Page 67 of Highlander’s Evil Side

Fraser’s eyes widened. “Ye were in the western village.”

“Aye, I was.” Murdo chuckled. “Such a disgusting sight to my eyes. I enjoyed burning it to the ground. The whole lot deserved it.”

Fraser clenched his reins and ground his teeth, tempted to jump off his horse and cross blades with this brigand. “Ye!” Fraser shouted, his voice quivering with anger.

Murdo shrugged. “It was naething much to look at. Yer people should be thanking me.”

“Seize him!” Fraser roared.

None of his men moved. Their blades remained pointed at Murdo, yet they remained still as if they had not heard him.

“Ye heard yer laird!” Kenneth shouted while urging his horse forward. “Capture this man. Now!”

“Where’s the coin ye promised?” Wallace asked while craning his head towards Murdo. His lips twisted into a cruel grin. Fraser narrowed his gaze at the scar on his chin, recalling a time Beitris gave mention of a soldier she had spoken with who had not relayed her message. He moved towards Murdo. “Ye promised us gold, now where is it?”

Murdo chuckled and reached into his cloak, pulling out a large bag tied at the top. He tossed it forward. A loud clink sounded as it landed on the ground. “There’s yer gold.”

Logan jumped off his horse and scrambled towards it. His greasy red hair fell forward as he crouched in front of the bag, untying it quickly, his eyes widening on the gold glimmering up at him. He held up a coin for Wallace and Finley to see, their eyes widening and their smiles growing. Fraser held his breath. He glanced at Kenneth, who grabbed Fraser’s arm.

“We must go at once, my laird,” Kenneth whispered while slowly turning his mount around.

“Nae one is going anywhere!” Murdo shouted.

“We’ve got it, lads,” the scarred man chuckled while holding up one coin. “‘Tis all here for the taking!”

Fraser watched in shock as his men turned their horses towards him, all swords pointing at his neck. Kenneth gasped as a soldier grabbed him, holding a sword to his neck.

“Apologies, my laird,” Kenneth breathed. “I have failed ye.”

“There’s nae need for bloodshed,” said Murdo.

Fraser glanced over his shoulder, finding Gavin struggling to get to onto his horse. If Gavin was able to get away, he could warn Beitris and the others; he could tell them what happened. The pull of the bow grabbed Fraser’s attention, and he bit back his shouts for Gavin to warn the castle.

“If ye come peacefully, nae one needs to die. Yer men’s life will be spared. And so will Laird Gordon’s.”

Fraser felt as if the ground was giving way, and the darkness was swallowing him. Gavin was on his horse. His shoulders were hunched over in pain. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the blade at Kenneth’s throat and the arrow aimed for Gavin’s back.

“Stop!” Fraser shouted, holding his breath in wait for Gavin to hear his command.

Gavin turned toward him. Fraser couldn’t see his face, but he knew what he would see. Gavin would be horrified by the command, the fact that Fraser was giving in. But he had to. It was the only way to save him, Kenneth, and Beitris’s father.

There was no other way.

Fraser stared at Gavin. He wasn’t moving his horse. Clearly, he was struggling with the order, and for a moment, Fraser thought he would ignore it. It wasn’t until Gavin trotted forward towards Murdo, head bowed in defeat, that Fraser could breathe. Gavin stared at Fraser, his eyes glimmering with unshed tears. Fraser could see the fear there, knowing his friend was worried for his life. However, there was no way they could get out of this. They were outnumbered. They had always been outnumbered.

“I will go with ye,” said Fraser, watching as Gavin and Kenneth were pulled off their horses, their hands bound behind their backs while swords were pointed at their necks. Fraser turned towards Murdo, his gaze darkening on the elder brigand. “Let my men go, and I will go peacefully.”

Murdo’s chuckle nauseated him. It was a vile sound. It was the sound of betrayal, the sound of darkness prevailing over the weak, over the light. “Very good,” he heard the evil man say. “Very good, Laird MacClery. I knew ye would see reason. Unfortunately,” he added while snapping his fingers. Fraser bit back a cry as Gavin and Kenneth were kicked forward. “They must come, as well. We can’t have them going off and warning yer clan, now can we?”

Fraser bit back a retort and scowled at Murdo as he turned his horse around.

“Onwards, lads!” Murdo shouted while pointing towards the cliffs.

Fraser allowed himself to be guided by Murdo and his group of thugs. He didn’t fight. He didn’t try to look for an escape. They continued down the path and towards the sea. The path was narrow and steep. One false move and he would fall to his death. At the bottom of the cliff was a cave, one that was only accessible when the tide was gone and the water was low.

“Here is where we leave the horses, Laird MacClery,” said Murdo while jumping down.

A man grabbed Fraser’s reins, tugging them out of his grasp. He held his tongue as he dismounted, hoping no ill would become of his black stallion, the gift Laird Gordon had presented him with. His hands stroked the horse’s haunches as he gazed into its black eyes one last time. Swords were shoved at his throat, and Fraser grimaced.