CHAPTERTHIRTY
Connell
“Elsy,” Connell breathed, the sword in his hand slowly lowering as he stared at his love. He had left Donald, Grant, Ian, and Brann to fight the men guarding the inn. They had been sitting, waiting for their orders when Connell and his men had entered. The fight began quickly. There had been seven soldiers in total, outnumbering them, but Connell knew his men were able to take them. What surprised Connell more was that he recognized the colors. They had belonged to McCormick’s clan.
Why would they capture Elsy? Why would they kill her driver and take her? It didn’t make any sense. Connell had looked for their insignia attached to their cloaks, but he hadn’t been able to make out the image in the limited light.Could they be McCormick enemies dressed in their attire?Connell had wondered.
“Go!”Donald had shouted when Connell had run across the room, not knowing if he should help his men or search for Elsy.“Find her. We will hold them off.”
Connell was so surprised to see her now. He hadn’t thought he would ever see her again. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Her hands were tied behind her back and dirt and blood were matted in her hair, but she was alive. Connell wanted to rush to her, pull her into his arms and never let her go. His gaze lifted to the man hovering at her side, his breath leaving him, his hands quivering as he met Glenton’s scowl.
“Glenton?” Connell whispered. “But--”
Glenton chuckled, his hold tightening on his sword as he stepped toward Connell. “Aye, twas me who took yer whore.”
Connell bristled, his jaw clenching as anger took hold of him. “How dare ye!” he roared, his sword lifting as he stepped toward Glenton. “She knows naething, Glenton.” Connell grimaced at the begging in his tone. “Truly she doesn’t, Glenton. Ye must believe me.”
Glenton stepped around him, a bitter smile on his lips. “Why should I believe ye, Connell? I can clearly see in the way ye look at her, she has ye in the palm of her hand. Ye know it is better this way, better for Scotland. I will do what ye could not.”
Connell didn’t understand. Had Glenton realized Elsy’s escape and captured her for questioning? Was Connell in the wrong for letting her go, for letting his love come before his country?
“Don’t listen to him, Connell!” Elsy shouted. “He is not the man ye think him to be. He has been working with Alan.”
Connell felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. All the air left him as his gaze turned on Elsy, seeing the desperation in her eyes. “Don’t listen to her,” Glenton rasped, but Connell could see the truth glimmering back at him in Elsy’s words.
“He’s alive,” she whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks. “He’s alive and he has Scotty. Glenton has been working for him all this time.”
Connell turned on Glenton, his nostrils flaring as he stepped toward the man he once thought to be his friend. “Is it true?” he asked gruffly.
Glenton’s eyes narrowed and before Connell could step between them, he grabbed Elsy’s hair and shook her hard, making her cry out. “Why ye stupid lass! How dare ye--”
“Don’t ye dare harm her!” Connell shouted as he stepped toward them.
“Stop!” Glenton shouted, angling his sword at Connell, the tip of his blade nearly touching Connell’s chest.
Connell stopped, watching Elsy as her feet kicked out, as her hands struggled to release themselves from the rope binding her. “Please don’t hurt her,” Connell whispered.
“Ye couldn’t keep yer disgusting mouth shut, now could ye?” Glenton said, his mouth near Elsy’s face. Connell’s eyes widened as he watched Glenton lick her ear. Elsy shuddered, her face jerking away from Glenton. “Don’t worry,” Glenton whispered in her ear. “I’ll punish ye when he’s dead on the ground. I’ll make sure his eyes are open, though, so he may watch.”
“Why are ye doing this?” Connell asked, his voice strained. Faintly, he could hear his men fighting beneath them, the clashing of swords ringing out, the shouts of battle.
“Ye think I enjoyed taking orders from ye?” Glenton scoffed and spat on the ground, the spittle landing near Connell’s boot. “These past three years, I’ve had to suffer yer company.”
“If I was so deplorable, why did ye stay?” Connell stepped forward while Glenton stepped around Elsy, his hand stroking her hair while he kept his blade pointed at Connell. “Nae one was making ye stay.”
Glenton chuckled. “Justice doesn’t pay well. The McCormicks, however…” his hand grabbed Elsy’s shoulder, his fingers digging into her. “Well, they know how to keep a man loyal.”
“Ye have nae honor.”
“Aye,” Glenton said with a cruel smile. “I don’t, but at least I’ve survived all these years and with more coin in my pockets than I’ve ever had need for. How amusing it was to know how much ye trusted me, when I was the one telling Laird McCormick of all yer plans. It will be my pleasure to slit yer throat.”
Glenton’s gaze held Connell’s, so he was not prepared when Elsy wrenched toward him, biting his arm hard. She bit harder as Glenton cried out and with one smack to her head, she toppled out of her chair and onto the floor.
“Why ye brazen--”
Connell charged forward. Glenton’s sword barely blocked his attack. The door slammed open, but Connell was hardly aware of it as he swung his sword and kicked his foot toward Glenton, making him stumble backward.
“Angry, are ye?” Glenton laughed. “I have to say, Connell, tis a good look for ye. The brooding one-eyed ingrate never suited ye.”
