to help us to safety. All will be answered in time, but for now remain silent.”

  Keir nodded as he looked at the female in question, but was unable to make out her face. When he saw her try to wake Hamon using the same method she had used with him, he whispered, “Drugged.”

  Wasting no time, she grabbed Hamon’s wrist and proceeded to drag his limp body to the tunnel. Both Guy and Keir just stared at her in disbelief, then on wobbly legs moved to help her.

  She went through the tunnel first to give Gabriel her satchel and instructed him to follow the tunnel to the end. “It will be dark, so let the wall be your guide. Dinna fear, sweetling. We will follow, but at a slower pace. They have been beaten, but ‘tis naught I canna fix.”

  Gabriel nodded, then started down the tunnel. He was petrified, but he knew she needed him to conquer his fear for the sake of all their lives. He would question her later to why she suddenly spoke like a Scot, rather than an English lass.

  The small space proved to be quite difficult for the large men, but with her assistance in dragging them through the opening, they soon were all in the tunnel.

  Ella quickly slid the stone back into place to conceal their escape route, then took hold of Hamon’s wrists again and began to drag her limp brother down the tunnel.

  Guy and Keir grabbed their brother’s feet, lifting him so the dragging sound would not be heard. They used the wall to brace themselves, but had to stop twice before they came to the end of the tunnel.

  “Gabriel,” Ella whispered.

  “Aye, I’m here.”

  She found his outstretched hand, pulled him into a hug, then pushed him into Keir.

  Her heart melted when she heard the two embrace and Keir whisper softly, “Gabriel, are ye hurt or harmed in any way?”

  “Nae, Papa. But, we canna talk, Ella says so.”

  “Aye, but I believe she will need our assistance,” Keir replied.

  When Ella tried to climb up the stones embedded in the wall leading to the trap door, a large hand fell upon her shoulder.

  “Let me go first,” Guy whispered.

  “Nae, ye will need my help at the top, “she said in a hushed tone as she continued to climb up.

  “Then allow me to help.”

  “Nae-” Her protest faltered as Guy grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up to the trap door. She did not want Guy wasting his strength on her, but knew there was little time to argue.

  With haste, she retrieved the rope from her saddlebag, tied one end to Apollo then dropped the other end to Guy.

  Ignoring the rope, Guy and Keir easily lifted Gabriel into her waiting arms. The two oldest brothers then tied the rope around Hamon and allowed her to use her horse to pull him through the opening of the tree hollow. The same method was used to lift Guy, followed by Keir.

  Once they were safely out of the tunnel, Ella had Guy mount Apollo, then with Keir’s help, tied Hamon to his back. She had chosen Apollo for them, since he was easiest of the three horses to ride. She then helped Keir and Gabriel onto Coisi before she mounted Righ.

  Dawn has yet to come when Keir led them through the woods towards the burn. The moon bathed the landscape below in soft white light as it cast shadows that concealed their escape. Crickets and moving water were the only sounds heard beyond their own horses. They stopped occasionally to listen for signs of other riders then continued their slow pace.

  When Ella realized they were going to take the bridge and cross over onto Fraser land, she asked, “I thought the Fraser’s were yer enemy.”

  Keir barely heard the feminine whisper and was unable to answer due to the excruciating pain rippling through his body. His back and feet had been whipped until he blacked out from the blood loss and he prayed he would remain conscious long enough to get his son, his brothers and the lass to safety.

  “They are nae enemies, but neither are they allies,” Guy answered. “Our chances are better with them than the English.”

  “RIDE,” Ella screamed when she heard horses galloping towards them.

  Both Guy and Keir kicked the flanks of their horses, bolting to the bridge as she stayed behind and moved into the shadows. When she pulled out her bow, she saw flaming arrows light up the darken sky and impale the wooden bridge. They were trying to burn the bridge down, effectively cutting off their escape route.

  There were three of them, she noticed as she took aim, then loosed her arrow at the lead rider. He fell dead to the ground while his companions continued their chase. She let a second arrow fly, then cursed when it was misdirected by a sudden gust of wind, giving them sufficient time to hit the bridge with two more flaming arrows. She let loose another arrow, hitting a second man in between his shoulder blades, while the last soldier raced towards the bridge.

  Riding hard to keep him in her vision, she saw beyond him that her brothers and Gabriel had not crossed the bridge. And the bridge was on fire. With her heart pounding in her chest, she took aim and killed the last man.

  By the time Ella reached the bridge, her brothers and Gabriel were safely on the other side. Pulling Righ to a stop, she closed her eyes and swallowed a sob that rose in her throat. She could hear the timber splinter apart, then the splash of the wooden bridge falling into the burn. She had lost her chance to cross and be with her family. A flash of loneliness stabbed her heart when she opened her eyes and looked across the water.

  Dawn had come, bathing the horizon in a red and orange glow, illuminating the landscape around the lost sibling. Keir and Guy stood motionless as they stared in utter disbelief. In the light of the new day they saw that face, the one they had loved so fiercely, but thought never to see again. To recognize the sister they believed had died, only to be separated once again, left them trembling with vicious agony and wretched helplessness.

  Hearing riders in the distance, Ella’s chest tightened knowing that this would be the last time she would see her family. She took once last look at her brothers, and then put her hand over her heart. The gesture was meant to convey her love. Tears blurred her vision as she turned and rode back into the dense woods.

  Had she looked a moment longer, she would have seen Keir and Guy put their tight fist over their hearts as they stared at their beloved sister. Shock and pain was replaced with stone-hard determination.

  As they rode hard to Doran Castle, their only thoughts were that their sister was not dead. She risked her life to save them. Now, like a sacrificial lamb, the wolves stalked her.

  With ardent purpose driving them to neck breaking pace, they raced across Fraser land determined to reach the Macleod fortress before it was too late. They would not fail her. They would not lose their beloved sister again.

  77

  Dawn had come and gone when Gavin and Alex spotted a large party of Highlanders riding as if the devil himself were chasing them. When the two lairds recognized the Fraser plaid worn by the approaching riders, they gave the signal to halt the hundreds of warri
ors following in their wake.

  “They have Keir and Guy,” Gavin hissed.

  When Laird Fraser slowed his mount to a stop, Alex roared, “Explain!”

  Neither intimidated nor offended by the gruff reception, Laird Cormac Fraser faced the man he had once called ally and friend. It had been many years since Alex allied the Mackenzies with the Macleods. Due to this disloyal act, Cormac had severed all ties with the Frasers. That is until now.

  Yesterday he had been forced to consider putting the past behind him when Gavin Macleod’s wife and brother had rescued his daughter, Kyla. Last eve, he had trouble forgetting the winsome face of the lass who boldly threatened to cut off his tongue. She had her mother’s green eyes and her father’s memorable smile. She inherited her sun kissed blond hair from both her parents as well as her undeniable spirit. She was Alex Mackenzie’s daughter, and she was very much alive. Realizing the earth-shattering discovery, he did not hesitate to inform his once closest friend.

  “I was on my way to see ye when I happen upon yer sons and grandson. Yer sons have taken a beating, and nae would have made it without our help.”

  Alex saw that Keir and Guy were on their own horses, but looked as if they had just returned from battle. Gabriel was sitting in front of a Fraser soldier, thankfully unharmed.

  Before Alex could ask about Hamon, Keir rode forward and said, “Hamon was drugged and has been unconscious for many hours. Laird Fraser had him put in a cart and escorted to the Macleod stronghold by his men.”

  Alex was more than grateful that his sons and grandson were alive, but his daughter was still in danger. He did not mince words when he stated, “Yer sister is alive.”

  Keir, Guy and Laird Fraser said at once, “Ye ken?”

  “Aye, and I will have the bastard’s head on a pike afore the day is out. Greystone has made her life hell for eight years as revenge against me. My daughter has gone to him in hopes of bartering herself for yer lives.”

  “She dinna go to barter herself, she-” Guy started to say.

  “Explain!” Alex roared since his patience had been depleted hours ago.

  “She rescued us,” Guy’s tone and furor equaled his father’s.

  Simultaneously, Alex and Gavin asked, “What?”

  “She appeared in the dungeon after retrieving my son from his chamber,” Keir began. “She freed us from the shackles-” He was interrupted by his father’s irate bellow.

  “Where is my daughter?”

  With haste, Keir explained that she stayed behind, without their knowledge, to kill the three English soldiers that were chasing them with flaming arrows.

  “The bridge caught fire, trapping her on the other side of the burn just as the sun broke the horizon. Only then did we see that it was our baby sister who had saved us and . . .” He broke off, overcome by emotion and heartache.

  Rage filled the air as Gavin and Alex listened to the events that had occurred only an hour past. A new plan was formulated and strengthened when Laird Fraser added his warriors to the mix of fighting men. After all was organized, their fighting force was well over 600 highland warriors. It was agreed upon to split into four groups, so they could surround the enemy and cut off any chance of escape.

  Before leaving, Alex went to Keir and said, “Ye must take Gabriel to Doran.” When his son was about to protest, he stated, “I ken ye want to help get her back, but ye canna fight in yer condition. I can see that yer feet bleed and suspect ye will nae be able walk. Get yer son and my grandson to safety.”

  Keir knew his father was right, but it did nothing to ease the pain torturing his heart. He turned to Guy and said, “I thought ye were whipped as well?”

  “I was, but nae to the extent ye were, and nae on my feet.”

  “Then go and get our sister back.”

  Guy stated with fierce determination, “Aye, she will be with us once again.”

  78

  The early morning hours brought a clear blue sky, leaving Ella more visible and vulnerable than ever. She had been successful in escaping the Englishmen chasing her, but Righ was now too fatigued to continue.

  She pulled up on his reins and vaulted from his back, then removed his saddle and bit. After pulling the saddle blanket from his back, she said, “You have served me well, my friend, but I can take you no further without putting you in danger. You have the choice to return to the Macleods or claim your freedom. Thank you, Righ, for all you have done.” She slapped his backside, and then watched him take off into the woods.

  After hiding the saddle and reins under a bush, she ran to a group of towering pine trees that would serve as a temporary refuge. Before scrambling up to wait for the inevitable, she quickly hid her bow and empty quiver in the base of an old yew tree. As tears ran down her face, she ran her fingers down the beautiful weapon that was gifted to her only last eve, then concealed the weapon as best she could.

  Ella had ridden hard for over an hour trying to outmaneuver the English, but they were everywhere. Her defeat was but a heartbeat away, she realized, and was powerless against it.

  Although she ached for Gavin, she was convinced that he and his clan would be better off without her. It was only a matter of time before Greystone’s men discovered her whereabouts, and then forced her back to England. At least she was given a reprieve from having to face Gavin when he learned the truth about his wife, for the pain would be too great to see his loving eyes fill with hatred.

  The sounds of horses interrupted her thoughts, and within moments she was looking down from her perch in the tree at a handful of Montgomery soldiers. She tried to climb further up, but one man leaped into the tree from his horse and yanked her down. Branches scratched her face and neck just before she hit the ground with a mighty blow that expelled all the air from her lungs. She gasped for breath even as the vile man grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to her feet.

  “You give me any trouble, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll not soon forget.”

  Another man came forward with rope in his hands and laughed, “I’ll tie the wench so she’ll be giving us nae trouble on the way to the ship.”

  With her hands tied behind her back and a rope around her neck, Ella was dragged by the English soldiers on horseback. She was thankful that the rope around her throat did not tighten when pulled upon. It was merely to humiliate her and give the soldiers amusement.

  “A wench on a leash is a fine sight indeed. Montgomery will be well pleased, I’m thinking.”

  Ella asked, “Where are you taking me?”

  “Shut your mouth, whore. If you open it again. . .” He trailed off as soon as she lowered her eyes.

  She stayed quiet the rest of the journey, but listened and soon learned they were taking her to a ship where Montgomery waited. She had wondered how Montgomery and Greystone thought to leave the Highlands alive. The only way would be by water, and once she boarded that ship, all hope would be lost.

  An hour later, Ella and her captors reached the east side of Mackenzie land, and with it the ocean. A ship was anchored further out in the water, while rowboats glided to the shore. And, her nightmare became a reality when she saw Montgomery in the first boat.

  The men around her dismounted and pulled her the short distance through the woody terrain that outlined the beach. A short jump, two ell in length, was all that separated them from the beach. One by one, each man jumped down to the beach, until only Ella and the man holding the rope tied to her neck were left.

  One of the foul men on the beach called out, “Might as well untie her hands, but throw down her leash first.” His comment ended with an evil laugh.

  Ella stood looking down at the four men on the beach as her hands were roughly untied. The man holding the other end of the rope was at the bottom of the small cliff, eagerly waiting to yank her over the edge. As soon as her hands were untied, the man behind her let out a short gasp. She turned quickly to the sight of the man falling to his knees, then face down on the ground with two arrows sticking out of his
back.

  With haste, she grabbed the dagger in his hand and sliced through the rope that was tied to her neck. The man below jerked hard on the rope and fell backwards since she was no longer at the other end. Just as she was about to run, one of the men below jumped up and grabbed her ankle. When her foot was pulled from beneath her, she hit the ground hard, and the dagger flew from her hands.

  She frantically clawed the ground as the men on the beach yanked her from the small cliff. She looked up just before going over the edge, and was shocked to see Arth baring his teeth, racing towards her.

  Once Ella made contact with the sandy ground, her captor spun her around then raised his fist. As she turned her head to divert the blow, the savage sound of a snarling beast rippled through the air. Her eyes darted upwards at the precise moment Arth lunged from the cliff and onto her attacker. The massive weight of the large animal tumbled both her and the soldier to the ground. She then witnessed how truly ferocious and supremely wolf Arth could be within a blink of an eye.

  His deadly teeth sank into the flesh of her attacker’s neck, quickly cutting off the man’s pain-filled cries. With his jaws locked on the soldier’s throat, the faithful animal then shook his blood-covered muzzle from side to side, finishing the kill.

  Scrambling to her knees, Ella was oblivious to the droplets of blood hitting her face as she watched the brutal death. She then swung her head towards the sudden sound of a sword being unsheathed and saw another soldier running in her direction with his weapon raised high in the air. His intent was clear, he was going to strike down the vicious animal she loved.

  “NO,” Ella screamed, springing to her feet. She lunged towards the threat and when her body slammed into his, she grabbed his forearms to prevent the downward plunge of the sword. When the man toppled over, she momentarily thought it was her strength that felled him; that is until she realized that Arth had unintentionally slammed into her back while trying to attack the soldier. The powerful impact sent them all to the ground, and within an instant the animal’s jaws were embedded in the man’s exposed throat while Ella continued to hold the man’s arms over his head. Aiding the beast in his kill without fear for herself sent exhilaration coursing through her body. And the joy of it made her feel safe and wanted. At least there is one who loves me.