by Fiona Faris
“Alan, you ‘ear that?” the first guard said. His hushed tone had a touch of fear that gave Nathan pause.
“Eh?” came the reply from deeper in the dungeon, followed by a heavy coughing fit that Nathan assumed belonged to the other guard.
“Quiet, you fool, listen. I heard somethin’.”
It seemed to Nathan that his cousin did not choose the brightest of men to guard his prisoners. Not only that, these men were clearly English. He didn’t recognize the voices, and a thought occurred to him. With the exception of Samuel and Derek, he didn’t recognize any of the men Elias counted as allies. Was his clan really as divided as he had been led to believe, or was it possible that Elias was using hired men to instill fear into the rest of the clan? Mercenaries were rare in the Highlands, but it was possible. He would deal with that later.
Nathan knew he had to move fast. If the guard called Alan came too close too soon, it would be difficult to get them both under control. It was now or never. He motioned to his two other men to stay put as he moved slowly toward the first guard. When he was close enough to smell the man’s raw breath, he wrapped his arm around the beefy man’s neck.
“What th’ ‘ell…” the man choked out as Nathan placed unrelenting pressure at just the right points to hold him still before he slowly sank to the floor.
“What’s goin’ on ‘ere?” Alan came rushing up, but not fast enough. Nathan dropped his friend and the other two men came out from the shadows.
“Nothing ye need concern yerself with,” Nathan said, motioning for the other two men to tie the man.
“Wait… wait… wait. What is this? Who are ya?” The guard tried to fight off the men, moving around so much it was impossible for the lads to get a hold of him to secure him. “I’ll call for men. You won’t get away with this!” His voice was raising in volume, and Nathan began to be concerned that he would be heard above in the keep. He’d hoped the man would not cause as much of a ruckus, yet that was not to be the case.
“Ye can settle down and let us go about our business, or we can give ye th’ same fate as yer friend here,” Nathan said pointing to the felled guard. Alan let out a furious howl and swung his arm about, knocking one of the lads to the ground. The other lad jumped back. He was a large man, and Nathan didn’t blame the lad for moving out of the way. Nathan swung his body low before sweeping the giant’s legs out from under him. As he fell, Nathan moved out of the way.
Finding the lad who was still standing, he shouted.
“Now get his feet!” he yelled, motioning toward the rope. Now both of his men were standing again. Nathan was glad to see the first boy wasn’t seriously hurt in his fall. Nathan himself moved to secure Alan’s hands and tied a wad of handkerchief into his mouth as a gag.
“Alan, that is yer name. I hear yer friend call tae ye. Someone will come back for both of ye, ye have nothin’ tae fear from us. As Laird of clan MacKenzie, I swear it,” Nathan said. Alan’s eyes went wide, recognition dawning before he shot Nathan a hot gaze filled with daggers of anger, yet he didn’t fight back. For that Nathan was grateful. According to Claire in the kitchen, no one came down to the dungeon again until after the evening meal. So, their task would be long over before anyone found Alan and his friend. Nathan double checked the ties at his hands and feet to ensure he would not be able to loosen the restraints.
Leaving the two lads behind to keep watch, Nathan pulled a lit torch from the wall and headed deeper into the dungeon. The dank, musty smell of age and decay filled his nose. Of course he knew there was a dungeon below the keep, but he hadn’t been down inside since he was a boy. The dungeon was a maze of cells and dark corners. He had been lucky that during his lifetime the oft warring clans of the Highlands had settled onto peace. The dungeon was rarely used for its true intent.
“Until Elias,” he said to himself.
“Someone there?” a husky, graveled voice called out. “Hello?”
“Who goes?” Nathan called out. Nothing. No response. “I cannae help ye, if ye don’t tell me where ye are?”
“Help us?” the voice called out, disbelief coloring his tone. Nathan couldn’t discern a direction, he needed more sound.
“Aye, speak more friend, I need to use yer voice to find ye in the labyrinth.”
“We are in the back, all th’ way toward the final wall. Keep moving with the sound of my voice.”
“Who are ye then? Thomas Graham, perhaps?”
“Aye.” Thomas sounded well, that was a good sign. He kept moving toward the back of the dungeon, not wanting to think why Gavin was also not speaking. Hopefully his friend would be well.
He came upon the last cell and looked inside. The light from the torch was dim, but he was able to make out two men. One had a shock of red-hair, lighter than Milly’s but still Nathan would recognize his old friend anywhere. It was Gavin, and the reason he’d been silent was made clear. A filthy scrap of cloth was tied into his mouth with harsh twined rope. Elias had his friend gagged.
“Holy hell,” Nathan said. The men both looked at him wide eyed. “Lads, get over here with the keys. We need tae get this men free.” The men rushed up, one of them handing Nathan the thick ring of keys they had lifted from the first guard’s belt. “Thomas, stand back, lad,” he said, advising the man to stand clear of the bars as he tried key after key, eventually finding the right one to open the heavy lock.
The bars swung open and Nathan rushed to Gavin’s side, making quick work of the ropes and gag with his sword. One of the men handed him a small flagon filled with water.
“Tilt yer head back, Gavin, let’s get this water into ye.” There was no telling how long he had been gagged. Nathan wondered how he was able to eat enough to stay alive. As if reading his thoughts, Thomas spoke up.
“I’ve been feedin’ him broth around the gag. We’ve not been able to loosen it much without a dirk or sword. The bastard secured it too well.”
“Aye, I can tell,” Nathan replied, looking at Thomas’ hands. Even in the weak torch light he could tell they were rubbed raw, spots of blood dotting his fingertips. Elias needed to pay for how he treated friends of MacKenzie. Now free, Gavin began to cough and sputter.
“Slow, slow friend, take the water slowly.” Nathan held the flagon up to Gavin again. He didn’t look hurt, but was rather thin.
“Nathan…” he choked out, standing up and looking Nathan square in the eyes. “What th’ hell took ye so long.” Gavin gave him a devilish grin. Relief flooded through Nathan, glad to have his friend back. He clapped him hard on the back.
“It’s a grand story, Gav. I’ll have to give you the shortest version. We are tight on time, and yer sister needs us.”
“Thomas filled me in on a bit of it. I have tae admit I’m not pleased. How the hell did ye let Milly get involved with Elias, or with any of this? What did ye dae, Nathan? Yer cousin is a dangerous man. I hae my own story tae tell ye.” Nathan knew there was a chance Gavin would blame him for Milly’s involvement, and if he were telling himself the truth, he blamed himself as well. But now was not the time to lay blame. Gavin had to be told everything, and fast. Now the real work began. They had to get back to the kitchens, and then onto the chapel.
Chapter Thirty-One
MacKenzie Keep Kitchens
“He killed my father?” Nathan leaned against the kitchen work table, the weight of the words Gavin had just revealed crushing him. He was unable to stand. He knew his cousin was greedy, power hungry and dangerous, but he never thought the bastard would kill his own uncle.
“Aye, I wish it ‘twasn’t so, but I saw it with my own eyes at the Battle of Dunkeld.” Gavin moved from his place at the table and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. After everything Gavin had been through, he still had the energy to comfort Nathan. It was a kindness not soon forgotten.
“Son of a…” Simon said from the corner. He ran his hands through his dark hair. Nathan looked at the lad. He understood exactly how the boy felt. Claire moved between the men, gi
ving Thomas and Gavin food and drink, stopping to place her arm on Simon’s shoulder. Nathan wondered at what may be between the two, and why Simon would be affected so, but his mind was still in shock. The thought passed as quickly as it came. Another kitchen maid and one of Simon’s lad kept a watch on the main hall, promising to give the men advanced warning should any of Elias’ men approach. Most likely they would all be heading toward the chapel by now. Time was running out, but Nathan had wanted to ensure Thomas and Gavin were at their peak strength for the battle ahead.
“I saw it as well, although Elias wasn’t able to prove I saw it. He suspects,” Thomas said, breaking Nathan from his thoughts.
“Ye were smart not tae let on. ’Tis probably th’ only reason yer still alive,” Nathan replied before turning his attention back to Gavin. “But Gav, if Elias kens ye saw what he did, why keep ye alive all this time? Why didn’t he just have ye killed in Perth?”
“Based on what ye told me of his intentions with Milly, I think that’s clear. If he could use me tae get tae my sister, he could beat ye out for the Lairdship.”
“He couldn’t have known Milly would try and find ye. It seems an unnecessary risk on his part. Why go to the trouble for an unknown outcome?” Nathan said, his mind still reeling from the shock of learning Elias killed his father. It seemed he had underestimated the ruthlessness of his cousin from the beginning. Why indeed go to the trouble? Unless, the outcome didn’t really matter? No, it couldn’t be. Dread began to fill Nathan as Elias’ plan became clearer to him. “Milly is in much more danger than we realized. There is no way Elias is planning to keep Gavin alive after he secures her hand in marriage. That means there is no way he’s planning on keeping Milly alive. We can’t stand around here waiting any longer. She cannot marry him, we must stop it. We must go!”
“Nathan, slow down, what exactly is yer interest in my sister?” Tension crackled between the two men. Nathan’s guilt over his role in putting Milly in this danger was making him frantic. He knew he would have to admit his role in bringing Milly into all this, sooner or later.
“We dinnae have time tae discuss this, Gavin, we must away to the chapel,” he said. Gavin didn’t make a move to leave, determined to get an answer to his question. Nathan knew he would have to give the man something. He was like his sister in more ways than one. “I admit, when she first arrived at the keep, I had developed a less than honorable plan.”
“Which was?” Gavin asked.
“I intended tae use Thomas as a ploy tae get Milly tae marry me. I thought, wrongly, that was a fair play. After all, she’d kissed me once, ye ken, when we were young.” He smiled slightly at the memory he’d been too stupid to cherish. That was before. Now he’d give anything to go back to that time. To do it all over again with Milly, the right way. Then there was this morning, before he left her, sleeping peacefully like an angel fallen from above. “At the time I thought it twas the only way tae beat Elias before it came tae this. Had I somehow known that Elias murdered my father before things had gotten this far, I would’ve killed him dead much earlier, but alas here we are…” He wasn’t proud of it, but he wouldn’t lie to Gavin. Hell, not after everything they’d been through.
“Do ye have nothing else tae say on the matter?” Gavin asked.
“Nay, I have plenty tae say on the matter of yer sister, my friend, but we dinnae have th’ time. We hae tae save Milly. Right now that is all that matters.”
“Ye bastard,” Gavin said low, almost a whisper, as he moved in so close that Nathan thought for sure the man would pummel him. Awareness or something very close to it came over Gavin. He knows, Nathan thought as he clenched his fists at his side, bracing for what was to come. Thomas moved forward and grabbed Gavin by the arm, stopping him from moving in on Nathan. Even though he deserved it, there wasn’t time to explain everything that had happened since. How he’d not been able to go through with it. How much he’d come to love Milly, and how he would still marry her, it wasn’t for the Lairdship. It was because he wouldn’t be whole without her. She was his everything. Words would not work so he could only nod in agreement. He was indeed a bastard, but they would have to discuss it at length at another time when Gavin’s sister’s life was not in immediate jeopardy.
“Nathan MacKenzie, did ye compromise my sister? Did ye make her yer whore?” Gavin asked through clenched teeth. Nathan stood taller, meeting Gavin’s gaze. Gavin may be a brilliant military tactician, and a brawl warrior, but Nathan would not stand down.
“Brother, blood or nae, Gavin MacGille, dinnae ever speak of yer sister in those terms in my earshot again. Ye hear me?” Nathan spoke quietly but anger seethed just below the surface of his words. The two men stared each other down, neither willing to be the first to move. Nathan saw Thomas share a knowing glance with Simon, and the second man moved to brace Nathan.
“Enough!” Nathan whipped his head around to see his uncle standing in the doorway of the kitchens holding what appeared to be a heavy bag. “Ye two bastards need tae come together to beat my son. The lass wouldnae want ye tae come tae blows over nonsense. This will stop now!”
“Uncle William? How?”
“Doesnae matter how, lad, but ken I cannae stay long. I’m expected at the chapel. Elias has already left with his henchman, Samuel and a few others in tow. Milly will be following now. It is time to move.”
“William, how much did ye hear?” Gavin asked.
“Enough tae ken there is no saving my son. He is lost tae me. Now, ye must save the lass.” He dropped the bag he’d been holding and a loud rattling clank sounded on the stone steps, the back breaking open to reveal swords. Not the thin, practice swords that Simon and his men were able to secure, but actual, real forged giants. “This should help ye along.”
* * *
Nathan, Gavin and the rest of the men made their way toward the chapel. Nathan sent his uncle ahead with a message for Milly, urging her to delay the ceremony as long as possible. Should they run into any trouble as they crossed the keep fairly exposed, Nathan wanted as much time as possible to prevent her from being forced to wed.
A commotion at the front gates of the keep drew the mens’ attention. They were hidden from view but could hear yelling, one man significantly louder than the rest.
“WHERE IS MACKENZIE!? I DEMAND TO SEE HIM! COME OUT YE COWARD!”
“What th’ hell?” Nathan muttered. A body came running around the corner nearly colliding with the men in their hiding spot. Nathan grabbed the man by the arm, slamming him against the wall.
“Nathan, Nathan, Laird, ’tis me. ’Tis me, Derek. I did what ye asked. I went tae Cadney. I brought help.” Nathan immediately recognized the boy and all started to become clear.
“I’d ken that booming voice anywhere, the lad is right, ’tis Lucas,” Thomas replied. Relief flooded through Nathan, the lad had been successful. He looked down at the boy.
“Good job, lad. Well done!” He put Derek down onto his feet and rustled the boy’s hair before motioning the men to slowly move out from the protection of their hiding space. Sure enough, as they came around the corner, they watched as the few hired men Elias had put on the guard made move to flee. They were quickly face-to-face with the giant, red-haired Laird of Clan MacGille surrounded by at least fifty MacGille men, all on horseback.
“Och, brother, yer makin’ it quite difficult to create the element of surprise. Ye can be heard all th’ way tae France.” Gavin stepped out from behind Nathan and stared up at his brother. Nathan watched as shock covered the Laird’s face.
“Nay, it canna be,” Lucas said, shaking his head as if to clear the image of a ghost. The giant man jumped from his horse and ran at his brother with fierce emotion.
“Aye, it can. And it ’tis brother. And once we save our sister, there will be time to ask ye why ye didnae believe me still alive?” The men embraced tightly. Nathan wasn’t sure but he thought he saw wetness in both men’s eyes. He looked away, afraid he would also become overwhelmed with emotion.
“Milly kent it. Th’ whole time, she wouldnae let anyone believe ye dead. I wish I’d listened more. Are ye well?” Lucas pulled back from Gavin and looked him over.
“As well as could be expected for almost two years in the gaol. But I’ll recover. ’Tis Milly I worry for now.”
Nathan agreed, although he wished they had more time for the family reunion, Milly was still with Elias.
He cleared his throat, “My Laird, Gavin, I hate tae interrupt, but dae ye think we can get on with savin’ Milly from my murderin’ bastard of a cousin?” The men separated and Lucas looked from Gavin back to Nathan.
