Chapter 30

Daemon scowled, his hand flexing on the hilt of his sword as he stared at the obstacle in front of him. The walls of Ranald Keep loomed only a few yards away. Daemon glared at the stones, then kicked his horse forward, only to pull up short as Darren rode in front of him. "Get out o' me way."

"Nae a chance. We're all short-tempered from lack o' sleep and worry fer Lyla, but ye're the worst o' us, and I'll nae risk ye going off and getting yerself hurt or killed."

Daemon's lip curled in a snarl. "We've been two days getting here! There's nae telling what that bastard might have done with her."

"And charging intae his forces tae get slaughtered willnae change whatever has happened." Kaelin rode forward to flank him on one side, while Marcus bracketed him on the other, and Ryan, Erin and Cai formed a cordon behind him.

Daemon glared at them all. "Ye cannae stop me from going inside and retrieving her."

"Nay, and I dinnae intend tae stop ye, but I willnae let you charge in recklessly." Darren's voice was hard, and his expression unyielding.

"Me laird, we've finally arrived at Ranald Keep. I'm certain we'll see yer lass soon. Like as nae, she's only been frightened and inconvenienced. I cannae think that Laird Ranald would have her brought so far if he intended her harm." Cai spoke softly, soothingly, but the words did nothing to ease Daemon's foul mood.

"Even having her frightened and inconvenienced is too much. I'll nae be leaving her in that state any longer than I must." Daemon glared at his companions. "Ye can come with me, or I'll go alone, but I'm nae waiting a moment longer!"

He spurred his horse into motion, and everyone else did the same. The guards at the main gate stood to attention, and Daemon gave them his fiercest glare. "Step aside, or I'll leave ye tae lie there."

"Even being a laird, ye cannae just…"

Daemon scowled and spurred his horse forward, giving a guttural command for the animal to rear and kick the gate. The main gate wasn't lowered, and the door panels flew open. Daemon crashed through them and into the courtyard of Ranald Keep.

The delay had been enough for the guards on the wall to set up an alarm, and warriors of the Clan were already swarming the courtyard. Daemon unsheathed his sword and dove off his horse and into the fray. He didn't intend to kill, not if he could help it, but he saw no reason to hold back otherwise.

The first warrior to close to him got slapped aside with the flat of the blade. The second took a boot to the gut, followed by a hilt to the temple. The battle devolved into chaos, and Daemon lost himself in the heat of battle.

He found himself back-to-back with Darren MacLean, both of them at the head of their small group as they pressed forward. They were just over halfway to the main doors of the keep proper when the heavy oak panels flew open to reveal Donall Ranald.

Laird Ranald's eyes were wide, his expression filled with rage and twisted with hatred. "Stop right there, or I'll kill her!"

With one hand, he produced a knife, and laid it at the throat of a captive Lyla MacDougall.

* * *

Lyla didn't know what was happening. She'd been placed in a small room, not quite a jail cell, ever since her arrival at Ranald Keep. She'd seen Laird Ranald once since her arrival, and his sister had delivered food to her on a regular basis with a sorrowful face, but she'd been otherwise left alone until moments ago, when the guards had bound her and brought her to the main corridor and the obviously incensed Laird Ranald.

The look on his face made her stomach clench, and this close to the doors, she could hear the sounds of combat. Her heart leapt with hope, then fell with apprehension. Combat meant someone was likely here to rescue her, but that didn't make her safe. "What's happening?"

Donall Ranald grabbed the ropes binding her and pulled her forward roughly. "Yer kinsmen and their friends are here tae take ye back. I intend tae show them how foolish they are tae challenge me in me own home."

Alayne Ranald appeared from around a corner. "Braither! We must stop! This has gone too far, and ye ken that…"

"Silence, Alayne! I'll nae be challenged in me own keep, nae by ye or any other!" With that, Donall Ranald wrenched open the doors to the keep proper and shouted to the courtyard. "Stop right there, or I'll kill her!"

Lyla stumbled as he jerked her forward into view of the courtyard, then froze as cold steel touched her throat. She didn't dare attempt to move, or escape. One wrong step, and her life blood would spill down the steps.

In the courtyard, the fighting ceased. Lyla's heart rose again as she saw Daemon at the head of a group of warriors, including her father and sister. Darren stepped forward. "Return Lyla MacDougall tae her kin, Laird Ranald. Yer grievance isnae with that clan. Dinnae bring more trouble tae yer people."

"Braither…" Alayne, Donall's sister stepped forward, but Donall Ranald dragged Lyla down the steps to the yard, his face twisted in an expression of unreasoning hate.

"Dinnae try tae dictate tae me, Laird MacLean. Nae when ye owe me blood debt fer the death o' me faither."

Daemon stepped forward. "Blood debt or nae, Lyla MacDougall doesnae have any part o' it."

"Her kin are part o' this. All me enemies will be trampled intae the dirt where ye belong, just like me faither wished!"

Darren MacLean moved past Daemon, and the warriors of Clan Ranald stepped back to clear the space around him. Darren's expression was fierce, the tattoos across his body giving him a slightly menacing air as he confronted Donall.

"Yer faither's grievance was with me, nae me clan as a whole. If ye have any honor as a laird, then ye'll come and face me yerself, instead o' resorting tae all these tricks and cowardly acts."

"Donall, dinnae! Ye ken he's too strong!"

"Silence, Alayne! I'll nae hear any more such talk." Donall shoved Lyla aside with contempt and drew his sword with a manic smile on his face. "If ye want tae face me direct, Laird MacLean, then I'll accept yer terms!" He stalked down the steps.

Steel clashed against steel as Darren and Donall came together in combat, blades whirling fiercely between them. Lyla was so engrossed in the fight she jumped in surprise when a hand touched her arm, and the ropes were cut.

Daemon stood beside her, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Seconds later, her father moved to her other side. The two of them formed a protective wall, and Lyla relaxed into Daemon's hold, knowing she was safe.

Moments later, there was a ringing sound, and Donall's blade went flying. In a flash, Darren had the knife twisted out of his hand, and his sword at Donall's throat. "Any last words, Laird Ranald?"

"I'll nae give ye the satisfaction!"

Alayne darted down the steps. "Please, me laird, I ken me braither is the one tae start this feud, but please… dinnae…"

Daemon gently released her and Lyla watched as he stepped forward, his expression grave. "Laird MacLean, I ken it isnae me place tae interfere, but it seems tae me that Laird Ranald is acting foolishly out o' grief. Mayhap it would serve better tae avoid taking his life."

"I cannae allow him tae continue tae threaten me kin and me allies. I'll nae ask those I care fer tae endure constantly looking over their shoulders because Ranald cannae control his grief and his temper." Darren's voice was hard, but the hand holding the blade didn't move.

"We can take the matter tae the king. Let him render judgment and declare what must be done tae end the feud. That way, there will be nae reason fer anyone tae continue it in the future, and more needless battles can be avoided."

Lyla looked to Alayne. The young woman was staring, ashen-faced and wide-eyed at her brother. She hadn't moved from where she stood, but her eyes were pleading as they met Darren's.

After a long moment, Darren's hand relaxed. He dropped the blade. "Marcus, bring a rope tae bind Laird Ranald's hands. I dinnae want tae risk him escaping."

He turned around and looked to Alayne. "We'll travel tae Edinburgh, tae see the king. Whatever his judgment, we'll abide by it. Aye?"

Alayne nodded. "I will pack a bag fer meself and me braither. We will go tae the king, and have him render his judgment on the fate o' both Ranald and MacLean clans." Her face was pale, but she kept her back straight and her chin held high.

Lyla's father stepped forward. "Warriors, stand down."

There was some grumbling and hesitation, but then Alayne stepped forward one pace and raised her voice. "By me order, the warriors o' Clan Ranald will lay down arms, and prepare a guard tae accompany and Laird Ranald tae see the king."

The warriors obeyed. Lyla sagged in relief, and Daemon slid his arms around her in support.

At long last, it was over.

A moment later, her father came back to stand at her side, followed by her sister. Lyla looked at the two of them. "What happens now?"

Erin smiled. "Och, well, assuming our faither agrees, I think ‘tis time Daemon takes ye home."

"Aye." Daemon bowed his head to her father. "With yer permission, I'd like Lyla tae return with me tae MacMillan Keep."

"Ye have it." Her father smiled. "Ye have both me permission and me blessing."

Lyla looked up at Daemon, her heart singing with joy. "Let's go home, me love."

"Aye."