Page 22 of Highland Spy

“Logan, where are ye?” asked Caleb in a semi-whisper. He saw the silhouettes of two men up ahead and then heard Jack growling again. The tombstones pushed up through the fog, making the whole place very eerie. He took a step forward and jerked backward as someone gripped his shoulder. With his sword already drawn, he spun around, ready to kill his attacker. The sound of metal against metal rang out as his sword clashed with Logan’s.

“God’s eyes, careful with that thing before ye take off my head,” growled Logan.

“I thought ye were the thief.”

“Nay, I’m no’ the thief, but I think he is.” Logan nodded as a man rode out of the fog atop Caleb’s horse. Caleb wasn’t about to let the thief get away. He reached up as the man rode past, pulling him off the horse and throwing him down.

“Umph,” came the voice of the thief as his body hit the ground hard. Caleb’s horse neighed and reared back. Frightened, it took off in the opposite direction. Jack chased down another thief, and Logan took off at a run for one more that could be seen riding off, leading two of their horses by the reins.

“Ye’ll die for tryin’ to steal my horse.” Caleb’s sword was instantly at the man’s throat. The man was on his belly. “Turn over, and let me see yer face as I kill ye,” Caleb snapped. “Hands above yer head and away from yer weapons.”

Caleb reached down with his free hand, snatching away the man’s sword as he rolled over. Through the fog came a sunbeam, lighting up the thief’s face. “Grant?” he asked, seeing his brother lying on the ground. “What the hell are ye doin’?”

“Caleb, we finally found ye.”

Caleb moved the tip away from his brother’s throat and offered him his hand to get to his feet.

“What do ye mean?” asked Caleb, hearing Jack still growling and a struggle going on nearby.

“Quinn, Finn, and I came lookin’ for ye as soon as we found out ye were on yer way to Hermitage Castle.”

“God’s teeth, Quinn and Finn are out there, too?”

“Aye.”

“Logan,” bellowed Caleb. “Call off Jack. My brathairs are out there so dinna hurt them.”

“Jack, down boy,” came Logan’s voice from the fog. Muffled voices could be heard and then Logan and Caleb’s other brothers emerged from the fog with the reins of the horses in their hands.

“Ye almost got yerself killed,” Logan told the men. “What the hell were ye thinkin’? And why didna ye announce yerselves?”

“Hello, Caleb,” said Finn, the twin with the red hair.

“We thought bandits killed ye and we were lookin’ for yer bodies,” announced Quinn, the dark-haired twin.

“What in the name of the devil are ye talkin’ about?” asked Caleb.

“There has been some talk about an odd man accostin’ people along the road. He’s been seen in this area, but no one actually ever sees his face. He’s been seen headin’ toward Hermitage Castle, and he is very dangerous.”

“Thank ye for yer concern, but Logan and I can protect ourselves, as well as the lassies.”

Bridget heard voices outside of the cave, and ventured out into the fog to find Caleb and Logan. She hadn’t gone far when she thought she heard someone whisper her name. Stopping dead in her tracks, she glanced around, but could see nothing through the fog. After one more step she heard her name called on the wind again. Frightened, she turned in a full circle, wishing now she had never left the cave-like enclosure.

She turned abruptly, meaning to head back, but stopped short as a man appeared in the fog.

“Bridget,” he said, chuckling lowly. And as the fog cleared, she saw his face and screamed. It was the face of someone she had hoped to never see again.

“Bridget? Is everythin’ all right?” Rhoswen came through the fog with Bridget’s father at her side. Rhoswen knew how to fight, had her sword drawn, ready to protect the others if need be.

Bridget’s head snapped back around, but the man she’d seen was now gone. She started to wonder if she’d imagined the whole thing. Perhaps she was starting to go mad just like her father.

“What’s the matter? Who screamed?” Caleb broke through the fog to join them with his sword drawn.

“It was me,” Bridget told them. “I’m fine. I thought I saw a ghost, that’s all. But now I ken I was mistakin’.”

“Where’s Slink?” asked Caleb, always concerned for his pet.

“I’ve got him right here.” Bridget threw open the flap of her travel bag and the pine marten stuck its head out and looked around.