Her Highland Captain: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance (Beasts Of The Highlands Book 9)

by Alisa Adams

Cristianna was looking at Sandolf. The man was astonishingly fast, taking on every attack with ease and the same speed, no matter the weapon used against him.

  “Cristianna! Darling!” screamed Serena. Buttercup had galloped off following the other girls with Serena clinging to her mane.

  Darling was still watching Lawrence fighting when Serena screamed. She saw all three of the men spin to stare up at the slope.

  She knew Lawrence saw her. He motioned with an urgent thrust of his sword for her to move on. War’s eyes stayed on Serena as Buttercup surged up the slope with the young woman in the golden armor clinging to her mane.

  “Cristianna, we must go!” Darling shouted fearfully as she noticed MacKenzie warriors looking up the slope.

  Darling and Cristianna put their horses into a full gallop, their hooves pounding up the wet, green slope, crossing each ridgeline until they were almost up to the plateau where Kinloch sat, overlooking the valley.

  “Faster Tommy, faster!” she urged her mare on as she lifted her seat slightly off of Tommy’s back, taking her weight in the iron stirrups so as not to disturb Tommy’s speed.

  She glanced down to her right to see men starting to move towards the slope. “They saw us, Cristianna!” Darling shouted over her shoulder.

  “I see them! We must get to the keep!” Cristianna shouted back.

  “Get up off of the saddle! Lighten Primrose’s back!” she yelled. “He can go faster!”

  Together, they followed the rough track and came hurtling around a rock outcropping, up over a steep ridge and onto the final plateau.

  “Stop!” screamed Darling. “Stop!”

  14

  Flain and Oger lay on the ground at the horse's feet. Darling and Cristianna had pulled the horses up just in time, or they would have trampled the two men. Their hands and feet were tied, and rags were tied over their mouths. Their helmets were gone. A thin pink drizzle of rain-soaked blood ran into a small puddle near their heads.

  “They are breathing,” Cristianna said in a whisper as she looked down at the men. “Both men have suffered a blow tae their heads and are bleeding.”

  Darling spun Tommy around, her eyes quickly scanning the plateau through the driving rain. It was a flat green expanse with the walls of the keep on one side and a sheer drop to the valley floor on the other. The massive wooden doors to the keep were closed.

  She looked frantically around until she found Serena. She was at the far end of the plateau, near the cliff’s edge.

  The MacKenzies were there as well.

  They were standing near the cliff edge, holding swords to Serena and the three other girls. The girls had been pulled off of their horses. Serena’s golden helmet lay on the ground in the mud. Her hair and skirts were soaked as she looked at them with wide, frightened eyes. Buttercup was standing with the palfreys, being held by a young MacKenzie boy. The large stallion was agitated, pulling against the boy holding his reins.

  “Darling…” Cristianna whispered.

  “I see them,” Darling answered quietly with just a hint of anger in her voice. “Where are the men in the keep, and why are the doors closed?”

  Cristianna peered through the rain to the massive wooden doors of the keep. “All down fighting in the valley, I should suspect.”

  “Law and his men?” Darling said under her breath as she kept her eyes on the men holding the girls.

  “I saw men heading for the slopes. All were on foot. It will take too long tae get up here, Darling.”

  “We are on our own then,” Darling said in a quiet, clipped voice.

  “Aye,” Cristianna said as she narrowed her eyes on the MacKenzies.

  Darling exhaled sharply. “I am used to that. I let mi madre down. I was too afraid to fight then. I will not do the same this time.”

  Cristianna turned to look sharply at her. “Ye know how tae fight?” she said in surprise as she blinked several times to get the rain out of her eyes.

  Darling turned slowly to pierce Cristianna with her angry, flashing dark eyes. She had a tight smile on her face. “Oh si, si, I do.” She watched as Cristianna smiled back at her. “It is the lion's troth that I do,” Darling added with a grin.

  Cristianna gave a short, pleased laugh and then looked back at the MacKenzies. The men were leering at them. “There are three of them. Plus, the boy.”

  Darling did not look at Cristianna this time. She just smiled as she studied the MacKenzies. “Eso es todo? Is that all?”

  Cristianna laughed deep in her throat with eagerness. Then she sobered. “They have short swords which they hold on the girls.”

  “Si, only swords, and short ones at that. I see no other weapons.” She narrowed her eyes at the men. “Their armor looks tight. I am looking for any vulnerabilities in it.” Darling was studying everything she could about them.

  “I have a twisted hilt claymore and my longbow,” Cristianna said. “You have a battle-ax.”

  Darling glanced quickly at her. “I also have these little knives that Flain gave me.” She picked up a small leather satchel attached to her saddle. “Several of them.”

  “Sgian Dubhs!” Cristianna declared.

  “I will not even try to say that. Tomorrow perhaps, but not today.” She looked at the men’s armor. “The tiny knives can enter the open spaces in their armor in several places if my aim is true. Between the tassets that cover their upper thighs, in the side of the ribs…” she mused.

  Cristianna choked back her laugh. “In between the tassets? Ye mean...?”

  “Si,” Darling grinned menacingly. Then she looked at Cristianna with firm lips. “We must make a charge at them.” She narrowed her eyes. “I will yell to the women to move at the very last moment.”

  Cristianna reached over her shoulder and drew her sword out with a hiss of steel. She nodded, her face deadly calm as the rain fell steadily on them. “Aye, I am ready.”

  Darling opened the satchel and left it hanging on the right side of the high pommel at the front of her saddle. She hefted the battle-ax in her left hand where it sat in a sheath hanging off her saddle. She smiled over at Cristianna. “Remember, shoulders back! Be brave! Be courageous! If there is one thing I am certain of, we ride these horses very well. Use that!”

  Cristianna nodded again.

  Darling gathered her reins in her free hand and put her heels into Tommy's sides. She did what she had seen Lawrence do on Leonidis. Tommy was a natural. She bunched up her hindquarters, lifted her shoulders, and arched her neck high as she trotted in place.

  Cristianna set Primrose to doing the same, though the heavy draft barely moved its feet.

  They advanced forward together, side by side in a dramatic, deliberately slow trot. They put their horses into a controlled, collected, slow canter. The mists parted around them as they made their way down the plateau. The rain stopped, and a single ray of sunlight hit the plateau.

  Darling’s eyes narrowed at the MacKenzie men as they leered back at her and Cristianna. They watched her with hungry, malevolent smiles on their faces as they took a step forward, shoving the other girls away. They started walking eagerly forward, swords ready, prepared, and impatient to meet the two girls coming slowly at them on their horses.

  Darling spared a quick nod at Cristianna. They both knew the other girls were out of harm's way for the moment.

  “Now!” Darling hissed as she put her heels sharply into Tommy’s sides. The big mare started to gallop with Cristianna and Primrose right at her side.

  Tommy put her head down as she strained all through her body and neck, her long legs covering the ground in a blur of speed as they hurtled over the plateau.

  Darling did not slow her mare. She sent her right toward the nearest man, whose eyes widened at the sight of the huge horse coming straight at him. He did not move in time but flew through the air at the impact of the horse’s chest as it hit him at full speed.

  Darling instantly pulled Tommy up and spun her around, throwing her battle-ax to Serena. “Fig
ht!” she shouted to her.

  Cristianna jumped off of Primrose before the horse had halted and ran to Serena’s side as the two of them took on one of the MacKenzie warriors.

  Darling pulled out one of the tiny knives and hurled it at the MacKenzie, who had spun to face her with his sword. She missed and heard the man’s laugh as she got a glimpse of Cristianna waving her sword at the other man while Serena was yelling angrily as she swiped her battle-ax at him. The warrior had his hands full with the two women in armor. He could not move fast enough in his old, heavy steel, three-quarter armor, and heavy two-handed broadsword. Serena was denting his helmet as she struck him again and again.

  Darling spun Tommy around again as the man in front of her began to lunge towards her with wicked intent, holding his sword at the ready. She grabbed another of the small knives and threw it with a snap of her wrist. It flew past him. She quickly pulled out another, which bounced off his chest plate as he laughed at her attempts. She pulled out another, breathing out slowly as she aimed lower. She concentrated, flicked her wrist, and sent the small knife flying. This one hit its intended mark. The MacKenzie bent over, both hands on his tassets, as he stared in shock and anger at her.

  She stared at him, ready with another small knife. Waiting.

  She saw Cristianna holding her sword, her stance widened, and her shoulders back, pointing it at the other MacKenzie while Serena hit him over and over with the broad side of the ax. The man could only cover his head in its helmet and howl at her as he finally dropped to his knees in surrender.

  “Hold!”

  Darling looked over at the voice. It was the man she had knocked down with Tommy.

  He had his arm around Mery’s throat, his short sword at her neck.

  Darling saw Jamys standing just behind the man, ready to jump onto his back. Charlotte Lynn was standing well away, her arms wrapped around herself, looking terrified.

  Darling shook her head subtly at Jamys.

  “Suetala!” she said angrily to the MacKenzie man before thinking about what language she was yelling at him in. She repeated it in English. “Release her, MacKenzie!” Darling called out to him in her strongest, most commanding voice.

  The large, barrel-chested man tilted his head at her. “I dinnae think so, Castilian. I hate Castilians!” he added vehemently as he spat at the ground near Tommy’s feet.

  Mery began to struggle, but the big man tightened his hold on her neck, his hand accidentally grabbing her necklace and locket as his grip tightened.

  “What have we here?” he said with interest as he turned his hand and opened it to see the locket resting in his palm. “A bejeweled gift for me?” As he looked down over Mery’s shoulder at the locket in his hand, his eyes narrowed. “Where did ye get this, woman!” he shouted at her.

  Mery began to stammer and cry.

  Darling nudged Tommy forward. She opened her mouth to tell the MacKenzie that the locket was hers, but before she could, Charlotte Lynn hurried forward.

  She pointed at Darling. “’Tis hers!”

  15

  Mery, Jamys, Serena, and Cristianna all looked at Charlotte Lynn.

  “Chari Lynn?” Mery whispered. “What are ye doing?”

  Jamys glared back at the tall girl. “Aye, what are ye doing?” she hissed at her. “How would ye ken it is hers?”

  Darling was staring at Charlotte Lynn from the moment the tall girl had pointed at her. She watched her closely.

  She heard a whooshing sound from behind her and glanced back to see that Cristianna had drawn an arrow from her quiver and had it knocked in her bow. She was aiming it at the MacKenzie and then at Charlotte Lynn, slowly pointing it at one and then the other.

  Serena had the battle-ax held in the air over the man on the ground as he stared up in terror.

  “Jamys,” Darling said calmly, “step away from the MacKenzie. Come over here beside us, please.”

  Jamys moved slowly away from Mery and the MacKenzie. She took the sword that Cristianna motioned for her to pick up and went to stand next to Serena. The thin blonde girl was still unwaveringly standing over the MacKenzie warrior with a fierce look on her face. Cristianna was on Darling’s other side, holding her bow and arrow steadily up in front of her.

  Mery started whimpering as soon as she realized she was alone with this man who held her by her neck.

  Darling looked back at Charlotte Lynn with narrowed eyes.

  “What is this dithering all aboot?” growled the MacKenzie. “Explain!”

  Charlotte Lynn smiled sweetly at Darling as she meekly clasped her hands together in front of her in the folds of her brown skirt. “The locket is hers.” She shrugged and smiled again at Darling. “Ask her who she is. Ye will be most pleased, Laird MacKenzie.”

  Darling hid her surprise that this was the laird of the MacKenzies. How does Chari Lynn know who he is? Darling smiled tightly back at her. “Si, the locket is mine, this is true. Though I want to know how you came by this information.”

  “Never mind her!” roared the MacKenzie as he glared at Darling. He squeezed his arm tighter around Mery’s neck as she screeched and clawed at it. “Tell me who ye are or risk this girl's life!” he growled.

  Darling quickly held out her hand to him as she moved Tommy even closer. “Do not harm her! Let her go, and I will tell you!”

  Mery started crying in earnest. She was terrified.

  “Wheesht!” the MacKenzie roared at Mery, but she only cried louder.

  Darling dropped her hand. She lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders as she sat up tall in her saddle atop Tommy. She clutched the reins tightly. If she told the MacKenzie laird that she was the wife of his enemy, Lawrence MacLeod, he would kill her and very likely the girls as well. The black mare began moving agitatedly, picking up on her mistress's cues. “Easy Tommy, easy my girl,” Darling murmured quietly.

  Laird MacKenzie narrowed his eyes on Darling. “Yer horse is named Tommy? The legendary warrior queen?”

  “Si,” answered Darling firmly. She watched the MacKenzie’s face. “You know of Tommy?”

  “Aye, I do. Answer my question,” he whispered as he kept his eyes on Darling. “Who are ye?”

  Darling slowly took her helmet off her head. Her long, dark hair fell around and down past her shoulders. “My name is Darling MacRae DeLeon,” she said proudly.

  The MacKenzie laird stared at her. He shook his head. “Nay. I think nae. What was yer mither’s name?” he asked her harshly.

  Darling’s heart was beating fast. Why is he asking this? “My madre was Hextilda MacRae. Mi padre is the pirate DeLeon. He will kill you if you harm any of us!”

  Charlotte Lynn rushed forward. “The pirate DeLeon doesnae care aboot her! Her husband is Laird Lawrence MacLeod! Capture her and he will do whatever ye ask!” she said urgently.

  Laird MacKenzie looked back at Charlotte Lynn. He slowly let go of Mery, but not before taking the locket off of her neck.

  Mery quickly stumbled forward to stand with Darling, Cristianna, Serena, and Jamys. She looked up at Darling. “I am sae sorry. Chari Lynn gave me the locket!” She hurried through her explanation. “We came onto the plateau and the MacKenzies were waiting to capture us. She told the MacKenzie that the woman coming on the black horse would be worth more than all of us!”

  Darling nodded calmly to her, but her eyes were flashing angrily as she looked back at Charlotte Lynn.

  Laird MacKenzie started walking towards Darling. She froze and grabbed one of the tiny knives. “Do not come any closer!” she shouted.

  He held his hand up. Suddenly his eyes looked old, his shoulders slumped. “I mean ye no harm, lass.” He extended his other hand with the locket in it. “This is yours.” He took the last steps towards her.

  Darling reached down and slowly took it from him, keeping her eyes on his.

  “Have ye never read what is inside, lass?” he said softly as he stared up at her. He slowly stroked Tommy’s neck as he looked at Darling.


  Darling shook her head once. She was numb, her heart beating fast. She watched Laird MacKenzie’s hand on Tommy’s neck. He murmured her horse's name, once, softly. She saw a tear escape from the corner of his eye.

  “Do you know my horse?” she asked him hesitantly.

  He looked up at her with anguish in his eyes. “Ma younger sister always wanted a black horse,” he said as if to himself. His deep voice had turned soft as he reminisced. “She said if she ever got sich a horse, she would name it for the warrior queen, Tommy. Ma sister fell in love with a young man, ya see. Ma father didnae approve of the match, and when it was found that this young mon got ma sister with child, my father had him killed. Ma sister ran away. We searched and searched and only found out years later that she had gotten on a Castilian ship the day she left us. The ship was captained by a man named DeLeon.” He blinked back his tears as he looked up and studied Darling's face. “Ma sister’s name was Hextilda,” he said in a raw voice.

  Darling’s mouth fell open. She blinked rapidly, trying to take in all this information. She looked down at the bejewelled locket in her hand and quickly opened it. Inside the golden locket there was nothing. She looked down at the laird with a question in her eyes.

  He smiled with trembling lips and nodded to the locket.

  She studied it again and realized that it had a second compartment. The first was for a tiny portrait, but she could see a thin opening. She used her thumbnail to pry the slender piece of gold open. Behind it was a compartment for a lock of hair or even a second tiny portrait.

  There were words etched on the gold:

  To My Darling- Hextilda MacKenzie

  From Your Darling- Gabriel MacRae

  Together Forever

  Darling gasped. She put her hand to her mouth and choked back a sob as she reread the words inscribed. She looked down at Laird MacKenzie as tears flooded her eyes.

  “I amnae surprised she named ye Darling,” he said huskily.

  “She wore this, always,” she whispered. “It was taken from her when she was killed. Her last words were for me to find it, and read what it said…” she murmured as she reread it again. “She wanted me to know who my real father was, and who my family is,” she said reverently. Then she looked up at Charlotte Lynn. “But how? W-Why?” she stammered out angrily.