Even bound and clearly exhausted, she held her head high. Watching. Waiting.
Smart lass.
Alpin counted the men again. Three total, including Ashcombe. He could take them, but he'd need the element of surprise.
He circled the camp, moving into position. Then he picked up a stone and threw it hard into the brush on the opposite side.
"What was that?" One of the guards spun toward the sound.
"Probably just an animal," the other said, but he was reaching for his sword.
"Check it anyway."
The first guard moved toward the noise. The second followed, leaving Ashcombe alone by the fire.
Alpin struck.
He came out of the darkness fast, dirk already drawn. The first guard went down without a sound, Alpin's blade finding the gap in his armor. The second spun toward him, sword raised?—
Steel met steel with a sound that shattered the night's quiet.
"Attack!" the guard shouted. "We're under attack!"
Ashcombe was on his feet instantly, weapon drawn. "Who dares?"
Alpin didnae answer. Just moved, fast and brutal, disarming the second guard with a quick twist of his blade. The man stumbled back, and Mhairi, hands still bound, kicked out hard. Her feet caught him behind the knees and he went down.
Their eyes met for half a heartbeat. Hers were wide, shocked—but fierce.
Then Ashcombe was there, blade coming straight for Alpin's head.
Alpin blocked, stepped inside the English lord's guard, and slammed his shoulder into the man's chest. Ashcombe staggered. Behind him, Mhairi was working at her bindings, teeth tearing at the rope.
"Stop!" Ashcombe's voice cracked like a whip. "I bought that woman legally! You're stealing my property!"
"Property?" Alpin's voice came out deadly quiet. He pressed forward, forcing Ashcombe back step by step. "She's nae property, ye English bastard. She's a person."
"I paid ninety scots."
"Ye paid ninety scots fer someone who was nae fer sale." Alpin's blade moved faster now, anger lending him speed. "That's the difference between ye and me. I ken women arenae objects tae be bought."
Behind them, Mhairi's bindings came free. She was on her feet instantly and runnin'.
Into the forest.
Into the darkness.
Ashcombe lunged toward her. "Stop her!"
Alpin blocked his path, their blades locking together. "She's already gone."
"Then I'll hunt her down."
"Ye'll try." Alpin broke the lock, spun, and landed a brutal kick to Ashcombe's knee. The English lord went down with a cry of pain. "But ye'll have tae get through me first."
He couldn’t kill him. Killing a duke, even an English one, would bring consequences Alpin wasn’t ready for. But he could make sure the bastard stayed down long enough for Mhairi to get away.
One more strike. Ashcombe's sword went flyin' into the underbrush. Alpin pressed his dirk to the man's throat.
