Page 49 of Highlander’s False Identity

“Fergus!” Edme gasped.

“Ye turncoat!” spat Dughall. He reached for his knife, but Beathan quickly knocked it from his hand. “Ye sneaked off when I needed ye an’ now ye betray me!” he fumed.

“Nae, I’m here to see justice is done. An’ the maid is no witch,” replied Fergus calmly. “An’ the English are our foe, nae our friends!” he added.

Beside him, Beathan smiled and brought his sword to Dughall’s face.

“Fergus is nae traitor. He’s a loyal Highlander, which is more than I can say for ye!” Beathan hissed. “I gave ye the benefit of the doubt afore, Dughall, but nae again!”

Then everything happened at once. The English pushed themselves into the fray but were quickly overwhelmed by Fergus and his troops, from the McKinley keep.

Behind them were the rest of the Duncan forces. Faces she had never seen before and faces she recognized streamed in, yanking Dughall and his men away from her.

“Father!” Beathan cried as he spotted Wallace, who had just arrived. “How did ye get here so fast?”

Wallace smiled; “I’d already received word about the English, I just hope it’s in time!” he said, anxiously. Then, nodding to Edme, he pressed on towards the fight, as Beathan followed on behind.

The English had rallied together and were now fully assembled and mounted a spirited defense. Dughall was now free and looked invincible as he moved toward the English army. Suddenly, Edme was not so confident of overcoming him.

“Catch her!” chanted the tall officer whom Edme had injured. But he moved stiffly, still stifled by his wounds.

A posse of Highlanders piled in to shield Edme. But in moving in to keep the English at bay, they accidentally propelled her closer to her brother.

Dughall inched ever closer to the English forces, and despite the Highlanders' efforts, finally reached them. As he neared, one of them threw him a sword, which he immediately brandished at Edme.

“Yer a disgrace to all Highlanders, Dughall!” Beathan cried from somewhere behind him. “A Scotsman’s first duty is to unite against the enemy!” he said, spitting at an English soldier. “Ye had nae business to involve the English!”

They were brave words, but Edme could see that he was surrounded, and she was too far away to help him. Locked behind a ring of English soldiers, Edme could not go back, only forwards, as they surged on with their attack.

Seeing his chance, Dughall darted towards Edme. The Highlanders behind him were in hot pursuit, but Dughall was quick. Seeing her so near to Dughall, Beathan called over to her.

“Careful, lass!” he cried. But it was too late for her to turn back.

She watched as her brother drew closer. She hadn’t meant to be alone with Dughall, but now that it had happened, she had to seize the chance to have it out with him.

Edme resolved to do whatever it took to end the bloodshed, even if it meant putting herself in danger. So, instead of running, she walked calmly towards Dughall.

“Edme! Nae!” Beathan yelled. “Ye cannae take him alone!” he pleaded. He was gaining the upper hand with the English soldiers, but not enough to get free.

Edme shot him a look. She hoped he would understand. She desperately wanted to go back to help him but was too far away. And if there was even the chance that she could get Dughall to stop this, then it had to be worth a try.

The girl walked slowly towards her brother, Beathan shouting as she went.

“Edme, nae!”

Chapter Seventeen

“Dughall!” Edme screamed. She had hoped to pierce his conscience, but suddenly she was not so sure of herself.

Dughall was about to slash the face of one of their men, but when he saw Edme, he stopped.

“Dughall, ye say ye wanted it out wi’ me; well here I am!” she called to him. “Ye can stop this!” Edme indicated the injured Scottish soldiers.

Surprised, Dughall released the man he was fighting and went towards her, staring intensely.

Edme coughed, uncomfortable in his gaze. Anxiously, she shot a look to Beathan. She had to help him any way she could, and so, biting her lip, she moved forward to speak to Dughall.

Now Edme was standing quite alone. It was just her and Dughall. Dughall smiled sinisterly, sending a shiver through Edme. But when he spoke, he sounded almost sorrowful.