Page 60 of Highland Prince of Darkness

“Are ye ready for this?” Douglas’s voice startled him slightly. Iain wasn’t sure how to feel about seeing his best friend riding just behind him in such a dangerous situation.

“Athol isnae going to win this one,” Iain nodded to him.

“Well, nae if I’m coming anyway. Wait until he’s in my line of sight, I’ll make short work of him,” Douglas was joking with him cockily, but Iain was not very confident about the entire situation.

“I just hope that ye’re right about this being okay, I dinnae want any more casualties on my hands.”

“I’m sure that we will be able to handle it,” Douglas nodded to him. Although there was still a friendly look in his eye, Douglas’s face was set firmly with determination. “I’m nae sure if ye’ll remember this, but I once told ye that I would follow ye into any battle, any fight that ye need help with, I would be there. I want ye to ken that I still believe in that, and that’s why I’m here today.”

“Thank ye, Douglas, that means a lot to me. Ye’ve always been a good friend,” Iain managed a smile. Even through the stress of the entire situation, he still felt incredibly guilty about the way that he had been treating the man who had always been his best friend since they were boys. Iain knew that when they got back, he would have to properly apologize and show Douglas how much he valued him.

“All right then, are we getting on the road?”

“Aye,” Iain sighed slowly, “It’s time.”

They waited only a little longer for the men to create a formation that housed Alistair at its center and would make for a strong formation while traveling. Once all was sorted, Iain watched as the gates in front of the town opened, allowing them to pass through. Many people and servants from the town had gathered to see what all of the commotion was about. He gritted his teeth and held onto the reins of his horse a little too tightly as the men started forward with him at the head of the group.

Iain squeezed his legs until the horse understood that he wanted to gallop ahead to make haste with the group. The wind tickled at his cheeks as he rode straight into it, but Iain didn’t care for any discomfort that he felt at that moment. All he wanted to do was to get there as quickly as possible.

The sudden splattering of thick rain droplets did nothing to stop the speed of the men as their horse’s hooves pounded into the ground. It was as though the sky was acting as their war cry; thunder rumbled over the nearby glen and acted like a strong force to push them forward on their way.