"Badly?"
"The boy was not clear. He does need physicking though."
"I will come with ye."
"Are ye sure ye should? The ride and all..."
"Willnae harm me. We can take Beltraine. He is strong and fast."
When they went to have the horse saddled one of the men insisted upon going with them. It was only then that Islaen recalled the threat of MacLennon. She wondered frantically if Robert had fallen victim to the man's madness.
"Do not look so fretful, Islaen,” Storm said as she mounted behind Islaen. “Robert will be fine."
"I pray so. If there is a favorite in our family, ‘tis he. Where do we head to, Storm?"
"To old Sorcha's croft. He was taken there. Recall? We went there but three days past to settle a squabble o'er the gleaning."
Islaen nodded and urged her mount forward. She was only barely aware of the well-armed man that rode by their side. Since her marriage such a guard had become so common as to be unnoticeable. A small voice in her mind reminded her that, if Robert's injury was due to MacLennon, they would have need of the man with them but she was too worried about Robert's well-being to think on that. If there was trouble in getting to Robert she would face it when it came and not fret on it beforehand.
When they slowed as they approached the croft they sought, Islaen frowned. The hairs on the back of her neck tickled a warning and she halted her mount. Leaning forward in the saddle, she stared hard at the place wondering what made her sense danger. She scolded herself for her foolishness, told herself Robert could be dying while she sat but feet away, yet she hesitated. Something was just not right.
"Why do ye wait, Islaen?"
Islaen's eyes widened as she saw one thing wrong with the scene before them. “Robert's horse isnae there, Storm."
Frowning, Storm demurred, “Mayhaps the beast ran off, became frightened and inexperienced hands could not hold him."
"Would we not have seen the beast then as he ran back to his stall?"
"Aye, mayhaps. Does all look well to you Robbie?"
The man frowned as he stared at the croft. “'Tis muckle still."
"Aye, mayhaps too still yet..."
"Robert could be there."
"Aye, Islaen, so I keep thinking."
"Yet here I sit thinking this all wrong somehow."
"Mayhaps we should return for more men?"
"That could take time and Robert might have very little. Where did the lad go?"
"I have not seen him since I spoke to him,” Storm replied slowly.
"'Tis most odd, is it not? Yet naught has happened as we sit here."
Just as she decided she might as well go to the croft, Robbie cried out. The sound that preceded his cry chilled Islaen's blood. As she and Storm turned to look at the man he slumped and began to fall from his saddle. She was not really surprised to see the shaft of an arrow protruding from his back. The sound she had heard had warned her. When she moved to go to his aid, Storm's grip on her tightened, halting her.
"We can do little for him. They will not allow it. Behind us, Islaen."
Looking over her shoulder, Islaen gasped. Six armed men rode towards them. She did not hesitate any longer but urged Beltraine into a gallop. The men were between them and Caraidland so she headed towards Muircraig although she found little hope within her that she and Storm could escape.
"They move to encircle us,” Storm yelled. “There were more than six."
Cursing viciously, Islaen tried several evasive maneuvers but the men were good. Although a good rider, she had little skill in playing and winning such a dangerous game. With little hope of success as the circle around them tightened, Islaen tried to break through. She cried out as the reins were torn from her hands, burning them. In his fright, Beltraine nearly flung her and Storm from his back. Gritting her teeth Islaen hung on knowing that, if she went, so too would Storm. By the time Beltraine settled down she was dazed and stared blindly at the men encircling them.
