The forest on either side of the obstacle acted like an impenetrable fence. The ground was thick with brambles and bushes, and tree branches took care of blocking all remaining room. Slaine jumped down from Maximus to inspect the ground closer. It was then he saw the logs on the right had had their branches pushed back by an animal of some strength.
So, the wee minx has decided to have her own way, even if it means riding her horse on through a thicket bristling with bandits and branches, and who kens what else?
Slaine sighed, swore long and violently under his breath, and began to track Pooka’s hoof marks through the forest, leading Maximus behind him.
The wood was the most uninviting environment he had experienced for many a long year. The air was suffocating and the ground was damp, the sun not being able to penetrate through the leaves. Slaine spent the first few minutes trying to swat midges off his skin before miserably accepting their presence and doing what he could to limit their access to his skin by wrapping his cloak around him. He would stop and listen every now and again in the hope he could hear Blair and Pooka in front of him, but the trees soaked up sounds like a dark sponge. Tree branches snapped back into his face and slapped his arms until he decided it was easier to mount Maximus and lie with his head down against the horse’s withers to avoid the low-hanging boughs.
He had plenty of time in the darkness of the woods to think about why he was doing this. At first, he was not even sure why his brain was urging him to follow the girl. Then a thought crossed his mind: perhaps it was not his brain...maybe it was his heart.
9
Old Trick, New Dogs
Blair knew she had done the wrong thing from the time she had urged Pooka to press through the dense foliage in an attempt to go around the logs. The moment she saw the logs were compelling any rider to follow a route of someone else’s choosing, she realized there were far darker forces at play than those of nature.
After only a few minutes of riding, Blair changed her mind, but by then it was too late. The forest had closed behind her as efficiently as an iron clamp, and she had no choice but to follow the way to its conclusion.
A lump formed in Blair’s throat she found impossible to swallow away. On one side of her were steep rocks and on the other, ominously enough, lay a vague track. It was freshly cut back and rough, but the diligent handiwork was clear to see. Many men had been busy trying to make the track look inviting enough for someone not to turn back.
Pooka did not like the path at all. He whinnied and jerked his head in the bridle from side to side. Blair had to use all her skills as a horsewoman to steer the frightened animal ever onwards. She knew it was a stupid thing to do and had every chance to deeply regret her decision to leave the side of her traveling companion.
Is that what I believe him to be, a companion? It hardly seems like the right word to describe a man I have come to depend on and need more than I ever thought was possible for a woman to feel about a man.
She cast her memory back to the alehouse, when she had first heard his deep voice offering to help her. And to the field when she looked into his eyes and just knew she could trust him enough to tell him she was carrying four gold coins with her.
What about when he strode into the Phoenix, just as though it had been as safe a place as a nunnery? He had done things in there she could only dream about doing to the people who had taken her father away from her. And then he’d been injured and simply shrugged it off as if it were a cat scratch.
But the night before had been the most eye-opening adventure for Blair out of all of them. When she had touched his skin, seen the muscles rippling underneath it, smelt the scent of pine needles and leather coming off his body, she had experienced a revelation so monumental it was impossible to put a name to it.
She had been impelled to run her finger over his back. It was as though her mind had stepped outside of her body and left her bodily urges to take over. If he had not given a slight shiver when she touched him and broken the spell, who knows what she would have done next? Licked him?
Blair felt her body contract at the thought of doing such a thing. Would he taste of salt? Would his taste and scent remind her of some fabled warrior, too big and strong, and yet powerless to resist her touch?
Blair’s daydreams had lifted her mind far up out of the forest. The gentle rocking of the horse between her thighs as she rode promised her an indication of her wishes all coming true, if only she could turn back and be with him again…
Pooka gave a snort and came to a complete stop. Blair also sensed danger and readied herself for whatever the fates had in store for her next. It was not good.
Four men came out from behind a rock and grabbed hold of Pooka’s reins, yanking them out of her hands.
The stallion was not used to such rough treatment; the horse reared up with indignation, sending Blair rolling to the ground. She was winded and shocked. Things had happened so fast, she was too numb to react other than to lie on the ground, blinking and panting.
“Lookee here, lads,” a menacing voice said, “it’s nae just the horse that’s a beauty. She doesnae look wealthy, but we can get a pretty price for her at some o’ the fancy houses down in Edinburgh.”
Blair was grasped by the arms and ankles roughly and then picked up and carried to where the rocks dipped and became less steep. A cave mouth gaped and swayed in her vision as her head lolled to one side, and she drifted in and out of consciousness. She was thrown carelessly to one side and felt hard stones hit her back. Again, Blair struggled to breathe; the tree canopy spun in front of her eyes.
“Strip her,” the voice said. “She’s sure to have some money hidden in her petticoats. Besides, I want to sample the goods before giving her to the brothel abbess.”
“Let’s check her saddlebags first,” another harsh voice suggested.
“Aye, there’s a chest and a shawl all tied up that we need to look at before the sun goes behind the mountain.”
Blair gave a soft moan and tried to sit up.
“Look to the prize,” the man’s voice said, and she sensed someone approaching.
A hunched and weather-wrinkled man crept over to where Blair was groggily sitting up and shaking her head to try and clear it.
“Ye look like a sensible young girlie,” the man wheedled. “Dinnae make any trouble for yerself now, and we’ll go easy on ye.”
