To Avenge Her Highland Warrior

by Samantha Holt

  Hand to his mouth, he swiped away the wine and set down the goblet. He shooed away the two hounds who sniffed around him for food and watched them slink back to their corner of the hall. His thoughts turned to Lorna again. Mayhap he had seen her during the battle, when Gillean led his men to take back his keep from the conniving woman, but something about being in her presence stabbed him like a knife in the gut—or to the throat. He touched his neck again.

  One of the serving maids scurried past, and he grabbed her arm. Her eyes widened and she glanced up at him from under her lashes. The staff often regarded him like that. As though he were some disfigured beast, he thought bitterly.

  “Have some food taken down to the prisoner,” he barked and released her arm when he felt her tremble.

  “Aye, sir.” Anne dipped.

  Perhaps he should have left the prisoner to starve a little longer. She’d only missed a few meals. It wouldn’t harm her to go hungry. Logan had no intention of letting the woman starve, however. Gillean would want to deal with her. From what little he knew of the woman, Gillean felt her to be a threat and as they were planning to make a move on Glencolum within the month, it would not hurt to have one of their kin in their grasp.

  Logan helped himself to another goblet of wine, took a sip and savoured the tangy bite of the drink on his tongue. He paused in front of the tapestry. It depicted a battle—bodies and blood spilled across the hanging. He sighed. What Gillean had planned meant potential death for most of them. It could also reap huge rewards. Turning traitor to his country was not the most honourable way to make a living, but what other choice did he have? It was not as though Scotland had done anything for him. His life had been insignificant until Gillean had helped him.

  If all went well, he’d have more than he’d ever dreamed of. With a chuckle, he tossed the rest of his wine onto the unlit fire pit in the centre of the room and abandoned the beaker on a table before adjusting the sword on his belt. How ironic people like Lady Lorna would end up with nothing while he—who according to Gillean had arrived on his doorstep with nothing but the clothes on his back—might end up in command of an island.

  He pushed open the heavy carved doors and paused at the top of the steps into the bailey. The days were turning cold as they headed into autumn. The steps were damp and grey clouds hung low over the hills, as if weighted by rain. Logan inhaled the scent of soggy grass and mud. Not only rain hung in the air. Anticipation stirred. All at Kilcree knew they were on the verge of war. The men pacing along the wall did so with increased energy. Their chatter was hushed, as if fearful of giving away secrets. They would all be placing themselves on the line for Gillean’s greed, but greed drove them too.

  Logan couldn’t help taking a moment to revel in it. After many months recovering from his injury and memory loss, the chance to take charge of his life appealed greatly. He might not remember his past but determination drove him to forge a future none would forget. Soon, everyone would know his name.

  ***

  Lorna dragged open her eyes when the door squeaked open. She must have fallen asleep, but it had been fitful. Images of the last time she had seen Logan flitted through her mind. It was almost as if he’d known he’d never see her again. He had stayed behind to fight while she ran to safety when Gillean had taken command of Kilcree and tried to imprison her. The longing in his gaze never left her. If only she had told him how much she loved him.

  Tears—ones she had held back for so long—dripped down her cheeks. She’d been strong for her son, strong for herself. Crying never helped. When her first husband, Walter, had beaten her, her tears never had any effect. In fact, she suspected he’d taken pleasure in them. Gillean’s brother might not have had the same ambition as him but was certainly born with a black heart.

  Light footsteps sounded and she sniffed. At least it was not the mercenary. A figure approached, but Lorna was unable to make out much in the gloom.

  “Milady?”

  Lorna straightened and regretted it when her muscles panged in protest. Her arms were stiff and her back tense from leaning against the cold wall. “Who is that?”

  The figure came to her side, and Lorna heard something clatter as it was placed on the ground. Warm fingers wrapped around her own. “My name is Anne. I’ve brought ye some food and drink.” A beaker was pushed into her hands.

  “Thank ye,” Lorna croaked, her voice taken up with grief and a sudden realisation of how thirsty she was. With shaky hands, she brought the beaker to her lips. The shackles weighed her down and stole her strength so that she spilled much of it down her gown, but the ale brought relief to her dry mouth.

  Exhaustion weighted her arms and the beaker slipped from her hands, clattering against the stone.

  “Ye must try to eat,” the servant urged.

  “I dinnae...” Shivers wracked her. Her stomach grumbled but the cold conditions and lack of food had drained her. Unable to lift her hands again, she could not take the offered bowl.

  “Shall I...?”

  Lorna swallowed her pride. “If ye will, I thank ye.”

  Anne carefully spooned the warm broth into her mouth. Much dribbled down her chin and humiliation burned her cheeks. The last time she had been fed like this was after a particularly severe beating from her husband. Only her servant—and of course her husband—had known of his treatment of her. They had kept it quiet from the rest of the household somehow. Perhaps rumours followed her, but pride would not let her reveal the barbarity of his behaviour. His death had indeed been a blessing.

  Lorna did her best to swallow what she could. The broth filled her stomach but could not defeat the chill that lingered in her bones. She shook her head when offered another spoon—unable to summon the energy to continue.

  “Ye should eat more, milady. Ye shall ail.”

  “Does it matter?”

  A huff sounded from the woman as she gathered the bowl and beaker. “A lady should not be kept in these conditions,” she murmured before coming to her feet.

  Lorna lifted her head and peered at the woman. In the gloom, she only made out the curve of a youthful cheek and a tight wimple. A thread of hope spun through her. Perhaps this servant girl would be her saviour. “Will ye help me?”

  Silence hollowed the air, with only a whistle of the breeze through the thin slit shattering it.

  “Gillean shall kill me if ye dinnae.” Lorna hated to put the serving girl in such a position, but these were desperate times.

  “I shall see what I can do,” Anne replied softly. “I make no promises though. I depend on this job. My parents are old and frail and have no other income.”

  “Forgive me, I dinnae mean to put ye in such a position. Pray dinnae place yerself in danger. But if ye can help me in any small way, I swear I shall repay ye.” Lorna clenched her jaw when a tremble shook her. They were coming more frequently now and even she heard the frail quality of her voice. “Ye think the laird will harm ye?”

  More silence and a long intake of breath. “Laird Gillean is no kindly leader. He rules with a strong hand. Ye should know that well enough, milady. He killed many of yer men, did he not?”

  “He did. Though some escaped to Glencolum, I have yet to find out the fates of many.”

  “I fear their tales shall be pitiful. Some were captured, tortured and killed. I was brought here after such a time but the men will tell ye much of the horrors.”

  Tears burned Lorna’s eyes. She had tried not to consider what had happened to the men who had tried to defend her when she had been ejected from the keep. But when Gillean had tried to kill her and her brother, they had little choice but to escape. She had left behind many friends.

  “He hasnae hurt ye?” she asked through a clogged throat.

  “Nay, milady, not so long as I work hard.” Anne sounded as though she were trying her best to convince her.

  Lorna shook her head to herself. Gillean had to die—he had to. She’d been so consumed in her own grief, she had barely given thought to w
hat others were suffering at his hand. Perhaps she should have demanded her brother and cousin, the acting laird of Glencolum, gather an army, but she had no wish to bring more death to them. Why should many men die when only one needed to?

  “I must leave ye, milady, but I shall come back with more food and drink as soon as I can.”

  Lorna nodded, not sure if Anne saw her response. Her throat was too clogged, too dry and her voice to weak to respond. She dropped her head back against the stone and waited for the door to shut.

  Chapter Three

  Logan had finished checking the perimeter of the keep when one of the serving girls approached. He eyed the girl and recalled she was the one he’d sent down to check on their prisoner.

  In spite of a busy morning organising the men and overseeing weapon’s practice, his thoughts forever turned to the fair-haired vixen. Was it that she was an attractive woman? Or something else? Curses, if only he remembered more. Why had his neck injury stolen his memories? It made no sense. He could only guess mayhap he had knocked his head during the battle for Kilcree, but in the chaos of battle, none could tell him for certain and few would tell him much of those events. Even the men feared him and kept their distance. The ugly scar across his neck did not help matters.

  Anne dipped briefly and kept her gaze to the ground. “Sir.”

  “What is it?” He winced at his snappish tone. Logan relied little on civilities but something about having that woman under his care had put him on edge.

  Or mayhap it was simply the knowledge of the impending battle. Gillean joining forces with the Norse to attempt to take the Western Isles again and increase their reach into the mainland had everyone feeling apprehensive. To go against their king could have dire consequences.

  “It’s Lady Lorna, sir. She is ailing.”

  “And?”

  “I fear she may die before Laird Gillean returns.” The girl lifted her head and met his gaze head on. Uneasiness haunted her gaze but he saw no lie.

  Logan scrubbed a hand across his rough jawline. Was it an act? He had considered the lady intelligent from their brief encounter. The problem was could he take such a risk? The laird would likely wish to deal with her himself. Logan remembered nothing of the woman Laird Gillean had once called sister, but her escape over a year ago still angered Gillean.

  “Ye’ve given her food?”

  “Aye, sir. But she could eat little. ‘Tis the cold, I fear. She has spent too long in the donjon.” She dropped her gaze and clasped her hands. “Forgive me for saying, but ye shouldnae let her die. She is of an important family.”

  He nodded. The MacRae clan were one of the more powerful clans in Moray. Gillean fully intended to turn his attention to their lands soon enough, but it would not do to rile them unnecessarily. And mayhap the lady could be used for negotiations. Logan might have much authority but he did not have enough to decide her fate.

  Hands to his hips, he released a resigned sigh. Few things made him apprehensive. After all, what could disconcert a man with no memory? But having to deal with that woman again did.

  “Very well. Have a guest chamber made up.”

  “Aye, sir.” Anne snatched her skirts and scurried across the bailey. He did not miss the look of relief washing over her expression.

  Before he returned to the keep, he stopped at the gatehouse and arranged two men to guard the guest quarters. If this was indeed some trick, he would not fall foul to it.

  Logan took the spiral stairs down to the donjon. The rotten smell and the damp clinging to his skin reminded him of his time there. Awakening to find himself chained to a table, his body aching and damaged, even now made him shudder. When Gillean had visited with him, it had been clear he remembered nothing of the events leading up to his confinement. The physician put it down to trauma. Almost having your head severed from your body likely did that to a man, Logan concluded, but it did not stop him from curling a fist with frustration. Sometimes, at night, he squeezed his eyes shut and willed his mind to remember, but nothing came.

  He could only act on what he knew. He worked for Laird Gillean and if he continued on this path, his circumstances looked set to improve. Soon, he too could be in command of a keep and many men. The prospect certainly enticed.

  The rusting door groaned in protest as he pushed it open. With the sun now high in the sky, he had a better view of the prisoner and saw she was slumped to one side. He approached cautiously. A trap, or had she swooned?

  When he touched a finger to her neck to feel her pulse, his skin pricked. He had touched her hand before, and been disturbed by the way her soft skin made him tingle, but her neck and the delicate, faint throb of her life’s blood caused a tumult of sensations. All of them unwelcome. While he should be preparing for war, he did not need such a distraction.

  He tugged the key out of the folds of his plaid and unlocked the irons on her wrist. Red welts marred her pale skin, and an unusual sensation weighted his stomach. Sorrow? Pity? He shook his head and kept hold of her arms until he had her shifted into his hold. He scooped her up and found her boneless and light. If this was a trick, she was a fine actress indeed.

  Grip tight, he carried her out of the donjon and up the stairs to the hall. If anyone thought the sight of their chieftain carrying a lifeless woman strange, none had the courage to say as much. Servants moved aside and the two men-at-arms he had stationed at the top of the wooden staircase watched silently as he ascended the stairs and strolled along the balcony.

  When he stepped inside the guest chamber, he found Anne preparing the bed. She pivoted and her mouth fell open.

  “She is dead?”

  “Nay.”

  He dropped his gaze to the woman and acknowledged she did not look alive, in spite of the gentle rise and fall of her breasts. Covered in filth, her pale skin did not look delicate as a noblewoman’s should. The grey cast to it spoke of her ailment, and a hollow look to her eyes forced that uncomfortable pang into his stomach again.

  Dragging his gaze away, he eyed the serving girl. “Bring some food and have some warm water brought up. I shall try to rouse her.”

  “Aye, sir.” Anne bobbed and left, flinging one last sympathetic look at the woman in his arms.

  Jaw tight, Logan lowered the woman to the plush red bed. Her limp figure in a dirty green wool gown made his heart squeeze. He flexed his hands and scowled. Something about the woman’s slender body made his body tighten in remembrance. But why would he remember touching a noblewoman? Gillean had already said Logan had come from nothing. A woman of Lady Lorna’s birth would not deem to consider a man like himself.

  He swept a golden strand from her face and forced himself to study her features with great attention. If she knew something of his past, if they had known each other at all, he needed to know. Logan surmised himself to be nearing thirty, which meant he had lost more than two decades of his life. The empty darkness that comprised his memories never failed to aggravate him.

  Lorna’s delicate features—her snubbed nose painted with pale freckles, a pointed chin and fair lashes stirred his interest again. He had seen few women as fine as she. Though he could not know that for sure. When nothing came—when the dark abyss of his mind refused to abate—he gave up his study and shook her shoulder. She mumbled, which made him release the breath he had been holding. He pushed again and wondered if this woman had ever been handled so. No doubt she was used to men treating her with the upmost respect. He let his lips thin. She likely knew little of hardship. It would do her no harm to learn.

  One eye flicked open, then the other. Her pale blue gaze took a while to fix on his face. Her eyes narrowed and widened. His appearance probably did little to comfort her. He’d let his dark hair grow long over the seasons so that it almost brushed his shoulders. He rarely trimmed his beard. Lorna blinked and her gaze fell to the unsightly welt on his neck. Unfortunately the dark hair on his jawline didn’t cover all of it.

  Then her gaze met his and his heart jolted.

&nbs
p; Her eyes rounded. “Logan?”

  Her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell into a swoon once more. She knew him? He reached out to touch her but jerked back when the door swung open with a thud. Anne skipped her gaze between them and hastened to place the bowl on the coffer.

  Eyeing Logan, the maid touched Lorna’s head and concern flashed across her face. “She is cold as snow.”

  He cursed inwardly. He had been so concerned with the touch of her gentle body against his, he had not considered how cold she had been. Now he had an additional reason not to let her die. She knew something of him and he had to know what.

  “I dare not wash her like this, sir. She shall chill further. I shall have to have a bath brought up, though I fear she willnae stir.” Anne nibbled on the end of a finger. “I dinnae know how to get her in it. Perhaps some of the men...”

  Logan shook his head. He would not have them touching her. He scowled. Why he felt so strongly about that, he knew not, but the thought of any other man’s hands on her caused his chest to tighten.

  “Have a bath sent up and filled and we shall see if she doesnae rouse before then.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Anne went to fetch more servants to help. A brawny lad from the kitchens hefted up the large wooden tub while another woman stoked the fire to set it blazing. Wood crackled and the orange glow warmed the room. Logan tugged at his plaid. The woman might still be cold, but he was in danger of bursting into flames. Sweat trickled down his back, feeling too much like a nervous sweat for his liking.

  He paced as the servants filled the bath until swirls of steam drifted lazily into the air and he grimaced inwardly when he turned his attention to the still senseless woman. He had little choice. He ordered the servants away.

  “Anne, stay,” he barked. “Shut the door.”

  Closing the door, she clasped her hands in front of her. She eyed him warily. What he was to do could cause great scandal but he did not have any other choice. And Lorna was no innocent and these were times of war. Sacrifices had to be made, even if it was the woman’s virtue.