Betrayed (28 page)

“And you believed the English?” laughed Prince Henry. “They would have turned on you the second it suited their own interests. I don't believe you for a second. Even you are too shrewd for such an obvious deception. You were just using the English to do the dirty work. You were using them as a way to get rid of me.”

Black Douglas smiled. “You are no fool, Henry. Aye, I will admit it. It would have been a much simpler transition in power if this situation had come to its proper conclusion back at Kirkwall.”

Prince Henry slowly moved his sword back and forth, as if deciding which part of Douglas was to hit the ground first. “And to think I kept you in my confidence the whole time. I
was
too idealistic, wasn't I, to think that a greater good, such as the Templar cause, could heal old wounds?”

“Don't take this all so personally,” grinned Black Douglas. “You were actually well-liked by the men, even by me at times. Disillusioned, mind you, but well-liked.”

Prince Henry stepped closer. “Thank you for your heartfelt praise. Now, let us discuss your death. It can either be extremely slow and painful or relatively painless, depending on how quickly you tell me the location of my sister.”

“Och, aye, your sister,” pondered Black Douglas, moving sideways to lean up against the bed post. “She certainly is a beautiful young thing, and quite frisky as well. I can see now where she gets it from. She has your determination, Henry. But I am a patient man. It has taken some time to teach her proper manners, especially when in the presence of her future husband.”

“It's time to call off the wedding plans,” Prince Henry growled.

“You're wrong again, Henry. The wedding must take place. By being my wife, Sarah will do something you were never able to do.
She
will be the one to bring lasting peace to our two clans. The wedding will not only unite the Sinclairs and Douglases, but it will unite the entire country under one all-powerful leader. Isn't that what you wanted, Henry? Peace in Scotland? So why don't you put down that sword, and we'll shake hands right here and now. I'll even make you the best man at my wedding.”

Prince Henry's face flushed as red as the fiery glow on the ceiling. “Each disgusting word you utter is adding more and more pain to your death. I'll ask one last time. Where is she?”

In a swift motion, Black Douglas reached under his bed and drew out a hidden sword. Prince Henry saw the movement and swung at his wrist, but Black Douglas was just a fraction faster, catching Prince Henry's blade on the sword's metal hilt and deflecting it sideways. Douglas stepped back, raising his weapon. Henry sprang forward and attacked. Flashing in the glowing light of the fire, their swords clashed and rang, the blades slashing through the shadows like angry vipers. The furious swordplay intensified in the rage of the inferno's light, each knight viciously attacking then parrying, looking for the slight mistake in the other's defense that would bring the duel to a conclusion. As he retreated, Douglas stumbled slightly on a loose plank. Henry seized the opening and lunged, but Douglas parried the attack and counter-attacked with a quick slash to Henry's exposed side. With lightning reflexes,
Henry caught the slash with his blade just before it could slice open his abdomen. He shot out his left foot, catching Douglas in the stomach, knocking him backwards. Both men paused, heaving for air. The two most feared warriors in all of Europe glared at each other with mutual hatred.

“This is will end tonight, Douglas.”

“If you kill me,” he gasped, “how will you ever find your precious sister?”

“Your lies are wasting my time.” Prince Henry viciously slashed his sword through the air.

Black Douglas nodded. “I had a feeling you might say that. I have to admit, it would have been rather interesting contest to see who is the better swordsman. I'd have given the match even odds. But really, Henry, what fool bets his life on even odds? A true warrior waits until he has the clear advantage, and that is exactly what I am going to do. So goodbye, Henry.”

With surprising agility, Black Douglas spun, took two steps and flung his bulk through the open window. Prince Henry cursed, ran to the window and looked down. Below, he could see only darkness. He could hear Black Douglas crashing through the foliage, moving away from the building. The prince turned and sprinted for the door.

Connor manned the front end of the Ark and followed the faint silhouette of Sir Rudyard through the dark forest. He couldn't help but stare at the unconscious princess. Her body hung limp against his back, and her tangled hair swayed to the rhythm of the steps of her rescuer. Perhaps
it was better that she was not awake, he thought. The nasty wounds to her wrist were almost raw to the bone. Such an injury would have brought tears of anguish to even the hardiest of warriors.

Behind him, Na'gu'set remained his usual quiet self, moving smoothly under the heavy load of the Ark. Connor's shoulders were already burning from the wooden poles, and he wondered how his partner's slim frame could contain such superior strength. Angus, on the other hand, was loudly huffing and puffing with each step under the combined weight of the sacks stuffed full of golden, jewelled relics. Despite his aching shoulders, everything was going smoothly, and they were only moments from making it back to the skiffs and the safety of the ships.

The procession came to an uneasy halt as something large was heard crashing through the foliage towards them. With their bodies loaded down, the men could do nothing but wait and hope that whatever it was, perhaps a frightened deer or bear, would simply pass them by. A massive beast suddenly exploded onto the trail, slamming into Angus and sending the young man flying into the bushes. By the size of the beast, Connor feared they had indeed stumbled into the path of a bear. Then, as it reared onto its two hind legs, Connor realized that the situation could not have been deadlier. It was not a bear at all, but a silhouette from Connor's worst nightmare. Na'gu'set and Connor quickly lowered the Ark onto the dirt path and drew weapons. Sir Rudyard, furthest away and with his back to the commotion, tried to turn around, but he was afraid of jarring the princess.

After regaining his feet, Black Douglas was the first to comprehend the situation he had inadvertently stumbled into. He recognized the small gathering as a looting party returning from the chapel. The Ark of the Covenant was in its protective case and was carried by two young men at the rear of the procession. The boy he had sent flying into the bushes clung to several bulging bags likely stuffed full of the chapel's religious relics. But Black Douglas found a far more valuable treasure at the very front of the group, a priceless item that might also manage to save not only his life but also his dream. The knight who held Princess Sarah was slowly turning to investigate the disturbance. His arm was curled high around the princess, helping to keep her secure. To the trained eye of an expert warrior, the raised arm exposed one of the juiciest targets for attack, an unprotected flank.

Before anyone could react, Black Douglas lunged forward and plunged his sword deep into the exposed side of the knight. The man cried out in agony, collapsing onto his knees. Leaving the buried sword, Black Douglas ignored the knight and instead grabbed onto the woman with his free hand. He then reached down to his calf and pulled the dagger out from its sheath.

Connor reacted on instinct. As the intruder reached for the princess, he launched himself forward. He could not use his sword without endangering Princess Sarah. Instead, Connor brought back his leg and lashed out with a vicious kick to the attacker's kidneys. Black Douglas screamed in anger. The arm holding the dagger to the princess' throat
instinctively dropped to guard his injured back from further attack.

Na'gu'set also flew out of the darkness like a coiled panther. His own dagger in hand, he swung the weapon in an arc, burying the weapon deep into Black Douglas' shoulder. Black Douglas roared and backhanded Na'gu'set as he passed with a vicious smack to the head. Na'gu'set crashed hard against a tree trunk, collapsing in a heap among the thick roots. Picking himself up off the ground, Connor drew his sword for a second attack, but Black Douglas was able to wrap his good arm around Princess Sarah's neck and use her as a shield from further attack. With his other hand, he pressed the dagger up against her abdomen. Connor hesitated. The bushes next to the path exploded a second time as another intruder joined the melee. Prince Henry, gasping for breath, swung to Connor's side.

“Ah, Henry,” grunted Black Douglas. “Impeccable timing as always.”

The faint moonlight showed a growing stain of blood on the shoulder of his nightshirt.

“Let her go,” Prince Henry demanded. His sword joined Connor's as the three faced each other in a stalemate.

Black Douglas shook his head. “Nae, I reckon. You see, Henry, I like the situation far better now than I did when you so rudely invaded my sleeping quarters a short while ago. With your loving sister comfortably in my arms,
I
now have a clear advantage in our dispute.”

Prince Henry stepped forward, raising his sword. “I said, let her go.”

Black Douglas flexed the arm that was wrapped around Princess Sarah's neck. The result was a weak, gurgling sound
as her windpipe was slowly crushed. The barely conscious princess began to flinch in panic.

“Now look what you're doing to your sister, Henry. Please be sensible. Back off before you end up killing her.”

Prince Henry halted his advance. Then, reluctantly, he retreated several steps until he was once again beside Connor. Black Douglas relaxed his arm, and Princess Sarah's breathing returned to normal.

“What do you want, Douglas?” growled Prince Henry.

“Ah, see? This is so much more civilized,” said Black Douglas. “I knew you were a reasonable person. I will tell you exactly what I want. I want you to tell your knights to call off this attack. Then I want your ships. My men and I will take the ships back to Scotland. You, on the other hand, will remain here with your men and enjoy the intrinsic pleasure of rebuilding New Jerusalem to its planned glory for the next thirty years. Perhaps then I will send a future expedition back to this area and see if your descendants are worthy of a return trip home.
That
is all I want.”

“How do I know that you will release my sister after I comply with your demands?”

Black Douglas laughed. “Release her? Henry, my lad, when did I say that I was going to release her? I still intend to marry her! She is the key to everything. Lovely Sarah will give me the Templar lineage of the Sinclair clan. And through our combined power, she will also ensure that my descendants will be the future kings of Scotland! So there is need to worry about your sister, Henry. You have my word that I will be a kind and loving husband.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Gritting his teeth, Prince Henry aimed his sword at
Black Douglas's heart. “I'm going to run you through.”

“Watch your temper, Henry,” Black Douglas laughed, squeezing the injured princess until she moaned in pain. “Better a married princess than a dead one, don't you . . .”

Black Douglas's final words died in his mouth. Eyes wide in surprise, a gush of blood exploded from his mouth as the mountain of a man staggered forward then collapsed to the ground with a shaking thud. The princess fell in a heap beside him. Clinging onto Black Douglas, his hand still clutching the dagger that was buried deep into his ribs, was Sir Rudyard. Connor recognized the deadly placing of the dagger, a thrust Sir Rudyard had taught them several years earlier. Prince Henry bolted forward. As he pulled his sister away from danger, Connor ran up and placed his sword at Black Douglas's throat. But there was no need. He was dead. Na'gu'set and Angus regained their senses and staggered over to the carnage. Angus at once fell to his knees.

“Father!”

Angus cradled his father's head as he ran his hand along the massive wound to his side. He lifted his hand to see it soaked in blood. The sword was still embedded deep within his father.