Highland Oath

by Donna Fletcher

  “You better hurry,” Raven said, rushing past them to the doors. “With as much as Arran pokes Flora he might make you an uncle first.”

  “Raven!” Royden and Arran shouted as their sister scurried past, avoiding Arran’s arm that shot out to grab her.

  This time it was Oria’s turn to grin and Royden and Arran’s to be embarrassed.

  Raven hurried outside to wait for Purity. They wouldn't have much time to spend in the woods alone before the ceremony if she didn’t arrive soon. She watched and waited eagerly for Purity’s arrival and seeing people drop their heads back to cast their eyes to the skies, she did the same.

  A sharp catch in her chest had her hand pressing at the spot when she caught sight of the dark clouds that shadowed the morning and had snuffed the warmth from the air, leaving it chilled. In her excitement to talk with Purity, she hadn’t taken notice. She made a point of doing so now. She slowly turned her glance away from the sky to glance around. Excitement stirred for this special day. Smiles were abundant and laughter heard, yet there also seemed to be an unease. Smiles faded and whispers were shared in a few who gathered. And eyes were endlessly drawn upward to the dark sky. She wondered if they thought as she did. Was the darkening sky a portent of things to come?

  She shook away the ominous thought when she caught sight of Purity. She rode with her brother on his horse, their father riding beside them and a troop of a dozen warriors with them. Oria’s father, Chieftain William of the Clan MacGlennen, along with six of his warriors followed behind.

  Bayne and his father paid Purity no mind when they dismounted. They were too intent on speaking with the other arriving chieftains.

  “We don’t have a lot of time. Let’s get King and head into the woods,” Raven suggested as soon as Purity reached her.

  Purity hugged King as she and Raven made their way out of the barn.

  Surprised by the group of chieftains that stood talking, Raven came to an abrupt halt as did Purity. Raven couldn’t hide the unease of seeing so many clan chieftains gathered together milling about in talk, not a single smile on their faces. Another ominous sign indeed.

  Raven made sure they kept their distance from the group, circling around them to reach the edge of the woods.

  When at the edge of the woods, Raven stopped and looked back. This may be a celebration, but it also was going to be a meeting of the chieftains from the surrounding area. Battle plans were about to be made today.

  She would have loved to hear what they were saying, but she had only so much time with Purity before she was sent away and at the moment that was more important.

  They sat on the ground in their favorite meeting spot and King crawled all over Purity, purring endlessly and rubbing his head against her.

  “I’m so going to miss him. You will take care of him, won’t you?” Purity asked concerned.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll see King kept safe.”

  “I’ve tried to resign myself to my father’s decision to send me to the convent, but I’m having difficulty. I don’t want to go,” Purity admitted.

  “I don’t blame you. Did he say how long you would be there?”

  “He didn’t, but I think his plan is to leave me there until he arranges a beneficial marriage for me and if that proves futile, then I suppose he’ll simply leave me there forever.”

  Tears rose in her already red and puffy eyes.

  “You cried most of the night?” Raven asked, her heart hurting for her friend.

  “I couldn’t stop. I’m heartbroken over this and I fear what will happen to me.”

  “At least we have today to enjoy and celebrate Oria and Royden’s marriage,” Raven said and was struck by the sadness that welled along with Purity’s tears.

  “I won’t be enjoying the festivities. As soon as the ceremony ends, two of my father’s warriors will escort me to the convent.”

  Sorrow for her friend was replaced by sheer anger. “Your father refuses you a last bit of enjoyment, and he doesn’t even care enough to escort you there himself?”

  “I never mattered to him. I am nothing more than a burden to him,” Purity said.

  Raven rubbed at her chin. “He can’t send you away after the ceremony if he can’t find you?”

  Purity paled and shook her head. “He’d be furious if I hid from him.”

  “What would he do to you? Not send you to the convent?”

  Purity’s eyes went wide at the thought. What could he do to her that was worse than being sent away?

  “The only thing that would happen is that your departure time would be delayed.”

  Purity shrugged in resignation. “I would love that, but I don’t have the courage.”

  “I have enough for us both,” Raven assured, her smile bright enough for them both.

  The sudden toll of a bell had them jumping to their feet, but it was the horrific scream that got them running.

  “Attack! Attack!”

  Chapter 9

  Raven almost toppled forward she came to such an abrupt halt as did Purity when they reached the edge of the woods. She had thought she knew fear, had felt it on occasion, but she hadn’t truly known its depth until this moment seeing a horde of warriors descend on the village and the keep. Horrifying screams filled the air as swords and battle axes were swung with a vengeance.

  How could this happen? Arran had been sure they’d be safe this day. Raven couldn’t fathom how they had gotten past the sentinels without being seen. She shook her head. There was no time to debate it. Had there been time to get the women and children inside the keep? She had to find out and see what she could do to help her clan.

  She frantically searched for her da and brothers amongst the battle. She spotted Royden fighting off two warriors and blessed him for being so skilled.

  Oria.

  She could at least find out if Oria was safe in the keep.

  Raven turned to Purity. “I need to find Oria.”

  “Don’t leave me,” Purity said, her face so pale, Raven feared she’d faint.

  “Go back in the woods and hide,” Raven ordered. “I’ll find you when this is done.”

  Purity nodded, turned, and hurried off, King following her.

  Raven hurried to the kitchen in the back of the keep. She could gain entrance that way, avoiding the battle that raged near the keep doors. The kitchen was deserted and she hurried through to the Great Hall to find several women and children there and the doors secured with a thick board.

  “Where’s Oria?” Raven demanded of anyone who could answer.

  “She was outside helping the women and children inside and someone grabbed her and dragged her away,” one of the women said.

  Raven recognized her. It was Flora, the woman Arran favored. “Stay here for now.”

  “There are too many of them. They’ll defeat us,” another woman said, her weeping so heavy Raven could hardly understand her.

  Raven offered what she could. “Stay strong. It’s the only way to survive.”

  She hurried out of the keep through the kitchen once again. She had to find Oria. She had to keep her safe for her brother. She went around the back of the keep to peer around the side, trying her best to avoid capture herself. She couldn’t help anyone if she was caught and dragged away.

  Her heart pounded unmercifully in her chest and fear mingled with anger. She had to find Oria, she had to. The fighting continued, all in the Clan MacKinnon fighting valiantly along with the various clan chieftains and their warriors. Clanging swords rang in the air, the smell of blood stung her nostrils, and screams could be heard from the wounded and dying.

  Raven wished she had the skill to wield a sword along with her brothers, but she had no such talent. The only thing she could do was what she did best—sneak around without notice and do what she could to help.

  She searched the area for signs of Oria but found none. She was about to turn away and search another area when she watched in horror as her da staggered away from the fight wounde
d. The whole front of him was stained red. He fell to the ground and Raven didn’t hesitate, she ran to him.

  She frantically called out when she reached him. “Da! Da!”

  His eyes fluttered open and turned wide upon seeing her. “Run, Raven! Run and hide.” He raised his hand and pushed at her, his weak effort barely a light tap.

  “I’m not leaving you,” she said, taking hold of his hand.

  “By all that is holy, Raven, obey me on this,” he pleaded, his effort to squeeze her hand as weak as his attempt to push her away.

  “No! I’m getting you to safety,” she insisted, forcing herself not to cry.

  “Raven, I’m dying. Go and save yourself,” he pleaded once again.

  “No, I won’t let you die.” She slipped her arms under his shoulders and struggled to drag him away. Tears continued to threaten her eyes as she labored to get her da to safety.

  Suddenly another pair of hands joined hers and she looked to see Purity beside her.

  “I’m tired of being a coward,” Purity said, and together they dragged Raven’s father into the woods.

  “You have to get him to the witch. She’s the only one who can help him,” Raven said.

  They both jumped when an agonizing scream pierced the air and they crept to the edge of the woods to see what was happening.

  Oria was on her knees, bent over, her hand grasping her jaw, blood pouring out between her fingers, while three warriors stood around her.

  “Try to run away again and bite me again and when I get done with you, no one will want to look upon you,” the warrior warned, rubbing his forearm.

  Raven went to go to her aid and Purity grabbed her arm, stopping her.

  “They will do the same to you and you’ll be of no help to Oria. Wait and see. Maybe they will leave her for a time and we can help free her.”

  Raven understood the wisdom of her words, but it tore her apart to do nothing but watch Oria suffer. Two of the men grabbed her by the arms and dragged her off, blood pouring from the side of her face. The other man, still clutching his arm, followed them around to the front of the keep.

  Raven returned to her da. He continued to cling to life, as his wound continued bleeding. She tore off a good portion of the bottom of her shift and had Purity help her turn him so she could wrap the cloth completely around her da’s middle to stop or at least slow the bleeding.

  “I’m going to see where they take Oria and I’m also going to try and find someone who can help you get my da to the witch,” Raven said.

  “I don’t know how to find her.”

  “I think she’ll find you. Wait here. I’ll be back,” Raven said with more confidence than she felt.

  “I’ll go with you,” Purity said.

  “No, someone needs to stay with my da and see him safe. He has to live. Besides, I made a promise along with my brothers and I intend to keep it.”

  “He’s barely breathing, Raven,” Purity said, fearing the obvious.

  “He still breathes and that’s all that matters. Now stay here.” Raven took off before Purity could continue to argue with her.

  She once again crept to the side of the keep and watched as the battle raged. She had to get closer to see if she could find where they took Oria or if she could spot her brothers. She kept close to the keep stone wall as she made her way along it and stopped when she spotted Oria being dragged to a cart. Her face was a bloody mess and yet she fought the men as they tried to get her into the cart. Raven envied her strength and that she didn’t call out for Royden and distract him from the fight. She fought her own battle with courage, keeping the man she loved safe.

  Raven saw then what her brother Arran had told her. Men were physically stronger than women. The man she had bitten threw a punch at Oria’s bleeding jaw that sent her collapsing to the ground. He hoisted her limp body over his shoulder and tossed her into the cart.

  Purity had been right. She wouldn’t have stood a chance against those men. She had to survive to be able to track Oria down and free her.

  Raven made her way farther along the wall toward the front of the keep so she would be able to see the battle up close and what she saw sent a feeling of such dread through her that she feared she’d collapse. The woman in the keep had been right. There were too many warriors. They’d never be able to conquer them. The battle would be lost along with many lives.

  She pushed the agonizing thought aside. She had to get her da help. Had to make sure he survived. She made her way back around the keep and through the kitchen to the Great Hall.

  “Hurry,” she urged the women. “I’ll get you to safety.”

  The women gathered the few children there and eagerly followed her. Raven paused at the door at the back of the kitchen and seeing no one there rushed the women and children out and into the woods.

  “You will help Purity get my da safely away from here,” Raven said, looking to her da, the torn piece of cloth she had wrapped around him covered in blood.

  “Where is anyplace safe?” Flora asked.

  “The woods will shelter us for now,” Purity said.

  “You don’t come with us?” another woman asked Raven.

  “I must see about my brothers,” Raven said.

  “We will wait,” Purity was quick to say. “In case you find others in need.”

  “No, you must go now. The longer you wait, the more you chance being captured,” Raven said. “I will join you if I can.”

  “When you can,” Purity corrected and gave her a hug.

  Raven knelt down beside her da and placed a hand to his cheek. “Purity is going to get you help da. You’re going to be fine. All will be good. You’ll see.” She kissed his cheek.

  “We need to get him deeper into the woods then we’ll fashion a carrier from thick branches to transport him the rest of the way,” Purity said.

  Hearing Purity take charge, Raven felt hopeful that her da might live.

  “Stay strong,” she said to all of them and left the safety of the woods.

  Once again she made her way to the side of the keep, the sound of battle tolling like an endless bell in her head. She wanted to cover her ears and beg it to stop, but it would do no good. She had lost count of how many times she had peered around the corner to see if it was safe for her to continue. This time when she did, shock turned her eyes as wide as full moons.

  Bayne sat braced against the stone wall bleeding from his chest and mouth. Not even the slightest hesitation hampered her steps to him.

  She squatted down in front of him. “Bayne.”

  His eyes fluttered open and he struggled to talk. “Purity. I saw Purity. Get her to safety,” he pleaded.

  “She’s safe. I can take you to her.”

  He shook his head. “Won’t make it.”

  “I’ll help you,” Raven said and moved to his side to slip her arm around his back. He fell against her, his weight sending her to land on her bottom and she cradled him in her arms.

  More blood flowed from his mouth, running down the corner, and he fought to speak. “You’re a courageous woman, Raven, you would have made a good wife.”

  Raven stared in disbelief as Bayne took his last breath in her arms. A tear slipped from her eye. She didn’t like Bayne, but she didn’t hate him. And in the end, though wounded badly, he still tried to get to his sister and see her safe. It was something her brothers would do and it made her all the more determined to find and help them in any way she could.

  She left Bayne, not able to do anything more for him, but see him buried when this was done, if that was even possible. Would she even have a home when this was done? A family? A clan?

  She went in search of her brothers, praying neither of them would die in her arms as Bayne had done. If they were wounded, she could get them to safety like she did her da. She couldn’t lose her family. She couldn’t. Besides, she had given her promise—though her da and brothers hadn’t heard it—along with the one they had made, to do whatever was necessary to keep her
safe. She’d do whatever was necessary to keep her brothers and da safe.

  With having viewed the battle from both sides of the keep and having no luck seeing her brothers, she made her way into the woods. Her best line of sight, without taking the chance of being caught and becoming useless to her brothers, was the trees. She’d been scolded enough times for climbing the trees, but had paid no heed to her da and brothers’ warnings. And now she was glad she hadn’t.

  She hurried to her favorite and easiest tree to climb and one that afforded her a good view of the keep and village. She climbed high and positioned herself on a branch, glad that it was summer and the tree leaves concealed her. She pushed aside a small branch that obscured her view and watched as her clansmen fought valiantly. She didn’t need anyone to tell her what she saw with her own eyes—her clan was being defeated. Some chieftains had already been taken captive and hoarded into a group with some of the villagers.

  Bodies lie on the ground, clansmen and foe alike, some moving, some not. The last warriors left to fight were slowly dwindling and she easily spotted her brothers and what she saw had her rushing her hand to her mouth to stop from screaming.

  Royden was defending himself against two warriors and a third was coming up behind him. Arran had spotted the warrior and was running toward him to prevent his brother from being struck from behind.

  It happened so fast and yet it seemed so slow as Raven watched Arran, battle grime covering just about all of him, raise his sword and scream out to his brother in fear he wouldn’t reach him in time.

  Royden turned slightly, hearing Arran’s shout, as he swung his sword and took down the last of the two warriors he’d been fighting before he turned all the way around, raising his left arm as he did.

  The man behind him brought his raised sword down, catching Royden on the wrist and slicing it clear through. Royden’s left hand fell to the ground and he roared with a fury that Raven felt tremble the trees.

  Royden’s sword came down on the man the same time Arran’s sword did and the warrior dropped to the ground dead. Arran hurried to slice cloth off a length of plaid from one of the dead warriors on the ground and wrapped it tightly around the stump that Royden was left with, to stop the bleeding.