Ida choked out a startled laugh but it rang hollow in her ears.
“Ida!”
Ida turned to see the laird hurrying to her side, the sea of Scots parting for their laird. Behind him were Iris and James, James who rushed to help the others immediately. “Where is mah brother?” the laird asked, panic in his expression. “Where is he?”
Ida couldn’t force the truth out of her mouth. She didn’t want to believe it herself.
Just then, there was a loud rumble and Scots started to flee as the stable collapsed within itself with a loud thud.
“Nay!” Stephan cried out, racing to the rubble.
Ida tried and failed to get up from her spot, her body still too weak to move.
Others started to run toward the stable, throwing aside charred wood, a loud commotion filling the air as they hurried to see if they could find any survivors.
“He’s not dead,” the laird whispered just loud enough for Ida to hear, falling to his knees in the midst of the chaos. “He canna be. That fool of a Scot is tougher, stronger than I could ever be.”
Ida barely registered his words as she watched the scene unfolding before her, barely able to catch her breath. He might have lost one person but she was on the verge of losing two.
“Where is mah brother?” Iris asked as she rushed to Ida’s side, looking her over. “Where is he?”
Ida shook her head and Iris let out a keen wail full of pain, falling to her knees next to Ida. The two women embraced and Ida allowed the tears to flow unchecked down her soot-covered cheeks. He had saved her life and ran back for the person that he knew Ida cared for. She should have begged him to stay with her, yet she had asked him to go.
And he had. “Tis mah fault,” she breathed through her tears. “I asked him tae go back.”
Iris didn’t respond, but her arms tightened around Ida as they waited for their bodies to be found.
It wasn’t long before a yell went up and the women broke apart. “Help mah tae mah feet,” Ida begged her friend.
Iris did as she was asked and together, the women pushed through the crowd gathered, Ida gasping as she saw James in the midst of it all, pulling Ian’s large body from underneath the wood and stone. There was soot covering him and his tunic was charred on his left arm, the skin red and angry.
“Oh God,” Iris whispered, bringing her hand up to her mouth.
“Mah uncle,” Ida said faintly as another body was removed from the doorway. He had gotten to him. Ian had almost given his life up to rescue the very Scot that hated him because of her.
“Take them tae the keep!” the laird called out behind them. “I want mah healers there immediately.”
“Come,” Iris said, tugging on Ida’s arm. “We have tae go with them.”
Ida allowed the other woman to lead her to the great hall, whose heavy doors had been thrown wide open. There were many barking out orders, directing people to put out the remaining flames and bringing anyone that had injuries.
The two women hurried past, following the group of people that were bringing both injured men inside, Ida’s heart in her throat. Ian had to be alright. She had much to tell him, to explain to him how she felt and she wanted that chance to do so.
Iris clutched her arm tightly as they weaved their way into a large room, where both Ian and her uncle were laid out on a set of tables pushed together, healers hovering over them.
“Ida,” the laird boomed from behind the two women.
Ida turned to find the raw emotion reflected on his face. “Wot happened?” he asked, his warriors flanking him. “I need tae know lass.”
Ida drew in a breath, her throat raw from the smoke she had inhaled. “I was asleep,” she started out, Iris providing support to keep her upright on her feet for now.
Ida roused from her sleep at the sound of the front door to the cottage slamming shut, rubbing a hand over her face. It was still night outside, many hours before she had to wake.
Scrambling up, she threw a shawl over her shoulders and hurried to her uncle’s bed, only to find the blankets thrown aside.
Where was he going?
Worried, Ida hurried to the door and flung it open, the cold air rushing to greet her. Sometimes, her uncle did wander out of the cottage, but it was usually when he had been drinking and tonight, he hadn’t imbibed as far as she knew.
