Page 89 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"I can easily take it from him."

"Nay, daft goat."

"Shut your gob, Randall! You're nay in charge."

Randall? Brodie remembered Elsea mentioning that name.

"You're going to get yourself killed."

"Ha." Footsteps clumped up the turnpike stairs. Upon seeing the torch Brodie held above him at the top of the stairs, the man paused. "Alred? That you?"

Brodie dropped the torch. Milton stumbled back to avoid being struck by the flames, then tumbled down the steps, yelling curses.

"I told you, dimwit!" Randall yelled. The torch continued to burn on the wet stone floor.

Four of you go outside and search the older guard's body for the keys, Brodie told the selkies, then proceeded downward, sword in hand.

Randall jumped back, eyes widening at Brodie's nudity and his sword. "You're nay Alred!"

"Canny lad. Now, throw down all your weapons. You're vastly outnumbered, Randall. Is that your name?"

The rest of the selkies filed in behind Brodie.

The drunk guard, Milton, scrambled away on all fours, leaving his sword where he'd fallen.

"Throw all your dirks and blades there, in a pile, or else die at the end of my sword." Brodie smirked.

Milton threw his dirk to the floor with a clatter. Randall was resistant, his stunned gaze searching their faces, clearly unable to believe the army of naked, armed warriors facing him. "Selkies?" he hissed.

"Aye." Brodie gave him a feral grin. "We're here for our ladies."

Randall surrendered and threw down his sword, then removed the dirk from his belt.

"And the sgian dubhs! Toss them now!" Brodie ordered.

Five small knives hit the ground.

Brodie guarded Daavar while he picked up the weapons and passed them out among the other selkies.

Keys jangled as Ronin descended the steps and opened the cell doors. The females inside rushed out.

Are they all here? Brodie asked.

Aye, the ones from the last raid, at least, Harcus communicated.

"Oh hell. His lairdship will string us up," Milton squawked from the corner.

"We can do it now, if you prefer," Brodie taunted. "Get it over with."

"Nay!" the men yelled.

"You'd best run away then, both of you, and never let Talnaroch find you. He will take his vengeance out on you," Brodie said, hoping to decrease the number working for the bastard earl. "Tell your comrades the same. Anyone here. If they're not dead yet, they will be soon. When is your boss returning?"

"Eh... in a few days," Randall said.

"Where is he holding the other selkie women? The ones you abducted earlier?"

"I did nay work for him then."