The Age of Knights and Highlanders: A Series Starter Collection

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Elspeth picked up a piece of bread and cheese to nibble on. Anything else she was sure would make her ill. She was much too nervous and overwhelmed to eat a full meal.

  As she ate, she studied the room. It was quite large, double the size of her entire home.

  There were six long tables lined up sideways so that everyone could see the high board if Malcolm were to address to them. Atop the tables were evenly spaced candelabras with lit candles that gave the room a warm glow.

  Across from where she sat was a huge hearth with a bright fire burning within. There was another hearth to the right that also housed a fireplace. Two hounds weaved between the tables, gobbling up anything dropped or given to them.

  Elspeth wondered how anyone could function with so much activity. However, upon further study, she realized that although it seemed to be chaotic, there was an order to things.

  The servants walked up and down between the six long tables, their footsteps sure, as they carried huge heavy trays.

  Guardsmen were seated at tables near the doorway. Families and women occupied the center two tables. Warriors again occupied the tables on the far left. Her gaze continued to travel to the back corridor where the serving maids and lads emerged. It surprised her to see most seemed content and not at all bothered by the work.

  Everyone needs a purpose, her father always said, and Elspeth supposed the task of serving gave people a sense of purpose.

  Abruptly, Lady Ross stood and walked away from the table and hurried down a corridor. The woman’s strange actions were no doubt due to Elspeth’s presence. If allowed, she would have done the same and left the room.

  Already her food had grown cold. The only things consumed were the bread and cheese.

  To distract herself when her injury throbbed, a reminder of why she was there, Elspeth studied Malcolm. He’d eaten everything on his plate, and now drank deeply.

  “I will wait until the morrow to see Ceilidh, I am not feeling well.”

  Immediately, he stood and took her elbow. “I will see ye to yer chamber.”

  Although she wanted to protest, at the same time there was a security that came with walking beside him. No one dared make a disparaging remark when their laird accompanied her.

  Once at the top of the stairs, Elspeth hesitated at the doorway and looked up to him. “Can ye tell me in truth why ye wish me to stay here?”

  He pushed the door open and guided her inside. “Yer father returns in the morning. He wishes to be present for our marriage ceremony. He did not relent in his demands that ye not be ruined.”

  “I am but a village girl. No one would give much credence to my word over yers even if I were to accuse ye of making advances.”

  Malcolm nodded, his gaze darkened. “Tis not much of a sacrifice. I am in need of a wife. As laird, I’m expected to marry.”

  “To someone who will bring honor and power to yer clan. I bring nothing.”

  He neared. “Ye captured my interest. Make me curious about what will happen next.”

  The thought she’d almost drowned because of him made her frown. “Ye tried to kill me.”

  “I did not think ye would sink.” There was a quirk to the corner of his lips. “I saved ye.”

  She glowered. “Release me to go home. I will convince my da that nothing happened. Ceilidh and I can return at first light and arrive home before they depart.”

  “Ye do not wish to marry me then?”

  There was a strange vulnerability in his gaze that took her aback. The man was arrogant, heartless and didn’t show emotion. At least that was the Malcolm Ross she was accustomed to.

  Elspeth hitched her chin. “I do not know ye.”

  Her breath caught when his mouth covered hers and she had to clutch his tunic to keep from falling backward. When his strong arms surrounded her body and pulled her closer, Elspeth wasn’t sure what to do. She’d never been kissed before.

  Malcolm didn’t seem to mind the lack of activity on her part and softly suckled at her lips.

  When a sigh sounded, Elspeth was mortified that it came from her. A kiss should have been simple. A pressing of lips and separating. But he continued in the endeavor and, much to her surprise, she didn’t wish him to stop.

  He glided his tongue between her lips, sending strange sensations through her entire body. At the same time, her curiosity piqued and she parted her lips just a bit to see what he’d do.

  Malcolm thrust his tongue into her mouth and withdrew it, while moving it side to side. The strange action became quite enjoyable. Elspeth pursed her lips, teasing his tongue, enjoying the interaction.

  When a bolt of heat traveled down from her chest to the area between her legs, she gasped and shoved him away.

  The rising and lowering of his chest was exactly what hers did. Both looked at each other although Elspeth was sure her eyes were wider.

  “Ye should leave. Please allow me to go.”

  He took a step closer and Elspeth put both hands up. “Do not come closer. I find myself quite…unlevel.”

  “Unlevel?” he asked. “What does that mean?”

  “Unable to think clearly,” she snapped. “Ye must go.”

  “We will talk in the morning,” he said, taking her chin between his fingers. “Ye will marry me, Elspeth Muir.” He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips and then broke it off abruptly.

  Elspeth stood still, not moving after the door closed behind her. How could a man who cared so little kiss so well?

  It felt as if her feet barely touched the ground as she made her way to the washbasin. She removed her dress, leaving only a chemise on, and rinsed her face before climbing into the large bed. Elspeth lay on her back and looked up to the ceiling. She’d never sleep, not with so many conflicting thoughts going through her mind.

  Malcolm Ross wished to marry her. It was either a cruel joke or the man planned to use her as a means to an end. She needed to find out the real reason he’d agreed to the marriage.

  A few moments later, she could barely keep her eyes open.

  Rough hands took hold of Elspeth and jarred her awake. It was too dark to see, but whoever it was yanked her from the bed and shoved a cloth into her mouth. She was wrapped up in a large sheet and thrown over a man’s shoulder.

  The men spoke in whispers.

  “Let’s go down the back way. Hurry.”

  Elspeth couldn’t move enough to struggle. It was impossible to see anything except bits of light from the torches down the corridor.

  The bouncing as the man hurried down stairs made her grunt in pain. Not only did her chest hurt from being jostled, but the pressure on her stomach made her want to relieve herself.

  Her protests sounded like mumbles, but the men paid no heed and continued out into the night to an area she’d not seen.

  The air smelled of damp earth as they made their way past the keep walls to the loch’s edge.

  “Take her faraway so that she cannot find her way back. Try not to harm her over much,” a woman instructed. “Ensure they know to keep her there.”

  It was Malcolm’s mother. Elspeth tried to scream, but the damned gag barely allowed for any sound to escape.

  “Yes, my lady,” a rough voice replied.

  The man who’d been carrying her tossed her onto a hard surface and Elspeth groaned in pain. Why was this happening to her? Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. It was a wagon filled with hay.

  Other than the sheet she was wrapped in, there was little to keep the cold at bay. Immediately, she began shivering, not only from the cold but also the terror that seized her.

  She fell back, unable to keep her head up and stared up at the night sky. There had to be a way to escape. Hopefully, the men would sit up front in the bench and leave her alone so that she could figure out a way to get untangled and escape.

  Unfortunately, one of the men lumbered onto the back of the wagon as the other remained speaking with Lady Ross. They seemed to be haggling over payment until, finally, the
man reluctantly accepted what the woman offered.

  The second man then climbed onto the bench where he snapped the reins to get the horse to move forward.

  “Twas less than ye promised,” the man beside her complained. “Ye must give me more than half.”

  The man on the bench didn’t reply for a long moment. They rode in silence for what seemed hours before the man finally stopped the wagon and climbed down.

  “We can sell her for more. Lady Ross will not know if we were held up or attacked along the way.”

  Both men looked to her and Elspeth shook her head. Perhaps she could convince them that Malcolm would pay more for her return.

  “Nay,” the man who’d been in the back of the wagon retorted. “I do not wish to have the Ross as enemy.”

  The other man grunted. “What makes ye think he knows? Twas his mother who gave the lass to us.”

  Back and forth they continued. The entire time, Elspeth grunted, hoping they’d remove the gag and allow her to speak.

  Finally, once again the men went back to the same places and the cart jerked forward.

  Elspeth must have fallen asleep because she woke to being groped. The man who’d been in the back now lay beside her, his massive hand squeezing her breast. She tried to wiggle free, but he was too strong.

  It was then she noticed he’d unwrapped the covering from her body. He planned to take her. Her mind whirled as she remained frozen, partly from fear and also because she needed time to think.

  Perhaps she could use his distraction to her advantage.

  He took the lack of fight as incentive and pulled her closer, his rank breath fanning over her face.

  When he pulled her chemise down to free her breasts, rage surged through her and she raised her free hand and yanked the gag out of her mouth. The man was so intent on her nudeness, he didn’t notice what she’d done.

  Ever so slowly, she reached up with both hands. When he lifted, she swung upward with her fist, ignoring the crunching of bones and blood spewing.

  The man groaned and she peered up to the driver. He kept his back to them.

  “Do not take her more than once. I want a turn,” he called out over his shoulder.

  Her assailant was on his back, both hands covering his nose. “Little bitch,” he hissed.

  Elspeth grabbed the dirk from his side and swiftly sliced across the neck from one side to the other as her father had taught her.

  There was a sickening gurgling sound and she pushed the sheet into his gaping mouth.

  The man who drove chuckled and Elspeth scurried behind him.

  When he turned, she thrust the knife at him and it sunk into him. Unfortunately, he was quick and shifted so that her thrust was not as effective as she’d hoped. Using his free arm, he backhanded her across the face and she fell back onto the wagon.

  Elspeth’s head spun and she could barely stay on all fours while scrambling to the back of the wagon. When it came to an abrupt halt, she fell sideways.

  The man rounded the wagon, the front of his shirt stained with blood, but the dirk was no longer impaled. Obviously, he’d pulled it out.

  “Little bitch,” he spat and yanked her off the back of the wagon by the hair. Elspeth screamed, but was silenced when, once again, he slapped her across the face.

  When she hit the ground, this time she could barely move. This could not be the way she would die. It wasn’t how her life was supposed to end.

  She’d spent so much time saving lives, helping those who were left behind on battlefields. And now it would be her who would be left out dying. How ironic was fate?

  Light sunrays came up across the horizon and Elspeth tried to gather where she was. She cried out when, once again, the man grabbed her feet and dragged her to the woods’ edge.

  “First I will fuck ye and then kill ye. Tis only fair.”

  “Never. Let me go.”

  Her jaw and shoulder sent piercing pain down through the rest of Elspeth’s body and she whimpered. Setting her jaw, she kicked but it was of no use. Her feeble attempts to escape would be no match for an angry man of his size.

  The best she could hope for was to find a way to remain alive. Perhaps he’d just leave her behind, if he thought she would die.

  Exposed from the waist down as he finally stopped yanking her, his narrowed eyes took her in. Elspeth tugged at the torn chemise and pushed away.

  After yanking a short knife from his tunic belt, he loosened his pants, freeing himself.

  “Lay back and spread yer legs.” He went to his knees in front of her. “Do as ye’re told or I will back hand ye again. Makes no matter to me if ye’re awake for this or not.”

  Elspeth shook her head. “Damn ye to hell.”

  He grunted and yanked her foot so hard she fell on her back. At this point, her wound bled profusely, the blood from her split lip dripped down to join in making the top of her chemise redder.

  “Leave me. I won’t return to the keep. I swear it.” She tried pleading although she was sure he didn’t hear her. The hardening of his member told her that he’d do what he intended.

  Suddenly, a strange expression came over his face, one of disbelief. For a moment, his reddened eyes rounded and then the man fell face forward onto the ground beside her.

  It was then Elspeth saw the arrow impaled in his back.

  A few moments later, Kieran Ross materialized like an angelic apparition. If he said anything or also planned to do Elspeth harm, she wouldn’t know because she passed out.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Malcolm paced up and down the corridor as the healer tended to Elspeth. Why had the strong-willed girl run away? It made no sense being that her friend remained behind.

  According to Kieran, there had been two men present. Kieran and other archers had caught up to a wagon. In the back was a dead man and there was also another who was in the process of attacking her. It seemed his brother had arrived just in time to stop her from being raped. Of course, he had no way of knowing if either man had succeeded prior to Kieran’s arrival.

  She was in a bad way. The chest injury was torn open and bleeding and her left eye was swollen shut. There were other scrapes and bruises not to mention her split lip. She barely resembled the woman he’d kissed earlier.

  The healer walked out of the chamber and looked to him. “She is resting. It will take several days for the pain to go away. Her wound has been cleaned and sewn shut again. Poor lass.”

  “Was she…” he couldn’t finish the sentence, not wishing to sound shallow.

  “Nay, she is intact. A virgin.” The healer seemed to instinctively know what he was about to ask.

  “I thank ye.” He waited for the man to walk away before entering the bedchamber. In the center of the bed, Elspeth was very still but awake. She tracked him with her one open eye.

  He leaned forward. “Ye must tell me who did this. Did ye wish to get away so badly that ye would leave with those types of men?”

  Just then, the door opened and his mother and sister walked in. “What is this I hear? She tried to run away and was attacked?” His mother neared the bed and gasped. “Goodness, what happened to her?”

  “She was attacked,” Malcolm replied the obvious. “We do not know if she left or was taken by force.”

  His mother huffed. “Why would anyone take a village girl by force? Her parents’ mouths are watering at the idea ye will marry her.”

  “She is bleeding all over yer bed,” Verity added and sniffed. “Smells horrible in here.”

  “Then leave,” he snapped. “Ye could show some compassion.” At the lack of emotion, he wondered if perhaps, like him, they were hollow, too.

  Verity walked to the door, but his mother lingered. “Perhaps she has a better sense about things than ye,” she said in a soothing voice. “It could be a jealous lover of hers tried to take her to keep ye from marrying.”

  “Mother, please see about breaking yer fast.”

  “Or,” his mother continued, “someo
ne, a member of the clan, wishes to save ye from yerself.” Her cool gaze moved to Elspeth’s face. “No one knows with her kind of people.”

  She swept from the room, leaving behind a trail of a floral fragrance.

  Malcolm studied Elspeth.

  For a moment, she met his gaze and then focused toward the window. He didn’t truly know her. It could be that, in part, his mother was right. By insisting on the marriage, maybe he was doing more harm than good.

  Elspeth wanted to sleep and forget all about the night before while, at the same time, she wanted to flee, get away from Malcolm and what he represented. The Ross’ were cold and heartless. Even his mother and sister seemed to not waver in the presence of someone suffering.

  She tried to move, but every part of her body protested.

  “I wish to leave with my father,” she slurred. “Please.”

  “He did not come. They sent a message asking that we postpone the marriage for a few days. It seems yer grandmother is ill.”

  Her grandmother had always been sturdy, a healthy sort. “I should go help.”

  “I believe it would cause her undue worry to see ye right now.”

  Her head throbbed and she could only open one eye. Elspeth imagined her appearance would, indeed, shock her family.

  Malcolm took her hand. “What happened?”

  What should she say? That his mother had hired ruffians to take her away, gave her to them to do as they pleased? Did the woman really think they’d not harm her?

  “I do not know the men. They took me from here. I was asleep and woke upon being taken.”

  “Where were they heading with ye? Ye traveled north.”

  She racked her brain, trying to remember where exactly they’d been headed. But all she recalled was something about selling her. “They did not speak much other than to say they were not paid as promised.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Very well,” he patted her hand. “Get some rest. Be calm, a guard is posted outside the door.”