The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (27 page)

             
Kirstin swore she would not let the old woman hold her back, even if it would be harder to do so with Vanora there too. The blonde-haired woman went up to her original room and began packing, as Alana went to the servant’s quarters to pack her own. When Kirstin had only a half packed bag, Roderick came in. He did not seem as joyful, or thrilled at her having to leave, because he said, “Must ye go to this lady friend of yers?”

             
He took a seat on her bed, next to her bag. It seemed like his weight sank into the covers, along with his sulky mood.

             
“Aye,” Kirstin replied, adding a dress to the bag, “’Tis no’ safe for me here, and yer aware of that.”

             
“I ken.” Roderick began twiddling his thumb, making him look like a pouting child, “But mayhap this is the last time we see each other?”

             
Kirstin froze, putting down her things next to the bed and then going to stand in front of Roderick, “It willna be the last time.” Her words were comforting but Roderick found little relief in them, “Yer a strong fighter, Roderick, and so are Lachlan and his men.”

             
“But so are Graham and his men.” He retorted, making Kirstin glower in response.

             
“Donna say such harsh things,” she scolded, “Ye need to stay positive or ye will die, do ye hear me?”

             
Roderick mocked, “Aye, I hear ye.” Then he stopped twiddling his thumbs and put his hands by his side with a fast, shaky breath. It seemed like he wanted to say more, but he did not.

             
He left shortly after embracing Kirstin in a tight hug, and only after he left did she feel tears running down her cheeks. She could not bear to lose Lachlan, her brother, or her friends.



              By noon, Kirstin and Alana had packed their bags, and Ewan had gone back to pack one, as well. They met in the foyer of Lachlan’s manor in which Alana had greeted Ewan but not as favorably as she normally would. It was becoming evident now that everyone feared the worst, no matter how strong and powerful the men may have seemed.

             
Wives and sisters came by the manor throughout the day to bring baskets of food to eat before they headed off towards Graham’s estate. They gave their farewells, and kissed the men upon the cheeks.

             
While Ewan went to get two horses from the stables, Kirstin went in search of Lachlan. She found him sharpening his claymore with a wet stone, and instantly greeted him.

             
“Have ye come to wish me farewell?” he asked, alarmed.

             
“Aye,” Kirstin gave a small smile. Lachlan stood up from his seat and put the claymore down, and then he wrapped his strong arms around her small body.

             
“Stay in high hopes.” He told her, “Donna worry about me.”

             
Kirstin looked up at him, her lips mere inches away from his, “How can I no’? ‘Tis but my duty to worry about my love.”

             
Lachlan smiled at that and closed the distance, his lips barely grazing hers before he pulled away, “Stay safe, Kirstin.” His statement came out demanding, but apart of her did not mind it. Lachlan was protective over her, and possessive; two things she took kindly when it came to him.

             
“Ye better be just as safe.” She smiled warmly, with hope filled eyes.

             
Lachlan reached back down and stole another kiss from her. It was a passionate kiss, and Kirstin could feel her goose bumps rise, and a shiver go down her spine. When he let go and gazed into her bright eyes, Kirstin could not help but wonder if this would be the last of their kisses.

             
Then he said reassuringly, “I can assure ye there will be more of that when I get back.” However a smile never touched her lips, even though she had tried to be strong and happy.

She willed herself to be calm, and when she finally departed that day with Ewan and Alana, she dropped the façade. It was evident to Alana and Ewan that she was so worrisome that it was making her miserable.

“’Tis okay, my dear.” Alana had said in a motherly way, “Before ye can blink, everything will be over. Naethin’ can hurt those men.” Though, it seemed as if Alana was trying to reassure herself at the ending of her sentence. Kirstin did not question her, and with firm lips, and a melancholic look in her eyes, they rode on towards Vanora’s home.

Chapter Thirty-Two

              It would take Kirstin, Alana and Ewan four days to arrive at Vanora’s home, which would be fair distance if the Bateson clan’s ambush failed and Graham was to take over Lachlan’s estate. Lachlan and his men would need at least half a day to reach Graham’s estate, which would mean that the battle should be over by at least two days when Kirstin reached Vanora.

             
Kirstin could only hope that a messenger would reach them first, since they were traveling at a slower pace than a single man on horse. Alana and Ewan talked the whole way, but Kirstin did not mind their conversations. Every once in a while they would talk to her, but she much preferred to listen to the couple talk.



             
Lachlan and his two hundred men departed not long after Kirstin had left. It was just barely after noon, and the sun beamed down on them making a fine coat of sweat stick their clothes to their bodies.

             
By the time they would arrive at the Ruskin manor, it would be nearly midnight. Lachlan could only hope everything would go smoothly. They camped outside in the woods, along the border, and took a break to cool their skin in the river that ran through the trees. Only a few more hours before it would be dark, and they could close the distance between themselves and Graham’s clan.

             
“Lachlan,” said Roderick from behind him.

Lachlan looked up and smiled at his squire, “Roderick,” he replied, “Come take a seat across from me.”

              Roderick sat down on the ground, the leaves and grass grazing his fingers when they touched the ground, “Are ye all right, Lachlan?”

             
“Aye,” he said, but his eyes remained distant as he thought about Kirstin and the battle that was to take place.

             
“Ye donna seem all right. Mayhap, I can offer ye some ale?” Roderick asked, handing him a leather pouch full of the liquid. Lachlan took it from him and gulped a mouthful, the liquid burning his throat.

             
“Can ye do me a favor?” Lachlan asked, after several minutes of tense silence.

             
“Aye,” Roderick said, his eyes curious.

             
“If I do die, then promise me ye will take care of Kirstin.” Lachlan sounded worried, but not for himself and instead for the blonde haired woman he had come to love.

             
Roderick smiled a small smile, “Ye willna die, but if at rarity it does happen then I will do my best to take care of her.”

             
Lachlan nodded, “I thank ye.”

             
“No need to thank me,” Roderick exclaimed, waving a hand in the air, “I will always be loyal to ye no matter what.”

             
He winked at Roderick, “Which is why yer my squire.”

             
“Aye,” Roderick agreed, “’Tis why.”

             
Lachlan and his men waited only a few more hours before it grew dark, and then they completely crossed the border. They had split up onto four groups, each one having roughly fifty men. Two groups would raid the small town on the Ruskin Estate in order to prevent more men from helping Graham when Lachlan’s group attacked his manor. The last group, led by Neil and Mr. Croft, would scatter along the border as a tactic of backup.

             
Lachlan’s group moved on towards Graham’s manor. They could hear the screaming of women and the crying of children as the two groups ambushed the town from afar, but it was faint.

             
Lachlan pushed the men to a faster pace when they began to slow due to their boots being caked in thick mud. The air was humid, and there was no doubt in Lachlan’s mind that a summers rain would begin to pour down soon. That did not deter him and if anything, Lachlan only moved faster to prevent being caught up in it.

             
Graham’s manor was large, made of brown stone, and did not have many windows. It seemed that the stars did not shine down on Graham’s manor as brightly as they did on Lachlan’s, which gave it uninviting look. Red mud surrounded his yard unlike the flourishing greenery that enclosed Lachlan’s, and there was no life about his home except for the dying calls of a crow.

             
It was a grim sight to behold.

             
“Lachlan,” Roderick whispered harshly from behind him, “What is the plan?” His squire was eager to seek revenge, and kill just as mercilessly as he.

             
“Ye go through the servants quarters in the back. I will take these men behind me through the front.” He directed Roderick who nodded vigorously and then guided about thirty men away.

             
“Come, Lads.” Lachlan said, “Let us kill these bastards.”

             
Some gave a grunt of acknowledgement, following their laird to the two double doors that gave entrance to the Ruskin manor. It was only when Lachlan had kicked them wide open, that something seemed very wrong.

             
If it weren’t for the fireplace being lit, armored men in a stance to attack Lachlan and his men, and Graham Ruskin standing among them with a cup of ale in his hands as if awaiting their arrival, then perhaps it would not have been so wrong.

             
As if to confirm any doubt about the reality of the situation that Lachlan may have had, Graham held his cup up towards them and said, “Here’s to the death of the almighty and fierce, Lachlan Bateson.”

             
Then, just as quickly as the words had left his mouth, an arrow collided with Lachlan’s chest and he fell to the ground.



Kirstin could not deny the tightness in her chest, and she could not decipher if it was from the stress of being on horseback for so long, or if it was heartache. Either way, she smiled upon arriving at
Vanora’s front steps. When the old woman came out to greet them, Kirstin embraced her as a daughter would her mother, and exclaimed, “I have missed ye so much.”

“My dear,”
Vanora said appalled, “I saw ye through the window and had to greet ye, but what on earth brings ye and yer friends to my doorstep?”

Kirstin immediately frowned at her question, and said, “Lachlan went to attack the Ruskin Clan in hopes to end the conflicts between them, and to keep them from ambushing his own clan.”

“Oh, goodness!” Vanora exclaimed, “And, I suppose he wanted ye to be here for yer own protection?”

“Aye, that is correct.” Kirstin smiled wryly, “But I only agreed to it for the promise of my brother, for if ye ask me, I
donna need protection.”

Vanora
laughed, but it was a laugh out of pity, “My dear child, yer very soul is worth all the protecting in the world. Now, let us talk about this inside with yer friends.”

“Oh!” Kirstin said, motioning to Alana and Ewan who were tying the horses up by a railing, “This is Alana and Ewan. I do believe Alana and ye will be the best of friends.”

Vanora smiled widely at the plump woman, and Kirstin felt the immediate connection they had despite their differences in frame. Alana had many more curves than Vanora, but they each had the same maternal and cheerful look in their eyes.

“
’Tis good to meet ye, I am Vanora.” She had said to Alana, who smiled back and replied, “Kirstin has talked of no one else since meeting ye. ‘Tis my pleasure to finally meet ye in person.”

“Nay,”
Vanora pushed, “The pleasure is all mine.”

Ewan and Kirstin watched as Alana and
Vanora interacted, and upon going inside, Alana exclaimed, “Do ye bake?”

“I do nothing else.”
Vanora grinned, “For this level of my house is my very own bakery.”

             
Alana looked all around the bakery with wide eyes, and took major interest in the kitchen, which had a large fireplace for baking bread, “Well I dare say we are going to make the best of friends.” She drawled on about the expanse of Vanora’s kitchen, and the common interests that they shared.