Branded by a Warrior
Page 26
Whatever had caused his accusations would be dealt with in time, his life, along with Kendrix and Isobel’s now hung in the balance, her only goal was to see them rescued and deliver sweet vengeance upon Kincaid and his men. As she attached each weapon to her side, she stood a little taller, felt stronger and more confident. She was The Warrior Queen of Scotland, and she would kill anyone who stood in her way.
Running her hands through her mess of locks, she plaited her long red hair and coiled it upon her head, grinning; she leaned into her wardrobe and pulled out the golden circlet that belonged to Broderick’s mother. Placing it in her crown of red curls, she secured the beautiful piece. Grabbing Broderick’s black sable fur she swung it over her shoulders and latched it closed.
Gently grabbing her trusty bow, she angled it over her shoulder so the string ran between her breasts, strapping on her quiver full of specialized arrows she adjusted it until it was perfect. Closing her eyes and clasping her hands she knelt quickly and sent up a prayer to the heavens and to her parents and brother, today more than any she needed their guidance and watchful eyes. Tonight she would avenge their souls.
Slowly rising, she opened her eyes with determination. Signaling the hounds, she walked out of her solar and quickly made her way down through the keep.
The castle was alive with activity; it was now common knowledge that Kincaid and his men had captured Laird MacMillan, Kendrix and little Isobel. Pushing the double wooden doors to the castle open with force, Elisabeth marched out of the keep with her wolfhounds at her side into the dark night.
The sight before her stopped her in her tracks.
The entire MacMillan army was before her, in full amour, saddled and waiting in perfect rows, their eyes upon her. Duncan’s warhorse was saddled and being held by Ajax, Kendrix’s first in command at the front of the warriors.
Standing upon the top of the castle stairs, she looked out at the hundreds and hundreds of battle hardened warriors before her and her chest expanded with pride. Broderick foretold of a time when she would need to lead his army, tonight was that night.
Nodding to the fine warriors before her, she walked down into the torch lit bailey towards Ajax and her stallion. Head held high, she swung up into her saddle easily and took the reins from Ajax who mounted his horse as well. Addressing Ajax with a few vital questions, “Ajax, do we know where they are being held? How many men did you leave behind to guard the castle?” She questioned quietly to giant blonde warrior.
“West of us, under the shadow of the Glenmore Mountain, he has a camp set up. We were able to get a rough number of close to two hundred warriors with him; he’s been there for weeks. The messenger was more than happy to divulge the information rather than dying, he also spoke of a woman who arrived a day ago, a woman by the name of Siobhan.” His voice was dripping with hatred as he said her name.
“I am going to kill that bitch with my own hands!” She vowed. Hot rage lanced through her as she took stock of the situation. Since the moment she had found out that Kincaid had her family, plans began to form in her head.
“I’ve ordered two hundred men to stay behind, before you are three hundred of our finest warriors my lady, is that sufficient?” Ajax questioned scanning over rows of warriors.
“Aye Ajax, you’ve done well. I do not want to leave the castle prey to a secondary attack if this is a ploy to get us to vacate.” She declared, turning her horse so she was facing the warriors. She needed to address her army.
The wind whipped as she sat upon her stallion looking over the countless warriors dressed for battle, the large moon cast an eerie light upon their faces as she began to speak, “Kincaid has captured your Laird, Kendrix and his daughter Isobel. I want my family back! Tonight we ride, tonight we shall see the end of Laird Kincaid’s tyranny, and tonight he shall die!” Her voice carried through the bailey with rampant fury, the warriors shouted their battle cry in unison as she stood before them. Every soul before her was bloodthirsty for vengeance, every man before her wanted Kincaid dead.
Quickly informing them of her unique plan, she ordered the drawbridge to be lowered and then sealed upon their exit. The warriors left at the castle would defend it with their life. With Ajax at her side, she led the hundreds of warriors out of the protection of Castle MacMillan and set their course for a hard ride through the night to Glenmore Mountain, she had a rat to kill. If Kincaid Douglas wanted her, by god he could have her, and it would mean his death.
Their journey took them west upon the treacherous course to Glenmore Mountain, a small range of craggy peaks. It wasn’t long before they found the tracks of previous riders, only hours behind the messenger they stormed through the moonlit forest, racing against the frozen wind. The army of kilted warriors rode with their queen, armed and ready to wage war once again. Confident in her plan and the men at her side she ran though the plans in her mind as her horse pounded through the snow, Conn and Isla at her flank. She calculated for every possible scenario imaginable, over and over again in her head she ran through the details.
Long before they reached the camp, Elisabeth gave quick hand signals to the warriors, splitting; the warriors rode off in two different directions, disappearing into the forest before her. Leaving her alone with her wolfhounds in the middle of the forest just before the foothills of the mountain. She would make a solo entrance while her army circled around the camp; she needed to give them time to slowly approach, her long distance archers needed to be within distance when the time came. They would slowly creep towards the camp as she finished the ride by herself.
Spurring her stallion forward, she rode in the direction of Kincaid’s makeshift camp. The last leg of her journey was eerie as her dogs trotted along side of her; the moon was high in the sky casting shadows upon the forest in the foothills of the mountain. Holding her head high she focused on the three lives ahead of her, she thought of each of them as she rode towards the camp. She prayed Isobel was safe and unharmed, she had heard vile stories of Douglas men raping younglings.
Soon enough, Kincaid’s lookouts would spot her, just as she intended. She was the distraction so her men could surround the camp. She would ride upon Kincaid’s camp as if she was surrendering herself, just like he wanted.
Chapter 19
Broderick sat motionless against the large pole next to his brother, he had not been able to sleep, but he did keep his eyes closed and listened. The sound he had been waiting for ignited his senses; beside him he could sense his brother feeling much the same.
The Douglas guard blew loud on the horn, signaling movement in the woods; one by one warrior after warrior ran out of their tents, swords raised awaiting Kincaid’s order. Broderick noticed Kincaid’s tent door slowly pulled back, exiting, Kincaid had a wicked grin on his evil face, like a cat that had just caught a fat mouse.
“My Laird! A lone rider approaches!” the guard called, his voice echoed against the mountainous wall.
Immediately Broderick started to panic, did she really think Kincaid would offer a trade? Was she surrendering? They’d all be murdered.
Beside him, he heard his brother’s raspy voice, “Trust her Broderick. For once in your damn life trust her. You want to prove you deserve her? Trust her.”
Clenching his jaw he knew his brother spoke nothing but the truth, shooting a prayer up to God, he nodded to his brother and watched the Douglas warriors assemble behind their Laird. All around them Douglas warriors poured from their tents armed for battle.
Kincaid tossed his plaid haphazardly across his chest and ordered the fires stirred as he took his place on the throne before his tent, beside him Siobhan joined him, now holding a drowsy Isobel in front of her skirts. Broderick kept his focus on Kincaid and Isobel who were directly before him. Beside him, Kendrix did the same.
Again, the guards beckoned as the rider came closer into view, “Tis the Warrior Queen my Laird, riding just as pretty as she pleases with her wolfhounds, the forest is free of her warriors, she be alone!”
Straining against his roped, Broderick’s muscles flexed in response to Kincaid’s sickening words, Isobel looked desperately at her father and him as she struggled under Siobhan’s tight grip.
Kincaid commanded to his guards, “Let her come, lower your weapons men and lets see what the lovely Warrior Queen of Scotland has to say!”
Broderick and Kendrix had their backs turned to her, unable to watch her entrance they instead watched Isobel and the warriors before them as she quietly rode into camp.
As Elisabeth approached she felt as if her heart was going to escape her chest as she made the last descent into the now blazing bright camp ahead of her. In the forest she had seen guards alert camp of her arrival. Without walls, she could easily see their shadows against the fires, warriors assembled in the circular camp. Scanning the camp from afar, she spotted the two poles in the center of camp, assuming the men attached to them were Broderick and Kendrix.
Taking a bracing breath, she spurred her stallion into the night, her destiny was before her. She had a vow to fulfill and a family to save. With revenge in her heart, and courage running through her veins she set her horse into a full gallop as she pounded towards them.
Riding into camp, she saw quickly assessed the situation at hand. Kincaid was sitting arrogantly on a large wooden throne, beside him stood Siobhan and Isobel. In the center of camp Broderick and Kincaid were latched to large poles, still alive. All three of them were still alive, breathing a sigh of relief she focused on her next objective.
Entering the large circle behind Broderick and Kendrix, she brought her large horse to a halt as she kept her eyes on Kincaid. Dismounting, her feet hit the ground with little sound; her beautiful green gown flowed freely around her feet.
Hands ready, she slowly approached Kincaid, choosing to walk directly between Broderick and Kendrix’s poles. Pausing between them, she cast a gaze to each man, looking at her husband last, “I love you Broderick, please forgive me.” She whispered, silently ordering the wolfhounds to stay beside the brothers, she continued forward, her attention solely on Kincaid, Siobhan, and Isobel.
Behind her, she heard Broderick shout, “Elisabeth, no!”
Ignoring his plea, she continued forward and eyed the scar faced Douglas Laird with contempt and hatred. As she approached, she stopped so Kendrix and Broderick were behind her and Kincaid was directly in front of her, she stood between the men. Elisabeth saw Isobel lurch towards her, trying to escape Siobhan’s hold to get to her. Siobhan quickly pulled Isobel’s hair and drug her back over to Kincaid, Isobel screamed in protest as she screamed for Elisabeth.
“Siobhan, release my niece at once!” She ordered with authority, her voice vibrated through the camp.
Pulling the child close, Siobhan smiled at her as she twisted the child’s hair, “Ye have no power here woman!” Pulling Isobel’s hair harder just to prove her point, she cackled in response to Elisabeth’s request.
Elisabeth’s movement was so quick, no one saw it coming, especially Siobhan. As the last words came out of Siobhan’s ruby lips, Elisabeth pulled her dagger gracefully from her waist and in one motion sent it flying straight into the base of Siobhan’s throat.
Kincaid silently watched as Siobhan sunk to her knees gasping for air as she spurted blood from her neck. Her death did not come quickly.
Elisabeth had not come to play. Signaling Isobel to run to her side as Siobhan lay dead at her feet. Seeing the Douglas warriors draw their blades as Isobel ran over to her Elisabeth swung her bow up and strung an arrow in seconds, aiming it directly at Kincaid’s blackheart, stopping their advancement in one swift moment.
“Ah ah ah gentleman, move once more and your precious Laird dies right now!” Her vow rich with truth stopped each man in his tracks as Isobel ran to her side and hugged her waist. Elisabeth felt Isobel slowly pull her dirk from her belt she addressed Kincaid; she needed more time for her archers.
Broderick had never seen his wife in action until this very moment, the stories of her valor and dominance were grossly inaccurate, she was far superior to any of the tales. In one swift movement, she secured Isobel to her side, and took control of the situation with the regal command of a queen. She wore a royal green gown, draped in his kilt and sable, armed to the hilt with her weapons and bracers, even the gold circlet she wore upon her head added to the vision that was she. Beside him, his wolfhounds sat at his feet, a small glint caught his eye on the hounds. Looking down, he saw attached to their backs, hidden deep within their scraggly fur, was a shortsword. Elisabeth had attached a weapon on each hound and placed the dogs right at their feet.
“If you kill me now Elisabeth, you will die soon afterward my dear. I’m not sure if ye can count my love, but I’ve got you outnumbered.”
“Aye, but I can die knowing ye died at my hand Kincaid.” She spat.
The flame haired warrior eyed her with growing irritation, he was unaccustomed to not being in control, grasping the handles of the throne, he challenged, “Did you come to surrender Elisabeth, surely even ye do not believe you can take on my army alone?” Sitting back in his chair he grinned at her.
Lowering her bow, “I will never surrender to you Kincaid. I came to challenge you for their release!” She snapped, raising a brow as she spoke.
“A challenge, aye, I accept your challenge woman, name your terms.” Kincaid growled. His dirty hands clawed the handles of the throne.
“I challenge you or your best warrior to a battle of swords. If I win, I will take my family and leave, but allow you to live.” She bargained in a cool voice, the wind whipped across her face, behind her she could hear Broderick growling in discontent.
“When I, or my warrior wins?” Kincaid asked, leaning forward in his chair, he eyed her with his one good eye. The other marred by a vicious scar across his face, an injury Elisabeth had single handily dealt him years ago.
“Isobel is to be set free with Kendrix, Broderick and I are yours.” Enunciating every word with regal authority, she stood tall.
Kincaid smiled and stood up, looking behind her he called to Broderick, “Do you stand behind your woman’s word Broderick? Does the Laird of Clan MacMillan allow his woman to barter with his own life?”
Without turning around to see Broderick’s face, she heard his resounding immediate reply “Aye, I accept the terms of her challenge Kincaid, however, you will allow me to speak with her one last time, that is my only request.” He added in a chilling tone.
Keeping her eyes on Kincaid, hearing Broderick’s response sent her confidence soaring, he did not reject, he did not beg her to stop, he, without hesitation agreed.
“Agreed,” Kincaid mused as a grin crept upon his scared face, “seek counsel with yer wife Broderick, for soon enough she shall be mine.” Kincaid taunted, shouting for his best warrior, “bring forth Ivan, he shall be the arm that challenges and defeats The Warrior Queen!” Turning to look directly at Elisabeth, he sneered, “he had no issues laying yer brother Duncan low, I’m sure he’ll have no problems with a wee woman.”
“Watch your tongue Kincaid, I would hate to cut your other eye out like I did the first one,” she seethed, turning to face Broderick and Kendrix, the ice in her heart melted as soon as she looked upon her beloved husband. He stood straight and proud, tied to the large post, their eyes locked and her soul reached out to him as she slowly made her way to him, holding hands with little Isobel along the way.
Keeping her eyes on him, she stopped before him and squeezed Isobel’s trembling hand, the clouds shifted allowing the bright moon to illuminate the makeshift courtyard of the camp.
Sliding off her quiver, she quickly adjusted it, kneeling down beside Isobel she attached it to the lass as she spoke, “Remember what I taught y
ou Isobel, I need you to focus and remember, stand between your Da and Uncle Broderick, I know you have my dirk, use it wisely my love.” Leaning forward she placed her hands upon Isobel’s cheeks and kissed her forehead, whispering “I love you” as she stood back up and handed the small child her trusty bow.
Turning to Broderick, she knew her time was limited, taking a bracing breath she straighten herself to her full height and looked upon her seething husband.
“Do nae do this Elisabeth, ye sword arm is injured. If Duncan could not best him, you will surely fall, please my love, cut me loose, let me fight him.” He pleaded as he looked down at her.
“I will be okay, I am quicker and smarter than that giant, I have debt to repay him for taking Duncan from me.”
“Elisabeth Rosslyn MacMillan, do ye really believe Kincaid will let us live?” He countered, quickly scanning the activity behind her back, the giant Ivan appeared from the shadows, he was one of the biggest men he had ever seen.
“I suspect Kincaid and his men will be dead within moments, it was never my intention to barter with him Broderick, I’m simply buying time for your men who are taking position in the woods around us. De ye think I would truly come alone? On my signal the warriors hidden around us will rain hell down upon these scum, see yourself and Kendrix keep Isobel safe.”
From beside her, she heard Kincaid, “I told you she had a plan Brother.”
Turning to smile quickly at Kincaid, “Indeed Brother I do.” Turning back to Broderick, she saw his jaw clench with anger as she began to whisper to him “Broderick, allow me to seek revenge for Duncan, and I shall let you kill Kincaid. Allow me this and I’ll hang up my sword after this night, for you.”
His eyes flashed with understanding, she was entrusting him to seek vengeance for her, her offer sounded like heaven to him, the only thing standing in the way was a giant of a man with arms like trees. His heart pounded as he calculated her plan, his heart and head argued. Besting Ivan the Beast would be an immensely hard challenge for him, let alone his slim and injured pregnant wife.