Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

W eary from the long hours of meetings, Liam bounded up the stairs to Ivy’s chamber, eager to see her and tell her their plans for the trap in detail.

“Ivy, I—” he began as he opened the door and stepped inside, expecting to see her by the fire waiting for him. But the fire was almost out, and the chamber was empty. Immediately, a sense of dread came over him. He ran to the wardrobe and opened it. Her cloak was gone, her riding boots too.

So, she’s gone outside. But why? And where? She should ken better than tae take any chances at this time, he thought, panic starting to set in. He checked his own room, but it was empty too. He ran upstairs to the infirmary and burst in through door.

Effie looked up from the young girl she was treating to see who it was. “Liam,” she exclaimed with surprise, “whatever’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry tae barge in, Effie, but have ye seen Ivy anywhere?” he asked hurriedly.

She shook her head, her expression turning to one of concern. “Nay, I havenae see her all day. Is she—” she began, but Liam had already bolted. He ran down the stairs and began looking in every room he passed, the chapel, the library, the reception rooms and parlors where guests were welcomed. She was nowhere to be seen.

With his heart pounding in his chest, he ran to Knox’s study, knowing the laird had been heading back there with Magnus after the meetings. He did not wait to knock but simply ran inside. His two friends were sitting by the fire talking and they both looked up when he barged in and stood, looking at them in agitation. Both men jumped out of their seats and rushed over to him.

“What is it, Liam, what’s happened?” Knox asked worriedly.

“’Tis Ivy. I cannae find her anywhere in the castle, and she’s taken her cloak and boots. I think she’s gone out somewhere. I’m scared somethin’s happened tae her, Knox. I need help searchin’ fer her.”

“All right,” Knox said without hesitation. “Magnus, go and gather the men out front. We’ll organize search parties right away,” he commanded.

“Aye, straightway,” Magnus agreed and hurried out.

“Did ye check the stables?” Knox asked Liam.

“Nae yet,” he admitted.

“Let’s go there now and see if she’s taken a horse.” Knox reached for his coat and shrugged it on as they hurried out of the door and headed for the stables at a sprint.

As they ran over to the stables, Liam could not help but look up at the baleful red moon hanging low in the sky above them. Its bloody color and the red tinge covering everything around them seemed like a portent of doom, and he shivered with fear for Ivy under its baleful eye.

They arrived at the stables a few minutes later and rushed inside.

“Has Lady Ivy taken out her horse?” Liam demanded of the grooms.

“Aye, she took her mare about an hour or so ago,” one of the lads answered, looking up from polishing a saddle.

“Was she alone?”

“Nay, she was with that Evander feller. They said somethin’ about goin’ tae the crossroads tae check on somethin’,” the groom informed them.

“Jaysus!” Liam cried in torment. “He’s abducted her, and he’s takin’ her back tae her brother and Gael!”

“We cannae be sure about that until we find them,” Knox tried to reassure him, but it did no good. He was convinced of it.

“Saddle our horses immediately and meet us in the yard in front of the keep,” Knox ordered the groom. “There’s nae a moment tae waste.”

“Aye, melaird” The groom sprang into action, while Liam and Knox ran to the front courtyard, where a small army of armed guards were gathering around Magnus, who was barking orders.

Knox quickly explained to his right-hand man what they had found out from the groom, that Ivy had left earlier with Evander, and that they were probably heading for the crossroads.

“What on earth fer?” Magnus exclaimed. “He never told us that.”

“He’s taken her! I kent he wasnae tae be trusted,” Liam growled, terrified for Ivy’s safety. “He’s been workin’ fer MacAlister and Gael all along, the double-crossing swine! I should never have left her alone with him.” He was in an agony of fear and fury, at himself for failing to protect her from her own trusting nature. He was burning to go after Evander before anything bad happened to Ivy.

The laird gave orders for the ground and castle to be thoroughly searched then said to Liam, “We’ll take the rest of the men with us tae search the route tae the crossroads.”

“Aye, but can we hurry? There’s a chance of catchin’ up tae them.”

“If they left over an hour ago, there’s nae much chance of that, me friend,” Knox told him as they hurried over to their horses. “But we can try.”

Within minutes, he and Liam were astride their horses, at the head of around fifteen guards, all of them galloping out toward the woods, to search the route they had taken earlier. The eerie red light of the blood moon surrounded them, a harbinger of disaster to come, Liam was certain.

When they reached the tree line, Knox halted the party and split the men into pairs and threes. “Search the whole area, look fer any signs of Lady Ivy. Report back tae us at once if ye find anythin’.” He looked at Liam. “We’ll take the main track toward the crossroads.”

They rode into the woods and split up. Liam and Knox took the main track, following it until they came to the place where it split into two. Liam slid from his saddle and began examining the ground for signs of recent passing. Knox did the same. “There are nae fresh hoof marks this way,” he called out to Liam.

Liam was crouched down, searching the ground near the other trackway, the one bearing to the left. Suddenly, he saw a series of hoof marks that appeared much fresher than the others. “If ’tis them, then they went this way,” he said. Knox brought the horses over and waited as Liam continued following the tracks. They walked slowly along the left-hand track, looking for breaks in the surrounding foliage.

As Liam looked ahead down the path, he saw something on the ground that glinted unnaturally in the strange red moonlight. When he saw what it was, his heart stopped. He picked it up and stared at it. “’Tis Ivy’s ring,” he said, fresh terror washing through him. “She must have left it fer us tae find.”

Knox came to look. “The ring with the McAlister seal on it. Maybe she’s tryin’ tae tell us that’s where she’s bein’ taken, tae her braither’s castle.”

“I’m goin’ after them,” Liam declared at once, going to mount this horse. But Knox stopped him, laying a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“Nay, Liam, there’s nae point in tryin’ tae save her alone. Ye’ll only get yersel’ killed, and then she’ll be forced tae wed Gael anyway. Ye dinnae want that, eh? We need tae go back tae the castle and plan a rescue mission properly. ’Tis time tae put all that trainin’ ye’ve been doin’ with the men tae good use. This is our chance tae save Ivy and end this feud fer good. We’ll ride out as soon as we can, I promise ye.”

Liam hated the thought of having to wait to rescue Ivy, but at the same time, he knew Knox was right. Without a sufficient force, it would be suicide to try to get her back on his own. He would likely end up dead.

“All right,” he agreed reluctantly.

“Good. Let’s go then,” Knox said. They remounted and turned their horses back the way they had come, summoning the searching men as they went, and then heading home at a gallop to call off the search and plan their mission.

Ivy lay bound hand and foot on the bed in her old chambers, fearful about what Carson had planned for her, while also silently berating herself for getting herself in such a situation. She thought of Evander’s betrayal and hot fury boiled up inside her. How could I have been such a trustin’ fool? Liam was right all along! I should have trusted him instead! If Liam daesnae find me ring and work out what’s happened tae me in time, if he cannae convince Knox tae help him save me, then I’ll be wed tae Gael fer sure this time.

She struggled against her bonds but they were simply too tight for her to loosen them even a little. Suddenly, she heard heavy steps coming along the hallway outside her door. Recognizing them instantly, she froze.

The door opened, and her brother came in. He looked bigger and more fearsome than ever. He came and loomed over her with an intimidating grin on his dark features, but she refused to let him see how scared she was.

“Look what the cat’s dragged in,” she said scathingly, staring up at him with all the hate she could muster. She noticed her was carrying a dress over his arm, a gaudy pink gown with lots of frills.

“I see ye’ve nae lost yer usual sharp tongue, sister dear. But remember, I’m the cat, and ye’re the mouse in this game,” Carson replied in a deep, harsh voice. Its threatening edge sent chills up her spine.

“Damn ye, Carson, I hope ye rot in hell fer this,” she spat.

“Maybe, I will.” He shrugged. “More likely I’ll just get richer and more powerful after ye’ve married Gael. After that, our forces will unite, and we’ll hit yer friend Stewart with enough force tae wipe him out, along with this other feller ye’ve taken a shine too. What’s his name, Liam MacTavish, is it?”

She said nothing, refusing to implicate Liam lest he become more of a target.

“Aye, I ken all about him, ye wee hussy. I’m gonnae enjoy killin’ him in front of ye. By the way, ye’d best still be a maid, or it’ll be the worse fer ye when Gael finds out,” Carson warned her. “He’ll nae be happy if he’s nae the first. In fact, ye’ll probably nae survive yer weddin’ night.” He laughed hollowly. “I cannae see what he sees in ye, weak and skinny as ye are. Ye’re nae a proper woman, we both ken that.”

Ivy remained silent, gripped by fear. She knew that once she was officially Gael’s wife, he could do anything to her that he wished. And if he found out she was no longer a virgin, she imagined he would likely kill her for it.

“Speakin’ of weddin’s,” Carson went on sarcastically, “I ken how excited ye must be about yer own. I’ve brought ye a wee gift.” He flung the gown at her. “There’s yer weddin’ dress.”

She flinched when he reached for his dirk, but then she realized he was going to cut the ropes binding her and lay still and let him do it.

As soon as she was free, she flew at his face, scratching and kicking and punching him. He grabbed her flailing wrists and held them above her head, laughing as she struggled to kick him. “I ken the truth about ye now, Carson. Evander told me everythin’ about how ye plotted tae murder Ma and Da. Ye evil bastard. What sort of a monster daes somethin’ like that?” she spat at him, fuming.

“Ach, spare me. They were old and useless. Faither was nae makin’ the right decisions fer the clan. I kent I could dae better. They had tae go. I had tae let ye live, because I kent ye’d come in useful in the end. Ye owe me after all the trouble ye’ve given me,” he told her menacingly, tightening his hold on her wrists. She winced with pain.

“I’ll make sure ye dinnae get away with it, ye murderer,” she hissed. “I’ll make sure ye get what ye deserve.”

He suddenly let go of her, and she dropped to the floor, banging her knees painfully.

He laughed. “Ye and whose army? Ye still have delusions about bein ’a warrior, I see. Gael will soon knock that out of ye.”

“I’ll never wed him, whatever ye dae tae me!”

“Dinnae try me patience any longer, ye wee whore. Ye have an hour tae get intae that dress and get ready before the ceremony starts in the great hall. I’ll send someone tae fetch ye, and dinnae even think of trying tae escape. The punishment will be severe, and it’ll be a waste of time. There’s guards stationed everywhere.” He left the chamber, locking the door behind him.

Ivy knew there was no other way out of the chamber. She was high up on the third floor of the tower. She pulled herself up from the floor and went to sit on the bed. She rubbed her knees then looked at the dress with disgust.

“I swear, I’m never puttin’ that thing on, and I’m never gonnae wed Gael Hamilton,” she told the walls. But she knew she would be fetched at the appointed time and taken down to the hall for the ceremony, just as Carson had told her. “I’ll fight tae the death if I havetae.”

In fact, a plan was already forming in her mind, a way to show Carson, Gael, and everyone else she was no pathetic victim to be used and abused by them. She was a warrior, proud to stand up for herself and fight for the people of her clan, to free them all from the heavy yoke they had to bear under Carson’s corrupt rule.

She went over to her wardrobe and opened it at the section where she had always stored her fighting gear. Hurriedly, she began to put it on, intending to make a fine show when she presented herself for her wedding in an hour’s time. She was ready at last to embrace who she really was, not simply a pawn in her brother’s games, but a force to be reckoned with. The only thing she lacked was her sword.