As they neared, they came to a slow trot and then halted. Callum pulled to a stop next to him on one side, Malcolm on the other. Ahead, they saw small orbs of flickering light. He assumed they must be torches. In the center, there was a huge bonfire casting yellow-orange light in a semicircle. The outline of tents dotted the area, indicating MacDonald had made a hasty camp at the foot of the ruins.
“What’s yer plan, brother?” Callum asked. His blazing blue eyes were pinned on the camp ahead.
Jamie remained silent a moment as he considered all the options. They were far outnumbered. That much he knew. It would be unwise for them to charge in with swords swinging. They would quickly be overtaken and captured.
There had to be another way. And he thought he knew what that way was.
“I’ll surrender to them,” he said.
“Are ye mad?” Malcolm snapped.
“That’s what they want,” he said. “They want me and the keystone.”
Malcolm snorted his objection. Callum made a motion for him to be silent. The eldest leaned on his saddle horn and peered at him.
“And then what, Jamie? Ye have an idea, don’t ye?” he asked.
“Once I’m in the camp, they’ll want the keystone. They’ll capture me and take the stone to give to Brianna. Then, they’ll make her use it,” Jamie said.
A broad grin spread on Malcolm’s face. “And that’s when we attack. Aye?”
“Nay,” Callum said. “We need a diversion.” He cut a glance to Malcolm. “Like before.”
“I’m afraid the lasses are no here to create that diversion,”Malcolm said.
Jamie knew they referred to the fire at the MacDonald stronghold. That was the only thing that had helped them escape, while he was still a prisoner. But Callum was right. They needed a diversion.
“Aye, brother,” he said. “We need a diversion. While I surrender myself, the two of ye can set fire to the camp.”
“More fire, eh?” Malcolm chuckled.
“’Tis effective,” Callum said. “All right. We’ll leave the horses here. Malcolm, ye take the left. I’ll go right. Jamie, ye will surrender yerself and when ye do, that’s when we take the torches and light it up.”
“Then, when the camp is in chaos, I’ll find Brianna,” Jamie said.
“Sounds easy enough.” Malcolm dismounted and pulled his horse toward a copse of trees. “When ye have her, make haste for the horses. Then we’ll get back to Dundale.”
The plan was easy and that’s what worried Jamie the most. Anything and everything could go wrong. But he was willing to risk it to save Brianna. Once he had her back and away from the MacDonalds, then they’d figure out how to shift the timeline.
He and Callum both dismounted, tying their horses next to Malcolm’s within the shadows of the trees. He hoped this worked. And if it didn’t…he shoved away those thoughts. Callum placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. In the faint light of the new day, his brother’s eyes were nothing more than dark orbs.
“Good luck and Godspeed, brother,” he said.
“And to ye,” he replied.
He cut one last glance at Malcolm who gave him an encouraging nod. He turned toward the camp, took a deep cleansing breath and expelled it. He slipped his hand into his sporran, wrapping his fingers around the cold keystone and relief sputtered through him. It was still there. Not that he had any doubt, but it was always good to check.
He started down the slope of the hill toward the crude camp, his eyes pinned on the bonfire glowing in the center of it all. There,MacDonald held Brianna. There, he would find her and release her.
He focused on one step after another as he went down the hill, his lungs and calves burning with the exertion. His heart thudded against his chest as his eyes skipped from one tent to another, looking for signs of light. For signs ofher. But he didn’t see her. Likely, MacDonald would keep her close to him. She was his prized possession at the moment. He’d never let her out of his sight.
Behind him, he heard the soft swish of steps in the heather. One to the right. One to the left. He knew this was his brothers headed for the camp to carry out their plot. The moment the camp was in chaos was his one and only chance to find her, grab her, and get out.
He was at the edge of the light now. He stepped into the camp, within the circle of light, and paused. No one seemed to notice his arrival. He would have to make his presence known before his brothers torched the place.
He moved deeper into the camp, shuffling his feet. When he was close to the center bonfire, he pulled his sword with ashingthat finally got the attention of the men MacDonald had left to guard the camp.
They leapt into action, pulling their own swords and pointing them at him. He dropped his and held his hands up in surrender.
