Chapter 24

Slayer turned to Reed. "Take another man and have him bring a large troop of warriors here. You remain behind and oversee the safety of the clan until I return, and have a message sent to Ross to return home immediately and let him know why. And tell him that Noble and Cavell may be needed."

Reed did not hesitate to take his leave.

One of his warriors pointed to a narrow stream. "That stream must connect with another body of water. If we find it, it will lead us down there."

Slayer looked to the warrior who had pointed it out, one of his best trackers. "Take two warriors with you, Devlin, and go find the waterway that connects with that stream while I go down and see if I can find anything that can tell me what may have happened to Sky."

"How will you get down there?" a warrior asked as Devlin disappeared into the bushy pine trees.

"I'm going to climb down the cliff."

"But what if the wolves return, my lord?" a warrior asked.

"They will be distracted," Slayer said.

The warrior looked puzzled. "How, my lord?"

Slayer turned to his warrior who had a grip on Iver. "You never answered me, Iver. Did you participate in the attack and brutal killing of the Gallowglass warrior you told me about?"

Iver paled, seeing the fury in the eyes of the Gallowglass warriors standing nearby. "Please, I beg you."

"Clyde was not only a fellow Gallowglass warrior but a good friend." Slayer nodded to the warrior who held Iver and without delay he gave Iver a hardy shove that sent him flying off the cliff screaming. His screams died when he hit the ground. They all looked down to see his limbs bent unnaturally and blood pooling beneath his head.

Slayer turned away and made ready to climb down the side.

One warrior expressed concern. "If you fall?—"

"I won't," Slayer said, and tossed his sword off the cliff before he lowered himself over the edge and began to make his way down.

Nothing would stop him from reaching the bottom and finding anything that might help him locate Sky. With that being the only thing on his mind, he continued his descent, reaching for crevices and sturdy trees that grew out of the rocky cliff here and there.

After a while, the strain of the climb had his arm and leg muscles burning like they were on fire, but he did not slow or stop to rest. He needed to find out what happened to his wife.

Once he reached the bottom, he retrieved his sword, slipping it in the sheath on his back, then he hurried to make certain Iver was dead before surveying the area. He would find the others who made Clyde suffer, especially the evil man Iver mentioned, and see that each one of them paid the price for killing his friend.

He turned away from Iver, glancing over the area and spotted a fallen pine tree, its branches crushed, and he hurried to it. He squatted down beside it looking for any signs of blood or pieces of garment but saw none. Yet something told him that this was where Sky had landed and if so that meant there was a good chance she survived the fall. The question was, did she walk out of here on her own, or did someone take her out of here? He rejected the thought that the wolves could have gotten to her. If that were so, there would be some evidence of it, and he saw none. So, what had happened to her? Or was she still here?

He surveyed the area with a fine eye finding paw prints—the wolves—then he spotted a strange pattern in the dirt. Someone had covered tracks, and he carefully brushed the soil away in rutted parts of the terrain and discovered hoof prints. Horses had been here. Someone had taken Sky.

Slayer was ready to kill, to rip off limbs and tear out hearts to find his wife, but he tempered his rage, saving it for when he found the person who took her. He set his own tracking skills to work, following a trail he was able to find. Unfortunately, they were on horses, and he was on foot. He feared they had already outdistanced him. He had dismissed the thought that he would find her dead along the way. If they intended on killing her, they could have already done so. But they had not. They had taken her with them.

The tracks took him into the forest, and he kept following them. He could not take the chance and wait for his warriors. Every moment mattered and he had no doubt his warriors would find his tracks and follow.

Slayer kept a good pace, the horses' tracks showing a slower one. He wondered if it had anything to do with Sky and if her injuries required a slower pace. He kept alert to his surroundings as he hurried along.

He almost roared with anger when the tracks divided, and he stood at the crossroads of a decision that could mean life or death for his wife. He turned his head from side to side as if each path might reveal something to him when suddenly a small red squirrel appeared on the path to the right. He released a piercing chirp and titled his head at the path as if telling him to go that way.

If his wife trusted the animals, then so could he. He looked at the squirrel and ordered, "Lead the way."

He followed the squirrel for a good distance until he suddenly stopped not far ahead of him. He went up on his hind legs and sniffed the air, then the little fellow barked and scurried off. He remembered Sky saying that squirrels communicated by the different sounds they made. What was it she had said about a bark? Threatened. That's what it was. The squirrel felt threatened.

Slayer tempered his steps, keeping them light and cautious, making as little sound as he could. He was about to return to his fast pace, hearing or seeing nothing, when he heard voices ahead. He crouched down, keeping out of sight until he found an area thick with foliage where he could keep himself hidden and peered carefully through the branches.

His eyes narrowed and his heart slammed in his chest, seeing at least six bodies on the ground. Only one moved and a warrior stood over him, a bloody sword in his hand and Slayer counted five more with swords in hand and there was no telling if more warriors lingered nearby.

"Where is she?" the thick warrior demanded.

"Don't know."

The warrior prodded the wounded man with his foot. "Lie. Where did you hide her? We know you made it to the bottom of the cliff before us."

"She was gone," the man said, struggling to speak.

The warrior spit on him. "Another lie. She fell off the cliff. She could not have gotten up and walked off on her own."

Another warrior spoke up, "If he's telling the truth then he could be leading us away from wherever she's hiding."

The thick warrior prodded the wounded man with his foot again, though stronger this time and the man cried out in pain. "Are you doing that? Leading us away from her?"

Speaking in short breaths, the wounded man said, "Never. Saw. Her."

"He's going to be mighty angry if we don't find her," one warrior said.

"He'll kill one or more of us for failing to find her," another said.

"Then we better find her," the thick warrior warned. "We will backtrack and see where we can pick up her tracks."

"What about him?" a warrior asked, pointing his sword at the wounded man.

"Leave him," the thick warrior commanded. "He deserves a slow, painful death for not helping us."

Slayer remained where he was until the group of six warriors disappeared into the woods before he, silently as possible, approached the wounded man. He was shocked to see it was Lester, the man who had escaped him.

Lester's eyes went wide when Slayer crouched down beside him. "Find her. Before they do."

"You didn't see her?"

"Nay. Gone. When we got there." Lester cringed, shutting his eyes for a moment. "Found footprints. Covered them. Alive. She must be alive."

"Did you mean her harm?" Slayer asked to determine the man's fate.

"Never. Sky—" He cringed in pain again. "Daughter of the Wolf clan."

That surprised Slayer and he knew it would thrill Sky to learn about her origin. "There is much I want to ask you, but I have no time. I need to find Sky."

"Aye. Go. Keep her safe. Do not let him get her. Blames her," Lester fought to say, "Revenge."

"Stay alive," Slayer ordered. "You have much to tell me. My men will be here soon. Tell them we spoke, and you are to be kept safe." He went to stand, and the man managed to lay his hand on Slayer's arm.

"Wo-wol-wolves."

The man's eyes closed, but there was still breath to him. Slayer tore off a strip of cloth from the hem of Lester's garment and wrapped the wound on his side to try and stop the bleeding. There was a chance he would survive if his men reached him in time.

Slayer stood and gave Lester's last word thought.

Wolves.

There had been no wolves in the ravine, but there had been paw prints. Had they guided Sky to safety? But where would that be? Where would the wolves take her?

Slayer shook his head at how easily he understood. The wolves would have taken his wife to their den.

* * *

Sky examined her ankle.The walk here had not helped it. It had swelled, though not badly but it did hurt her. It was her only injury from what she could tell. Her body ached but she had found no other wounds except for the scratch on her face she had felt after feeling it sting there. She had been lucky. She could have suffered far worse wounds or died from the fall. It had not been easy getting here with her ankle hurting her and her own worry about trusting the wolves, but they had proved to be trustworthy, especially when they offered their den as protection for her.

The incident of when she faked an ankle injury came to mind and she wished she felt her husband's tender touch on her ankle once again. He was no doubt already searching for her and his skilled trackers were sure to locate her. However, she worried that whoever else was searching would find her first. She hoped the wolves were enough to deter them and hoped no wolf lost his life protecting her.

Sky's head shot up. She heard something. Growls. The two wolves outside the cave-like dwelling were growling. Someone approached.

The space was not tall enough for her to stand, so she shifted herself along her bottom to reach the entrance and peer out. Aches and pains attacked her body, but she did her best to ignore them, needing to find out if friend or foe approached.

But wouldn't a foe have already killed the wolves so they could reach her? Hope had her stomach fluttering, and she was careful to peer out the opening to look, though not be seen.

"Sky!"

She rushed her hand to her chest at the sound of her husband's voice and called out softly so as not to alarm the wolves, "Slayer."

"Curb the wolves," he called back.

"Friend. He is a friend. Here to help me. Friend," she repeated in a gentle tone.

She spotted her husband then, bravely stepping forward to show himself and approach the cave.

"Friend. Friend," Sky kept repeating as she made her way out of the wolf's den, worried they would not allow a dominant male to enter their home.

Relief so strong hit Slayer that he thought for a moment his legs would buckle as he watched his wife emerge from the cave. He forced himself to remain where he stood and forced strength to return to his legs. Though he desperately wanted to rush to her and take her in his arms, especially when he saw how she struggled to get to her feet. But he knew if he rushed toward her the wolves would view it as a threat and attack.

Sky smiled and after she managed to stand, she glanced at each of the two wolves there and spoke softly. "Slayer is a friend and will help me get home now. I am grateful for your help, and I will be here for you if you are ever in need of help."

Slayer almost took a quick step forward when his wife cringed as she took steps toward him. She had suffered an injury, her leg or ankle most likely from the way she limped, but he saw no other visible injuries on her. No blood stained her disheveled garments, though debris from the pine tree clung here and there to her and pine needles stuck out of her hair that had fallen loose from its braid.

"Reach out and claim me, so they know I belong to you," Sky said when she got near him.

Slayer was only too happy to do as she said. He eased his arm around her and drew her to rest against him, then he looked to each of the wolves as she had done and said, "My thanks for protecting my mate."

The largest of the wolves approached them, his eyes on Slayer.

"Stay as you are," Sky whispered.

The wolf came to a stop beside Sky, his eyes remaining on Slayer. He pressed his body against Sky's leg, and she brought her hand to rest on his head.

"Again, I thank you, my friend," she said, and the wolf stepped back, his eyes never leaving Slayer.

Though it was difficult for him, Slayer kept silent as they walked away. It was not until they neared a stream that he went to speak, but Sky spoke first.

"I hurt my ankle and I ache from the fall but other than that, I am good."

"You knew what I would ask," he said, not surprised, they both having come to know each other so well.

"Just as I knew you would find me," she said and stopped to turn and rest herself against him.

"Always," he said and held her close, though not tightly, worried he would cause her more pain. "We can take a quick drink from the stream and then we need to move and not stop until my men reach us."

Sky nodded, eager to quench her thirst and even more eager to return home.

He took hold of her arm and lowered her gently to sit by the stream and he almost cringed along with her when he saw the pain it caused her.

"You will rest when we get home," he ordered and could not stop himself from kissing her lips ever so gently after sitting beside her.

"I look forward to it and more of your kisses," she said and cupped her hands to take a drink and gasped lightly at the chilly water stinging the scratch on her face.

Slayer took a gentle hold of her chin and turned her face toward him. "You landed on the pine tree, didn't you?" He ran his hand gently over the minor scratch.

"Aye. It saved my life as did the wolves. I kept drifting in and out of consciousness. They poked me with their nose to wake me and warn me someone approached. Not knowing who it was, I tried to hide, so I could see if it was you, but the wolves kept urging me away, so I trusted them."

"It was Lester and a few of his men."

"Oh, he told me he meant me no harm. He would have helped me."

"Nay. The wolves were right in urging you away. Lester and his men were attacked. He was the only one to survive, though not for long if my men do not reach him. The group who attacked him were searching for you to take to someone. Lester says you are a daughter of the Wolf clan and this person looking for you blames you for something and seeks revenge."

Sky was stunned. "Lester knows who my parents are?"

"I imagine so since he is from the Wolf clan."

She reached out to grab her husband's arm. "I do hope he survives. There is so much he could tell us."

"Hopefully, my men have reached him. I did what I could for him, but I could not stay with him. I needed to find you."

Sky rested her brow to his. "And I could not have been happier to see you."

She kissed him gently this time, lingering a bit until Slayer ended the kiss reluctantly.

"We need to go. Drink your fill for we will not be stopping again," he said, annoyed that he had to rush her when she needed to rest.

Her brow narrowed in worry.

He knew what concerned her for it concerned him as well. "I will keep you safe."

"Not at the cost of your life," she cautioned.

"Drink. We must leave," he ordered.

Sky did not argue with him. It was futile to do so. He would have his way, though not if she could help it.

They had barely left the stream when the large wolf appeared in front of them, blocking the way.

"He is warning us. We need to go back to the wolf's den and hide." Sky shook her head when her husband looked ready to argue. "We must go. Now."

"The wolves may not let me enter," Slayer said.

"He will. He senses the danger."

Slayer went to argue when he heard the thundering roar of horses' hooves. It was no small group headed their way. He scooped his wife up in his arms and ran.

The two wolves paced in front of the cave once Sky and Slayer entered, and Sky worried what might happen to them while trying to protect her.

"A large troop approaches," Slayer warned, sitting cramped in the confined cave with his wife tucked tightly against him.

"Not yours?"

"Nay. Not mine," he confirmed, and his mind ran wild with what he could do to keep his wife safe and grew furious when he was unable to find a solution.

The horses suddenly sounded as if they stopped in front of the cave. But the horses were heard braying and pounding their hooves, unwilling to get near the wolves.

"Archers!" a man yelled.

"NAY!" Sky yelled before Slayer could stop her.

"Come out or we kill the wolves," a man demanded.

"Do not respond," he whispered.

"A daughter of the Wolf clan would never allow a wolf to die for her," the man called out.

Slayer shook his head.

Sky kept her voice to a whisper. "They do not know you are here with me."

Slayer shook his head again, knowing what his wife was thinking.

Sky pressed her finger to his lips. "Please. We have no choice. You must let them take me. It is the only way you can save me. Otherwise, you die here. And my fate? We do not know. Would you really leave me to suffer?"

"I grow impatient, woman!" the man yelled.

"Give me a moment. I injured my ankle," she yelled out. She quieted her voice once again. "You will find me. You will always find me." She grabbed hold of his face and kissed him.

"Nay!" Slayer said when their kiss ended. "I cannot let you?—"

"You must. It is the only way we both have a chance of surviving and having a future together." She placed his hand on her stomach. "I feared the fall would take the bairn from me, but so far it has not. If he can fight to survive, then so can we."

How rage and happiness could exist together, Slayer did not know. There was so much he wanted to say to her but there was no time.

He kissed her hard so she would have part of him to hold onto, then whispered. "I will find you."

"I know," she said, moving toward the opening.

"I love you, Sky," he said before she reached it.

She turned her head and smiled. "I know that too."