Chapter 26

Sky was exhausted barely getting any sleep last night after they had finally stopped. Her body ached worse today than yesterday, though her ankle had not swollen any more than it already had. Not that it would be easy for her to run, if necessary, a thought that disturbed her.

What if she had no choice but to attempt an escape? How would she ever manage to run?

She had no doubt Slayer was on his way to her, though she feared he might have followed directly behind her when she had been taken. She dismissed the thought quickly enough. He had to have heard the men talk about meeting up with a larger troop of warriors. Her husband would have been wise enough to realize he needed help to rescue her. That meant he would not come alone for her. His Gallowglass warriors would be with him. That thought brought her hope and relief.

She had tried to find out what she could while riding with the man yesterday. She learned his name—Borg—from his men calling out to him. She was unsuccessful in learning anything more than his name since any time she spoke, he warned her to hold her tongue.

"He'll never reach you in time," Borg said with a laugh, grabbing her arm and yanking her to her feet. "He and his clan are too busy fighting, defending themselves against the swift and unexpected attack of Halfdan's army of warriors. Slayer will find you too late. That is if he survives." He laughed again.

Fear churned her stomach. Fear for all at Clan Ravinsher and fear that her husband could perish in battle and fear that it left her no choice but to escape and survive and pray that her husband survived as well.

Borg gave her a shove and a sharp pain tore through her ankle causing her to cry out.

"You'll not delay us," Borg ordered and gave her another shove. "Hurry your pace. He waits for us."

Sky was deposited roughly on the horse and Borg mounted behind her.

"We don't have far to go," Borg said.

That worried Sky since it would leave little time for her to escape. She kept alert, trying to think of ways she could get away. Her thoughts were repeatedly interrupted with worry for her husband. He was a superior warrior, and she should not worry. But battle and death played no favorites. He could die like any other warrior on the battlefield.

Her heart felt as if it broke thinking she could lose him and that made her even more determined to survive along with the bairn inside her, for she knew her husband would do the same. He would not give up. He would survive and find her.

Several soulful howls echoed through the woods and the horses grew upset, their riders trying to calm them.

"The wolves followed her," one man said.

"They will see us dead," another said, glancing around nervously.

Another leaned his head back to look at the sky. "That hawk has been following us for some time now."

Sky tilted her head back to see a hawk circling overhead. The hawk probably was hunting and had spotted prey. Or could he be helping someone to find her?

The men continued to express their concern, one saying, "She commands the animals just like her grandmother."

"She'll call them down on us," another cautioned.

"They will get us just like they got him," another cried out.

"And he will see her dead just like her grandmother," Borg called out. "Now shut up and pay heed. We are almost there."

Sky felt the loss. It hurt to hear that she would never get to meet her grandmother and it made her wonder if it would be the same with her mother and father. Were they not alive as well? Was there nothing left of her true family?

It was not long before they entered a small clearing and as soon as she spotted the post planted in the ground, she knew it was meant for her. Once they tied her to it, she would have no chance of escape. But then with six men there and an injured ankle she had little chance of escape anyway. Her only hope was Slayer, but she could help him by giving him more time to reach her.

"Tie her to the post," Borg ordered once he yanked her off his horse.

Sky was glad when only one man approached her. She formed a quick plan and when they reached the post, she jabbed the man so hard in the eye that he screamed out in pain and stumbled. She ran, her ankle screaming in pain. She knew she did not have much time to hide or much time before they found her, but she did not let that stop her. Any extra time she could give her husband to reach her was worth it.

"Get her, you fools!" Borg screamed.

If she kept running, she would be caught easily, so she dashed behind some thick foliage, hunkering down so she could not be seen and watched as the men ran past her. Borg was right in calling them fools, though he should have included himself.

When she could barely see them, she turned and went in the opposite direction, thinking they would discover their mistake soon enough and return. She needed to put more distance between them and more time.

It was difficult to ignore the pain in her ankle and more difficult to keep herself from slowing her pace. She did her best, but she would have to find a spot soon to hide or she would be caught.

She almost cried out in relief when she saw two wolves running toward her in the distance. They would help her, and she hurried toward them only to stop abruptly when they did. When they began to growl, she knew they alerted her to someone nearby.

"Send them away or I will see them dead."

Sky shuddered. She never thought evil could be heard in a voice, but she was wrong. The voice exuded evil in the pleasure that she heard he would get in the deaths of the wolves.

"GO!" Sky called out, frantic the man had no intention of keeping his word, and he didn't.

Arrows sailed through the air and her breath caught briefly until she saw that not one arrow hit its mark. The wolves were safe. She raised her chin, drew her shoulders back and turned to face the man who meant her harm, and an icy chill ran through her.

He was a large and heavy man. His meaty fists looked powerful enough to kill a man with one punch. Old scars marred a face that held no appeal, and his eyes were so dark they appeared soulless.

"You look just like your mother, and I will take great pleasure in seeing you suffer the punishment and death that was due her but that your birth robbed from me."

She felt the sting of another loss and guilt that her mum had lost her life after giving birth to her.

"Chieftain Halfdan," Borg said, nearly breathless as he and his men suddenly appeared.

"You let her get away," Halfdan accused without looking at the man.

Sky saw then that Halfdan was not alone. There were at least a dozen warriors with him.

"We would have found her," Borg said anxiously.

"You let a woman with a limp play you for a fool," Halfdan said, his hand going to rest on the hilt of his dagger in the sheath that hung from the belt at his thick waist.

Sky pressed her arms at her sides to stop herself from shivering, Halfdan's remark sounding as if he condemned Borg.

"We outwitted the Gallowglass and braved the wolves to get her here after Olin failed you," Borg said with a tremor in his voice.

Halfdan drew his dagger from its sheath so fast that no one had a chance to move, and Borg paled and visibly shuddered with relief seeing the dagger land in the chest of the man she had poked in the eye.

"It will be you and your whole troop who die next if you fail me again, Borg," Halfdan said.

"Aye, my chieftain. Aye," Borg said, his face remaining pale.

"Get her tied to the post," Halfdan ordered.

"Will you at least tell me why I am to suffer and die?" Sky asked, hoping to gain time.

"I will tell you the tale so that you know what a worthless woman your mother was and what a dishonorable man your father was and why they deserved their fate."

Halfdan turned away from her and Borg rushed toward her.

"I hear one cry of pain from her, and you will cry out in pain as well. My hands will be the only hands that make her suffer."

Fear churned Sky's stomach. Fear of what she would suffer before her husband arrived and fear that she would lose the tiny bairn inside her that had barely begun to grow. She felt close to tears, but she refused to show him any fear.

She was shoved back against the post and her arms drawn back behind her to hug the post, then her wrists were tied. Another rope went around her waist and her ankles were tied to the post as well. Her body would remain erect no matter what punishment he inflicted on her.

Sky watched Halfdan fist his hands, a glee on his face that turned her stomach. He was going to enjoy this.

Borg made his way cautiously to Halfdan. "She is ready."

Halfdan nodded and without warning threw a punch at Borg that launched the man up into the air, his body impacting the ground hard when he landed. Borg did not move, though blood ran from his mouth.

"A taste of what to expect, but then with you being tied to the post you will remain as you are making it easier for me to deliver blow after blow," Halfdan said. "But first I will tell you about your mother and your father and why they deserved to die."

Sky's heart ached over more loss. Both her parents were gone along with her grandmother. She would never get to know them.

"There was a family in the Wolf clan much revered, the first-born daughters possessing the skill to understand the forest creatures. It was believed that the women possessed this strange skill because they were born with two different colored eyes. Such a skill could benefit a clan and so I arranged for my only son to wed your mother. Your mother, Fawn, refused the proposal, claiming she loved another man and had promised herself to him. Neither I, nor my son, Rainor, could allow such an insult to stand. My son did the honorable thing… he went after your father." Halfdan's face turned red with rage. "Your father killed him, and your mother called the forest animals to feast on my son. There was barely anything left of him by the time I got to him. I swore that day I would revenge my son's death no matter how long it took. Your father and mother fled but I discovered that your mother was with child. I tracked her to Whitehall Abbey. It was Slayer's mother, Lady Candra, who helped deliver the bairn, born dead. She was there when I arrived and showed me Fawn, the lifeless bairn cradled in her arm as they lay in repose. I was furious that your mother would not be made to suffer but glad they both were dead. I only wished it had been at my hands. It was not until years later that I discovered I had been lied to. I was too busy searching for the man your mother loved. Your grandmother died refusing to reveal his name, leaving me no choice but to hunt for him." He shook his head. "She was the bravest and most foolish woman I had ever known."

Sky realized then that love could be as powerful as it could be destructive.

Halfdan snarled with pleasure as he continued. "It took years, but I found out who your father was. I learned he was there when your mother gave birth, and he held her until she took her last breath. He made sure you were sent to a family who would keep you safe and would keep your affliction as quiet as possible. He left and returned when he believed it was safe enough to do so. He joined the Gallowglass so that he could protect you if necessary. I finally found out who he was, and I finally had my revenge. He was a good friend of Slayer's… Clyde."

Sky fought not to shed a tear but one escaped as she recalled the one and only time she had spoken to Clyde, never knowing he was her father. Her heart shattered for her parents and all they had lost.

"I rejoiced the day word reached me of Warrand's impending marriage to a woman with two different colored eyes. I sent someone who knew your mother to see if you resembled her. There is no mistake that you inherited her beauty. I bargained with Bannaty for you, but he had no interest. He insisted the deed was done and that you were perfect for his son that you would not get in his way."

"Why kill Warrand and Lord Bannaty? Why not just abduct me?" Sky asked.

"Revenge. Not only did Bannaty's wife lie to me but Bannaty himself dismissed my offer with a laugh. I had plans of abducting you after that but before I could reach you, your father had sent you away and I did not know where. Then there were the mercenaries who descended on the area to earn the enormous fee a foolish Lowlander was offering for the Murdock sisters. I had to make sure none of them got to you before I did. Olin was well worth the coin I gave him until he took too long to deliver you. Then the Wolf clan interfered, planning to see you kept from harm. I did not want to make myself known since I knew nothing would stop Slayer from coming after me if he ever discovered I was responsible for his brother and father's deaths. And it would not only be him who hunted me. It would be the Gallowglass."

"But he will come after you now for abducting me," Sky said.

Halfdan laughed. "Slayer is a warrior before all else. He fights to defend his clan at this moment with no thought of you. And I was wise enough to hire mercenaries to attack. He will never know it was me."

"He will find out," Sky said, sure her husband had heard the men talking as they rode away from the wolf's den.

"No one can track it back to me. I made sure of that," Halfdan boasted. "You are all that is left for me to revenge my son's death. And I am going to take immense pleasure in making you suffer."

Sky wanted to shut her eyes against what was to come, but hearing how her grandmother had been so brave, she raised her chin and stared directly at Halfdan as he approached her, tightening his fist with each step he took.

A savage roar echoed through the woods. Birds took flight and animals hid as Slayer emerged from the woods in a fierce run, his face twisted with such fury that he appeared like a demon rising from the depths of hell.

More roars filled the air as a bevy of Gallowglass warriors burst out of the woods, completely surrounding Halfdan and his men.

Halfdan ran toward Sky as swords began to clash. She knew what he intended. He might not be able to make her suffer but he could see her dead. Her fear was confirmed when he pulled his dagger from his sheath.

She spotted Fane on the run toward her, heard the wolves growling as they approached from behind her, but she feared none of them would reach her in time. She almost closed her eyes but thoughts of her mother, father, and grandmother's courage kept them open. She was glad she did, or she would have missed seeing her husband sail through the air as he launched himself at Halfdan with such force that he sent them both tumbling to the ground.

Fane rushed to stand in front of Sky, snarling and snapping, ready to tear anyone apart who dared approach her. The wolves protected her from behind, their snarls as vicious as Fane's.

Sky could not take her eyes off her husband, watching as both men scrambled to their feet while the Gallowglass warriors quickly overtook Halfdan's men.

Fury raged on Halfdan's face when he finally stood and saw that defeat was imminent. He hurried to grab the dagger that had been knocked from his hand, then pulled another dagger from its sheath and lunged at Slayer.

Slayer avoided the dagger just in time and managed to slice Halfdan's arm with his own dagger.

It took only a few minutes of watching her husband to realize he toyed with Halfdan like prey did with its catch before killing it. Blood began to stain various areas of Halfdan's shirt, sleeves, chest, and back. His cheek was also bleeding, not that Sky saw the slash, it had been delivered so fast.

"You honestly believe I am going to let you die fast when you had my brother and father killed, and my good friend brutally attacked then made him suffer even more when you twisted your dagger into him? Even worse you were about to torture and kill my wife and the bairn she carries?"

Halfdan roared with anger, spittle flying from his mouth, the news enraging him even more.

"You are going to die slowly and then I'm going to deliver the same finishing blow to you that you did to Clyde," Slayer said.

Sky saw no glee or pleasure on her husband's face. He appeared more resolved that it was his duty, and he would not flinch from it. And he did not. She turned her head unable to watch as Slayer sliced and jabbed Halfdan with his daggers repeatedly until the man collapsed to his knees, his daggers falling from his hands.

Slayer grabbed a clump of his hair to tilt his head back and to keep him from falling over. "You can thank my wife for your suffering going faster than I would have preferred since I want to get her home so she may rest and recover. And where we will await the birth of our first of many bairns. You should also know before I gut you and slice your throat as you did to Clyde that since Clan Scyling is without a leader, I intend to claim it for my own. Clan Scyling will be no more."

Halfdan struggled to speak. "My clan will never accept you."

"Your clan will have no choice." He shoved Halfdan to the ground and placed his booted foot to his throat. "You die along with your clan's name today never to be remembered and knowing that the blood of your enemy will now rule over your land."

Halfdan's screams brought tears to Sky's eyes. They were shed for Clyde, her da, realizing what he had suffered in his final moments. She closed her eyes in silent prayer for her da.

"What is wrong? Are you in pain? Did he harm you?" Slayer asked, his hand capturing her chin with a light squeeze.

She tried to smile but her heart was too heavy.

Slayer grew alarmed seeing her struggle to smile. Even at the worst moments she had managed a tender smile. "What is it? Tell me."

With all there was to say to him at this moment, she found herself saying, "I miss your arms around me."

Slayer made quick work of the ropes that bound her, feeling the same. It may have been barely a sunrise since he had held her, but that was too long for him.

Sky collapsed in his arms, her limbs somewhat numb from being constrained and sighed softly when he lifted her into his arms. He walked over to a large oak and sat beneath it, keeping her snug against him as he settled her in his lap.

Fane did not waste any time parking himself next to them, his eyes on the wolves in the distance.

She kept her head rested on his chest, his steady heartbeat and the strength in which he held her reassuring, but it was the words of love he whispered near her ear that made her feel the safest she had ever felt.

She raised her head to rest her brow against his. "I am good now that I am in your arms, wrapped in your love."

"And in my arms is where you will forever remain along with my love for you that is neverending."

"It is exactly where I want to be," Sky said, and went to kiss him when a sudden pain made her wince.

"You need to rest," he ordered, annoyed that he had been so anxious to get her in his arms that he had not considered her injuries.

"Aye, I do, and after I rest, I need you."

"After you have an extended rest and not before then," Slayer said and kissed her in a way that laid claim to her so that anyone who looked upon them had no doubt that she belonged to him.

"I want to go home, husband," she said, "and tell you what Halfdan told me."

"I heard part of it as I got close."

"Then you know Clyde is my da?" She got teary-eyed again thinking about it.

Slayer did not stop his surprise from showing. "That I did not hear, but I want to know all about it."

"I am eager to share the news with you, but what did you hear?"

"I heard him admit he was responsible for my brother and father's death, though I did not understand what he said about my mom."

"Take me home, husband, and I will explain everything to you."

"There is something you should know before we arrive home," Slayer said, his brow narrowing.

Sky grew anxious. "What is wrong? Did the clan lose many in the attack?"

"None in the clan was lost. I suspected what Halfdan might have planned, and I had troops waiting. They never reached the clan. I had the attack horn sounded, knowing he would have men nearby and once they heard it, they would run and tell Halfdan."

"Then what must you tell me?"

"Something much worse," he said with a scowl. "Your sister Leora is at the keep."