He smiled. She heard it as he had meant it this time. “Aye, m’love.” With a slow shaking of his head, he picked up the bow she had pointed out. “It is no longer friendship I seek.”
She didn’t speak, but her faint smile, barely discernible through the grime of her sooty face, reassured him that perhaps she no longer looked for anything as mild as friendship either.
As soon as they removed all the pitch and weapons needed, the roaring blaze from the adjacent tent took over and engulfed that last one as well. It was as though the gods held the flames at bay until they recovered everything they needed. The timing wasn’t lost on Thorburn. Superstition ran as swift and sure in his veins as blood.
“Come,” he said, waving them onward toward the falls. “It is past time to end this.”
Adellis took the first shot, lighting a path out over the water that revealed the shadowy outline of three longboats floating side by side.
He timed his close behind, a flood of satisfaction filling him as the blazing bolt found its mark and set to gnawing into the vessel nestled between the other two.
Adellis fired again, spearing the ship to the right.
Ross and Valan shot in tandem, their brands setting fire to the third.
“We have done well here,” Thorburn observed. “That should redden his arse for him.”
“If he bothers to return,” Adellis commented. The fires lit her worried frown. With her bow clutched to her side, she gave his forearm an urgent squeeze. “He marches on Duart. Intends to raze it to the ground and kill all that claim fealty to the Lord of Argyll, King Magnus, or your Alexander of Scotland.” She settled a precious touch to his cheek. “I sought to warn you. Gerdy helped with my healing and escape. I beg you grant her your protection as well.”
He covered her hand with his and smiled. “Ye need not beg for anything, m’lady. Whatever ye wish is yers.”
Gerdy shoved back her hood, revealing her shaved head and otherworldly appearance. “It is true, my lord. Please have no doubt of my lady’s word.” She clutched her hands to her chest, fell to her knees, and bowed her head.
“I do not doubt her,” he hurried to reassure the strange girl. “Rise, lass. Ye have nothing to fear.” What torture had Alrek foisted upon this waif?
“When did he leave for Duart?” Thorburn had left a small legion of their original landing party standing guard at the castle but didn’t wish them to be the ones to enjoy taking Alrek’s head. That pleasure belonged to him alone. Or, perhaps, to Adellis. If she needed such closure to heal, he would not deny her that right.
“A day ago,” Gerdy whispered without looking up.
“On foot or mounts?” Thorburn scrubbed a hand across his face. A day ahead of them. They would be hard-pressed to overtake them before they reached the eastern shore.
“Alrek never rides.” Adellis wet the tail of her cloak in the freshwater tumbling down the cliffside and wiped the soot from her face. “He fears all animals because they hate him.”
“Animals can smell evil.”
“And he does not travel nor attack at night,” she added with a smug look as she shed the cloak and handed it to Gerdy. “Nor when it storms or merely rains. He believes the spirit world too close at those times.”
“How the hell does he overcome anyone?” Ross asked, then shook his head. “That’s feckin’ pitiful.”
“Beneficial,” Thorburn corrected. “How many are in his ranks?”
With a pinched look, Adellis shook her head. “That I do not know. Especially since he has recruited so many from the villages.”
He turned to Gerdy. “Do ye ken, lass?”
She cowered and shook her head, lifting an arm as though she feared he would strike her. “Many, my lord. I am sorry. The number, I do not know.”
Her behavior pained him. With any hope, time would teach her that he did not beat women or children. Thorburn held out a hand to Adellis. “Do ye feel whole enough to ride? We should make haste.”
She stared at him, her hands slowly curling into fists as she clutched them to her middle.
“Adellis?”
“I have never ridden.” She avoided his gaze with an embarrassed tucking of her chin.
Thorburn smiled. He had never thought to find anything that made this fine woman hesitate.
“Do not smile at me like that.” All embarrassment disappeared, and her usual stern fearlessness settled firmly back in place.
