“Then kill us,” Douglas said, “and spare usthis torment.”
“Nay.Not yet.Not until it pleases me.”Theleader poured himself a tankard of ale and said to Argus, “Start afire and prepare some food.This night is a celebration.I intendto savor it.”
Soon a deer was butchered and hung over afire.While it slowly roasted, the men began to consume vastquantities of ale.The forest rang with the sound of theirlaughter.
They feasted until their hunger was sated.And then, warm from the food and ale, the one called Ian approachedLindsey and bowed before her.
“The time has come, my lady.”His voice was asilken purr of pleasure.“I have waited a lifetime for this moment.And now I intend to take my revenge.”
“I do not understand,” she said.“I do notknow you.”
“Nay.But I know you.And you,” he said,turning to include Douglas Gordon.
“You are wrong.I would remember you, had wemet before,” the older man replied.
Ian sat on a fallen log and crossed his leg,staring for a moment at the toe of his boot.When he lifted hisgaze, he fixed Douglas Gordon with a look of pure hatred.
“My given name is indeed Ian.But my clan isnot MacPherson.I wager you remember my father.”He paused for justa moment before saying softly, “Neville Sinclair.”
Douglas gasped.The night had turned eerilyquiet.
“Neville Sinclair.”Douglas Gordon spat thename like a curse.“He broke all the laws of warfare.Instead offighting me like a man, he stole away with my only daughter andtried to violate her.”
“And you killed him,” Ian said softly.
“Aye.I killed him.Any man would have donethe same.He caused my daughter to suffer for a lifetime because ofhis cruelty.”
“Do you recall his son who begged you to killhim also?”
Douglas stared at the man a moment, seeing inhis mind’s eye the terrible battle that ensued after Lindsey’s leapto the courtyard.Then he shook his head.“Nay.I recall no lad.Ibarely recall killing Neville Sinclair.I remember only the way mylittle daughter looked, lying in a pool of her own blood, like asmall broken bird.”
“I came into the room,” Ian said, “and fellweeping across my father’s body.And I begged you to run me throughwith your sword so that I could be with my father.”
Douglas blinked, remembering the scene he hadblocked for all these years from his memory.
“Aye.I do recall.”His voice lowered.“Ispared your life and told you that the only way you could ever bewith your father was to lead a wicked life.I warned you not tofollow in his ways or you would one day join him in the fires ofhell.”
“Aye.”Ian’s eyes glinted with a dangerouslight, and Lindsey shivered at the evil she could read in theirdepths.“Remember well your words, old man.This night, I intend tomake you suffer as I have suffered all these years without myfather.”
His hands closed over Lindsey’s upper arms,lifting her to her feet.Drawing a dirk from his waistband, he heldit up so that the blade reflected the dancing light of the fire.But instead of placing it to her throat, he cut through the ropesthat bound her.
“Before you die, Douglas Gordon, you will begme to kill you as I once begged you.And I will show you the samemercy.You will be forced to live with all your pain.”He smiled, acruel, dangerous smile.“You will first see your daughter ravagedby me and my men.And then you will see your sons die before youreyes.And only then will you be allowed to join them.”
“I beg you, take my life and spare mychildren,” Douglas cried.
“Ah.Already you beg.”He turned to his menwith a triumphant laugh, and then his voice changed to the deadlywhisper that Lindsey had heard before.“It is time to sample thelady’s charms.”
Lindsey’s eyes went wide at the sound of thatterrifying whisper.“It was you who spirited me away from myfather’s camp.”
“Aye, my lady.And this time I will not failin my plans for revenge.”
As he pushed Lindsey in front of him towardthe fire a tall figure stepped into his line of vision.There wasno mistaking Jamie MacDonald.In his hand glinted the jeweled hiltof a sword.
“Release the woman,” Jamie commanded.
For a moment Ian froze.Then, seeing no otherfigures emerge from the woods, he threw back his head andlaughed.
“You are alone and you think to fight all ofus?”
