Highland Stone (16 page)

"Dunna be a nit. He be enemy to the MacLeods."

"Deny it if you wish, but it will not change the truth." Kara turned in her chair. "You like him, too. I recall a comment about him being handsome when you first met."

"'Twas afore his identity became known to me. He be nice to look at and well stocked, but he be heir to me enemy."

"You're so wicked. Where did a girl of your young years learn to talk so?"

"I have three
bráthairs
who speak of such things and more when they dunna know I be close by."

Eleyne fell asleep almost immediately. Kara lay awake contemplating what would happen next. Two things she knew for certain. Alaxandar and the MacLeods were coming and people would die.

* * * *

The day rose with birds singing as Kara woke from a fitful sleep, a little more rested. She and Eleyne washed and ate the food left for them. Kara picked up the gown she had worn the day before and slid into it then walked to the window to gaze at the sunbeams. If only the new day meant something good.

Eleyne didn't quite have her dress fastened when Carrick entered the room. He silently watched while she fumbled with the laces up her back.

He closed the distance between them. "Allow me, milady," he all but whispered in her ear and began tightening the laces to snugly hug her body.

Eleyne stiffened but didn't pull away or protest. She peered at him over her shoulder. "I dunna think I heard ye knock, MacKay."

"'Tis me castle," he said plainly.

"Aye, and we be prisoners "

Carrick inclined his head. "If that be your wish."

"I wish to go back to Dunvegan." Eleyne crossed her arms over her breasts and straightened to her full height. Her chin lifted to that arrogant MacLeod pose that Kara knew ran in the family. These two circled each other, drawing lines, daring the other to cross. Carrick's deep green eyes lit with shock and amusement. Eleyne, though at least a foot shorter than him, managed to give the impression they stood on equal ground.

A loud bellow rose from the bailey outside accompanied by a clamor of men and horses.

"It seems there be something amiss, MacKay," Eleyne said before turning her back on him.

"So it does. Ladies." Carrick left the room, bolting the door behind him.

Kara and Eleyne ran to the tiny slit in the wall. Kara closed one eye to focus on what was happening. She had no trouble seeing the chief. He wasn't only the biggest, but the loudest. He shouted orders and men scurried in different directions. With his thick Scottish brogue, she couldn't understand him, but she knew something had happened to get him riled. "I wonder what's going on."

Eleyne said, "They have been told the MacLeod 'tis coming and he has hundreds o' men with him."

"Hundreds of men. Are there that many MacLeods?"

Eleyne nodded. "The MacLeods and MacKenzies for certain."

"What will happen now?"

"There will be a battle if MacKay doesna release us."

"People will be killed over this," Kara whispered.

"'Tis naught ye kin do about it. MacKay must meet me father now, and that willna be pleasant."

A short time later Carrick returned, knocking this time before he entered the room. "It seems MacLeod be on his way, milady. Stay away from the windows when he arrives. I dunna want an arrow marring this perfect skin." He ran a finger down Eleyne's cheek.

"Death be coming, MacKay. Ye have taken what 'tis not yours and now ye must pay."

"Aye," he sighed. "The MacKays will pay."

"Me father willna agree to demands. Your chief will kill us."

Kara's stomach clenched. She heard the break in Eleyne's voice and noticed her hands clutching her sides. Carrick must have sensed it as well because he moved close to Eleyne. He rubbed hands down her arms.

"Dunna fear, lass. I willna allow harm to come to ye." His long arms wrapped around Eleyne. She didn't resist. When he stepped back, he planted an intense but brief kiss on Eleyne's lips. Pulling away as if he'd stunned even himself, Carrick turned and strode from the room.

Eleyne remained motionless at first. She touched her lips and faced Kara in confusion.

Kara smiled. "Yep, the first kiss is always the most exciting."

"Why would he do that?"

"I told you he likes you. This makes things better for us." She raised her eyes to the ceiling. "I hope."

"Better how?"

"Maybe he'll help us."

Eleyne approached Kara and grabbed her arms. "I dunna want Carrick going against his father. We need to find a way to escape."

"Perhaps when the MacLeods get here it will give us an opportunity. We just have to get past the guard."

By nighttime at Strathnaver, Kara worried her thumb nail and Eleyne paced. She heard the warriors readying for the battle to come. The generous quarters which she had thought ample, now seemed as cramped and confined as the tower room. Any courage slowly melted away. Anxiety hung in the air and fear left a sickening taste in her mouth. This was real. People were going to die and she could be one of them.

MacKenzies and Sutherlands joined the MacLeods. Alaxandar stalked the grounds gazing on tents filled with those not of his blood. He headed for the stables and his horse. Instructing the guards gave him a sense of control.

Alaxandar and the others rode steady and hard, stopping only to water and rest the horses. Ramsey and Iain had gone ahead to scout the landscape for any who might be waiting, and returned with their report.

"Strathnaver be over the ridge. I spotted two," Iain said.

Ramsey grinned. "I left one alive to let them know we be coming."

"Aye," Drummond said as he stared at the rise of hills. "The bastard knew we be coming."

Alaxandar clapped Iain on the back. "Take care of the horses and get some food."

He turned to Ramsey. "What else?"

"Not many in the surrounding area, old women or verra young ones with bairns. Dinna see men at all."

"Why would they not bring the women and children to the keep if they knew we be coming?"

"'Tis strange, aye," Ramsey agreed.

"Be ye thinking to get information from the women?"

With a stone-cold glare Ramsey said, "I kin be persuasive."

Drummond glared at the man. "I have no doubt. Take Cuilén with ye. His methods be more to me liking."

Alaxandar knew Ramsey would argue. Putting a hand up, he interrupted. "Come, I will walk with ye to find Cuilén."

Ramsey ground his teeth.

"Be calm yet,
bráthair
. 'Twill soon be over."

"I be leaving when 'tis done," Ramsey said.

"Aye, I knew ye would."

They said no more until they found Cuilén.

A couple of hours later, they rode again closer to Strathnaver. Torches burned at the barred gates. The dark fortress was locked up tight with guards posted along the wall.

"Alaxandar and Archibald with me," the chief ordered. "The rest wait under cover of the forest."

At a gallop, Alaxandar followed his father. Nervous energy cracked through his entire body. A warrior such as himself did not fear battle, but this was different. His woman might be dead and those who took her would pay.

"MacKay!" MacLeod roared.

For several minutes, only the guards moved then a booming voice called from the parapet. "MacLeod, what brings ye here?"

"Dunna waste me time. Send out the females. For the deaths of me clansmen, I will be taking your life, but for taking me daughter, I will be killing ye slow."

MacKay laughed. "I shall think on it, MacLeod. I be liking the company." His sinister laugh carried down to Alaxandar. "I be liking the company a lot." MacKay disappeared from sight.

Alaxandar growled low. The emptiness in his stomach threatened to overtake his heart. He needed to kill something. He spun his horse around and returned to where his clansmen waited.

"We give him time to ponder his next move. Be ready for it. We must use guile and cunning in our assault." Drummond turned to Iain and Murdo. "I need to talk to MacKenzie and Sutherland."

Iain rode one way and Murdo the other. Before long, the chiefs were huddled with Alaxandar and his father to form their plan.

"MacKenzie, take your men to the south side. I want the castle surrounded so MacKay canna escape."

MacKenzie told Lachlann to relay the orders to the men and make ready.

"Sutherland, split your men and cover the north and west."

"Aye, MacLeod. The bastard willna get away," Sutherland said before he and his lieutenant rode back into the dark forest.

After they left, the chief turned to his sons and those of high rank in the clan. "We give him till dawn to send out the females then we go in."

The others shook their heads in agreement with the plan. Alaxandar stared at the ominous blackness that loomed before them. Every muscle in his body was primed and ready for the fight.

"The light will be with us. I dunna know the castle but I know MacKay. He fights dirty. We have the sun at our backs in the battle."

"What if the women be dead?" Archibald asked.

Alaxandar's hand flashed to the dirk on his belt, ready to throw with deadly accuracy. His head whipped around to see Archibald frown. He had only voiced the question that had been plaguing them all.

"Then I skewer and skin every member of the MacKay clan, starting with the chief himself," Alaxandar said. His father nodded then strode to the rest of his men to explain the battle strategy.

* * * *

Carrick stood in the doorway of the great hall watching his chief. "What are ye going to do?"

"I will do as planned."

"MacLeod will fight to the death afore he gives in. Ye have killed members o' his clan and that will be repaid by deaths."

"We have been through many battles."

"We be fewer in number."

"Rhianna spoilt me plan to align with Ross when she ran away." He spit on the floor as if saying her name made him sick.

Carrick moved further into the room. "There be naught else she could do."

MacKay glared at his first born. "She dinna do her duty."

"Ross would have killed her."

"Aye, but we would have been bound by the oath."

Carrick turned away disgusted to look at his chief, his blood. "Ye bring destruction to our clan."

MacKay threw his sword on the wooden table before him. "I shouldna have sent ye to England for schooling. Ye have grown weak in your thinking." The man at arms appeared in the doorway. "I will do as planned," his father said. He turned to the man silently waiting and motioned to the maps on the table.

"What ye do brings chaos and death. We need growth and new life for the MacKay Clan to be strong again."

"Ye talk foolishness, Carrick. That 'tis your
máthair
's doing. This be how we deal with our enemies. We take what we want."

"There be another way. I—" Carrick gestured to the tapestries on the wall.

"Stop." MacKay slammed his hands on the table. His sword fell to the floor. The clang echoed in the room. "Leave me."

Carrick sadly turned away and left the room. His sigh made MacKay stiffen his back as though a pole ran through it.

* * * *

Kara paced the room from wall to wall. It killed her knowing Alaxandar waited just outside the gates and she couldn't get to him. She'd racked her brain but still hadn't come up with a plausible way of escape. She heard a voice at the door.

"Move away from the door, Reg. Get down with the men." Carrick opened the door.

The look he gave Eleyne was both sad and compassionate. "Fighting will break out at dawn." He moved closer to Eleyne. "I canna say where I will be during the battle." He spoke softly while brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. She turned her face into his palm. Eleyne leaned into him but Carrick jumped back and dropped his hand. He walked to the window to watch the men gather weapons and set up stations. "I have dismissed the guard. When the fighting starts, follow this hall to the south side o' the castle. There be a stairway that will take ye to the buttery. Behind the tapestry be a door to a short tunnel, leading outside the castle walls. Find your clansmen and get away from Strathnaver." He shifted his shoulder against the wall. "Only death awaits ye here."

Kara felt a mixture of excitement and sadness. This young man held a world of misery on his shoulders but did the right thing and let them go. "What will happen when we escape?"

He drew his gaze from the window. "I willna let the chief's greed endanger ye." He turned so his back was against the wall. "There be many who wish an end to the wars and killing."

"Why don't they do something then?" Kara asked.

His laugh held no amusement. "They be afraid o' the chief. He would kill them where they stood."

Eleyne moved closer to Carrick. "What will he do to ye?"

Carrick's eyes softened. "Dunna fuss, lass. Ye must make ready. MacLeod will be here at dawn." He started toward the door but stopped long enough to place an intricately-carved dagger in Eleyne's hand. "Guard yourself."

Eleyne touched his arm and turned a beseeching look on Kara.

"I'll see if there are cloaks or something to cover us." She walked into the small alcove to give Carrick and Eleyne privacy. She waited a couple of minutes then returned to see Carrick rub his thumbs at the corners of Eleyne's mouth then kiss her. "Ye are so beautiful." He stared into her misting eyes and turned to go.

"Carrick," Eleyne called. He stopped with his hand on the door, but did not turn around. "I—"

He left.

Eleyne knocked over the chair next to her, venting frustration. "Ahh," she screamed.

Kara kept her distance until the tirade passed. "Are we ready?"

Eleyne whipped around. "Aye." She stabbed the wooden table with the tip of the dirk.

Kara knew how she felt.

A thick fog covered the ground. Alaxandar had seen many battlefields covered in white and red. Red, the blood of Scotsmen protecting their land and their clans. He'd drifted away from the others to get his head ready for the fight. A small ritual he always performed before he went into battle. Unsheathing his broadsword, he swung it around to the left and the right. The swishing sound calmed him.