Page 69 of Highland Prince of Darkness

“Ye were once my friend, my brother. Ye were once a part of me that I thought without, I would be incomplete. Yet here ye’re after all this time.” Iain shook his head, “I dinnae regret betraying ye. Not when I found out that it was women and children ye were putting in danger. I still stand that there is a line in what we do, and women and children are at the front of that line.”

Both of them were aware of the men who watched from their own cells. They would also stand trial for their individual crimes as well as what they had done to May and her father.

“Then come and face me like a man,” Iain shouted into the darkness.

Athol lunged at him, screaming as he did so. He held a knife in one hand as he pushed Iain with his shoulder, jolting him slightly. Iain grunted and turned at the last minute to avoid his knife. He used his own weapon to swing out, the blade kissed Athol’s side and he hissed in pain.

“Damn ye!” he shouted, and flung his arm out, hoping that his knife would find purchase in Iain in some way. He was grunting loudly as the two of them fell to the ground and rolled around through the darkness. Iain was aware of where the knife was at all times.

The struggle continued on for some time, but Iain managed to push Athol off of him for long enough to get to his feet. He wasted no time in charging back at Athol with his knife ready. However, he didn’t anticipate how quickly Athol would recover. Athol swung at him, his knife slicing up the side of his leg, eliciting a yelp from Iain.

“I thought for a very long time that we would be friends for life,” Athol admitted with a scoff as he backed off for a moment.

“Ye were wrong,” Iain grunted through the pain.

“Aye, I was very wrong.”

Athol charged at him and kept going until he was right upon Iain. But Iain was ready for him and ignoring the searing sensation that was running through the side of his leg. He dodged the incoming blow before finally landing his knife in Athol’s chest.

The world seemed to stop for a moment. Athol was looking up at him in panic as he realized what had happened. Iain stepped back and watched as Athol sunk to his knees in disbelief. He was looking up at Iain with wide eyes that were filled with anger and fear.

“I hate ye,” Athol managed to mutter as he fell back.

His chest was rising and falling as blood spilled out and onto the stone floor. Iain knew that he should get the guards, but he was too captivated by the scene in front of him. He watched as the light left the eyes of the man who had once been his friend.

His heart felt conflicted as to whether or not he really felt that bad about it, but he focused on the relief that he felt at knowing that his troubles were finally over.