Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

K endrick paced up and down his chambers in agony, thinking about Sophia. His nerves had made it difficult for him to ride, sleep, or even eat. How could he enjoy the sweetness of life while shewas being tortured by the barbarous Laird Munro?

He had drawn the curtains to prevent the last rays of sunlight from entering his window. He looked down at his father's brooch in his hand but turned away from it. Even that was no longer a source of solace for him.

Kendrick rushed over to the door as someone swung it open.

"Milaird," Angus announced. "Laird Munro has sent a reply!"

Kendrick braced himself for whatever evil the letter contained, for Laird Munro was clever when it came to his cruelty. Kendrick had taught himself not to expect anything other than the worst from the man. "What did he say?"

Angus opened the envelope and revealed the letter. He narrowed his eyes to read it. "We meet tomorrow; Bring only ten of yer men, and if ye try anything foolish, the lass will die before ye reach her."

"The bastard is threatening me." Kendrick bit his lip and turned away with a huff. "Send another one, Angus. Tell him, we'll meet tomorrow but if Sophia is hurt in any way, I will nae only make his head roll, I will torture him day and night till he begs for death. Ach, but I will nae give him the death he'll plead for so quickly."

Angus' mouth was agape as he stared at Kendrick. It was as if he didn't know whether the Laird spoke truthfully of his intentions.

"Send the letter just as I've said," Kendrick reiterated as he noticed Angus' confusion. "Before ye go, tell me—how is yer wife?"

"She managed to sleep after she was given something from your healer."

"Did she have something to eat?"

"Aye, she did."

"Good. Send the letter now with the fastest horse and rider."

Angus bowed and walked toward the door, but before he could leave, Reed barged in with Logan behind him.

Kendrick gave Logan a cold, warning stare as he walked inside, a twisted aching in his heart. His uncle's presence was too much to bear at a time like this. Still, he needed to swallow his ire for Sophia's sake.

"Milaird," Reed greeted as he edged closer to Kendrick. "I heard a reply came."

"Aye."

"What did he say?" Reed asked, lowering onto Kendrick's bed. "When do ye meet with him?"

"He wants me to be on his lands as soon as the sun rises tomorrow."

"That sly pig," Reed cursed. "I think he suspects something."

"Tis possible he does. It would be wrong for us to underestimate him. Aye, he's a coward, but he is a sly man as ye said."

"What do we do now?" Reed pressed further.

"We leave as soon as the sun rises. There is nae other option." He held his head in frustration. "If we dinnae, he'll only use Sophia to get to me."

"What if it's a trap? Surely, he will nae take it lightly if ye bring yer warriors with ye," Logan interjected, his voice timid as he addressed his nephew. "Ye've got to make a decision that'll nae put ye at risk, milaird."

"He already made it clear in his letter. We'll have to find a way to prepare ourselves for whatever it is he is orchestrating. I ken he'll nae just let us leave with Sophia. He'll more likely want to see his sword buried in my chest."

"Must ye go yerself?" Logan continued. "What if ye dinnae return, but time passes? Laird Munro can hold ye hostage, and if ye eventually return, the council may have given someone else the title of Laird."

"Is that all that matters to ye?" Kendrick asked, irritated. "A lass who did naething wrong may lose her life! A lass I love! Why would the role of chieftain matter more than her life?"

Logan directed his gaze towards the window. Maybe he had nothing more to argue about. Maybe he understood Kendrick was right.

"How many men are we taking with us?" Reed asked. "I can leave first with a few men—"

"Only ten men, and ye will nae be one of them."

"Why?"

"I told ye before, Reed. Ye'll stay behind. I need someone in the keep in case something goes wrong."

"I must come with ye, milaird," Reed firmly stated. "Ye can leave Logan in charge of the castle, but I will nae let ye go into enemy lands alone."

Kendrick glanced at Logan who simply avoided his gaze. "I will nae leave him in charge of anything, Reed. He nae longer has my trust."

"There's nae one ye can trust more than Logan to handle things till we return—"

"He's right, Reed," Logan interrupted with such a sad voice that it almost moved Kendrick to forgiveness. "I dinnae even deserve to be here. I wronged our Laird very badly."

"I dinnae ken what ye did to warrant Kendrick's anger, sir, but ye can pay for yer sins later. He needs someone here so he can be at peace when he goes to save Sophia."

Reed was right; no one he could put his trust in more than his uncle, who had always been there for them. However, this was the same uncle who had strained his relationship with his father and murdered his mother.

Whatever happened, all he cared about was getting Sophia back safely. To do so, he needed to put his emotions aside for the time being.

"Logan." He stared at his uncle intently. "I'll trust my castle and people to ye, but dinnae get the wrong idea. I dinnae have forgiveness to offer ye, and things will nae return the way they were before."

Logan bowed; he had never bowed to Kendrick before. Not since the day Kendrick was crowned as chieftain of the MacNeil clan after his father's death. It was clear that whatever relationship they had as uncle and nephew, whatever fondness they had as surrogate father and son , had vanished. They were but a laird and clansman now.

"Reed." Kendrick crossed his arms over his chest. "Ye'll nae come to meet Laird Munro with me. Ye'll wait at the woods at the border with some other soldiers. Only myself and ten men will first go into the Munro lands."

"How many soldiers will I be with?"

"From what I ken of them, Munro has about one-hundred-and-fifty men in his army as the others are captives of the Mackenzies." He paused to think then continued. "We'll take 70 of our warriors. Prepare them—ye'll leave with them before sunset."

"Aye," Reed inclined as he got himself to his feet. "Which of yer men are ye taking with ye?"

"The war chief and nine of the strongest that can hold the fight till ye arrive."

"I shall get the lads and horses ready," Reed answered, and off he went, leaving Kendrick and Logan alone with only Angus as a buffer.

"Is there anything else I can do to help the situation?" Logan asked.

"That is all," Kendrick responded, trying his best to sound cold. "I would like to be alone now."

"Aye, I shall leave ye alone," Logan announced in an undertone. He halted with his hand on the door, Angus heading out before him. "I pray ye bring yer lass back safely. And I truly hope ye finally get to live a happier life when ye return. I am terribly sorry, milaird." With that, he walked out of the room.

Kendrick's heart sank to his stomach. There was no single reason for his dismay. He was on the verge of losing everyone that mattered to him. First, his parents, then Logan… and now Sophia. The pounding of his own heart was too loud to bear.

Evening turned into night, and night turned into morning. Kendrick didn't sleep for a second, not while Sophia was scared, cold,hungry, andalone. For the first time in years, he had made time to pray. Not for his soul, but for the souls of Laird Munro and his men, whom he would kill quickly.

He dashed over to his kilt, overshirt, and coat before pulling a gleaming silver sword from beneath his bed. It reflected the dull light of the morning. The sword had previously belonged to his father; itwas the MacNeil Lairds' sword, which had been passed down from generation to generation.

That morning, he decided he would yield the sword against his own, true enemies. He pressed the sword into its sheath and equipped two concealed knives before making his way out of the room.

Logan was waiting in the corridor outside his room when he came out, and it was clear he hadn't gotten any sleep either. Kendrick hated to admit it, but his uncle appeared weak and afraid for the first time. While Logan had been cruel to his family, it was clear that he loved the Laird as if he were his own son. He would not be swayed, and he would not let his sympathy for his uncle distract him from his mission that morning.

Kendrick ignored Logan and started making down the long stairs.

"Milaird!" he called out to him. Logan hastily darted to his side. "I ken ye nae want me talking to ye. I ken how ye despise me but let nae yer hatred for me be yer drive in this fight. Ye must come back alive—ye and yer lass. I will be waiting for my punishment when ye return."

Kendrick grewagitated. He turned to face his uncle, noticing how thin his face had become during their time apart. He wanted to hug him and tell him he had forgiven him; he had spent far too long drowning in fear and hatred. He couldn't take it any longer. More than that, Kendrick wished to pardon himbecause he was willing to die on Munro soil in order to save Sophia.

His pride was louder.

"Ye needn't worry. Nae one will be dying today. Neither me nor Sophia."

He drifted down the stairs before Logan could say anything else; his mind couldn't bear any more weak words, and he needed a clear head.

Morning dew brushed against his boots as he stepped outside. His war chief took his place beside him.

"Milaird," he said firmly.

"What of Reed and the other men?"

"They left hours and hours before sunrise, as ye commanded."

Kendrick cast a glance at the other men standing beside their horses. They stood silently in his presence, their plaids proudly wrapped around their shoulders and their swords firmly gripped in their sheaths. Everyone appeared fearless and ready to fight, but he knew they feared losing each other as much as he feared losing them. He silently hoped they'd all make it back to the keep.

He strolled to where his horse stood and patted the mighty black stallion.

Sophia named her mount Sunshine . I will name ye Midnight .

The stallion neighed as if in agreement with Kendrick, and the Laird smiled.

He climbed atop Midnight, and the other warriors mounted their horses as well. His war chief forcefully lead his white mare beside Kendrick, and they strode off like an army of soldiers who could know no defeat, away from the castle together.

Kendrick remembered the Munro clan's distinct stench with disdain. Torturing his prisoners and tossing them into the wide, sunken moat at the entrance to his keep was a habit of Laird Munro. Kendrick hadn't crossed the border in years, but the smell was still as strong as it had been.

Kendrick's war chief glanced at him, and he nodded. He gave the signal to the warriors in the back. It was an indication to them to remain silent and alert as they crossed into enemy territory. The dusty, narrow path up to the keep was deserted, with tall trees arcing above it.

As they rode closer, the leaves started to rustle, and they all drew out their swords in anticipation for what was waiting for them behind the trees.

Suddenly, yellow-plaided men revealed themselves roaring, with swords in hand.

Munro… ye sly bastard!

Kendrick cursed and jumped down from his horse as he observed the men in yellow. He could not count one after another but concluded they were over a hundred in number.

"I believe in ye, lads! In the name of the MacNeil clan, we fight!" he bellowed, giving his men permission to draw their blades.

Soon, the air was filled with the sound of swords clashing against other swords, loud roars, and splashing blood. For a while, the blood was only that of the Munro warriors, but soon misfortune befell Kendrick as one of his own warriors fell down dead.

Another followed, and more , until only four of his men were standing tall, and the blood of fifty Munro men hungrily soaked the dirt at their feet. Ten had defeated fifty, but over fifty more men were still standing.

As the fight went on, he noticed one of his men injured on the ground, trying to crawl away from a Munro soldier standing in front of him. Kendrick swung his sword madly from side to side cutting down the warriors that dared to block his path. He sliced through the soldier that was in front of his own, killing him instantly. As the man fell on another corpse, Kendrick threw his sword beside him and fell to a crouch before his wounded soldier.

The man immediately began to jerk in his arms, spitting out blood before his dark eyes blanked over. Kendrick's world began to spin. He became numb to everything around him. The striking of swords against each other; the thudding sound of lifeless bodies falling to the ground. As he stared into his dead warrior's eyes, it appeared as though he was staring into Sophia's eyes… lifeless . Immense fear gripped him.

"Milaird!" a desperate, faraway voice yelled. "Milaird!"

Kendrick spun his head around in time to see one of the Munro men drive his sword towards his heart. He made to evade the blow.

It's too late.