“I’ll do me best, but there are plenty of other exits in a place like this.”
Ryder clenched his jaw and gave a sharp nod. “Do yer best. Keep an eye out for Alaina.”
Ewan turned to the men, giving sharp orders, while Ryder turned to face the crowded village square.
He was pretty sure that Alaina had not gone far. He’d seen her as he approached Megan. Whoever had brought her here clearlyhad no ill intentions. Not if they brought herhere. But who knew what might have happened once he took his eye off her?
Some of the villagers had begun to notice that something was up. They shot him wary, nervous looks, whispering to each other. He imagined that some of them would have recognized him, and then the news would spread like wildfire through the village—Laird MacCulloch was here, and he wasn’t here for the festivities.
Behind him, a cluster of young women approached the gate, clearly wanting to leave. Ewan’s voice was firm and clear, telling them that nobody was leaving, not yet. Ryder strode away into the crowd, away from the women’s panicked voices. He hoped that Ewan would reassure them that it would all be over soon.
It’s for the greater good, after all,he thought. The crowds parted around him, with people edging nervously away from him. Good, that was good. Ryder wanted space. Hewantedthem to move out of his way so that he could get a good look around. Alaina couldn’t have gone far.
Beyond the square, darkened houses squatted on their own little patches of land. A wide, well-used path snaked through the houses to where a well sat, silent and calm in the darkness. Beyond that was a grassy hillock, with a few trees sprouting out of it. There weren’t really many places to go in this village, not with so many people wandering around the square. However, the trees on top of the hillock could provide a little shelter. Somebody could hide there if they wanted.
All of this, as far as Ryder could tell, was within the village walls. If Ewan and his men had managed to encircle the walls—not that there were enough of them for that—then perhaps they would have been able to prevent Alaina from escaping.
That was a nasty word.Escaping.Thinking of her as being kidnapped was bad enough, but did she really want toescape?
No, no, she didn’t. That couldn’t be true. Ryder pushed it to the back of his mind and set off at a sharp jog down the pathway. There was movement up ahead, and a ray of moonlight shone down on a headful of glossy red hair. That was Megan. She must have had the same idea as he did.
Two sets of eyes are better than one,Ryder thought, and followed her at a distance.
If Alaina weren’t to be found, he would send for more men from the Keep. They would encircle the village and conduct a thorough search. The festival would come screeching to an unpleasant halt, but who cared about that, so long as Alaina was safe and well?
I promised her maither,Ryder reminded himself grimly.I swore I’d keep them safe. How could it be that she slipped through me fingers so easily?
Ahead, he saw Megan climbing the hillock, heading straight toward a clump of trees on the very peak. He paused, frowning. Had she seen something he hadn’t?
At that moment, the fickle moon sailed out from behind a cloud, and silvery moonlight filled the world. There was movement at the top of the hill. A girl with long hair stepped out from behind a tree, turning to smile at somebody behind her.
Ryder’s chest tightened with equal parts relief and anger. It was Alaina; he could see that even from where he stood. Megan was hurrying toward her, probably wanting to get to Alaina before he did.
Good luck with that,he thought grimly.I’ll still be angry by the time she gets down from that hill.
All thoughts ceased when he saw movement in the trees behind Alaina. Ryder’s feet seemed to fix themselves to the pathway, and he could only stand and stare.
A man came out of the trees, his gaze fixed on Alaina. Alaina turned to look up at him, but she must have been frozen in fright, and only leaned back against the tree.
It was a common enough thing, freezing in a time of fear. Ryder had seen it happen to other men and women a hundred times. No, athousand. But it had never happened to him. With an effort, Ryder forced his feet to move and broke into a run.
The cold night air scalded his lungs, and fury surged through him. So far, the man hadn’t laid a hand on Alaina, but it was only a matter of time before he made his move. He’d lunge for her, snatching her up, and then he’d carry her into the trees. Then she’d be gone.
I willnae let that happen.
He plunged past Megan, who screamed in alarm.
“Ryder, nay!” she called after him, and he heard anxiety in her voice. Now wasn’t the time to concern himself with that.
Alaina spun around as she heard him coming, her eyes widening in fear. Part of Ryder noticed, almost subconsciously, that she was clutching a small posy of flowers.
“Step aside, Alaina!” he shouted, swinging his sword in a powerful arc. The man ducked, and the blade thudded into the tree where his head had been. The power of the swing had embedded the sword inches deep into the bark, and Ryder knew instinctively that tugging it free would waste precious seconds. He let go of the hilt, whisked out one of his daggers, and turned on the man.
The man was sprawled out on the ground, still staring up at him in horror, and Ryder pounced upon him, pinning him down, his hand clamping around the man’s throat.
“Lay a hand on me sister, would ye?” Ryder shouted. “Fine, then, ye will lose yer hand!”
Alaina was screaming incoherently. He felt her hands tugging weakly on his shoulder, but he shrugged her roughly away. He lifted the dagger. This would send a message to any would-be kidnappers of his sisters. It would send apowerfulmessage.
