Page 59 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

“Nae,” Leo spat. “What ye gave me were yer leavings, yer pity, and yer distrust. Nae a single day went by when I was nae mocked for my mother’s roots. I decided long ago that I would wrest Dunnottar from ye and rule over the people who mocked me.”

“Ye were my brother!” Bruce said, swiping at Leo.

Elspeth screamed as metal struck metal and sparks flew. Bruce tackled three men alone. Elspeth struggled against her captor, trying to bite him, but his grip tightened. Bruce parried every blow. A zeal was in his eyes, a gleam that came from the rage of betrayal.

With batted breath she saw Leo back away from Bruce’s blows. There was fear in his eyes. “Simon!” he yelled.

Simon came forward, but Bruce turned on him with a swing of his sword. He was like the warriors of legend, strong, fearless, and unbreakable. Every move was fueled by courage but tempered with reason. Even in his fighting stance there was nobility and grace that could not be matched by anyone else. In that moment she saw what the Bishop must have seen all this time – the rightful king of Scotland.

Their horses neighed. In the confusion of the attack, they pawed the ground. Willow tore at her reins and managed to set them free of the bush.

“Willow!” Elspeth called. The horse ran to her rescue. The man holding Elspeth balked at the charging horse, and Elspeth managed to wrest herself free. She ran to assist Bruce, but the tide turned.

“I will nae have ye win!” Leo screamed and picked up a burning log from the fire. He rushed at Bruce. Bruce lifted his hand to protect his face. Simon stepped away from behind Bruce and pushed him further to the edge of the hill. Bruce lost his balance, but he might have recovered if Leo didn’t step forward and kick him in the chest.

“Bruce!” Elspeth screamed. The Honors fell from her arms and she rushed forward to the edge of the hill. At that moment she wasn’t concerned with her own safety. If she were to run off the edge, she would not be afraid. But she needed to know that Bruce was okay.

He has to be okay!

“Where do ye think yer going?” Leo grabbed her by the waist and swung her back from the edge.

“Let me go!” she yelled, scratching at his arms. “Bruce!”

“He’s dead!” Leo snarled. “Let him go.”

“Nae! Bruce!” Leo let her go. Elspeth staggered to the edge, her knees skinned from the gravel. The darkness stared back at her. There was no sign of Bruce. She reached with her arms, but the distance between them was too great. She came up empty-handed.

Her mind refused to accept it. He couldn’t be gone. They were going to get married and live a life together. He couldn’t break his promise and leave her.

Strong arms yanked her back from the edge and pulled her back up on her feet. Willow was making a nuisance, stomping the ground, kicking with its hind legs. In her bleary state Elspeth saw it take a chunk out of one of the men’s hair.

“Shut that horse up!” Simon thundered, and taking his hunting knife, he stabbed Willow in the neck.

Elspeth reeled. The barbaric cruelty of it was so stunning she couldn’t find her voice to protest. She had lost two of her dearest companions on this hill in the space of minutes.

“Willow?” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “I’m so sorry.”

Willow breathed with difficulty, her mane red with blood. The cruel men tied Elspeth up and loaded her on a horse like a sack of potatoes. Last Elspeth saw, Willow was still breathing, but her own heart had broken and she wondered why she still was.