Chapter Fourteen
Arabella walked along the path that led from Brodie’s cave to several of the others that lay hidden among the trees. A connected cluster of deeply cut chambers invisible until you were at the entrance to them. From below or above, no sign of them existed. An ingenious place to hide.
Having little to do that morning because Margaret saw to the remaining injuries, she had inspected the caves and found a large amount of supplies hidden away in them. If undetected, these people could live here for months.
Deciding to see if her horse was here or if Brodie had left the camp, she turned down one of the paths into a more wooded area and walked only a short distance when she was taken from behind.
An arm wrapped around her shoulders and covered her mouth. Another arm tucked around her waist and then she was dragged deeper into the shadows. Struggling against her attacker, she found herself held against a tree, gagged by a hand.
‘Hush now, Arabella!’
The voice was familiar. It could not be. She met the man’s gaze and discovered it was indeed her cousin Alan.
‘Alan!’ she whispered furiously. ‘How did you find me?’ He let go of her and she grabbed him in a tight embrace.
‘I have been tracking you for weeks.’ Her father called him his best. Though he was too young at ten-and-two to hunt and fight with the men, he would prove valuable when he reached manhood. ‘Then I saw them escaping with the wounded one. I followed them here.’
‘Where are the others?’ she asked, peering over his shoulder.
‘I came alone. Your father had to leave Mackintosh lands and took the others with him.’ Alan stepped back and held out his hand. ‘I have been waiting and watching for the chance to get you out of here. Come. Now.’
If he’d been able to sneak in, he might be able to lead her out. She reached out to take his hand when the oath she’d given echoed in her thoughts.
‘You have to get out of here, Alan!’ She pushed him away and pointed back at the path. ‘If you hurry, they’ll not see you.’
‘I am not going without you,’ he said, taking her hand and tugging.
She held her breath when the sound of metal scraping metal surrounded them, knowing that swords had been drawn. Brodie stepped forward from the shadows first.
‘Neither of you is going anywhere.’
Alan reached to draw his sword in answer, a gesture she knew would be his last, regardless of his age or inexperience with that weapon. So Arabella threw herself between her cousin and the men now threatening him.
‘Nay! He is just a boy!’ she cried out.
‘Take him,’ Brodie ordered as he took her by the arm. His hand was like an iron band, pulling her from Alan and holding her still as his men took her cousin prisoner. Then just before Rob left with him, Brodie stopped them.
‘Wait. Let me look at him.’
Brodie’s tone was a strange one, almost choking on the words, as he walked up to Alan and stared at him. Then he examined his face feature by feature and shook his head. ‘Take him. I will be there in a moment.’
They followed his orders and she watched in silent helplessness as Alan was dragged off. Then, when they were gone, he turned to her.
‘Who is he, Arabella?’
She saw no reason to lie. ‘He is my cousin Alan.’ When he frowned, she added, ‘You met him during our visit. He was forever trailing after...’ She could not finish it, but he nodded his understanding.
‘How did he get here?’ Glancing around the area and listening for a moment, he tightened his grip. ‘And where are the others?’
‘He tracks. He has since he was a wee one. Animals. People. ’Tis a game for him.’
‘And the others?’
‘He said he came alone. That my father left Mackintosh lands days ago, just as Magnus told you.’ He released her and she stumbled a few steps away.
‘Go, then,’ he said, nodding in the direction of the camp. ‘Be about your day.’ Without another word, he turned from her and began following those who’d taken Alan.
‘Wait!’ she called out, running to catch him. ‘What will you do to him?’ Arabella couldn’t help but remember the horrible things she’d heard from Caelan and her father about how he treated those Camerons he captured.
