Page 91 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

Marcas brought his wiry face closer still until all he could see was his grin.

Before Neacal had a chance to react, a swift blow from behind skelped him. The guard beside him was flaying him with a chain, which almost knocked him unconscious with sheer brutality.

Marcas snarled, putting his face into Neacal’s. His sly eyes danced all around the room, triumphantly.

Neacal groaned. Marcas’s pleasure was clear to see, and the blows he inflicted threatened to submerge him altogether.

Neacal held himself tight and prayed for a quick death, but Marcas was in no mood to spare him.

“Noo, then, I’ll tell ye hoo it’s going to end, ye in my trap, caught in my net, ah…. But first… a wee bit o’ fun...!”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“Halt there!”

Teasag brushed past the guard on the door.

Marcas’s house was well protected, but the chubby soldier at the gate was no match for Teasag’s determination.

Smiling, Teasag skipped straight inside, bringing the guards with her as from the other side of the house, Gaie and Lorcal crept into the cottage.

“It’s awfu’ comfy isnae it,” said Teasag, gaily, wrapping herself into Marcas’s heavy mahogany chair.

The guards around her were so amazed they could barely make a move. It was all that Teasag could do not to laugh in their faces. Clearly, no-one had expected a slip of a girl to simply march in and upend them.

But Teasag was no fool. With one eye on the corner of the cottage, she glanced nervily, waiting for Gaie to make her move.

Although her slight appearance, and gender, had given her the advantage, for now, it would not be long before the men overpowered her, though, they seemed more confused than combative.

Most of them actually backed off, returning to their lines outside the commander’s house. Only one of them entered to tackle her face to face.

“Miss, what are ye doing here? Ye cannae be in here,” argued a perplexed soldier with a squint and permanently watering eye.

He stepped forward to grab her, but Teasag just smiled. Behind him, Gaie crept in, swiping him with a candlestick. Instantly the man flopped a lifeless lump onto the cottage floor.

Quickly, Gaie bolted the front door to prevent the other linesmen from seeing, as Teasag and Lorcal dragged the man’s unconscious body out of the way.

From somewhere down below them, a low moan sounded, sending a jolt through Teasag’s heart.

It was Neacal.

Teasag did not wait. Without even stopping to look, she ran down the steps to the cellar, three at a time, almost tripping as she burst in through the door.

“Neacal!!” she cried, rushing to find him.

Neacal was tied up, alone, against the wall, shackles cutting deep into his wrists.

“Teasag, ye’ve gotta get oot o’ here,” he said, looking fervently around. “Marcas will be back at any moment, it isnae safe for ye, lassie!”

But Teasag stood firm, grabbing at her small sgian dubh she just about managed to sever the thick binds.

Getting the chains off would be harder, though, and Neacal had to grapple for quite some time before he was free of them.

“Nae, come on Neacal!” said Teasag about to lead him away. Then her eyes alighted on something from the back of the room.

Curious, she went over and fetched out a small vial, glinting from the cupboard against the wall.

Pressing it against her nose, she sniffed before almost choking. Straightening himself up, Neacal winced and looked over at her.