“I ask that ye come with me,” Alexander replied. “If ye will?”
“If we will?” Graham repeated with a narrow-eyed look. “Dinna be an arse, brother.”
“Then to our horses, men,” Alexander said. Every crunching step through the melting ice and snow layered across the clearing heightened his readiness for this battle. Bloodlust and thirst for vengeance pumped harder and a healthy dose of rage fueled the dangerous combination. Predatory anticipation pounded with every beat of his heart, tightening every fiber. He mounted his horse and took the lead down the winding narrow path.
I thank ye for this fine horse, Murtagh. May ye rest in peace.The beast needed little direction where to go. 'Twas as if he could feel what Alexander needed and complied without hesitation. Down the mountainside they went. With the greatest care, they picked their way around jutting crags of sharp-toothed boulders pushing up through the moss-covered soil like ancient fingers reaching for the sky. Alexander hoped to reach the level of the keep before dawn broke full upon them. They needed the safety of the shadows.
Alexander kept a close watch on the fortress, scanning the tops of the walls and peering at the arrow slits in the towers. Windows lined the turrets, looking like great dark eyes staring down at them. He saw no movement nor any lit torches. This side of the keep appeared to be unguarded.
They count on the safety of the mountain too much, me thinks.Alexander reined in his horse, pausing just before they reached the base of the keep where it connected to Ben Nevis. The terrain on this side of the stronghold was more harsh, covered with great chunks of granite and sharp spikes of stone. Slippery patches of mud trailed through the rocky landscape. Water from the melting snow puddled everywhere. The only color against the backdrop of dreary beiges, browns and grays painting the ridge and the wall of the fortress was the deep healthy greens of the holly bushes speckled with the vibrant reds of the plant’s poisonous berries.
“This side of the keep appears unprotected,” Graham observed as he sidled his horse to Alexander’s left.
“Good,” Magnus said as he brought his horse up on Alexander’s right.
He pulled in a deep breath, then leaned forward, shifting in the saddle and studying the area. As he inhaled, he caught the slightest unexpected scent. He frowned and twisted to the left.Smoke.He lifted his nose and sniffed again, holding in the cold air and gleaning every clue it held. “There’s a fire nearby. Smoke taints the air, and it’s no' coming from the keep.”
Magnus and Graham peered at him for a long moment then lifted their own noses and tested the air.
“Aye,” Graham said as he turned to the left and nodded toward the place where the curtain wall snugged up against the mountain. “'Tis coming from that direction for certain.”
Alexander dismounted but kept the reins of his mount wound around his left hand. With his right, he pulled his pistol from his belt and held it ready. “We’ll ease that way then, aye?”
Graham and Magnus slid to the ground with soundless movements and quieted their horses. Graham held out his hand. “Give me your reins. I’ll take the horses out of range and secure them.” He gave Alexander a threatening look as he turned to go. “Hide here and wait for me, aye? Dinna ye start without me.”
“Aye,” Alexander grudgingly agreed. As much as he’d rather rush ahead, they needed to wait for Graham. Who knew what they might be up against and more guns and blades could verra well make the difference. He and Magnus took cover behind a monstrous outcropping of stones.
Magnus leaned back against the largest of the dark gray spires then squinted up at the sky. “He needs to make haste. 'Twill be full dawn in moments.”
Alexander propped his boot on a small boulder and rested back against the shorter pile of rocks. “Aye. With Catriona missing they’re sure to search everywhere. This side of the keep willna be unprotected long. If she’s near, we need to find her first.”
Graham popped into view from a different direction than what he’d taken, giving them both an adrenaline surging start.
“Dammit, man!” Alexander scolded in a strained whisper. “Dinna creep up on us. Do ye fancy getting shot?”
“I saw one of the boys.” Graham grinned and jerked his thumb back over his shoulder. “Someone should tell the lad to cover his flaming red hair. 'Tis like a beacon amongst the dark colors of these stones.”
“He was alone?” Alexander asked.
“Aye,” Graham said as he turned and motioned for them to follow. “Out fetching wood, he was. Come. I saw where he slipped into the mountain.”
“Lead on,” Alexander said as he pushed away from his stony seat. They were so close. So close to finding Catriona. He wanted to roar and rush headlong to wherever Graham was leading. He forced himself to slow down and remain calm, gritting his teeth and clenching his jaws shut against making a sound.
Every step required the greatest care as they crossed the slippery path of mud and ice. With slow, steady movements, they climbed higher then angled to the right toward the direction of the keep. While winding through a smaller field of boulders, Alexander spotted their destination. Up ahead, in the side of the great imposing mountain, it looked as though the earth had taken in a huge deep breath and split its seams. An ominous dark crack gaped open just wide enough for a man to slip through.
Graham crouched behind a tangle of leafless bushes, their dried, knotted branches making an effective shield. He pointed to the opening in the mountain. “There.” He looked back at Alexander. “We’ve no way of knowing what lies inside. Could be a passage or could open out into a cave. If the lads have weapons…”
“We’ll disarm them without bringing them harm,” Alexander replied. They were just boys. Little more than bairns. And they cared about Catriona just as she cared about them. He clapped a hand to Graham’s shoulder and pulled past him. “I’ll be going first, aye?”
Neither Graham nor Magnus responded, just fell in step behind Alexander.
Alexander paused at the opening, his back pressed against the stony side of the ridge. He leaned in close to the gaping fissure and listened. All he heard was a steady drip plunking into standing water then echoing throughout. He eased into the dark space, taking care where he placed his feet. Cave floors often held cracks large enough to swallow a man. He paused and allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkness. They wouldna be able to travel far without torches. The great hole boring into the side of the mountain was black as the Earl of Hell's waistcoat.
A pale light flickered off in the distance and the sound of shifting rocks echoed from up ahead.
“Are they coming this way?” Magnus whispered.
“Shh…” Alexander reached back and squeezed Magnus’s arm.
