The Scot's Quest (Highland Swords Book 4)

by Keira Montclair

  Loki just gave her a sly grin. “Uncle Alex came to me after he left Cameron land. He wanted to make sure the English wouldn’t kidnap any more Grants just to get to him.” He stood there with his hands on his hips, over two score of warriors behind him, all wearing Grant plaids.

  They had help.

  “He told you? Why did he not tell me?” Her insides twisted and turned at the thought that her grandfather trusted Loki more than her.

  Apparently, she did a poor job hiding her feelings because Loki took one look at her and said, “Mayhap he asked me because he wanted to come at the English with a different force. They’d know to watch the Clan Grant warriors on your land, but no one would suspect my involvement. The English are quite ignorant, as you know. The man had his reasons,” Loki said, patting her shoulder. “He asked for my assistance, and after all he’s done for me, I certainly couldn’t turn him down.” As a bairn, Loki had been adopted by Alex’s brother, Brodie, and his wife, Celestina, after they found him living in a crate behind a tavern. Alex Grant had given him his own castle, Castle Curanta, where he and his wife, Bella, took in other orphans and abandoned children. They also had two bairns of their own, a lad and a lassie.

  “What exactly did he ask you to do?” Derric asked, jumping down from his horse. Then, as if realizing he had yet to introduce himself, he nodded. “Derric Corbett, pleased to meet you. I’m relieved we’ll have your assistance in getting Alex Grant away from the English.”

  “Aye, we’ll take care of them soon enough. Alex asked me not to tell anyone from his clan what he was planning until it was too late to stop him. I know you’re upset he didn’t confide in you, but if he had told you, you would have needed to tell your sire, your laird, his siblings, his children, and so on. I didn’t have to tell anyone, so I could do what he asked without upsetting his clan and all his allies. Don’t take it too hard, Dyna. But I think I’m safe revealing the truth now.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Uncle Alex told me to take the garrison out and leave no survivors. He aims to send a message, and that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

  Dyna turned to the sea of warriors that had been gathering behind Loki. She recognized many of them, and the sight brought tears to her eyes. She didn’t swipe her tears away this time, instead allowing them to roll freely down her cheeks. She smiled and said, “Derric, on the left is Kenzie, next to him is Gillie, then you’ll see Thorn and Nari, who helped my mother and father escape some cruel bastards. And he”—she pointed to one of the four—“is married to my aunt Elizabeth.”

  “You’re going to attack soon?” Derric asked.

  “Aye, we will. Dyna, why are you the only Grant here? I hardly think your grandsire would approve. He was expecting to see the rest of your group.”

  “Alasdair and Emmalin, Els and Joya, and Alick and Branwen will be along soon. They’ve been trailing us down the mountain. They’ll help for certes.”

  “Any archers besides you?”

  “Aye, Branwen and Emmalin.” Emmalin had worked hard to build her skills, Dyna helping to train her whenever she visited MacLintock land. Joya was best at distraction.

  Loki let out a low whistle. “Alex has told me about the spectral swords. I hope we get to witness you at full strength. But wee John and Ailith are safe?”

  “Aye, they are on MacLintock land. Tell us what to do.”

  Loki stepped out of the trees to glance down the path. “We’ll follow shortly, but you archers can go ahead if you can find your place quietly. We’ll take them out from behind so they’ll know not what hit them. Alex said he’ll make his way to the front so as not to be close to the fighting. He suspected he’d be bound at this point.”

  “Loki, I’m so glad to see you. We’ll get him back for sure.”

  “Aye, we will. We’ll start without your cousins and hope they join us.”

  “How many in the garrison?” Derric asked.

  Loki spit on the ground in front of him. “This is a small group. There are around four score surly Englishmen by my count to our five and forty, but we can take them. Especially if your cousins join us.”

  “Lead on,” Dyna said, mounting her horse.

  Her intuition had brought her straight to Loki. The situation was finally tilting in their favor.

  ***

  The time was nigh. Alex tugged on his bindings, hoping he could free himself once Loki’s group attacked, but the ropes were stronger than he’d anticipated.

  He’d given Loki instructions on where he should attack, if possible. Just as he’d thought, Busby had brought him to the group of English cavalry. The group numbered around eighty, but Loki had at least two score. Everyone knew one Highlander could take out two to three Englishmen, so the numbers were good. He had complete confidence in Loki’s warriors.

  He also suspected his granddaughter would come along soon with the spectral swords. They’d assist as necessary. Once this was done, word of the defeat would pass through all the Highlands and Lowlands. Everyone would know a small group of Highlanders had crushed a much larger force of English.

  He hoped it would be enough to keep Edward’s son away until next summer.

  Once he was free, he’d have the task of convincing the lass that Derric was meant for her. That he belonged with the spectral swords and would also make a fine addition to Clan Grant. Of course, he’d have to ensure Corbett had completed his quest, but if he’d spent this much time with Dyna, he must have seen her soft heart.

  Unfortunately, the lass could be a wee bit stubborn. Somehow, he’d have to convince her Derric was the one for her.

  ***

  Derric couldn’t believe they were about to attack the English given they had only about half as many warriors. His gaze followed Dyna as she and two other archers took off to find good perches. Loki had told them where and when they would make their attack, and the archers were getting in place so they could do the most damage from the air, leaving their horses for Loki’s men to manage.

  The English bastards clearly had no idea there was a force behind them. They seemed to be too wrapped up in themselves—and their perceived victory—to listen for marauders. Based on their gestures and their raucous laughter, Derric suspected they were also taunting Alexander Grant for having been caught, but they wouldn’t have the last laugh.

  Once the archers were in position—Dyna gave a bird call—Loki led the charge with the Grant war whoop, attacking from behind and both sides. Derric rode with them, his horse as close to Dyna’s location as he could get it. Arrows sluiced over his head, catching the daft Englishmen completely by surprise, but he focused on his own task and headed straight at three English staring at the arrows overhead. He swung his sword in a side arc, catching the first one by surprise with a sword strike to his middle. Blood drenched his tunic quickly before he fell off his mount. He caught the next one in his arm, knocking his weapon to the ground, and then finished by plunging his sword into the belly of the third man, who wrenched away and lost his mount. That gave Derric the opportunity to swing back and hit the second man with the flat of his blade, sending him flying off his horse.

  They fought for what seemed to be hours but was probably only minutes. Derric felt his strength leak away. Bloody hell, but he’d fought so much better than in his last battle—all his sword practicing paying off for him—but he’d used up much of his strength. He’d never had to battle this many for this long before.

  That’s when he noticed what he’d dreaded. There were more English left than he would have expected at this point, especially given how hard they’d been hitting them. The English must have taken reinforcements because they appeared to come out of the trees, an endless supply of fresh men.

  Another ten minutes didn’t improve their standing, the Grant contingent now in the center of the path with English coming at them from three directions, the front and both sides. The attackers had become the targets. Derric took a small wound to his left arm that stunned him for a moment, but a shout from a nearby tree brou
ght the battle back into focus.

  “I’m fine, Diamond. Keep shooting.”

  Ten more minutes brought the force he’d been hoping for from the rear. Three powerful Grant war whoops announced the arrival of Alasdair, Els, and Alick, who charged into the battle with shocking intensity.

  More arrows found their targets as Emmalin, and Branwen found their way into the trees, taking out ten men in a matter of moments because so many were shocked at the new addition to the Grant contingency.

  They were still outnumbered by a large amount, and Derric feared for their lives. He’d never seen so many Englishmen in one place. Sweat dotted his brow even in the cool weather.

  Dyna jumped down from her perch, and moments later, she rode out toward the melee, her bow lifted to the sky. When she joined Derric, she lifted her free hand across to him and he gripped it, holding on tight as if their connection meant life or death. Because to him it did. He loved this woman with all his heart and he wasn’t about to lose her now.

  The spectral swords had to work.

  That’s when it happened. With her bow aimed at the clouds, Dyna stared above their heads as the cloud formation began to swirl in a ferocious pattern, the winds coming up to toss the branches and leaves. Lightning forked through the air, the thunder not a moment behind it. The next strike sent two Englishmen flying through the air, one man snapping his neck when he landed.

  The intensity of the storm ended the battle in a short time. He and Dyna lost their grip, but he could still feel the intensity of the storm and of her shooting through him. She was extraordinary. And together they would be something remarkable. The English were so distracted by the storm that the Grant cousins, who were fighting with an unnatural power and fury, were able to take out two to three men with one swing. They dropped faster than Derric had ever seen.

  Once they were certain the skirmish had ended, Dyna glanced over at him and then rode hard, looking for her grandsire, he was sure. Loki joined her, and when Alasdair followed, Derric fell in behind him. He hadn’t noticed Alex Grant at all during the battle, but Loki had said he would keep himself at the front, if at all possible.

  But they reached the front without seeing any sign of him. They all stopped, except for Dyna, who continued to ride in circles, yelling, “Grandsire. ’Tis safe to come out now.”

  Derric glanced from one face to the next, and Loki said what they were all thinking. “Dyna, he’s gone.”

  Alasdair rode forward and pointed to the ground. “He was taken captive by two men.” The hoofprints of three animals were still fresh on the ground.

  Derric cursed as Dyna joined them.

  “He’s with Busby and one other,” she said.

  But who was the other man and where had they gone?

  ***

  Alex groaned and lifted his head, but the pain was too much for him. He was on a pallet in a small hut, and he thought he was alone. He recalled the battle, the lightning, but then something unanticipated had happened, putting a hitch in his plan.

  Someone had struck him in the back of his head. Everything had turned black until now.

  The pain in his head was so severe that he shut his eyes again, drifting into a dream that brought him pleasure.

  Maddie stood in the loch, her back to him, dressed only in her chemise. Trembling from the temperature of the water, she glanced over her shoulder at him, her golden hair falling around her shoulders, the blue of her eyes visible from the distance.

  “Alex, could you help me, please? The fabric is stuck in my wound.”

  He’d brought her to the loch to wash off her wounds, the ones her own brother had inflicted on her. Although they’d had many sweeter moments, this one was etched into his mind as one of the most important moments of his life because it was then he’d made his mind up. It was then he’d decided Madeline would be his wife. He remembered wondering if she’d give him a son or perhaps lassies.

  “Alex?”

  “Aye, I’d be pleased to help you, but you may wish to turn around. I must remove my plaid as ’tis the only one I have.” He’d said it to guard her tender sensibilities, her innocence, as he waded into the water behind her. But when he took the soap from her hand, preparing to wash her, she said his name again.

  “Alex?”

  “Aye, Maddie?”

  “You must push yourself to remember other things,” she said, her tone turning urgent. “There is something you must recall. I know ’tis there in your mind, and you must pull it out. Things are not as they seem.”

  “Maddie? You’re confusing me. I’m here to help you wash your back.”

  “Alex, ’tis a memory of our time together that you chose to revisit so I could come to you. Please don’t forget that I can only be here for a short time. ’Tis verra difficult for me to appear to you.”

  “Why did you come this time?” he whispered, turning her around so he could gaze into her glorious blue eyes. “Can I not join you? I think I’m ready. ’Tis my time, nay?”

  “Nay, Alex,” she said, her tone intent. “Not yet. Don’t you see? The spectral swords aren’t only intended to project John—they need you. You are the one who’ll guide your bairns and grandbairns through this terrible time in Scotland. Your clan and your country need you. Not yet, but do not worry. When your time comes, I’ll be here waiting for you. Just a few more years.”

  “Maddie, I’m tiring…”

  Her fingers came up to his lips to silence him. “It’s not as you think. Busby is not out to get you. Hamish is.”

  “Hamish? But why?”

  “Hamish wanted me, and I rejected him. Now he wants revenge. He’ll try to get it through Dyna. Go!”

  Maddie kissed him and walked off into the distance, giving him a small wave as she disappeared.

  “You have to save Dyna,” she said, her words pounding through his head.

  He opened his eyes, driven by Maddie’s last sentence, savoring her presence but forcing himself to search his surroundings.

  He watched as Hamish and Busby entered the hut, Hamish behind the sheriff.

  Hamish carried a large boulder. He lifted it and brought it down upon Busby’s skull.

  Killing him instantly.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Dyna was frantic. They’d met as a group and agreed to split up, Loki taking his men toward his land to search for Alex while Dyna and her cousins headed toward Grant land. Those were the two major paths this far in the Highlands.

  Busby and Grandpapa had to be on one path or the other.

  Unless they’d taken him down some little used side path, although no one wanted to address that possibility.

  “We’re stopping on Grant land, Dyna,” Els said. “I know you don’t want to, but mayhap your sire or mine discovered something after we left. We could use a good meal before we move on to the next battle.”

  “There’s also a chance Busby took him back toward Grant land, hoping to extort the use of our guards. They’ve tried it before. We don’t know his intent. We will spend one night there, then move on.” Alasdair cast a pointed look her way. Did everyone know what her plans would be? She had to admit, Alasdair knew her better than anyone.

  Dyna clucked her tongue to keep from saying something she’d regret. “They won’t be there—I know it—but aye, we should stop and change clothes. See if our sires are back. They need to send out more patrols. Loki’s group and ours is not enough. You all know how difficult it is to track someone in the Highlands.”

  The others might not be ready to move along as quickly as she would want to. But Derric would go with her.

  Wouldn’t he?

  Did she want him to go with her?

  Hellfire, but she surely did. The more she was around him, the more she wanted him around. It made no sense at all, but she couldn’t deny it. The truth of it sat heavily on her shoulders.

  They traveled without incident and made it nearly to Grant land just as the sun was falling. She and Derric rode in the rear simply because their
horses were more tired than the rest.

  “You’ve overworked your mount, Dyna,” Els said, listening to her horse’s breathing.

  “I know. ’Tis part of the reason I’m stopping. Derric and I both need fresh mounts. We worked these two too hard coming down the mountains. I should have slowed, but…”

  “Don’t second guess yourself, Diamond. We may never have caught them,” Derric said. “You made a difference in the battle, even before your cousins came. Even before the spectral swords.”

  She gave him a quick look of appreciation, then reined in her horse, slowing further. She yelled to her cousins, “We’re on Grant land. I’m taking my horse to the burn, then we’ll follow.”

  Alasdair shouted back, “Corbett, you’ll stay with her.”

  Derric smiled, probably because the man who’d warned him away from Dyna was now asking him to stay by her side. It also didn’t escape her notice that Alasdair rarely asked for things. He tossed out orders like Grandsire did, knowing they’d be followed.

  She supposed serving as laird of MacLintock Castle, with Emmalin, had encouraged that practice.

  Pointing off toward the burn, she moved off the main path into the woods. She climbed down and led her horse over to the bubbling burn, leaning over to wrap her arms around his neck as a gesture of appreciation. “You did a fine job, Mid-Four.” They’d taken to naming Midnight’s descendants by number, partly because all of the grandchildren had wanted a horse named Midnight.

  “Mid-Four?” Derric asked.

  “Aye, when we were younger, we argued about which of us were allowed to name a horse Midnight. Papa made sure I had one of his stallions, so I wished to name him after his powerful sire. But so did Alasdair. And Els and Alick quickly joined in our argument. Grandpapa came into the middle of us and whistled, ceasing our argument in a hurry. Then he pointed to Alasdair, ‘Midnight One; Two for you, Els; Three for Alick. Dyna, you are the youngest, so your mount will be Midnight Four.’ Alick and Els chose other names though. And he also gave me one of Midnight’s daughters. I love Misty. She’s sweet, but she tires easily.”