by Alisa Adams
The younger guard made a face, but he didn’t disagree with the older guard.
“Well, in that case I will need a moment to speak with the prisoner. I wish to give him a chance to apologize to me before his execution tomorrow. I believe everyone should be able to face their death with a clear soul,” she said, trying a different tactic, but again this didn’t bear any fruit.
“We’re not allowed to let anyone see him,” the older guard said, parroting that it was her uncle’s orders again. Catherine had hoped she’d be able to charm and beseech the guards to get past them, but this man was implacable so she relied on the only other thing she had; Bryan’s sword. In one swift motion she unsheathed it from its scabbard and thrust it forward, towards the guard’s throat.
15
Bryan was languishing in the dungeon, his mind moving between past and future. In one instant he was with Catherine again. The vision was so real that he believed he could touch her and feel the caress of her lips upon his, but every time he reached out to her he only grasped empty air. Then, he was back in the mountains of the North where all manner of creatures flew and scurried around him. Surrounded by beasts, he was alone with his sword and had the opportunity to enter his name in history as a legendary warrior, but then his strength would falter and he’d fall to his knees, his bones clacking against the hard stone floor. He would look at his empty hands and feel the pain flaring through him and wondered when this torture was going to end. But then he heard footsteps coming from above. He turned, not daring to hope that it was Catherine, but then she appeared and his heart leapt.
“Oh, Bryan!” She paused when she saw the state of him, but then threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He drowned in her fragrance and tears welled in his eyes.
“Catherine,” he moaned, glad that she was tangible, that she wasn’t just another illusion.
“We don’t have much time,” she said, placing the sword on the floor as she fumbled with the keys to unlock him from his chains. The metal clanked and he stretched his arms as he was free and able to move them more easily. His wrists ached, but the pain was secondary to the relief he felt about being with her once more.
As they embraced they looked upon each other. She looked beautiful, and he realized how gruesome he must have looked in his tattered clothes and disheveled state, the dinginess of the dungeon clinging to him. But that didn’t seem to matter to Catherine. She pressed her lips to his in a firm kiss and then slipped her hand in his, pulling him up and out. He grabbed the sword, and new vigor swept through him as they ascended the stairs and he tasted fresh air for the first time in days.
As soon as they were outside, Catherine nodded to the guard and slipped three rings off her fingers, handing them to him. Another guard lay on the floor, dead.
“Nice doing business with you. I never liked him much anyway. Now, I’m going to have some fun,” the younger guard said.
“It seems like ye’ve been busy,” Bryan said, arching an eyebrow. Catherine raised hers and then continued moving towards the stables. They hurried through the darkness, and Bryan had to struggle as his muscles ached from being chained. The blaze of pain that flashed through his limbs was welcome though, as it was accompanied by freedom and the feeling that he could make a difference again.
“What’s the plan?” he asked.
“We’re going to get on a horse and ride away from here, as far into the North as we can, and we’re never going to come back.” She went to move, but Bryan gripped her arm and held her back.
“Lass, are ye sure? Dae ye ken what that means?” he said. “Are ye really ready tae leave all this?”
“I know exactly what it means Bryan,” Catherine said more sharply than perhaps she intended, for her nerves were frayed by the circumstances. “But my future husband is sitting with my father and uncle as we speak. If I do not leave with you now I will have to leave with him tomorrow, and I know which fate I would rather prefer. There is a horse waiting for us, we must not lose haste.”
Bryan didn’t argue with her and followed her towards the stables, although he wasn’t too enthused about seeing Stephen again after how he had deceived the man. Stephen didn’t deserve that, but it was too late to do anything about it now. Bryan’s eyes swam with desire and pride as he looked upon Catherine and how she moved. She was so far removed from the delicate English flower he thought she had been when he had first seen her by the stream; now, she looked determined and resolute, and he pitied anyone who tried to get in her way.
They closed the distance to the stables, but as they reached the building they stopped as they heard voices. Catherine cursed as she peered around the wall and saw how Stephen was describing the horse and the stables to a group of people who must have wandered from the main house and were taking in a late tour of the estate.
“What dae we dae?” Bryan asked in a hushed whisper.
“There is nothing we can do but wait,” Catherine replied. Bryan felt her tension and glanced around, peering into the distance to see how easily they would be spotted. But waiting wasn’t such an easy thing to do, for when he saw people drifting past the torches, he realized that many more were coming out of the banquet hall. It seemed as though people had grown tired of dancing and feasting and were now seeking solace in the night air, but one group of people chilled him to the bone. He nudged Catherine and pointed in their direction, and she groaned.
They saw Nathaniel, Thomas, and a man who Bryan surmised was Lord Ralls heading in the direction of the dungeons.
“They must be wanting to see you before you’re executed, to get one last taunt in before they see you die,” she said.
“They’ll see the guard, and that I’m nae there,” he said. Panic flashed in their eyes as they glanced at the group of people in the stables, who showed no signs of moving on. They couldn’t wait any longer because as soon as the alarm was raised it would be impossible to escape.
“We have to go now,” Catherine said urgently. They rose and Bryan drew his sword and strode into the stable.
“Everyone stay quiet,” he said. The group looked at him with horror and clutched each other with fear. Stephen stared at him, and then at Catherine. She gave him a signal that this was all part of the plan, but of course the other people didn’t know this. They merely saw a Highlander with a sword, holding Lady Browne hostage.
“I’m taking this horse,” he said, “and I’m taking this wee lass, and if any of ye scream I’ll run this blade through ye neck.”
He thrust the sword forward menacingly as he and Catherine moved towards the horse. All the people were too scared to realize that Catherine was moving of her own volition and not being forced at all by Bryan. As Bryan passed Stephen he paused a moment and leaned in, speaking in a low whisper so that nobody else could hear.
“I apologize for everything. Ye’re a good man, and were a good friend. Thank ye for this,” Bryan said.
“And you’re a lucky man Bryan. Take care of her,” Stephen said, nodding towards Catherine.
Bryan nodded back, and helped Catherine onto the horse, and he followed swiftly after. He swiped his sword through the air with a flourish, giving one final threat to the people in the stable, and then he charged out of the stable, hooves thundering, horse whinnying, Catherine’s arms wrapped tightly around his chest while he had a firm grip on the reins. The air whipped his hair and the night cloaked them in darkness, but as soon as they were out of the stables people began to raise the alarm and cried out that somebody was escaping.
Thankfully, because it was dark and people had been in a festive, relaxed mood, it took them longer than normal to realize exactly what had happened, but it wasn’t long before word was spreading of how Bryan had escaped and kidnapped Lady Browne.
Bryan never looked back at the estate, only forward as he guided the horse across the ground, past the carriages that had brought Lord Ralls to the estate, and then beyond towards the open gates that led to freedom. A few guards had mustered themselves and
were already forming a small barrier to prevent them from leaving. They had their swords drawn, but Bryan pushed the horse ahead, knowing that none of the men would want to test their chances against such a beast.
Indeed, as the horse barreled forward the guards threw themselves out of the way. Their bodies were thrown to the ground and Bryan heard the rattle and clack of their swords hitting the ground as well, but still he did not relent, and felt a sigh of relief as they passed through the threshold of the gates, and out into freedom. But even though they left the estate he knew that the chase was only just beginning. Thomas and Nathaniel would send others after him in an effort to get Catherine back, never even considering the possibility that she would have wanted to come with him voluntarily.
Bryan forced the horse to run as fast as it could along the winding path, using all his experience of the wild to know for how long he should follow the road until veering away. Under the cover of darkness the advantage was his, but that advantage would only last for so long and he had to make the best use of this window of opportunity as he could to put as much distance between them and the guards as possible. They had escaped the clutches of Catherine’s family. Neither of them could stomach the idea of being caught and returned to Thomas and Nathaniel with their tails between their legs.
Once again, Bryan Pressley was riding through the land on horseback, letting his instinct and intuition guide him, fleeing to a new destiny. But, this time, he wasn’t alone, and he welcomed the feeling of Catherine’s warmth hugging him.
16
Unlike Bryan, Catherine turned her head back and looked upon the home they were fleeing from. The plan hadn’t gone as expected and she dearly mourned the death of the guard, but there had been no other way. She hated for everyone to think that Bryan had kidnapped her against her will, but at least they were free, at least they were together, and at least she didn’t have to worry about being married to Lord Ralls or having to look upon her Uncle’s smug face again. In fact, a smile appeared upon her face as she thought of how apoplectic with rage he must have been. He’d never have assumed anyone could have outsmarted him, and she took pride in the fact that she was able to be more than just a pretty little girl.
The air whipped her hair around her head and she felt the thunder of the horse’s hooves as they galloped their way through the darkness. She marveled at how Bryan was able to navigate the landscape in the dark. There were a few times when a tree seemed to come out of nowhere and she gripped Bryan tightly, a small moan of fear escaping from her mouth.
She also enjoyed the warmth of Bryan’s body. He didn’t seem to mind her holding on, and so she took comfort in his warmth, because now he was the only person she knew, the only person she could trust, and part of her did wonder if she had made the right decision to forsake everything she had ever known.
They rode on for what seemed like hours until suddenly the horse stopped. Bryan turned the horse so that it was standing sideways on the road and tilted his head. He seemed to be listening for something, so Catherine did the same, but she could not hear anything aside from the slight rustling of trees as the night air swept past, or the scurrying of an animal.
“I cannae hear them,” Bryan said. “This is a good place tae rest. We should try tae get some sleep.”
He led the horse forward, away from the road, into the forest. The trees wrapped them in a leafy embrace and Bryan made sure to make the horse go slowly so they had the opportunity to duck whenever they rode near a branch. The moonlight came through in thin slivers, so there wasn’t much illumination, and Catherine had to strain her eyes to make out any detail whatsoever. Bryan led them far away from the road and eventually slipped off the horse and tethered it to a nearby tree.
From what Catherine could tell they were in a glade, hidden from the rest of the world. She looked anxiously over her shoulders, but breathed more easily when she heard nothing. She remained close to Bryan and settled down beside him. They rested on the ground, leaning against a fallen log. She looked up at him and remembered the man she had first met, the wounded warrior running through the trees. She remembered how his touch had been exciting, and how when she looked into his eyes she had seen something magical and transcendent. She felt the same thing now, although she was uncertain as to what would happen next, not just between them, but their lives in general.
“Do you think they’ve given up the chase?” Catherine asked.
“Ye should tell me lass, dae ye think ye father and uncle would give ye up?”
Catherine’s head dipped. “No, I don’t think they would, especially not since they believe you took me against my will.”
“Would things be different even if they did think ye hae gone by choice?”
Catherine considered the matter for a moment. “Perhaps not. Bryan, what do we do now? I’ve never been running from anything before. Do you think we really can stay away from them?”
“All we hae tae dae is be smart. The most important thing is tae stay free early. If we can last we can find safety away from them. Their best chance of catching us is at the beginning of the chase.”
“It’s all rather exciting, isn’t it?”
“Aye, and very dangerous,” Bryan said.
“Yes, I won’t forget that. For you it’s a matter of life and death, and for me it’s a matter of freedom.”
“Thank ye though, for helping me once again.”
“I was never going to let you die Bryan. My conscience wouldn’t allow it. How could I have lived with myself if I had let my uncle win?”
“I dinnae ken, but he’s still out there, plotting and waiting.”
“I know, and he has my father’s ear. I wish I could have done more to convince Father of my uncle’s intentions but he never seems to believe that Uncle Nathaniel is anything more than he seems.”
“Why is that? Ye da seemed like a strong man. I cannae believe he would listen tae anyone.”
“He never used to, well, apart from my mother. Father was always the one leading, always the one who knew what to do. If there was an enemy to fight he’d lead the charge, and if there was a criminal then he would mete out justice fairly. He was a good ruler and all the people loved him, and he was everything I aspired to be when I grew up. But then Mother grew ill, Father was at a loss about what to do. The sickness wasn’t anything he could fight or punish, so he just sat there by her side, helpless. We both did. I remember asking him questions about what we could do because it seemed useless of us to sit there and watch over her but not actually do anything. He brought in healers and alchemists from as far as he could reach, but none of them could do anything to save her. We simply had to watch her die, and I know it hurt him a lot not to be able to fight off the sickness. Since then he’s never been the same. Uncle Nathaniel arrived and helped Father with the estate, and he never left. It’s like Father has been a shadow of himself. I am sad that you didn’t get to meet the man my father truly is because I think you would have respected him, and he would have been able to see what I’ve seen in you rather than going by my uncle’s word. Sometimes it feels as though I lost my father the same way I lost my mother…” She trailed off into sadness, and she was glad it was dark because she didn’t want Bryan to see the tears she wiped away from her eyes.
“My ma died unexpectedly as well,” Bryan said. “I was only a wee lad and did nae understand what was happening. One day she was well, and the next she was pale and fatigued. It happened quickly, but after that our lives changed. I remember standing over her body with Da, thinking that she looked so beautiful and peaceful. It was the only time I saw Da cry.”
“How did your lives change?”
“Ma dinnae like violence and she made us stay in one place. We had a wee hut and we fed off the land, but soon after she died a storm came and wrecked the building. Da did nae want tae live in such a place again, and he also taught me how tae defend myself. Ye see, before he met Ma he wandered around the land daeing good deeds for people, but Ma preferred nae tae put
herself in danger, especially when I was a baby. Da did nae want that either, so they lived by themselves in a small part of the world and did nae bother anyone. But after Ma died Da said that we hae tae make the world a better place. We hae tae make a difference while we can and nae just hide. A long time ago our family name was associated with heroes, and Da hae been trying tae live up tae that and redeem us. Now that task falls tae me.”
“I’m sorry that you’ve lost both your parents.”
“Thank ye lass. I hae been alone for a wee while now.”
“You’re not alone any longer,” she said, and placed her hand upon his, squeezing it affectionately. Although she had her shawl wrapped around her she was still chilly, and nestled up to Bryan for warmth. She rested her head against his shoulder and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
“The way ahead is nae gaeing tae be an easy one,” Bryan said.
“I know. I hope I don’t place you in jeopardy. What are we going to do Bryan? Are we just going to keep to the forests and hide from civilization?”
“I dinnae ken lass. We shall hae tae see which way the winds blow, but we will hae tae stop in towns along the way. And then, well, who knows what the future holds.”
Who knew indeed? For the first time in her life, Catherine’s future was entirely unmapped and completely up to her choosing. She was no longer tethered to a man and could do whatever she wanted, but she found this disquieting and the old adage of being careful about what one wished for was true. Now that she had complete freedom she had nobody else to rely on, and nobody else to take responsibility if she made a mistake. Whatever happened from now on was entirely of her own making, and she was afraid she didn’t have the experience to ensure her safety. Fear crawled through her body as she realized how dependent on Bryan she was for survival.
She closed her eyes and clung to him as the musky air of the forest lingered around them. She shifted her position and felt the bracken crack and crumble underneath her slender body, and as she ran her fingers along the rings she wore she started to see how different their lives have been.
