“ ‘Tis Rae! My cousin!” She collapsed against Bull’s side, and he dragged his two companions toward escape. Before he started up the first step, pounding feet and clanking metal told him it was too late.
“We have a problem.”
Izzy coughed again. “The guards. They be blocking our escape. How did they know we were here?” Izzy whispered.
Bull tugged her arm, and backed them away from the stairs.
“Och,” she whispered loud enough to get his attention.
“What’d I do?”
“The Sinclair left his mark upon me,” Izzy answered, rubbing her upper arm.
Bull couldn’t dwell on those injuries right now. The Sinclair laird was toast, if he ever crossed paths with Bull again. Men blocked their escape, smoke thickened behind them, and an unconscious body lay at their feet.
“The windows. My cell had a small one, and the smoke must have alerted them.”
“Or, someone told them we were down here.”
“Who? Who knew we would be here?”
“Two guesses, and the first one doesn't count.” Bull said. He backed them into a corner, away from the smoking cell. His lungs ached, and he wanted nothing more than to breathe clean air.
“Gavin?” she asked.
“Well, yes. He’s his father son, after all.”
“No, I will no’ believe that. Gavin is honorable, and tried to get my land in a gentlemanly manner.”
“What do you mean gentlemanly?” He couldn’t believe they were having this conversation, while armed guards headed their way.
“He asked for my hand in marriage, remember? If we wed, he would get everything I own. My land, my money, my animals, and me.”
“You have money?”
Izzy stuck her tongue out at him.
“Keep doing that, and I might find a use for it. Getting back to your boyfriend…if he told his dad we’re here, he’ll marry you and kill me.”
“Nay. I will no’ allow anyone to touch ye.”
“Right, so if we are both killed, what happens to your land?”
“Oh, stars above. The land would revert to my closest living relative.” Izzy glanced down at the sprawled form of her cousin, Rae Wilson.
“Is this Rae? For sure?”
“Aye, and if Rae dies, there is no one left. The property would revert to the laird.”
“The Sinclair?”
“Nay, the Gunn Laird. I believe ye met him. Kirkwall Gunn?”
Bull nodded, then scrambled over to where he had dropped the sword. Recalling the large, scary Highland warrior, who had married a friend of Jake’s, he wanted a weapon in his hand. The warriors of this time were scary dudes, but protecting Izzy was paramount. The thundering steps had stopped, but raised voices echoed down the stairs, to their position.
“Something made them turn around,” Izzy whispered. She fanned her cousin’s face. A moan trickled up.
“What about Jaden-Tog? Couldn't he take your property?”
“Nay. Brownies are remarkable creatures, but they do not work for profit. They like to trade, or do tasks, for a chance to receive small favors. Jaden-Tog was working for the Sinclair laird in exchange for something. I'm not quite sure what, but he told the laird that the rules had changed.”
“Why would he do that?”
“When the laird attempted to ravish me, Jaden-Tog showed up in the bedchamber,” she whispered, looking at the ground. “The brownie helped me escape. He said it was no’ in his nature to help a man force himself on a woman.”
Bull dragged in another deep breath. Her voice was strained, as if she relived the event. He owed the creature for protecting Izzy. “Doesn’t mean I have to trust him, or like him, but he might be our only hope.”
“Give the man a cigar,” Jaden-Tog said, popping up under Bull’s elbow.
Bull nearly jumped out of his skin. “Where did you come from? Never mind. Get us out of here, and we'll talk about it. Okay?”
Izzy pulled the little man away from Bull, then stood beside the brownie, with her hand gripped tight around the hilt of her dirk. Her knuckles were white and defiance flared in her wide open eyes and her straight back. “Did ye start that fire?”
“What fire? All I smell is smoke.” The brownie leaned over and sniffed Izzy’s dress.
“Back off,” Bull said. It came out more of a growl, but the little man stepped away.
“Fine. Did ye create the smoke that billowed out of a crack in the cell floor?”
“Aye, I canna’ tell a lie. I used the potion bottle I found tucked in yer…oops.” The brownie’s cheeks flushed a dark red.
“Did ye steal my strongbox?” Izzy’s voice rose, and she glared at the little man. The ruddy color staining Jaden-Tog’s cheeks proved his guilt.
In order to thwart an argument, Bull picked up the man Izzy claimed was her missing cousin, and threw him over his shoulder. He didn't look burned, just unconscious.
“How is Rae?” Izzy asked.
She appeared at his shoulder, and brushed a lock of her cousin’s wavy brown hair from his face. Happily, she ignored the brownie.
To Bull, Rae looked a little like Izzy, which was a shock to his system. The same cheekbones, and the same nose. Glancing away from the man’s features, he checked Rae’s vitals.
“He’s breathing, but we’d better get him outside, into fresh air. I don't care where, as long as we get out of here now.”
“Yer young friend, Gavin, has created a disturbance. Seems the laird has gone missing,” Jaden-Tog said, smirking.
“I don’t care if he’s telling them jokes. Get us away from here!”
“I see ye believe in magic, now.” Jaden-Tog chuckled, as he waved his arm in the air. The smoke dissipated and the torch flames wavered.
When a bright light filled the cavern, Bull shut his eyes. A whistling sound echoed throughout the dungeon. Bouncing off the walls, it sent Bull and Izzy to their knees. He grabbed for her, and she clutched him around the waist, with one arm. They both sunk their fingers into her cousin’s shirt.
“This is eerie, and too familiar.” Bull privately wished he’d wake up in the barn behind Jake's apartment. He also wished he could cover his ears, but he would have to drop his cargo first.
Not going to happen.
“Welcome home, Highlander,” the brownie said.
Was he home? Bull didn’t release the warm bundle he held against his chest. His Izzy. She moaned. When Rae groaned, Bull opened his eyes What he saw made him sick.
***
Izzy blinked. The water's surface curled and foamed, and waves pushed shoreward, on a cold breeze. For a small Scottish loch, such turbulence was peculiar. Even as the sun beat down on her face, Izzy shivered. The rolling hills beyond were beautiful, but beauty could turn deadly, in an instant.
Kneeling, she glanced at her cousin. Bull had laid him in soft, thick grass, that smelled like home.
Home? What made Scotland her home? She had followed Dorcas Swann to live in New England, but she missed the fragrance of wild lavender and heather. Familiar smells were important, today. They invigorated her. She inhaled several cleansing breaths, washing away the smoke in her lungs.
Her cousin moaned. Leaning over him, she checked for injuries, which was a better use of her time.
“Is he hurt? I don't see any bleeding,” Bull said. He stood over her, concern etching his face. She wished he would smile. He was a bit less scary when he smiled.
“I doona’ see any wounds. He is coming around. Rae? Rae, can you hear me?”
Her cousin moaned again, then raised his arm, as if to fight her off. Bull intervened, grabbing the man's arm, before he struck her, in his daze. Still holding him, Bull knelt beside her.
“Doona’ hurt him.” Izzy ordered, but Bull kept hold of Rae’s arm. Bull would keep her safe. He always came to her rescue, ever since the first day they had met; the day her tent caught fire.
‘Twas only yesterday?
If she had to share this adve
nture with a hero, Bull was the perfect choice, A gorgeous, delicious, and thoughtful lover, as well. The memory of their couplings stole her breath.
She shoved all thoughts of romance away. Important chores stared her in the face, starting with Rae. Her cousin required her undivided attention.
“I told ye! I doona’ know where she is. Leave me be!” Rae cried out. His eyes were open, but he stared at something unseen. His skin was too pale, and his fear was palpable.
“Rae! ‘Tis me. Isobel. Look at me!’
Rae stared up at her, his dark brown eyes wild with terror.
Izzy gave him a big smile to calm him. “Yer safe.”
“Relatively speaking,” Bull said.
Izzy glanced at Bull. He had released Rae’s arm, and stood to the side. He no longer looked at them. His attention had strayed to the loch.
“Bull, what do ye mean?”
He pointed to the loch, where a dark shape swam just beneath the surface.
Terror-filled shivers coursed down her back. “Is that…a creature? Will it leave the water and attack?”
“Yep. Here we go again.” Bull dragged her and her cousin to their feet, then helped them struggle up a small hillock.
Reaching the top, Izzy forced her gaze away from the creature behind them, and glanced eastward.
“There it is. I know exactly where your little friend sent us.”
“There what is? What do ye see? Please say it is no’ another creature. How could you know where we are? And, where did Jaden-Tog go?”
“Trust me, sweetheart.”
Izzy ignored him, as she gently patted her cousin’s cheek. His skin color was still too gray. He must have breathed in the eerie smoke. “Rae? Are you hurt? What pains you?”
“Nay, dear Isobel. I be fine. The attack startled me, and I ran. I dinna’ even think to pick up a weapon, and they captured me. I dinna’ wish to leave the animals behind, ‘tis the truth.”
“I know. The cows and chickens worry about ye.”
“How did ye…?”
“Never mind. Tell us what happened.”
“Hey, you two! Continue this discussion over that hill. Hi, Rae. Glad to meet you. Let's get moving.”
“Nay,” Izzy said, “we should stay here and he should no’ be moved further. He might have injuries we canna’ see.”
“If we stay here, we might all die. I recognize that loch, and I’ll bet the farm that this is where Jake and I arrived from you know where.”
“I hope yer not betting my farm,” Izzy said, but Bull only smiled.
“Ye did not tell me much about yer last visit.”
“Amazing what a little bit of witchcraft can do, though I was informed later, it was precipitated by an attack by a sorcerer.”
“A sorcerer? Here?” Izzy glanced about, and slapped a hand to her throat. Dorcas Swann was a powerful witch who had taken her under her wing, but she never wished to cross paths with a sorcerer.
“Dorcas Swann took care of him, so he’s in no position to hurt anyone again. There’s the danger.” Bull pointed toward the loch, below them. “There’s a dragon under that water. Last time I was here, he attacked us. Let’s go!”
“A dragon?” Izzy gazed out over the water. Bubbles foamed and sputtered, until the blue-green head of a dragon rose above the surface. As its flaming eyes glowed with ominous rage, and it opened a mouth filled with pointed teeth, curling waves drove it closer to shore.
Izzy turned, and ran.
CHAPTER 21
With Bull’s help, they half-carried Rae over the top of the hillock. When out of sight of the loch and its inhabitant, they discovered a field of broken boulders. Bull told them to rest, then went to survey their location. Rae pressed a palm to his head, and winced.
“Have ye the headache, cousin?” Izzy asked.
“Aye. I think one of them hit me on the back of the head, with the hilt of his sword.” Rae glanced toward her retreating companion. “Who is this warrior? He startled me.”
“He also saved yer life. His name is Bryce Buchanan, but everybody calls him Bull.”
“Aye, ‘tis a good name for a brawny Highlander. How did he save me?” Rae glanced around at the meadow, hills, and lake. “Wait. How did we get out of my cell?”
“What ‘tis the last thing ye remember?”
“A swirl of smoke sizzled out of a crack in the floor. I wanted to get out, but the guards were gone. I shook the door, but it held. With no one to let me out, I coughed, then prayed for help.” He reached out and stroked her cheek with a trembling hand. “Thank you cousin, and thank your friend when he returns.”
“Ye may thank him yerself. He is here.”
When Bull glanced at her and smiled, her stomach flipped. Her heart fluttered inside her chest, but she pushed away all thoughts of continuing their relationship. Nothing would come of it, except a broken heart.
“We’ll head that way,” Bull said, pointing.
Bull hefted Rae, helping him to gain his footing. Izzy spun away from the dragon’s threat, and Bull’s smile. Heading down a trail, away from both men, she prayed that she traveled in the correct direction. Bull would certainly cry out, if she erred. He said he recognized their location, and she trusted him. She had no choice.
“Keep going,” he called to her, “and we’ll come to Castle Ruadh. It should be over the next rise.”
Castle Ruadh?
“The Keith and Mackenzie stronghold?” She had never ventured to Wick. The castle was far from her home, and in the opposite direction of her own laird’s tower fortress. Curious, she followed a well-worn trail that ventured toward a cliff. The castle would offer food, water, and a place to rest.
“A change of clothes would do me good.” Her skirt was torn and filthy, and her blouse was too thin for the Scottish breeze. Rubbing her arms to gather a bit of warmth, she kept going toward the next rise.
Izzy paused atop the second hillock. Salt spray kissed her face, and a strong wind buffeted her hair and clothing. A vast, gray sea, its waves booming and crashing, spread out to the east. Straight ahead, a huge red edifice rose along the cliffs. Its sandstone walls glistened in the damp air of the sea. She was still staring when Bull and Rae reached her side.
Bull’s large outline blocked the sun, and her shoulders grew chilly. His deep voice rumbled through her. “Jake told me ruadh means red in Gaelic. The sandstone looks kind of dark pink to me, but he said it’s common in this area. That big splotch of gray is the North Sea.”
“We are near Wick?” Rae asked.
“Yes, or so I was told last time I was unlucky enough to land here.”
Izzy found her voice, saying, “Wick is several days travel from my cottage. What does Jaden-Tog want us to do in this new location? Are we safe? Will they take us in?”
Bull frowned. “Last time I was here, we were herded into that castle by mounted warriors. When I walked through the bailey, they brandished their weapons. I didn’t feel welcome the entire time I spent inside that pile of rock. Our only hope is, that Jake and his wife are in residence. The last I knew, they planned to stay here until spring, before deciding where they’d live.”
“Who is Jake?” Rae asked.
“His wife is part of your clan. Jake Jameson is, too. He’s good friends with the laird of this castle.”
“Who is the laird?” Rae said. His voice was weak, and Bull struggled to keep him on his feet.
“Mackenzie. Marcus Mackenzie is married to a pretty little thing. What's her name? Oh, yeah, Lady Fia Keith. Once they got to know me, I was treated well.” Bull paused and shrugged his shoulders, as if his skin itched.
“What is it, Bull? Are ye not happy to return here?”
“I had the misfortune of taking a walk outside one night, and discovered the barn had caught fire.”
“How awful,” she said. Her thoughts jumped to the scars on his back.
“I would rather not relive that moment.”
Izzy changed the subject. “Do ye think they w
ould give us comfort, and food? My cousin is in no shape to travel far, but I see no other buildings. No shelter of any kind.”
“I wouldn't worry. Let's keep walking. I’ve a feeling a welcoming committee will arrive shortly. If we’re really lucky, they’ll come on horseback. I wish we hadn’t left Balfour behind. We could use him, now.”
“Balfour?” Rae asked.
“My horse…a garron, to you.”
“Aye, a ride would be welcome,” Rae said, his breathing ragged from the smoke.
“If we’re lucky, we’ll get a ride really soon, Izzy. Then, inside the castle, you’ll have the chance to care for him. See? Here comes the welcome wagon.”
“Welcome wagon? I see no wagon,” Izzy said. Her field of vision filled with mounted soldiers. Glancing at Bull’s smiling face, Izzy wondered why he had made a joke. When his expression turned unreadable, she assumed whatever happened next, was out of his hands. If their lives were in danger, she would protect Rae, alongside Bull.
Bull held his sword aloft, and waved the weapon at the approaching group of warriors galloping toward them. He set Rae on his feet, removing his support. When her cousin did not fall, he stepped in front of both her and her cousin, as if to protect them.
Stepping closer to Rae, she wrapped an arm around his waist. Rae settled an arm over her shoulder. She whispered, “Help is coming. I trust Bull.”
“Then, I trust him as well. I am a little woozy, so I thank ye for yer help, cousin.” He coughed, but kept his eyes on the riders.
Izzy hugged him gently. “Breathe in the salt-laden air. I shall find ye some water, and a bed on which to rest.”
“Maybe some food? I have no’ eaten for days.” Rae forced a smile, but pain etched his handsome face. She brushed brown hair behind his ear, and kissed his pale cheek.
“Aye, Bull shall see to everything. I think he knows some of those men. They are waving back.”
Her cousin smiled, and even Bull’s wide shoulders relaxed, as he lowered his sword.
“See the man in front? That's Marcus, but my friend Jake, is right behind him, the one with his black hair tied back in a queue. I can't believe it's only been a few days since I was here…”
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