“Save your bold words for your clansmen who will decide your fate when you’re returned tae your village. Do you envision a swift death for your treachery or a slow tortuous one? Not a queen tae them at all, but the willing whore of a raider who killed and maimed and burned?—”
“No, please, dinna send me back there, I beg you!” Trembling now, Roslin fell to her knees, though Gavin still tightly clutched her arm. “What do you want of me? I will do anything you ask…ah, God.”
She choked now upon sobs that did nothing to ease Gavin’s fearsome expression, or Errol’s. He glanced at Gavin, who indicated with a nod that Errol should be the one to speak.
“You will take us tae Thorgren.”
Roslin’s sobs ceased and her face blanched white, but she bobbed her head in agreement as Errol drew closer.
“How many ships? Two?”
“A-aye…with sixty men. Thorgren found a sheltered cove along a river north of here?—”
“So they have been close all along,” Gavin said as Errol nodded, feeling sickened this time that he and Lorne and Gavin’s men hadn’t searched the area more thoroughly.
“You didna have enough warriors with you tae fight them,” Gavin murmured as if reading Errol’s mind. “We do now, Sutherland…which is all that matters. Tell us, woman, did you walk here alone or did raiders accompany you?”
“Only through the woods, a half dozen men, and then they turned back. I was tae demand a horse so I could return quickly tae where the ships are anchored.”
“After you killed my wife and stole our son, aye?”
Roslin nodded, her face grown even paler at the quiet fury in Errol’s voice.
“Do you bear a knife?”
“N-no, but I was ready tae do whatever I needed tae honor Thorgren’s wishes.”
“God help us.”
Errol couldn’t stomach hearing anything further, and turned away as Ambrose reached them, the old healer gasping aloud when he saw Roslin.
“So much blood…and yet you live?”
“Not mine,” came her muted answer. “A slaughtered doe.”
“I-I dinna understand,” began Ambrose, only for Gavin to spit into the dirt with disgust.
“A foul ruse, man…but we’ve no more time for talking.” Yanking Roslin by the arm toward three grim-faced warriors standing nearby, he thrust her at them. “Search her for any weapons, aye, strip her naked if you must—and then hold her until we’re ready tae ride.” Then Gavin bellowed above a rumbleof thunder, “Prepare for battle, men, we’ve some accursed raiders tae hunt down!”
“Cora, what is happening?”Out of breath from rushing down the tower steps, Tira squeezed through a group of servants standing at the open doorway to reach Cora, who stood just outside with Sinclair and Maud clutched against her.
Tira had heard the commotion, too, that reached the peaceful confines of the nursery, but she hadn’t followed after Cora until Isobel and Monroe were safely snuggled in their cradles.
Now Tira could but stare, wide-eyed, at the bailey filled with snorting horses and mounted warriors as Gavin shouted above the melee for the massive castle gates to be opened.
Her heart beating in her throat at the somber glance Cora gave her, a deafening crack of thunder made Tira jump.
“Do you see that dark-haired woman seated in front of Errol? She was sent here by Thorgren tae kill you and steal your son, but thank God, Gavin saw through her ruse. They go now tae attack the raiders—some across land and others by ship tae thwart any escape. Och, Tira, pray that our husbands prevail.Pray hard.”
Tira was praying, her throat tightened at this news, unshed tears near blinding her.
Her stricken gaze followed Errol as he rode alongside Gavin through the gates until they were gone from her view…and even then, she stood as if rooted while a host of warriors followed after, until the bailey was empty.
Even so, she could hear the thundering of hooves down the hill to where Gavin’s warships were docked while other horses pounded to the north. Was Errol mayhap among those menriding overland? She hadn’t even a chance to embrace him before he left for battle or to tell him that she loved him—aye, she loved him more than life!
Trembling now from head to foot, Tira would have remained there as cold raindrops began to pelt the dirt if Cora hadn’t taken her by the forearm to lead her back inside.
Maud clutched her mother’s skirt and wept as Sinclair ran ahead of them, though he spun around to shout with childish bluster, “One day I will ride with Papa tae slay our enemies—och, Maud, cease your crying! You’re a warrior’s daughter!”
