“I can run.” Her belly thumped into his rock hard shoulder and she clutched his pumping arms as she searched through the trees for their enemy. “How close are they?”
“I spied them, dozens of them, so too close for my comfort. Hold tight, love. I need to get you to safety and warn the others.”
The ground blurred at the sheer speed he moved, the trees whizzing by. Everything spun and she squeezed her eyes shut then opened them again as the salty scent of the loch washed over her.
Tavish cleared the forest and halted on the grassy verge of the clearing. A heavy fog had rolled in across the loch and before her the central fire blazed. A serving girl carried flagons of ale and passed out drinks to the men as they sat on the grass and low boulders.
Tavish set her on her feet, released a piercing whistle and shouted, “The MacKenzies come. They’ve gotten past the sentries along the border.”
The men lurched to their feet.
“All to arms,” Kirk bellowed as he jumped up from where he and Cherub sat and shoved his sword-arm high into the air. Her kinsmen unsheathed their swords and axes. “Matthew,” Kirk yelled to the elderly cart driver, “get the ladies to safety. Everyone else, prepare for a battle. We will not fall, nor allow our enemy to take our land. We fight, as we always have and will, for our freedom and for our very survival.”
Tavish gripped her shoulders. “Go with Matthew. I need to know you’re well away from here and safe.”
“I dinnae wish to leave you.” Except she couldn’t stay and become a burden in the coming fight. That she knew to the depths of her heart. “Promise me you’ll stay safe.”
“I will.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “We have our connection. You can reach me whenever you need to.”
“Julia.” Cherub rushed toward her, grabbed her arm. “I need to remain for the battle. Go with the women. I’ll check up on you as soon as I can.”
“Look after Tavish for me.”
“Of course.” Cherub nudged her to go. “I willnae allow aught to happen to your mate. Believe that.”
“Thank you.” Reassured, she stumbled toward the serving girl and the two cooks. Tears blurred her gaze as she herded the ladies toward the empty cart now unpacked of the supplies they’d brought with them. Matthew hooked up the horses and bounded onto the front bench. She clambered up beside him while the lasses scuttled into the back and huddled together.
The MacKenzies were a thorn in their sides, and the last thing she wished to do was leave Tavish, but right now she no longer had a choice.
Chapter 10
Tavish strapped a baldric across his back and slid a second sword into it as Tor whisked into the supply tent beside him. He wouldn’t allow the MacKenzie chief to lay siege to their border and take it. He tossed his brother a black war coat studded with bits of steel. “Arm yourself well. We’ll be fighting as never before.”
“These MacKenzies are a menace.” Tor shoved his arms into the sleeves, slung a bow and satchel of arrows across his shoulders and hauled his sword free. “Kirk’s sending a team of warriors to go wide and come in behind our enemy. His intention is to divide their attention and trap them between us.”
“They’re close, very close.” Tavish ducked out of the tent and sniffed, the reek of their enemy now nearing an explosive point.
Cherub stood in the center of the clearing near the blazing fire, her navy skirts swishing about her legs and her white fur cape flapping from her shoulders. She raised her hands to the skies as Kirk stood guard over her. A mass of black cloud whirled and seethed overhead as she churned the air.
“Where does Kirk want us?” he yelled to Tor over the sudden gale.
“We’re to remain here and hold the encampment.” Tor grasped his shoulder. “We fight together, right at each other’s side.”
“As we always have.” He gripped his brother’s shoulder in return.
Shouts boomed all around as warriors took their positions in a strong line along the front of the clearing, their swords, battle axes and pikes in hand.
A fierce battle cry rang out and a good hundred MacKenzies swarmed out of the forest. Cherub sent the wall of wind she’d conjured right at them and half their enemy toppled backward and slammed into the trees. The rest surged forward.
* * * *
A blood-curdling battle cry roared in Julia’s ears, coming first from the camp then increasing in crescendo as it boomed throughout the forest. The MacKenzies were everywhere. She clutched the cart’s wooden seat under her knees as Matthew slapped the reins across the horses’ backs and sent them hurtling through the dark of the night along the trail they’d arrived along only a few hours ago.
As they rattled along the grass and gravel path, the forest caging them in on their left and the loch on their right, a mass of black cloud overhead churned and nearly obliterated the stars and moon. Ahead, one lone MacKenzie warrior burst through the trees and lifted a bow.
An arrow whizzed through the air and thunked into Matthew’s side.
She screamed. The reins went slack in Matthew’s hands and he toppled from the bench and hit the ground. Nay! She caught the flying reins, hauled the horses to a stop and ran back to Matthew. On her knees, she touched his face. Blood flowed from deep gouges in his cheeks and the arrow wedged deep in his side vibrated with each breath he struggled to draw. This couldn’t be happening. Not to Matthew.
“Matthew, please, stay with me.” She clasped him to her, the man who’d played sticks with her when she’d been just a child, who’d always picked her an apple or a piece of fruit when walking through the fruit grove. “I’m sorry, so sorry. I willnae leave you.”
“Lass, get back to the cart.” He gurgled and spat out blood. “You must go. Get to safety.”
“I willnae leave you on your own.” She lifted his head into her lap and rocked with him in her arms. “Go,” she shouted to the two cooks and the serving girl. “Hide yourselves well within the forest.”
“MacKenzies, they come,” Matthew rasped.
She followed his gaze out over the water. Fog churned and a galley sailed through the mist right toward her. At the center mast a MacKenzie flag flew and at the helm, with a mighty two-handed claymore holstered across his back, Colin MacKenzie stood, his biceps bulging and his legs spread wide. No one could mistake the Chief of MacKenzie, and certainly not her. His aura, a dirty blood-red, spiked with black as his gaze landed on her. ’Twas his true aura, slightly thicker and heavier than his son’s, an aura he too had hidden from her until now.
She kissed Matthew’s forehead and held onto him tight.
“Take cover, lass. Be away with you.” Matthew’s breath came harder.
“I’m staying.” Tears streamed down her face and splashed Matthew’s cheeks and she wiped them away as she held him.
MacKenzie bellowed an order and his men tightened the square sail. The galley cruised toward shore and as the hull scraped the sandy sea floor, Colin MacKenzie bounded out. In the knee-deep water, he surged toward her then stormed onto land. Smirking, he withdrew his sword and pressed it against Matthew’s chest as he eyed her. “Get up, lass, or his life will be forfeit.”
“I’m no’ leaving my kin.”
“Aye, you will.” He pushed the point of his blade down harder and Matthew groaned as blood bloomed on his tunic under the steel tip. “His final death will be at your hand. If that is what you wish, then so be it.”
“Leave him be.” She shoved to her feet and slammed her hands into MacKenzie’s chest. “What do you want with me?”
“The fae have mingled with Gilleoin’s line and his offspring now carry their added abilities. Worse, Gilleoin and his progeny will continue to grow from strength to strength if I dinnae put a halt to it. That is why I want you. No’ only are you Gilleoin’s niece, but your grandmother is the seer, Nessa. I want the strongest of the village’s fae-blooded kind mingling with my direct line, which means you will be marrying my son and giving him sons with your kin’s mighty fae
skills. I willnae have it any other way.” With his fingers pinching into her arm, he hauled her toward his vessel and swung her on board. “Gordon, bind her to the center mast,” he snapped at his man.
“Aye, Chief.” A hulking warrior stormed toward her down the center aisle.
The wind from the churning storm rammed into them and she toppled into the mast. Her head hit and black dots danced before her eyes. Matthew. She couldn’t leave her kin to die alone. And Tavish. She needed to warn him, only she couldn’t hold on, couldn’t push along their merged link and tell him of what had happened. All went dark and she sank into complete and utter oblivion.
* * * *
In between Tor and Kirk, Tavish swung his claymore at a MacKenzie and blocked the warrior’s swift blow. Their blades clashed dead center, steel ringing loud in his ears. “Let’s send these MacKenzies back to where they came from,” he yelled to his brother and cousin.
“We cover each other’s backs while we do.” Tor grunted and shoved forward. He met two attackers head on and battled.
“Colin MacKenzie has orchestrated this attack with complete precision,” Kirk gritted as he launched himself at the warrior he fought. “Thankfully though he didn’t take into account that Cherub would be here. She’ll even the odds up as no one else can.”
With a fierce shout, another wave of MacKenzies streamed through the trees. High above, Cherub reappeared out of nowhere, twirled her hands and sent a wall of wind at the MacKenzies rushing toward them. Over half of the warriors tumbled head over heels backward then Cherub whisked away and disappeared once more to aid their warriors elsewhere.
“She’s keeping the numbers we need to fight against at bay.” Tavish swung at his adversary and the warrior slammed his blade into his. With one foot shoved back, Tavish held his position then heaved forward. The warrior lurched back and wobbled. Tavish took advantage of the man’s misstep, swept one leg out and toppled him to the ground. Blade in hand, he slammed the hilt down on the warrior’s head and knocked him out. Weapons divested, he tossed them onto the blazing fire pit. No weapons, no fight. “Exactly where is the MacKenzie?” he shouted to Kirk. “Does he not lead his men into battle?”
Breathing hard, Cherub breezed in beside them again. “I spotted a galley in the bay and I’ve just sent a blast of wind at it.”
“Just the one galley?” Kirk asked her.
“I’ll do a sweep along the loch to make certain there aren’t any more. I’ll be back shortly. Stay safe.” She dissolved into a mist and swept high into the sky.
“They’re coming at us from all sides.” Kirk bounded forward and fought, matching his next opponent blow for blow. “The constant threat they pose must be eliminated.”
“We can’t let them get a foothold onto Matheson land.” Another warrior swung and Tavish whipped his blade into the man’s side.
Grunting, the warrior fell back a step. He grasped his side, eyed the long slice in his steel-studded coat and snarled at Tavish. “You, I will gladly kill.”
“You, I will gladly send right back home.” He thrust his sword and the MacKenzie blocked his swift blow. They fought, hard and fast.
“Kirk, we have a problem.” Cherub reappeared and with one wave of her hand sent the warrior Kirk fought against flying backward. “The cart has overturned. Matthew is hurt and I fear moving him. The ladies are missing and I’ve no idea where they are.”
“Julia!” Tavish searched along their link as he ducked his opponent’s next blow then twirled around and kicked him in the rear. The warrior went down and knocked his head on a protruding rock. Blood gushed and he moaned and slumped. “Julia!”
“Can you reach her, Tavish?” Kirk demanded.
“No, she’s not answering me.”
“Take command, Gerald.” Kirk motioned to one of their garrison’s captains. “Cherub, you remain here. I’ll call out if I need you.”
Tavish sprinted toward the corralled horses. If anything had happened to his mate, he’d never forgive himself. He snagged a destrier from its tethered post, mounted and thrust his knees into the animal’s flanks and tore along the trail leading around the curve of the bay, Tor and Kirk galloping at his side.
They rode, leaving a plume of dust the rushing wind whipped around in their wake. He urged his mount faster. Massive pine trees swayed on his left and the sea roared on his right. Ahead, Matthew lay on the trail and he hauled his horse to a stop and bounded down. On his knees before the older man, he touched the arrow speared right through his side. “Hold still, Matthew. No moving while I assess your injury.”
“You must go. Julia”—Matthew garbled for breath, grasped his hand and spat blood from his mouth—“MacKenzie. Galley.”
“Cherub’s already gotten rid of the galley. Did Julia go into the forest to hide? Where are the ladies?” He tried to clear Matthew’s airway as best as he could, although there was only one way to save Matthew and that was by taking him back to his time and removing this arrow. He eyed Kirk. “If Matthew’s to survive he’ll need surgery. Can you spare Cherub from the battle?”
“I can spare her for a few minutes. I’ll tell her to come.”
Mere moments later the wind rushed all around and Cherub appeared. She clutched a hand to her mouth and sank to her knees next to Matthew. “How bad is it?” she asked Tavish.
“If he’s to survive, we need to leave, with all haste.” As carefully as he could, he lifted Matthew into his arms.
Cherub nodded at Kirk. “No getting hurt while I’m gone.”
“Go, and make it quick.” Kirk clasped Tavish’s shoulder. “Tor and I will find Julia. I give you my word we will.”
“Send word to me when you have.” The dark ensued and the three of them fell away into the dark abyss of Cherub’s portal. Through the endless streams of time, they moved and mere minutes later they arrived in his medical rooms. Gently, he set Matthew down on the white-sheeted bed, flicked on the lights and hit the red alert switch which would bring his clan’s medical team running. The buzzer screeched through the halls and out into the bailey.
“I must go.” Cherub kissed Matthew’s cheek then eyed Tavish. “I too will aid Kirk and Tor in finding Julia.”
“I still can’t reach her.”
“The link can cut in and out at times, particularly with the wide chasm of time separating you.”
The gaping emptiness where his link should be loomed like a black hole. “As soon as you find her, bring her here to me. I won’t be able to focus until I know she’s safe.”
“I shall, the moment I can. Look after my kin.” She stepped back and disappeared within the dark, rushing vortex of time.
The door burst open and Megan and Connor arrived.
He forced his mind back onto the wounded man before him. He had an arrow to remove and a man to keep alive. Julia would be devastated if she lost yet another of her close kin.
* * * *
Julia’s head throbbed and her belly rolled as she pitched from side to side within the galley’s hull. The boat rocked and dipped. Waves slapped against its sides, the sound pulling her further toward wakefulness.
She opened her eyes and blinked as a new day dawned. Overhead, heavy gray clouds bubbled and brewed, the mass ready to open and spill its load. She touched the back of her aching head and groaned. Nay, she had no time for wallowing. With a wobble, she pushed herself upright and blinked to clear the haze. All around her, MacKenzie warriors rowed from bench seats and her enemy’s flag flapped in the breeze from the center mast. Damn. A whole night must have passed since her capture.
“Tavish?” She searched along their link except there was naught but an endless dark. Their connection had been severed, and only two things could cause that, either his moving beyond her reach, or death. Goodness. Death. She wouldn’t consider such a thing. Oh dear, Matthew. She’d left him on the trail and his death mere moments away. A tear trailed down her cheek, her heart heaving for the gentle man who’d never raised a weapon in battle yet had perished
in a war between their clans all the same.
“About time you woke up, lass.” MacKenzie thumped down the center aisle in black boots, his gaze narrowed on her and the jagged scar cutting through his left eyebrow bleeding afresh. Long war braids swayed at each side of his shaggy, brown head. He leaned in and extended his hand to her. “We’re about to make landfall and stretch our legs. You may do so too, but only with a guard watching your every step. Allow me to aid you to your feet.”
“I’ll never accept any aid from you.” She slapped his hand away, gripped the closest seat and hauled herself up. On her feet, she swayed, her violet skirts damp from where she’d been lying in the water slopping about the hull. She rubbed her chilled arms, leaned against the mast and surveyed the seas and coastline surrounding them. “Where exactly are we?”
“At Red Point, and we’re sailing toward Loch Broom.” His dirty aura leeched the blood-red into the fresh sea air and the heavy roar of his aura increased the pounding in her head. She forced her skill to settle until she heard naught but the wind rushing around her and the slap of the oars through the water.
“What’s at Loch Broom?” Loch Broom sat a good day’s journey to the north of Loch Alsh. She rubbed her brow. Scotland’s rugged coastline swept along her right and to her left, the northern-most tip of the Isle of Skye protruded. They’d sailed quite some distance already, any sign of Matheson land well and truly gone.
“Your parents, and by now, Jeremiah as well. After yours and Cherub’s surprise visit to my keep, I sent my son to my holding there with the order to slay Aleck and Adair within the fortnight if I didnae arrive with you.” MacKenzie bellowed to his man at the rudder. “To land we go. Lower the sail.”
Two warriors unraveled the knots securing the great square sail while the warriors rowing, slashed their oars swifter through the water and sent them on a direct course toward Red Point’s rocky tip and sandy shore.
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