Chapter 10

When Idalia pulled her hand away she found it wet with blood. The wound in his shoulder was still bleeding. If they did not get it to stop, Bran would not be able to climb out of the room and down the tree. Idalia was uncertain whether he would be able to do it even if they did. He had been bleeding for hours. It was a small bleed, but it was enough to weaken any person. "Call them over to the bed," Idalia whispered as low as she could and still have him hear her.

Bran cleared his throat. "Water," he demanded hoarsely.

August's men turned and looked at him. "Go ahead," the one who seemed to be in charge said to the other. One of them moved towards the door and left the room, presumably in search of the requested water. That dropped the numbers down to one. Idalia smiled at Bran's use of tactics to reduce the risk.

The remaining man walked over to where Bran was on the bed and moved to sit him up. Idalia took advantage of the moment and launched herself through the window and onto the man her blade raised. She landed on his back, the knife glancing off of his shoulder and dropping to the floor. The man growled in pain and flung her off of his back. Idalia fell to the floor with bruising force. Before the man had a chance to do anything else, Bran had scooped up the fallen knife cut loose the bindings on his feet and struck out, bringing the hilt of the knife down hard upon the man's head. The man fell to his knees. Another hard blow and he was unconscious.

"We must hurry. The other one could be back any moment," Idalia scampered to her feet.

"We cannae have him alerting the others. I will stay and ambush him upon his return. Perhaps it will buy us the night."

"Unless he returns with the others."

Bran nodded at this. "It is possible."

"Please, Bran. We need to flee, and quickly."

Bran shook his head. "Nae, I will deal with the men and will join ye after. Go," he instructed her, motioning his head toward the window. "Ye should nae have returned for me."

"I could not leave you behind. I saw what they did to you, dragging you along behind their horses." She moved toward him to look at his wound, but he shook his head. "Go, I will find ye when I am done."

Frustrated at his stubbornness but knowing that if she stayed she would ruin any chance they had of escape, she turned and climbed back out of the window. Bran closed the shutters behind her. Idalia climbed back down the tree to her waiting horse below. She stood beneath the tree, waiting and listening. A loud thudding sound came from the room above, followed by a muffled shout. Idalia's heart raced in her chest as she waited to see who emerged the victor. God protect him.

* * *

Bran waited with bated breath behind the door. He had moved the unconscious man onto the bed to take his place. The room was dim enough with the body under the blankets that no one would be able to tell the difference right away. It would give him just enough time to surprise the returning man. When the door swung open, Bran waited until the man entered and closed the door, then he attacked. Thankfully, he had returned alone. The man cried out in surprise, but Bran stifled the cry, choking the air from the man's lungs.

Placing a piece of furniture in front of the door, Bran moved over to the window and opened the shutters. Peering out into the night below, he could make out the vague shadowy forms of Idalia and her brown mare. "Bran?," she whispered up to him in question.

"Aye, lass, it is I."

Idalia gave an audible sigh of relief. "Are you able to climb down with your wounded shoulder?"

"Aye, I will be down in a moment." Bran turned back to the room and used the ties that had bound him to bind the two men. He gathered their weapons and the weapons they had taken from him. Turning back to the window, he climbed out onto the largest branch, then descended the trunk to Idalia's waiting form. He leapt the rest of the way to the ground. "Are ye well, lass?"

Idalia nodded. "I am."

"Ye hit the floor hard."

"It is naught but a bruise," she reassured him. "We need to tend to your shoulder."

He shook his head. "I will heal in time. We need tae leave this place with all haste. I must retrieve my horse, but I dinnae ken if it is under guard or nae."

"The lad who works in the kitchen said that his brother is in the stables. He will not know anything about August Raymond's men taking you as their captive unless he was warned by them."

Bran shook his head. "I did nae hear any such warning, but that does nae mean they did nae return tae the stables after securing me in the room."

"How did the innkeeper not question them bringing in a bound man?"

"He did question it, but they told him I was wanted by the magistrate for poaching." The irony of it was not lost on either of them.

"Where are the other men?""Drinking in the tavern. How did ye ken what room I was in?"

"The kitchen lad told me. I went around to the back door and spoke with him. I told him I was your sister."

Bran nodded in approval. "Cunning. Perhaps ye could use the same for his brother?"

"I could," she agreed.

"Gaining information is different from taking a horse," he warned.

Idalia nodded her head. "But I must try."

"Proceed with care, lass. The other men could emerge at any moment."

"I will," she promised. Taking her horse's reins, she moved around the side of the inn, with Bran close behind.

He stayed within sight of her until she disappeared into the stables. Bran sneaked around to the back, to the small door there, and pressed his ear to the wood. He could make out the muffled sounds of horses moving about and munching on hay. There was a soft murmur of human voices, but he could not make out the words. The fact there were no sounds of struggle or shouts of protest was only somewhat reassuring.

Moments later, Idalia emerged with his horse, wearing a huge smile. Bran's heart thundered in his chest at the sight. "How did ye convince the stable lad to let ye have my horse?"

"His brother had already mentioned me to him. There is something to be said for a sweet smile and a kind word."

"Ye caught his eye," Bran noted with understanding. He could not blame the lad for being interested in her. She was devastatingly beautiful, especially when she smiled. "Let us leave before he seeks ye out further or August's men discover I am gone."

Idalia nodded and they both mounted their horses. They rode through the night as quickly as the darkness would allow. Bran's shoulder was throbbing painfully. There had been no time to tend to his wounds and his body was paying the price. He gritted his teeth and did not let a sign of his discomfort show.

He did not want to put Idalia at risk of capture by their stopping. They had to use the night to their utmost advantage. As long as August's men believed he was still in the room at the inn, they would be safe. The moment they realized he was gone, Bran and Idalia would be hunted down like vermin.

I will nae be responsible for her death. I will take her tae Strathnaver, where she will be protected. I only pray I will be able tae find the help I will need tae free Mahala from August's grasp without bringing her or anyone else I care about tae harm.

* * *

Idalia rode beside Bran, her heart racing. They would never put enough distance between themselves and August's men to suit her. She wished she could just close her eyes and instantly be transported to her family's side. Bran needed medical care as soon as they could manage it. She prayed he did not bleed out passing out before they were able to reach Tor's stronghold.

They rode all through the night. As they approached a small fishing village along the coast, Idalia's borrowed mare stumbled. "Bran," she cried out as she came off the back of her horse. In one swift motion, Bran used his good arm to scoop her up and onto his own horse before she could hit the ground. "Thank you," she breathed, pressed firmly against his muscular torso. "The mare?" she asked, her eyes turning to take in the damage. The mare was limping, her hoof having gotten caught on a protruding root.

"She will nae be able tae take ye further. I will need tae arrange for her care and once she is healed have her returned tae her owner. Hopefully, someone in the village will be able tae aid us in the matter."

"Do you believe it to be safe?"

"We dinnae have a choice."

Idalia nodded. She felt sorry for the mare. "How will we get to Strathnaver? Your horse will be slowed with the two of us on it."

"We will hire a boat if we must." Bran dismounted his horse and went to examine the injured mare. He ran his hand down over her leg. "It is nae broken."

"That is good."

"She will nae be able tae continue on, but she will be fine."