Highland Rogue

by Dana D'Angelo

  “The guard willnae be happy when he wakes up,” he observed.

  “I’m certain that ye are telling the truth,” she said. “But the owner of that horse willnae be happy either when he finds his steed missing.”

  She viewed the prone man, and suspected that when he regained consciousness his neck would be sore. And not only that, he would also be in a great deal of trouble.

  Donnell held onto the reins, and the black beast made a sound.

  “I’ll help ye get on,” he said, indicating for her to approach the beast so he could assist her onto the saddle.

  She stared at the massive warhorse and took an involuntary step back. All the while she felt her body stiffen, as if blocks of iron filled her boots, preventing her from moving forward.

  “He’s extremely large,” she said nervously.

  “We cannae stay here all day contemplating its size,” he said impatiently.

  Since she made no voluntary steps to get closer to the steed, he let out a sigh. Settling his hands around her hips, he lifted her up, unceremoniously dumping her on the back of the horse.

  An instant later she was on the saddle, and looking down at the handsome warrior. But she didn’t have time to contemplate much more since he climbed up on the mount and sat behind her. Everything happened so quickly that her brain couldn’t understand what had occurred. In the next moment her mind became occupied with the muscular frame that pressed against her backside. When he reached for the reins, her heart jumped. Her body began to throb with awareness as she realized that she was trapped between man and beast. And even through the thick layers of clothing, she could feel the tingling heat from where he last touched her. Alisha tried to forget his magnetic presence, tried to remember that he was the cause of all of her problems, but it was impossible. If he hadn’t entered the town that day, there would never have been a fight. Seamus would have been ignorant about the ways of the mercenaries, and she definitely wouldn’t be sitting on top of this horse.

  But even as she tried her best to resent the mercenary, she was aware that he didn’t have to agree to help her. After all, Seamus was her responsibility. And as much as she wanted to deny it, there was a part of her that believed Seamus would eventually become immersed in warfare. She just wished that it hadn’t happened so soon.

  Trying to keep her thoughts from spiraling out of control, she turned her attention to her companion.

  “How will ye ken where tae find the rest of the men?” she asked.

  “’Tis easy,” he said, indicating the snow-covered ground. “We follow their tracks.”

  She glanced down. “As far as I can see, there arenae obvious tracks tae follow.”

  “Then ye will have tae just trust me,” he said, his voice casual.

  Trust him. She frowned at the idea. She didn’t know anything about this mercenary, and beside from Father Cormac, there were few people whom she trusted. For all she knew, Donnell might rob her but unfortunately for him she had no valuables to steal. For a split second that thought comforted her but then a new worry emerged.

  “I dinnae have much money,” she said. Alisha left the encampment in a hurry and was ill prepared for anything.

  “Ye willnae need it,” he said.

  “I’m sure ye are wrong,” she shook her head.

  Unless Donnell was a very masterful hunter and possessed foraging skills, they wouldn’t find much food in the forest. And if they ever came across a village, she would need money to buy sustenance.

  “How are ye going tae persuade my brother tae leave the mercenary group?” Alisha decided to be grateful toward the professional soldier.

  “Persuade your brother?” he repeated.

  There was doubt in his voice and she turned to stare at him. “Aye, ye said that ye would help me.”

  “The most I can do is tae take ye tae him. But ‘tis unlikely that he’ll want tae leave. The young lad will want the spoils and adventures that he’ll encounter as a soldier of fortune.”

  “Is that why ye joined the organization?” she asked.

  “Nay,” he said. “My reasons are different.”

  There was a long pause. Donnell’s silence was telling, and Alisha refrained from questioning him further.

  The sound of the horse hooves echoed on the frozen ground. After a moment, he continued. “’Tis probably best that your brother learns tae fight properly,” he said. “If he becomes a part of the Black Targe Company, he’ll be sure tae get a good foundation in combat. If he wants tae fight well, he’ll need tae learn the martial techniques of winning battles.” He paused as if he considered something else. “Unfortunately staying holed up at the mouth of Bracken Ridge willnae do much for your brother or the troop.”

  “Why?” she asked cautiously.

  “They’re on level plain. Sure they can strike the enemy, but they’re equally vulnerable for attacks.”

  Her throat went dry as she thought about the risks. Did Seamus realize what he was getting into? “What can be done tae keep him safe?”

  “Safe?” he scoffed. “There’s nothing safe about warfare. The most ye could do is have an offensive strategy. And in this case, we need tae wipe out the opponents first before they can attack. Tae accomplish that, we would need tae use reiver-like stealth and finish them off.”

  Alisha pressed her lips together, not liking the sound of his suggestion. “But whether the troop initiates a strike, the chances of them dying are just as great, isnae?”

  “Like I said, ‘tis better tae be on the offense rather than have your enemy sneak up from behind,” he said. “Ye dinnae want tae be caught ill prepared in war.”

  She frowned. Likely Donnell participated in many conflicts, and had much knowledge of warfare. But was this the right strategy that would keep her brother out of trouble?

  ***

  Donnell and Alisha rode for half a day before they finally caught up with the Black Targe Company. The mercenary group along with a few other clans had situated their campsite in the wooded area close to the main route. There were only about a hundred men, and they would all be used as decoys. Donnell doubted that many of them would survive the frontline, but that was none of his concern.

  He scanned the collection of men, unimpressed with what he saw. There were only a few experienced fighters. The rest of the men consisted of farmers and townsmen. Though these men might possess the passion and the desire to annihilate the enemy, they likely lacked experience and martial expertise.

  Stopping the charger, Donnell dismounted and helped Alisha down from the saddle.

  “I dinnae think ye would make it here,” Blane said, walking up to them.

  His friend made no mention of leaving him tied to a tree. He was sorely tempted to give a sarcastic reply but he held his tongue. Instead, he said, “Aye, I made it. And it appears that I came just in time. What are ye thinking of agreeing tae man the mouth of Bracken Ridge?”

  “’Tis the commander’s orders,” Blane said shortly. Donnell could tell that his friend didn’t like the idea any more than he did.

  Although the warriors were gathered together, it was clear that the clans present were suspicious of the mercenaries. Blane led them to where the rest of the Company convened.

  “I propose that we initiate a series of raids on the enemy,” Donnell said. “The attacks will be unexpected and could save a few men from dying.”

  At hearing Donnell’s declaration, a number of the men glanced over at him.

  “Nay, leaving this post isnae open for discussion,” Blane said, shaking his head. “We have the reputation of the Company tae uphold.”

  “But what Donnell says makes sense,” Alisha protested.

  Donnell gaped at her in surprise. Her support was unexpected. When he brought up the points earlier, she wasn’t keen on the idea.

  Noticing the lass for the first time, Blane frowned. “Who are ye?”

  “I’m Alisha MacTellnor — Seamus’s sister.” She straightened to her full height, although this h
ad little effect considering she was only slightly taller than a child.

  “Seamus’s sister,” Erik mocked, jabbing Coinneach at the side of the ribs.

  “Maybe his sister came tae hold his hand,” another man said. A few of the other mercenaries eyed Seamus and snickered. Her brother tried his best to ignore the men but the growing flush on his cheeks betrayed him.

  “I dinnae ask her tae follow me,” Seamus said, stepping forward. He glared at his sister as if he blamed her for the ribbing he received. “She needs tae go home. ‘Tis too hazardous here.”

  It was hazardous for a woman to be in the frontlines, but she was wise enough to stay quiet. Soon the men lost interest in the conflict between the siblings, and they turned their attention back to Donnell’s proposal.

  “Sae are we tae sit here and wait for the English tae arrive?” asked Will who was one of the older members of the group.

  Donnell was about to respond when he caught sight of a clan leader. Of all men to encounter it had to be Niall MacRell. The man glared at Donnell as if he wanted to run a sword through him. The other leaders seemed to look at Niall for direction, and Donnell suspected that the man wanted to command the mercenaries as well.

  “Staying here is suicidal,” Donnell said, breaking into the discussion. “And I’m nae going tae combat alongside that man,” He jerked his chin toward Niall. “If ye want tae stay, then ‘tis up tae ye, Blane. But I’m going tae the enemy camp. Who’s with me?”

  “This sounds like a sensible idea tae me,” Will said.

  A dark, conflicted expression crossed over Blane’s visage as he glanced over at Niall. Donnell was certain that his friend would dislike being ordered about by the younger warrior.

  Donnell needed to initiate his own plan while his friend controlled the others. “I understand that Rosstone disnae want the enemy tae predict our movements,” he said in hopes of swaying Blane. “But even if we commit a series of raids on the English, we can continue tae carry out the commander’s intent.”

  “I’ll submit that ‘tis true,” Blane said reluctantly. He scanned the faces of his men as he considered his options. “All right, let’s do it,” he said. “There’s a settlement half a day out. We’ll prepare tae mobilize now. Meanwhile Erik, I want ye tae ride out and scout ahead of us. Once ye find their location, report back tae the village.”

  Chapter 8

  It was one thing to travel with only Donnell. It was something entirely different when traveling with twenty rough warriors.

  Alisha had wanted to ride with Seamus but her brother wasn’t interested in sharing his horse with her. Since she didn’t know anyone else in the troop, her only alternative was to stay with Donnell. But once in the saddle, she found it difficult to ignore the braw mercenary that sat behind her. Equally impossible was preventing their bodies from touching. Whenever the horse lost its footing on the uneven ground, she was thrown against Donnell’s solid chest. At each contact she felt a surge of energy that startled and intrigued her at the same time. For the rest of the journey her companion made little conversation, but even so, she was very aware of his electrifying presence. She almost wished that she could ride on her own. If she no longer feared horses, then she wouldn’t have to suffer through this torture.

  The sun was starting to set behind them by the time they reached the village. She was tired and hungry, and she suspected that her companions felt the same. More than once, she questioned the wisdom of joining the troop. The only consolation was that she was able to keep an eye on Seamus. But what she saw didn’t make her feel exactly joyful. Her brother seemed to hang off the words of every warrior that bothered to speak to him. He was especially attentive when Donnell offered him some offhand remark.

  Donnell had helped her off his mount and led it to the stable. Meanwhile Alisha was left to take in her surroundings. She wasn’t surprised that it contained so few people. Most of the men would have gone to Bracken Ridge, but those remaining continued with their everyday chores. In a way, the village reminded her of home, and a wave of homesickness assailed her.

  “What are ye thinking, lass?” Will said as he came to stand beside her. He was an older man. He appeared kindly and jovial but knowing his profession, she guessed that he was as tough as his younger counterparts.

  “I was just thinking that this place reminds me of my home,” she said.

  A shout sounded behind her and she turned to look. Her eyes were drawn to the powerful mercenary as he conversed with Blane.

  Will followed her line of sight. “Is that all that ye are thinking about?” he teased.

  Alisha felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks. She didn’t think she was so transparent.

  “There’s nay shame in admiring the lad,” Will continued. “He joined the Company about a year ago, and quickly rose in the ranks. He’s an excellent fighter from what I can tell and amiable too, although he disnae reveal much about himself.”

  A woman and her son came into their view. She carried a bundle of sticks strapped to her back while her son dragged a piece of peat that had been cut from the ground and dried. The peat was almost as large as the child but he moved forward with determination. Now that winter was here, there was a constant need to gather as much fuel as possible. Neglecting to do this task would make for uncomfortable living conditions, especially when it became frigid.

  The boy eyed the warriors who stood at the center of the village, and he let out a yelp as he tripped over a rock and dropped his heavy burden.

  “Watch your step, Boyd,” his mother said sharply. The lad brushed himself off and began to tug at the dried peat.

  Donnell broke off his conversation with Blane and went to help the child. He reached for the peat and easily picked it up. The woman had turned around with irritation, as if to see what held up her son. But her expression changed when she saw Donnell. Suddenly, the cloud of anger disappeared from her visage and she appeared more youthful. She smiled at Donnell and began to speak with him.

  A dark emotion churned in the pit of Alisha’s stomach, and she glanced away, not liking the uncomfortable feeling. She had tried to ignore the fact, but there was no denying that Donnell was appealing. And even though she held no claims over him, she still didn’t like seeing the other woman flirt with him. What was wrong with her?

  Alisha shook her head and walked away. She was determined to forget about the mercenary, and went to search for a room at the inn.

  Once settled, she tried to stay in her bedchamber until supper, but she felt the four corners of the room closing in on her. Needing air, she decided to explore the village. She walked through the small community and was about to pass the parish church when she saw Donnell coming out of the small building. Ducking behind a wall of a private dwelling, she watched as he disappeared in the direction of the inn. She didn’t understand why she neglected to show herself to him. Really, she should have minded her own business except everything he did intrigued her.

  ***

  The following day Blane decided to turn the village green into an impromptu training ground. The villagers paused in the middle of their chores to observe the mock fights. But martial training was an important matter. Each day when they stopped to rest from their journey some men brought out their swords and engaged in swordplay. For mercenaries, it was necessary to constantly hone their combat techniques. Their profession required skill and precision, and this was what made them employable.

  Donnell eyed Seamus as he came to join the men in the open space. Blane must have seen something in the youth to allow him to join the Company.

  “I want tae fight,” the lad declared after spending some time watching the training. Someone handed him a claymore. But as soon as he held the borrowed weapon in his hands, it dropped to the ground. The others laughed at his incompetence. It was hard to believe that a youth his age had never handled a sword.

  “Ye fight worse than a lassie,” one of the men scoffed.

  “Dinnae say that, Hamish.” The tips of his ea
rs turned red. “I ken how tae do it. Watch me.”

  Jumping forward, Seamus raised his sword and began to slash it at the other warrior. However Hamish easily blocked his attack and sent the sword flying. In the next moment, Seamus was flat on his back while everyone watching began to hoot with laughter.

  “It appears that ye need tae train with a wooden sword before ye touch a claymore,” Hamish said, offering a hand to help him up.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Donnell saw Alisha standing in the crowd. Her face was pinched and her fists were curled at her side. He could almost feel her pain as she witnessed her brother’s humiliation. There was little that she could do to alleviate her brother’s situation. If she tried to go to his rescue, he would receive even more ribbing from the men.

  Donnell let out a sigh, remembering the agreement he made with her. He stepped back and brought his sword down. “I’m finished for now, Calum,” he said to his training partner.

  “Ye are?” he asked in astonishment. Donnell usually trained with Calum because the man didn’t hold back when he fought. “I thought we’ve just started.”

  “The lad needs help,” he said, nodding to the red-faced boy. Though the youth tried to maintain a nonchalant demeanor, Donnell could tell the comments from the others were getting to him.

  Understanding reflected on his partner’s face. “Ye willnae have an easy task ahead of ye,” he said.

  Donnell was well aware of this, but he nevertheless felt compelled to help Seamus. He shook off the idea that Alisha had anything to do with his decision.

  Walking over to the boy, he stood in front of him. At this point the others had laughed Seamus off the training ground, and he sat on a tree stump, his eyes downcast.