“Milord, there are at least fifty Scots out there.”
“So?”
“And a hundred more surrounding the castle. We are vastly outnumbered. Their laird said he was waiting on you.”
Cinge didn’t like hearing that small fact as he finished dressing. He grabbed his sword and made his way to the bailey. He would get rid of this Scot once and for all.
Once out there he scanned the courtyard. David hadn’t lied. The Scots were everywhere, and their laird stood in the middle, feet braced apart, looking none too happy.
“Where is my wife?” Roderick yelled.
“My daughter is not here. She left yesterday with Lord Malcolm. I doubt you will ever see her again.”
“Why is that?”
“She is taking Malcolm to the Holy Grail, and I’m sure he will kill her once she is no longer needed. My daughter is evil and has been since the day she was born.”
“Ye are talking about my wife!” Roderick was seething. His temper was held by a slim thread of discipline. “And ye call yourself her father. Ye have never been a father to the lass. The only evil I see here is yerself, but I want ye to know before ye die that this is for Siena and for daring to hold my son captive for over a year.”
Cinge’s laugh rang harshly. “How is the boy?”
Roderick exploded as he shoved his sword in the air and shouted, “No mercy!”
It was a bloodbath. Roderick’s highly trained warriors were far superior to the English soldiers. The Scots’ swords whirled through the air and arms severed from their bodies now littered the ground.
Screams filled the air as Roderick advanced on Cinge. His knights tried to help protect Cinge but Duncan and Angus took care of them.
Roderick never took his gaze off his enemy until he met him. Their swords clanged metal on metal. They moved as if they were dancing… the dance of death. Cinge’s face turned red with the effort of meeting Roderick’s superior strength.
Finally, Roderick knocked the sword out of Cinge’s hand and knocked him to his knees.
“An eye for an eye,” Roderick spat.
Cinge glared up at Roderick. “You will never find her if you kill me. You will be too late.”
“Ye will never know.” Roderick thrust his sword through Cinge’s black heart. As he withdrew his sword, he wiped the English blood off on the baron’s clothes.
At long last revenge was his and he felt the burden he’d carried for so long lift from his body. However, without Siena, he could never be completely happy. She had somehow managed to become a part of him and he needed her. But how was he going to find her?
He watched servants as they filed out into the courtyard. He made his usual speech that Balan Castle was under his control and the servants wouldn’t be hurt.
A stout woman who he assumed was the cook from her stained apron rushed over to him. “Milord, you are Lady Siena husband?”
“Aye.”
“Lady Siena gave me a message for you should you come for her.”
“And the message?”
“You must hurry. Go to Edinburgh and find the church of St. Stephens. Behind the church is a forest, and in the woods, you will find a small chapel hidden in the vines and that is where she will be if she survives.”
“What is your name, lass?”
“Elsa, milord.”
“Ye will be rewarded, Elsa, upon my return.”
“I need no reward, sire. Just save milady. She is a good person.”
