“But that will take too long! Anything could have happened to him by then!”
“There is no choice, lass.”
“Yes there is. I can do it.”
Emeric blinked. “Ye can do what?”
“Lead you into the Dragon’s Back. I know it. I hike up there regularly.”
Emeric frowned, studying Izzy’s face, the dubious flicker in his eyes deepening into a puzzled curiosity. “Ye’ve been to the Dragon’s Back? Lass, the Dragon’s Back is no place for—”
“I know what it is!” Izzy snapped. “I know the Dragon’s Back better than anyone else here. I’ve been exploring it for the last year or more.”
There was a long pause as Emeric studied her, his gaze indecipherable. Then he drew a slow breath and exhaled. “McRae will have his best fighters with him. We canna move until our reinforcements reach us.”
“There isn’t time to wait!”
“Then what do ye suggest, lass? I wish to save Magnus as much as ye do, but engaging a force with far superior numbers on hostile territory is madness. Unless ye can magic fiftyfighters out of thin air, then we wait until our reinforcements arrive. They should be here by tomorrow morning.”
Izzy clenched her fists. Tomorrow morning? It might be too late by then! They might be hurting Magnus right now! She had to do something!
A sudden thought flashed through Izzy’s mind, an idea so audacious it made her heart pound. She turned away from Emeric, her gaze sweeping over the landscape, a panorama of undulating hills and heather-clad moors, until she spotted what she was looking for—a distinctive rocky outcrop and the settlement that nestled nearby.
Yes. There it was. Her plan solidified in her mind.
Emeric wanted fighters? Well, what better fighters than ones who’d already been victims of McRae’s brutality and would want revenge? What better fighters than those who lived close to the Dragon’s Back and so would know it as intimately as McRae’s outlaws? What better fighters than those who would be fighting for their homes and loved ones?
“I know where we can get some fighters,” Izzy said, surprising herself with the calm steadiness of her voice. Emeric looked at her quizzically and Izzy quickly explained her plan.
Emeric looked skeptical. “They are not trained warriors.”
“No, but they’re strong and brave. And more importantly, they’re angry. They’ll fight to protect their homes and loved ones. And if its numbers superiority you want, this is how to get it.”
Emeric was silent. His gaze was still skeptical, but there was something else in his eyes now, a hint of consideration.
“It’s a risky plan,” he said at last. His tone was not dismissive, though, but thoughtful. “But desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“Exactly,” Izzy pressed on. “We need more men and we need them fast. This is the only way.”
Emeric sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “All right,” he said at last. “We’ll try yer plan.”
He called over the scout and quickly outlined the plan. The scout would ride to the settlement Izzy had pointed out and pass on a message Izzy made him memorize. If all went well, the scout would meet them in the Dragon’s Back.
“We’ll leave markers so ye can follow our trail.”
“And Snaffles can track Magnus,” Izzy added.
Emeric looked taken aback. “Snaffles?”
“He might not look it, but he’s an excellent tracker and he already knows Magnus’s scent. I’ll be your guide. Snaffles will be your tracker. What else do you need?”
“My head examining for even considering this,” Emeric growled. Then he sighed and threw up his hands. “Fine. Mount up, everyone! We’re heading out!”
MAGNUS’S GUARD PRODDEDhim in the back with the butt-end of his spear so hard that Magnus stumbled. He whirled. “Do that again, and I’ll ram that bloody spear up yer arse!”
The McRae guard grinned. “Aye? I’d like to see ye try.”
Magnus ground his teeth, turned around, and carried on walking. It was an empty threat and they both knew it. Magnus’s hands were securely bound in front of him and thistime he couldn’t snap the thick ropes, no matter how hard he tried.
