by Barbara Bard
“We should hae seven archers at the ready,” Finlay said. “We should position them on each of the highest rooftops.”
“When the Sassenach arrive,” Gavina said, “what will the course of attack be?”
“We will overwhelm them with our archers. We will hae them pick off as many riders as they can.”
“And the fence that we hae created. How long will it hold until the Sassenach break through?”
“We hae reinforced it well, though it has the potential tae give way if there is enough stress.”
Gavina pondered as she looked around at the fencing. “Perhaps moats filled with water will be sufficient.”
“Dig them in front of the fencing?”
“Aye. I also think it may be wise to fill them with flammable liquid. I can have the archers light them with fire-tipped bows when the Sassenach riders get close enough tae the fencing.”
Finlay smiled. “A wise plan, Gavina.”
She smiled. “I hae learned from the best.”
Finlay pointed to the front line, at the only entryway in and out of the village. “We shall place maist of our numbers there. They will be the first line of defense against the Sassenach when they arrive.”
Gavina sighed. “What Lachlan says still stands—we require mair numbers.”
Finlay nodded. “Aye. I have thought the same.”
“Is there a way tae recruit mair into joining us? Any familiar or friendly clan that we hae associations with?”
Finlay stroked his stumble. “Only one comes tae mind. They rest nae far fae here. I very much doubt that they would be interested in assisting us. They are savages. They hae closed themselves off from the rest of the world.”
“Perhaps it is an option that we should look at. It may be tae our benefit.”
Finlay and Gavina spoke more of their battle plans for some time. After discussing at length how they would go about fighting, Gavina returned to the training grounds to see the progress that the villagers had made.
Many were fighting better than they did before. Everyone looked equipped, agile, able-bodied and ready to fight. Christian, training one of the villagers, forced Gavina to smile as she watched him work with several people to help advance their skill sets. Once Christian had finished, he approached Gavina.
“Good to see you,” Christian said.
Gavina nodded. “Aye. Ye as well.”
“Have you eaten?”
She shook her head. “Nae. I hae nae.”
Christian nodded over his shoulder. “Come. It is wise of us to take a break. We don’t want to exhaust ourselves before the hour at hand arrives.”
They returned to the stable where Christian had stored most of his supplies and gear, Christian rifled through his sack as Gavina laid eyes on the small cot serving as his bed.
“Is that where ye are sleeping?” Gavina inquired.
Christian nodded. “It is. Yes.”
Gavina puttered air through her lips. “Well that maist certainly will nae dae.”
“Do you have better accommodations in mind?”
“Aye,” she said as she took a step towards Christian. “Perhaps ye should sleep in me cabin.”
Christian smiled and pulled her in close. “I think that will suit just fine…”
They went to kiss but Gavina held a finger up to his lips. “There is one matter we should discuss though.”
Christian furrowed his brow. “And what might that matter be?”
Gavina shrugged. “I merely wish tae ken if the man sharing me bed has the capability of…protecting me, should the moment arise.”
Christian laughed. “We both know you are quite capable of defending yourself.”
“Aye,” Gavina said as she stepped back and withdrew her sword. “But I wish to see it first-hand.”
Christian saw the playful glint in Gavina’s eye and took out his own sword. The two of them then stood apart a few feet, raising the tips of their steel as they stared each other in the eye with happy beams stretched across their faces.
“Ready?” Gavina inquired.
Christian nodded. “Ready,” he replied.
Gavina took the first swipe. Christian parried, pushing her off of him and laughing as he jumped back a few feet.
Gavina laughed. “It is nae nice tae try and strike a lady.”
Christian winked. “You are no lady…”
Gavina smiled and went to strike. “How dare ye!”
They exchanged several blows, both of them holding back from striking each other to their fullest potential as they went to-and-fro. At one point, Gavina managed to swipe Christian’s legs out from under him and dropped him to the ground.
“Try tae keep up,” Gavina said teasingly.
Christian stood up and went in for another strike. The two of them clashed steel, both of them dancing around the other as they took swipe after swipe. It was playful. No really serious intent in their actions as they half-fought/half-played with one another.
After a few more strikes, they found themselves closing in the distance. Their faces were a few inches apart, both of them trying to out-smile the other as their noses came within a hair’s breadth of touching.
“Ye are a pretty good warrior,” Gavina teased. “But I am better.”
“Perhaps,” Christian said as he pressed his steel closer. “But I am the better kisser…”
Christian pressed his lips against Gavina’s, the fiery passion fueling him evacuating through his nostrils and intoxicating her as she let out the most pleasant of whimpers.
They dropped their steel and coiled their arms around one another. They kissed for several moments, Christian cupping Gavina’s face in his hand and stroking her cheek with the most delicate of brushes.
Gavina let her tongue tease Christian’s, their mouths dancing and moaning as they felt their knees go weak. They slowly drifted toward the ground, Christian laying Gavina on her back as he slowly removed her top.
“Gae quick,” Gavina said. “Someone might enter at any moment…”
Christian put himself inside of Gavina and began thrusting. The thought of someone walking in at any moment heightened the experience, both of them laughing and moving together in unison as they felt themselves on the verge of climax. Right as they did, the door to the stables opened.
Gavina and Christian quickly clothed and Christian hopped over a bale of hay and hit his head as he hid behind it. Just as the door opened, Gavina stood up and smoothed the wrinkles in her garb and hair. She then laid eyes on the visitor—Isla.
“We need tae speak about preparations,” Isla said. “Meet me outside in five minutes.”
Gavina nodded. “Aye, sister.”
Isla turned to leave—then she spotted the slightly disheveled appearance about Gavina’s hair. “What are ye up tae?” she asked.
Gavina tried to hide a smile. “Nae a thing!”
Isla paused for a moment before turning away to leave. “I can hear ye breathing, Christian,” she bid before ducking out of the stable.
Christian poked his head up as Gavina began smiling. The two of them connected gazes and they couldn’t help themselves from laughing.
Chapter 31
“Finlay!” one of the villagers called out from outside of his cottage, his voice hectic and strained.
Finlay and Isla emerged from their domicile, Finlay fearing the worse and already clutching his broadsword in his hand.
“What is it?” he asked the villager.
The villager pointed. “There. Off in the distance. Two riders.”
Finlay squinted to get a better look at the incoming riders. From the outlines he could tell that it was a man and a woman, and the closer they drew near he became relaxed when he realized the male rider was a familiar face.
“Who is it?” Isla asked.
Finlay sighed. “It is Lord Torstein. I never thought I would live tae see his face again…”
Lord Torstein came to a halt a few feet from Finlay. He dismounted his horse,
and Finlay could already see the strain in his eyes and the healing cuts and bruises on his face.
Finlay dropped his sword and approached Lord Torstein, his hands outstretched in an embrace.
“My frien…” they embraced.
“Are you well?” Lord Torstein inquired.
Finlay shrugged. “As well as one can be, considering the circumstances.”
They broke the hug, Lord Torstein gesturing to the woman dismounting the horse next to his. “This is Eirlys,” he said. “She is a fellow Highlander like yourself. She has assisted me greatly during these troubled times.”
Finlay extended a hand. “Finlay Baird.”
She shook. “Eirlys. A pleasure.”
Isla took a step forward. “Ye both looked famished. Please. Come inside. Let me prepare ye a meal.”
The group entered the house, Finlay telling the villagers that all was well and ordering them to go about their business. Isla quickly concocted a supper of soup and bread that Eirlys and Lord Torstein ate in what seemed like a matter of seconds.
“What happened?” Finlay asked. “We heard from Gavina of what transpired.”
Lord Torstein nodded, wiping the remnants of the meal he had consumed from his hands.
“Sir Jessup,” he said, “engaged us in an ambush. He took one of your men with me as a hostage. Glenn, I believe.”
Finlay could already sense where the story was going. “And what of Glenn’s fate? What has happened tae him?”
Lord Torstein hung his head. “I am afraid,” he said, “that your man Glenn has met his demise. He was killed at the castle where Sir Jessup dwells but a few days ago…”
Silence held sway as the group silently mourned the death of Glenn.
“Sir Jessup will pay fer this,” Isla said. “As God as my witness.”
Finlay held up his hand. “And pay he will. But there are mair pressing matters at hand.”
“Indeed, there are,” Lord Torstein said. “Because Sir Jessup is no doubt mounting an offense on this village. I fear that he will arrive here shortly.”
A nod from Finlay. “We hae already taken the liberty of mounting a defense around the village. We hae created fences and strategic fighting positions to help stave off an attack.”
Lord Torstein shook his head. “How many men do you have?”
Finlay sighed. “Nae nearly enough…”
Lord Torstein stood. “This attack is imminent. With the numbers you have on hand, it will be no match for the army that Sir Jessup possesses.”
A moment later, Gavina entered with Christian by her side. Lord Torstein, elated that his protégé was alive, rushed over and embraced him. “I thought I lost you, my boy!”
Christian felt himself on the verge of tears as he hugged Lord Torstein. “I feared the same…old man.”
Lord Torstein laughed. “I am glad that a sense of humor has been instilled in you, son.”
Christian slowly reached over and grabbed Gavina by the hand. “Amongst other new traits that have been instilled in me…”
Lord Torstein flashed a smile as he sensed the two lovers silently exchanging small physical displays of affection. He then turned his attention to Gavina, nodding politely as he said: “Gavina…I am so sorry for what has transpired.”
Gavina shook her head. “It is nae yer fault. Sir Jessup is the one responsible fer what has happened.”
Finlay jutted his chin. “I hope that we can rely on yer sword fer the upcoming assault, Lord Torstein.”
Lord Torstein sighed and moved back to his chair. “I worry that my skills as a warrior have waned from the years and the recent strain I have endured.” He nodded to Eirlys. “And Eirlys here has been dragged into this conflict against her will. We came here to warn you about Sir Jessup…but we plan on leaving the Highlands as soon as possible.”
Isla became concerned. “Ye are nae staying?”
Lord Torstein shrugged. “I am not sure what assistance I can provide.”
“Well, ye cannae very well leave this place if Sir Jessup is approaching…but we will nae press ye tae take up arms with us. Ye hae done a significant amount fer us over the course of the years.”
Lord Torstein felt the guilt rising in the pit of his stomach. But he knew that Isla was correct—there was nowhere to run as long as Sir Jessup was approaching.
“I want to help,” he said. “But I cannot make Eirlys—”
“Eirlys,” Eirlys interjected, “will dae what she can fer her fellow Highlanders. An attack against one of us is an attack against us all…”
Lord Torstein smiled, as did Isla and Finlay.
“We maist discuss reinforcements,” Gavina said. “If we are gonnae take on Sir Jessup’s forces, we require mair men.”
“She’s right,” Finlay said. “And I believe that there is a possible solution fer this at hand.”
Lord Torstein squinted. “And what does that look like?”
Finlay gestured toward the window. “There is a clan,” he said. “They rest about a half-day’s ride from here.”
Isla grunted. “The McManus Clan.”
“Aye.”
“Who is the McManus Clan?” Christian inquired.
“A pack of savages,” Isla said. “They operate only by the rules of taking what they want, from both the Sassenach and the Highlanders. They only care about their best interests.” She looked at Finlay. “There is nae possible way they would agree tae fight fer us, unless something can benefit them from doing so.”
“Perhaps,” Finlay said, “the threat of a Sassenach army wiping them out after they wipe us out will be significant enough motivation.”
Isla shut her eyes. “Me love—”
“We are short on options, Isla. If we are gonnae win this fight, we need mair numbers on hand. Plain and simple.”
Gavina took a step forward. “I shall gae. Myself, Christian, and the other Bairdsmen. We can attempt tae speak with them an negotiate some kind of arrangement.”
Isla shook her head. “This is a deadly proposition.”
“But one that maist be made, sister. As Finlay said—we are short on options. This is the only one we hae, and we maist take it…”
The group conversed for several more minutes about what to do, and not long after that, Gavina, Christian, Lachlan, and Tessa mounted their horses and prepared to ride.
“What of Ava?” Isla inquired. “She still rests at the location that Gavina informed us.”
A nod from Lord Torstein. “I shall go. I shall retrieve her. There may be enough time to fetch her before Sir Jessup and his army arrives.”
“Are ye sure?” Finlay asked.
Another nod from Lord Torstein. “Yes. It is necessary. And I must help you all however I can.”
Lord Torstein was then provided with the necessary supplies, and not long after, him, Gavina, and the Bairdsmen set off in separate directions, ready to finalize the plans that would aid in their survival.
Sir Jessup felt Sir Renly nudging him awake. “Jonathan! Jonathan, get up!”
Sir Jessup shot awake. “What is the meaning of all of this.”
“Two of our men have been killed.”
“By whom?”
“I do not know. I think that there are men hiding in the surrounding woods!”
Sir Jessup wasted no time. He fetched his chainmail and sword and emerged from his tent. The other men were scrambling about, speaking in hastened tones as their gazes searched around the surrounding area frantically.
“All of you,” Sir Jessup said. “Collect yourselves! What is the meaning of this!”
A knight took a step forward. “Sir—”
An arrow protruded through the knight’s chest before he had a chance to finish his statement. He fell to his knees, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth as the other knights started to become dismayed.
“Spread out!” Sir Renly ordered. “Find yourselves some cover!”
A primal war cry then bellowed out from the woods to the left. Sir Jess
up threw his gaze in the direction of the noise and spotted eight figures in cloaks rushing toward the camp. “Bastards,” he seethed.