A strong, unusually warm coastal breeze tore an errant lock of hair from its feckless restraint. The red gold silken threads flew haphazardly across her face, tickling her nose and momentarily obscuring her view. Annoyed, Isabel captured the defiant tresses with her fingers and tucked them securely behind her ear.
They’d departed Dunvegan not long after breaking their fast, but the day was nearly gone. The rose-hued sun lingered on the late afternoon horizon as they skirted the woodland and steered their mounts toward Dunvegan village only a few furlongs ahead. Almost home. She could soon relax. The incident in the forest was still too fresh in her mind, and she was glad Rory had insisted they take the longer route around rather than risk another attack in the forest. She wondered if it was more for her benefit. Did he realize how the shadowy darkness of the trees terrified her?
Caught up in her own thoughts, she didn’t realize Rory had been watching her. “Tired?” he asked innocently.
Isabel straightened her back and thrust back her shoulders, ignoring the shot of pain in her aching back. “Not at all.”
“Stubborn lass.” He laughed. “Don’t worry, ’tis not much farther.”
“Will we be back before dark?”
Rory nodded. “We can pick up our pace when Colin returns.”
They’d traveled slowly, enabling Colin and a small party of warriors to scout ahead of them as they rode. Rory was not taking any chances. With the Highland gathering and temporary truce behind them, Isabel knew that Rory anticipated an attack from the Mackenzies. In fact, Douglas had led a small party of MacLeod warriors to follow the Mackenzies early that morning to ensure that they departed Kyle Akin, where they would cross to Kyle of Lochalsh. Rory had also kept a close eye on Sleat, who had traveled in the party with her family as far as Dunscaith Castle. Dunscaith was very close to Armadale, where Argyll and her father would then cross to Mallaig.
She inhaled the salt-filled air. The sea was close. Thebirlinnsmoored along the shore in the village would carry them back to Dunvegan.
The deep laughter of men echoed in her ears. The MacLeods were still basking in the glow of their resounding victory. For most of the journey, she’d been subjected to the loud, boastful banter of Rory’s warriors replaying every second of the various trials of skill and strength that had taken place over the past few days.
As the stories were mostly about him, Rory kept unusually silent, but he did seem amused by the more exaggerated retellings. Yet even though he seemed relaxed, Isabel knew he was constantly alert to their surroundings. She was watching him so closely, she noticed him tense.
“What’s wrong?” Isabel teased. “Are the stories of your legendary skills not to your liking?”
Ignoring her gentle ribbing, he frowned. “Colin should have returned by now.”
Isabel felt a shiver of fear creep down her spine, but Rory’s presence prevented her from panicking. “Do you think…?” She didn’t want to voice her fears.
“I don’t know, but I’m not taking any chances.” He halted his men and began issuing his commands; the sudden pounding of hooves stopped him. It was Colin, and from the blood running down his arm, Isabel knew what had happened.
“Mackenzies,” Colin gasped, his breathing labored from his hard ride. He pointed. “About a score of them, ahead.” He looked directly at Rory. “They were waiting by the boats, but now they’re heading in this direction.”
“Mackenzies?” Isabel echoed. Her blood ran cold. “But Douglas watched them cross the kyle this morning.”
“It was a trick,” Rory said. “The Mackenzie did not send all his men to the gathering. He must have sent others separately, in secret, trying to catch us unaware.” But Rory was never unaware. As he began to shout his commands, Isabel realized that he’d anticipated something like this. If it weren’t for her presence, Isabel suspected he’d be looking forward to the fight. He seemed to thrive on the pressure, on the danger. Except when he looked to her; then he looked worried. “Isabel, stay close to Alex. He will lead you from harm.” She didn’t want to leave him, but he must have read her thoughts. “You will obey me. We don’t have much time, they’ll try to surround us.” Even as he spoke, Isabel could hear the sounds of horses coming from behind. To Alex he said in a low voice, “Take her through the trees. We will meet you at the boats. And Alex, you know with what I entrust you?”
Alex met his brother’s gaze and nodded, then spun his horse around.
“You’ll be careful,” she pleaded.
His gaze met hers, and something passed between them. An intensity of emotion that bore deep into her bones. “Aye, lass,” he said gently, “now hurry.”
With one long look at Rory, she turned after Alex. The Mackenzies were heading straight for them, having just crested the small rise ahead of them. Arrows started to fly. Her heart pounded with fear. What if something happened to Rory? What if she never saw him again? She should have kissed him, told him that she loved him, but it was already too late.
Rory and his men attacked right in the direction of the flying arrows.
“Hurry, Isabel,” Alex shouted.
Only the knowledge that her presence would endanger Rory even more gave Isabel the strength to leave him. She would not make the same mistake she’d made before. Rory was the greatest warrior she’d ever beheld; his skills would not fail him. Still, she could not quiet the voice in her head that reminded her even Achilles had his heel.
The fierce battle cry of the MacLeods echoed in her ears as she followed Alex into the forest at breakneck speed. The light was fading fast. She couldn’t repress the shudder of trepidation that moved over her as the memories assailed her. The forest. Dusk. It was too eerily similar. Fear rose in the back of her throat, but she tamped it down.
They rode for a few minutes, but her thoughts never strayed far from the battle taking place behind them or the man who was waging it.Please, don’t let anything happen to him.Suddenly, she heard a shout behind them.
“Alex! Behind you.”
Relief swept over her. It was Rory. He’d followed them through the trees. Her relief, however, was short-lived as an arrow flew by her, missing Alex by inches. Isabel looked behind her to see a handful of Mackenzies hard on their trail. Alex stopped and quickly brought his horse around, positioning himself between her and danger. He raised his claymore just as the Mackenzies descended on them. Isabel heard the clatter of steel as the fighting began.
Alex held them off until Rory could catch up to him. With the two of them, the small band of Mackenzies didn’t stand a chance. Isabel stared in horrified fascination as Alex and Rory methodically, ruthlessly, dispatched their enemy.
