* * * *
Finlay didn’t care to be parted from Arabel, not so soon after they’d been reunited, but he and his brothers had traveled through time for this very reason, to save the fae village and their future line from extinction, to give hope to their people, both in the future and in the past.
He wouldn’t fail Arabel, her kin or his.
Taking the steps two at a time, he raced downstairs and whisked outside into the swirling rush of wind. A mass of black cloud whirled and seethed overhead. Ahead, Iain and Kirk ran through the front gate and he chased after them and caught them up at the stables. “What have you heard?” he yelled to Iain over the gale.
“A guardsman has confirmed two galleys are sailing toward us and on course for the village.” Iain grasped his shoulder. “We’ll need to ride there with all speed. The battle is about to begin.”
Kirk hauled on a black war coat then slid a second sword into a baldric across his back and tossed Finlay a bow and satchel of arrows. Finlay slung it across his shoulders as shouts boomed all around and more men swarmed into the area. A good twenty warriors mounted their horses while an equal number raced down the trail to the sea-gate. Out at sea, two galleys with their massive square sails caught the strong wind and barreled toward the village. Their bows rose in the heavy swell and dumped down hard. So many lives to save. He wouldn’t fail Arabel’s people.
Kenneth, Gilleoin’s eldest son, raced out the front gate as lightning speared the skies. He sprinted down to the stone landing and leapt onto one of the waiting birlinns. “All to oars,” he bellowed as he gripped the center mast. “There can be no delay. We’ll head the MacKenzies off.”
“Let’s go.” Iain bounded onto a war horse, as did Kirk.
Finlay snagged a destrier from its tethered post, mounted and knees thrust into the animal’s flanks, slapped the reins against its neck and tore along the trail leading along the curve of the bay. They rode with a score of warriors, leaving a plume of dust the rushing wind whipped around in their wake.
He urged his mount faster along the narrow path that wound upward along the ocean’s cliff-top. Massive pine trees swayed on his left and branches grazed his arm, while on his right, the sea roared and his horse scattered stones on the verge that clacked down the rock face before disappearing into the churning, watery depths below.
The two MacKenzie galleys approached fast, and Kenneth sailed directly toward them. It was so close, no telling yet who would win the race to the village first, Kenneth or the MacKenzies.
“We have to hurry,” he bellowed to his brothers over the fury of the storm. He rode hard, as they all did, desperate to the reach the village in time.
* * * *
“Julia!” Arabel raced into her sister’s chamber but found Isla instead gripping the windowsill with white knuckles as she peered out over the inner courtyard and the loch beyond.
“She’s not here and this battle has arrived two days too soon.” Isla rushed across to her, her golden shifter gaze swirling with turmoil. “I can’t shift while I’m expecting and I can’t compel when I’m not where I need to be. Iain demanded I wait with you and Julia, but the villagers are my people just as much as those in this castle are.”
“Finlay asked me to find you, to remain with you.” Fear sent cold-fire racing through her and she called forth her skill and directed a blast of hot fire to warm her through. Too much, too fast. It singed her and she clutched her chest and fell to her knees.
“Arabel?” Isla dropped down beside her.
“I’ll be fine.” Gasping for breath, she thrust up a hand. “Just dinnae touch me.”
“Where are you hurt?”
“Too much hot fire. I should have taken more care.” One thoughtless loss of control could kill her. Shakily, she shoved to her feet, at least grateful her fast action had warmed her through. “I’ll recover.”
“My lady.” Effie rushed into the room in her white aproned skirts. “Lady Julia left the chief’s solar no’ long after you and told me she wished to visit your parents’ memorial stone afore she no longer could.”
“My parents’ stone lies at the edge of the village.” She raced for the door. “Isla, I have to go. I cannae leave my sister out there with the battle about to rage.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” She hurried after her. “I should never have allowed Iain to leave without me. The ‘power of three’ shouldn’t go into battle without their chosen ones at their sides, and that includes both you and me. Now we need to make sure no harm comes to any of them. I’ll watch over one and all.”
“As I’ll do the same.” She had one of the strongest of the battle skills and she intended to use it. Her place was at Finlay’s side, whether he wished it or not.
Chapter 11
The horn trumpeted across the bay from the direction of the castle, not once but twice. Nessa froze on the pebbly beach next to Julia who’d arrived mere minutes ago on horseback along the cliff-top forest trail. As a seer, she should have had another vision when her people’s very lives were at stake. She hadn’t, and what it meant, she had no idea.
“The enemy approaches.” Nessa wrapped one arm around Julia’s waist as out at sea, two MacKenzie galleys cruised toward them. A Matheson birlinn sailed in a direct line to cut them off, Kenneth at the helm.
Kenneth shouted over the crashing of the waves as he gripped the ropes and strained to control the wind power he’d harnessed in the vessel’s tight sail. “Hold tight,” he barked to his men. The bow rose sharply upward then slammed back down, and their enemy whizzed by in front of them.
Beside her, Gilleoin bellowed orders to a score of his warriors who’d assembled on the foreshore, while another score of men rode free of the forest trail edging the cliffs and galloped down to the beach.
Iain, Finlay, and Kirk, bounded from their mounts and raced toward them.
Finlay skidded in beside Julia. “I’ve left Arabel at the castle with Isla and you need to return to her, now. Your sister will never survive this battle if anything happens to you.”
“She’ll never survive if aught happens to you either.” Julia hugged him. “Please be careful. I’ll seek shelter in the woods. ’Tis too late for me to return to the castle.”
Thunder boomed and an arrow thunked into the ground at their feet, right between Finlay and his brothers. Finlay hauled his bow from over his shoulder, planted his feet wide and set an arrow into the notch. He eyed his target and released his shot. The arrow flew in a wide arc and slammed into the leg of the archer standing at the bow of the MacKenzie galley. The man toppled over the side and Finlay slid another arrow into place. “Nessa, get Julia far away from here. Hurry.”
“Aye, I shall.” She grabbed Julia’s hand and ran toward Sorcha as she waited at the edge of the forest. She left the three warriors standing strong side by side. There was naught more she could now do. ’Twas now time to allow the ‘power of three’ to rise.
Chapter 12
Matheson Castle, Scotland, current day.
In his solar, Murdock Matheson fell to his knees under the weight of a powerful vision. The battle had begun, although two days too soon. What the hell had brought it on earlier?
Armed and prepared for war, the ‘power of three’ stood together on the beach amongst Gilleoin’s men as two galleys filled to the brim with MacKenzies careened across the massive swell toward them. Another birlinn teeming with Matheson warriors missed the next cresting wave. They were too far behind. The MacKenzies would outnumber those on shore two to one.
“All to arms.” Gilleoin shoved his sword-arm high into the air and bellowed as forty or more warriors stood primed and ready at his back. “We fight, for freedom and for our very survival. Let us take these blackguards down.”
The MacKenzie galleys landed on the beach and their warriors exploded from their vessels and bounded onto shore, shouting their victorious arrival. Then they swarmed forward into the waiting Mathesons and swords clashed.
Murdock’s visi
on wavered, then another array of images flared to life. Isla and Arabel galloped along the forest path, the sea roaring and slamming into the rock wall a hundred feet below while a fierce wind whipped around and lightning slashed the skies.
Tension coiled deep within him and had nowhere to go. His kin were about to battle for their very lives and all he could do was watch and wait.
Chapter 13
Alongside his brothers, Finlay hauled his claymore from his scabbard. Together, they released a bloodcurdling battle cry and rushed forward into the fray of fierce MacKenzies.
A warrior came at Finlay and he blocked the swift blow, their claymores clashing dead center, steel clanging loud against steel. “Stay close,” he yelled to Iain and Kirk. “We’re strongest when we fight side by side.”
“I’m right beside you.” On his right, Iain slashed his blade against his adversary’s. “We need to hold them back until Kenneth gets here and we even these odds up a bit.”
Kirk grunted and met two attackers head on, striking first one and then the other. “We can’t let even one of them pass us by. They’re not to get to the village.”
“I agree.” With his brothers at his side, Finlay fought. Sweat poured from his body while high above a tumultuous mass of dark, seething clouds blackened the sky and promised a storm unlike any other, a storm that raged right here on the land in equal measure.
“Finlay?” Arabel’s worried voice washed through his mind, her tone filled with panic and fear.
“I’m here.” He struck his opponent hard and his hit brought the MacKenzie warrior to his knees. He knocked him out with the hilt of his sword then met his next attacker who jumped over his comrade. He slashed, attacked, fast and hard.
“Behind you,” she screamed. “A MacKenzie has snuck around.”
He spun about, and his enemy struck his ribs with his blade. Pain ricocheted through him and he staggered back from the brutal sword blow. Damn bloodthirsty MacKenzies. They fought dirty, not meeting a man head on. Breath ragged, he shoved to his feet and gripped his side. No blood, but his cotun had been sliced open. A lucky break. “Keep your eyes on both sides,” he shouted to his brothers then sprang forward and fought.
Weapons clashed then he ducked the MacKenzie’s next high strike, rammed into him with one shoulder and took him down to the ground. The man hit his head on a rock and knocked himself out.
“I said you were no’ allowed to come to any harm, Finlay.”
“How did you know a warrior had snuck—damn it. Where are you?” He searched the cliff-side trail and found her. Arabel sat atop a horse next to Isla, the forest rising high behind them. “You should never have come.”
“I’m your mate and where you go, I shall go. Kenneth comes. Keep your eyes on the fight until he does.”
Beyond the breakers, their Matheson warriors plunged their oars into the sea and powered their vessel in. Kenneth pumped his fist into the air and ordered his men to lower the sail. They crested a large wave, cruised in and rushed ashore and into the melee.
“Stay where you’re safe, Arabel. I won’t lose you.”
“As I won’t lose you.”
Another MacKenzie came at him and he shoved his blade high and met the fierce blow. He and his opponent matched each other in height and breadth, although that was no equal standing for the battle lust storming through his body. This was Matheson land, and the MacKenzies wouldn’t be allowed to take the villagers’ lives. He struck, landing several hard blows, one after the other then with one powerful strike of his claymore, knocked the man’s sword away.
The warrior grabbed his dirk, his aim on course for between Finlay’s eyes.
He ducked the dagger as it flew, kicked the warrior’s feet out from under him then jumped back as fire rippled across the grass and licked at the MacKenzie warrior’s clothing. The man bellowed and ran into the waves.
“Arabel, I said to stay where you’re safe.”
“I’m your mate and I will fight at your side.” She rushed toward him, fire flaring from her fingertips and her blond hair streaming back from the raging winds circling them. She struck the MacKenzie battling Iain and the two fighting Kirk. All three of their enemy swatted the fire licking at their legs and sprinted into the water, just as his attacker had done.
Well, it appeared he’d underestimated his woman. She wielded one of the fiercest of the battle skills and he shouldn’t have forgotten that. Still, he stepped in front of her and shielded her from any coming attacker. There wasn’t a chance he’d lose her.
“Step aside for a moment.” She ducked out from behind him and sent another arc of fire at another MacKenzie.
“Isla, get back!” Iain bellowed as he eyed Isla atop her horse.
“You need me,” she yelled and rode along the warring front, her compelling voice strong. “All will cease fighting and listen to me well and true! Those warriors here from the MacKenzie clan will drop your weapons.”
Their enemy’s swords clattered to the ground, so swiftly Finlay gaped. Their women were strong.
“I’ll be back as soon as I’ve contained my mate. She’s impossible sometimes.” Iain slapped Finlay’s back then raced toward Isla and bounded onto the back of her mount and swept the reins from her. He half bent over her, protecting her as best as he could should anything fly toward her.
Still, Isla wouldn’t be halted. Her compelling voice rang loud and clear even with Iain’s looming. “Hear me well, MacKenzies. You’ll gather your fallen and leave these shores. Your fight is done this day and you’ve lost the battle. Board your vessels and don’t look back.”
The MacKenzie warriors heaved their fallen comrades over their shoulders and stumbled toward their galleys.
“We were wrong to keep them away.” Kirk sheathed his sword.
“Go,” Isla commanded the MacKenzies. “Flee, as fast as you can, and know that the Mathesons are the ‘Son of the Bear.’ No one will take what is ours.”
The MacKenzies boarded and with their oars in hand, rowed into the deep then raised their sails.
Isla grinned and continued, her voice so sweetly hypnotic. “Those here fighting for Gilleoin or to protect the village will tend our own wounded before we celebrate our win. I too am part of the ‘power of three,’ and our enemy will never get past any of us.” She waved at Arabel from under Iain’s arm. “Isn’t that right, sister?”
“Aye, none will ever get past us.” Arabel raised her hands high and sent an arc of fire streaming toward the fleeing MacKenzies. It rippled across their stern and sent their enemy speeding away.
Gilleoin shoved his sword high. “To the ‘power of three’ and their chosen ones! May they forever stand at each other’s sides.”
Cheers abounded and Nessa, Sorcha and Julia raced out of the forest with the villagers spilling out behind them.
With their enemy a mere dot on the horizon, Finlay tossed Arabel over his shoulder and hiked it toward his destrier as lightning sizzled overhead. “You are in so much trouble, my sweet.”
“Oh, I hope so.” She giggled, actually giggled. His woman clearly had no self-preservation. “And I hope you noticed the perfect storm, my stubborn bear.”
“Which will be your saving grace, since right now we’re headed for the cavern. Isla and my brothers clearly have this battle in hand, whereas mine with you has just begun.”
“Well, I do love a good battle.” She patted his backside. “Hurry it along.”
* * * *
Standing before her mate at the rear of the cavern on the small curve of sandy beach, Arabel unlaced her gown. She wriggled the silvery-blue silk down over her shift and folded it on top of a boulder as thunder rumbled overhead. “You said we are each other’s match in every way, and I’m ready to accept our bond, fully and completely.”
“As am I.” He stripped off his cotun and tunic, laid his weapons safely against the rock wall until he remained clothed in only his black leather pants. “Can you read my mind?”
She could, with eas
e. He longed for her, just as she longed for him.
“Test your fire, my love.”
From deep within, she tried to call it forth but nothing rose. “There is naught. I’m underground and all four elements are in place.”
“Then it wasn’t just the elements coming together in a perfect storm that caused the realignment, but also the four elements together which will continue to dispatch your fire.”
“Aye, thank heavens it is that way.” Her dreams had been answered and her hope now soared to new levels. She could have a life with him, one where they could join as one whenever the four elements came together again.
“Then in between storms, I believe I shall go slightly insane.” Finlay swept her into his arms and bounded with her clasped tight to his chest onto the boulder leading toward the ledge. He jumped from one to the next then strode along the ledge toward the crack in the rock wall where spray misted through.
Gently, he set her on her feet beside him and she swayed closer, grazing his chest with her hard nipples. Her mind fuzzed, became consumed with the need to mate and join as one.
“Unless,” he murmured, “the four elements needn’t just be a brewing storm. There is water misting over us, the wind which is usually a constant outside, and I could easily create a fire pit at the back of the cave and ensure it is lit if there’s no lightning. The element of fire should be acceptable no matter what form it comes in.”
“And we are already underground. Do you think that might truly work?”
“We’ll try it out once the storm has passed, before we leave this cave.” He stroked down her sides, his gaze moving over her chest where her damp shift clung to her skin and outlined her breasts. “In the future, if what I hope works, we could build an underground home not far from Ivanson Castle and ensure it holds a fireplace, a very large and comfortable shower to provide the water, and if there isn’t enough wind churning outside, I’ll erect a wind machine that can easily be turned on.”
Highlander's Passion (The Matheson Brothers Book 2) Page 12