"He's the traitor," Killian hissed.
"Say the word and I'll have the men drag him back," Fraser said as a loud commotion from outside rattled the windows of the great hall. The council let out a collective gasp of horror as the panes of the windows wobbled from the blast of the explosion.
"What in the…" Fraser gasped as Killian whipped around.
Through the smoke and flames, Killian spotted a carriage rushing through the courtyard going south. As the chaos ensued, Killian found himself trapped.
"There," Killian said, pointing to Alan's carriage. "I'll go after him, I want ye to ensure everyone is accounted for. That blast sounded as if it came from the trainin' field."
"It would be the cannons," Fraser growled. "He blew a hole in our wall?"
"See to it, but be careful, Alan is clever," Killian said as he left the chaos of the great hall to Fraser and went charging for the stables.
In the dead of night, Killian worked frantically to saddle his horse. He knew every minute would be one he'd have to make up. But there was no way he was going to let Alan get away with his treachery.
Killian eased the bit into the horse's mouth and led it out from the stable. With the open road before him, Killian mounted and took off after the carriage.
The sting of the crisp night air kept Killian sharp and wide awake. Darkness engulfed him. Trusting his horse to lead the way, Killian tried to spy through the veil of black any signs of Alan's carriage.
"Come on," Killian urged, squeezing his legs tighter, egging the horse to go faster. Racing up the hill, Killian caught sight of Alan's carriage against the star-studded backdrop. "A little further. Ye can make this. Daenae let him get away, or I'll have ye cooked into steaks."
The horse pushed onward, giving Killian every ounce it had. Killian raced down the slope and pulled ahead to cut off the driver. The driver's eyes widened as Killian pulled his dirk and threw it, hitting the empty space next to his head.
"Stop this carriage."
"How dare ye," the driver hissed as he pried Killian's dirk from the carriage. "Do ye ken whose carriage this is?"
"He kens," Alan said, his voice as deadly as a viper. "That's why he's here. Isnae it?"
Killian pulled his sword as he slipped from his saddle. His heart raced in his chest as it pounded the drums of war in his ears. There was no telling what Alan had up his sleeve. All Killian knew was that he couldn't be set free.
"But I'm curious, what grounds do ye have for stoppin' me carriage?" Alan asked as Killian watched Alan push open the carriage door.
"Ye are to be hung for treason," Killian said.
"That doesnae sound right," Alan said, tapping the tip of his finger to his chin. "In fact, what I think I'm hearin' is how ye’re goin' to rid the world of yer presence."
"I daenae think so," Killian chuckled darkly as he stepped closer. It would have taken Killian three long strides to reach Alan. But within those steps, Alan pulled Leah's limp body from the seat of his carriage. "What is this? What have ye done to her?"
"The same thin' I did to ye," Alan growled, using Leah's body as a limp shield.
"Leah, wake up," Killian implored as Alan smirked.
"She can hear ye, if that makes ye feel any better, but she cannae answer," Alan said. "And she can feel everythin' I do to her, just as ye did, if I recall."
"What do ye want?" Killian asked as he watched Alan draw a knife from his boot and scrape the blade across Leah's throat.
"I want ye dead," Alan confessed as the driver climbed down and stood behind Alan as a united front. Killian eyed them both. There was no doubt he could handle them. But it was Leah hewas worried about. If there was one lesson Alan had taught him over the years it was to never get attached.
"And how do ye propose ye're goin' to do that?" Killian asked as he circled them, trying to find his way in. All he needed was one slip-up from either Alan or the driver, and he'd be able to snatch Leah from their grasp.
"I'm nae goin' to do a thin'," Alan said. "Ye are. Ye see, I tried to have Mason hire people, but his ability to hire anyone skilled enough was a joke. And since ye best me men, well, the only solution is for ye to take out yerself. It's what ye've wanted to do since ye were a teenager. And what did I do? I talked ye out of it. Ye see, I thought I could train the evil out of ye. But ye proved to be just as unpredictable and violent as yer faither. And I wasnae about to let another man like that reign over MacMillan lands."
"I trusted ye," Killian said through clenched teeth. "And ye poisoned Mason's mind against me. It was ye, whisperin' of a rebellion. Ye were the one underminin' everythin' I was tryin' to do."
"Aye," Alan confirmed. "And what was the first lesson yer faither ever taught ye?"
"Never trust anyone," Killian answered as Alan pressed the edge of his blade to Leah's throat.
