Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

D onald, Killian, and Audor were already on their horses in the courtyard when Benedict joined them. A huge crowd of soldiers were also mounted on their horses and ready for battle, lined up as far back as the eye could see.

"Did ye get the map? he demanded.

Killian dug into his tunic and pulled out a piece of parchment. Leaning down to show Benedict, he said, "From what I could get out o' her, the place is about an hour away."

Benedict examined the crude drawing, with its patches of trees, and hills depicted as small raised lines.

"Dae we ken how many are there?" he asked.

It was Audor who replied this time. "She says she only saw six or seven men, but we ken there are more than that on our lands. Sure, was it nae six men who ye battled that day o' the attack?"

"We killed all but two o' them," Killian said.

Audor looked thoughtful. "I still cannae imagine that's all there is. But we have more than two hundred soldiers with us. They'll be nae match fer us."

By this time, Benedict had mounted his horse. "Good. Then let's get moving. God only kens what he's doing tae her," Benedict spat.

Audor gave him a pained glance, and then led the charge out of the castle gates. Benedict, Donald and Killian followed, and the sound of more than eight hundred hooves on the soft ground thundering behind, although Benedict hardly noticed. He was far too angry. In fact, the rage had not left him since the maid's confession.

He understood that Audor wanted to do things right, but that traitorous woman had led Keith directly to Evelyn. Granted, the fact she was being blackmailed with the life of her son gave her some leeway, and yet, Benedict's rage was so much, he struggled to care. Now, he needed someone to vent his anger upon, and when he got his hands on Laird Keith, he would tear the man from limb to limb.

He had thwarted the laird's attempt once before. That day, he had been filled with rage at what could have happened to Evelyn. Now the laird had succeeded, Benedict could hardly contain himself. Laird Keith had made a colossal mistake. A mistake he would soon find himself regretting.

But as the entourage continued further over the glens, his mind began to taunt him. He should never have left her. He should have put a guard at her door, not that such a thing would have been much use, given they had used the secret tunnel. He should have stayed with her.

On her wedding day? How were ye tae ken this would happen? This isnae yer fault.

But Benedict could not accept that.

This is me fault. I promised her I would protect her.

On and on his thoughts went, with no relief. He had thought, being in the castle, that she was safe. He had imagined they were all safe. Little did he know the lengths Keith and his men would go to, to get what he wanted.

After riding for a half hour, Killian, wielding the map in his hands, yelled over to Audor. "We are closing in."

Audor raised his hand and slowed his horse. As the signal was noted by those behind him, the huge gathering of soldiers slowed, and came to a final stop.

Killian handed over the map for Audor to see. "We're here," Killian said, pointing at it.

Audor then took several minutes to examine it intently. Once he seemed satisfied with his assessment, he handed the map back to Killian. Looking at Benedict, Killian and Donald, he said, "We ride in quietly from here." Looking directly at Killian, he continued, "Tell yer men tae keep their eyes peeled. We cannae let the laird ken we're coming. I cannae risk what he might dae."

Audor threw a pained glance toward his brother, but Benedict was too dead set in his rage to care. He was furious at himself, furious at Laird Keith, furious at the whole damned situation.

They continued on slowly, as Audor instructed, and fifteen minutes later, Benedict spotted the roof of a house through the trees.

He pointed towards it. "That has tae be it," he said to Audor, who now rode beside him.

Again, Audor lifted his hand to halt the men.

Waving Killian forward, he said, "We've found the house." And pointing it out to Killian, he continued. "We cannae ken how many o' Laird Keith's men are here, but it certainly isnae a great number. Even if it is twenty, we outnumber them twenty to one."

"And if it's more?" Donald said warily.

Audor gave the laird a steady look. "Me men are the best warriors in a hundred-mile radius, Donald. Believe me, we're going tae get Evelyn back."

Donald nodded, though his expression was more worry than certainty.

Audor then spoke once more to Killian. "Send three groups tae surround the house. Tell them that if they come upon Clan Keith's men, they dinnae hesitate. Kill them where they stand. The laird and his men shouldnae be on this land. They ken the consequences. I want an end tae this."

"Good," Killian growled, before turning back to address the troops behind them.

"I want Keith," Donald spat. "Dae ye hear? I want him. The man murdered me wife, and…" he hesitated. "And he might well have done the same tae me daughter," the man croaked. "He's mine."

Audor and Benedict shared a look, before turning their attention back to Donald. While Benedict would have loved to be the man to slaughter the laird, he could hardly compare his wounds to Donald's. The man had the right and deserved the chance to avenge the death of his wife. He had suffered greatly since her demise. It was only right that Laird Keith die by Donald's sword.

"Very well," Audor said. "So be it."

"Benedict?" Donald growled, looking directly at him.

Benedict nodded. "Aye, Donald. I hear ye. But if ye lose yer chance, and I get mine, I'm taking it."

Donald nodded. "That's fair. But rest assured. I willnae."

They watched Killian and most of the soldiers split off into three groups, heading to surround the house on all four sides. A group of about twenty soldiers remained with Audor and the group, and moving down the hill, they approached the trees that surrounded the house.

At the tree line, they dismounted and continued on foot. All with their swords drawn, ready to smite any man that they might meet.

After creeping through the wooded area for nearly ten minutes, and not coming upon any of Clan Keith's men, the house came into view.

Silently, Audor ordered the soldiers to halt, while he moved a little closer to get a better look. When he returned not a minute later, he whispered, "I can only see two men on guard at the front. I imagine there are likely several more inside. The men on guard will be an easy and silent kill. It's those inside I worry about."

"Let me deal with them," Benedict growled.

"We'll all deal with them," Audor replied. "This battle is a joint venture, Benedict. Everyone here wants the laird dead and Evelyn returned tae us."

"Right, let's go," Benedict said, waving the soldiers forward.

Benedict slipped through the trees and moved around the right-hand side of the house followed by four soldiers. The idea was not to alert Laird Keith of their presence. They didn't want the laird to react by killing Evelyn before they had chance to get to her.

The guard paced back and forth in front of the house, and as he turned to start pacing the other way, Benedict launched out of the trees, grabbed the man by his mouth, pulled his neck back, and brought his huge sword across the soft flesh of his throat. The man went down with hardly a sound, and looking up, Benedict watched as Audor used the exact same move on the other one.

Killian and the other soldiers were bound to be somewhere close, and as though thinking about him had conjured some connection, Benedict heard the whistling sound Killian used to alert them of his presence.

"We're good tae enter," Benedict said to Audor and Donald when the three met at the front door.

Audor turned to the men with them.

"Remain here and ensure naeone, and I mean naeone, gets through this door."

The men nodded, and forming a wall, they stood facing out into the trees, ready for whatever might come their way.

Benedict tried the handle of the front door and was surprised that it gave way under his touch. It creaked slightly as he pushed it open, but he ventured forward anyway.

Immediately, a guard stepped out of a room to his right, and without thinking about it, Benedict lifted his sword before the guard had a chance to reach his. He struck the guard across his body, slicing into his clothing and through to his flesh with ease.

Clearly, the other guards heard the ruckus, and two others suddenly appeared. Audor and Benedict battled them side by side, and soon enough, three of Laird Keith's men lay dead at their feet.

Without a word, Audor pointed through the house. He touched his ear, silently relaying that he had heard voices. Benedict and Donald nodded, and followed him down the narrow corridor.

Just as Audor was about to open the door, the sound of battle came from outside. There was a great roar of many voices. Far more than the few men they had left to guard the house. Clearly, the rest of the army had found Keith's men and were taking care of them.

With another nod to Donald, Audor grabbed the door handle, and flung the door open.

Evidently, they had not been quiet enough, for as the men piled into the room, they were met with Laird Keith, standing against the far wall with a dirk at Evelyn's throat. Benedict gasped, and yet, while this was hardly an ideal situation, he was relieved to see her alive. A quick scan of her body told him that, from what he could see, she remained unharmed. They had managed to get there in time.

"Stay back or I'll slit her throat," Alisdair spat.

"Ye're nae leaving this house with Evelyn, Alisdair," Audor growled. "Look at the situation. Ye're outnumbered three tae one."

"And ye think I'm going tae just release her and let ye kill me," the laird barked. "Dae ye think I'm stupid?"

"Listen," Audor said, nodding to the window. "Yer men are being slaughtered. Me army is with me, and they are fierce and many. There's nay escape."

"Just let her go," Donald bellowed.

"Ye only have yersel' tae blame fer this, Donald," Alisdair spat back. "This is all yer own doing."

Benedict watched Alisdair jerking about as he spoke, and then he noticed a small trickle of blood running down Evelyn's neck. He was pressing the dirk against her so forcefully, he had already cut her.

The situation was a stalemate. They couldn't approach for fear he would kill her, and he, not being a fool, would not let his hostage go, for he knew what would happen to him if he did.

Benedict caught Evelyn's eyes as she gazed at him with a terrified expression. He wanted to tell her it would be all right, but instead, an idea came to him.

Looking at her intently, he moved his eyes swiftly down to the ground several times. At first, she seemed confused, but then, he saw the realization on her face. Imperceptibly, she nodded. And then, a second later, she twisted her neck, and letting her knees fold beneath her, she collapsed onto the floor.

Alisdair suddenly looked confused, but Donald wasted no time. Seeing his opportunity, he launched forward. Alisdair did not have time to unsheathe his sword, and yet, that didn't stop him from battling back.

At that moment, Killian burst through the door, but Audor held him back. They were giving Donald what he wanted, but Benedict still remained ready to strike if the opportunity arose. Evelyn remained on the floor, trapped behind Alisdair and her father battling in such a small space. He wanted so badly to get to her, but he would just have to bide his time.

Twisting around the room, Alisdair thrust his dagger, and caught Donald in his side, the dirk plunging into the flesh.

"Argh," Donald cried out, but recovering, he punched Alisdair hard, knocking him off his feet. The man stumbled and tumbled to the floor. A second later, Donald towered above him. Raising his sword, he screamed, "This is for Mary."

And then he plunged the sword down into Alisdair's heart, killing the man instantly.

Staggering towards Evelyn, Donald grabbed his daughter and hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, me dear. I'm so sorry I didnae protect ye."

Donald then stumbled back against the wall, and sliding down it, collapsed as blood gushed from his side.

"Faither!" Evelyn screamed.

Immediately, Killian and Audor were at Donald's side, while Benedict ran to Evelyn, grabbing her and holding her close to him, even as she continued to wail.

"It'll be all right, Evelyn. It'll be all right."

In truth, and by the amount of blood he saw trickling from Donald's wound, he had no idea if it would be all right. And yet, he had no other words. Wrapping her in his arms and feeling her safely in his embrace, relief flooded through his body.

She was alive.

She was safe.

She would never be taken from him again.

He would never allow it.