Page 51 of In Bed with a Scot

Bain laughed. “I will kill ye slowly and take the money from ye, dinnae fash. Ye will pay fer what ye did tae me wife with yer life.”

Athol moved from behind him, and Madden turned to block the attack. Bain used the moment of distraction to come up behind Madden and put a blade to his throat. Madden had no choice but to stand still and wait for the opportunity to act before his throat was slit.

“I look forward tae hearing her screams of agony,” Bain hissed in Madden’s ear. Bain lightly moved the blade across Madden’s throat, who hissed, leaving a thin line of blood in its wake.

“Nae,” Isabelle cried out in distress.

“This is but the beginning,” Bain chuckled. He then turned Madden around to face him, still holding the tip of the knife to his throat. He then punched him in the gut with his free hand, hard. Madden doubled over and coughed in pain. He was just going to knee him in the face when Isabelle screamed.

“Madden!”

Bain’s head turned towards his wife. “Haud yer wheest. It is ye who has brought this upon him. May ye never forget what ye witness here this day.”

Madden utilized the moment of Bain’s distraction and bashed his fist into Bain’s nose. The knife clattered to the floor as Bain howled in pain.

Then, Madden let out a sharp, shrill, loud whistle. A few seconds later, the sounds of battle could be heard outside of the inn. “Dae ye hear that, Bain? Those are yer men dying down below.”

Bain roared in rage, launching himself at Madden, who dodged the blow, and Bain landed on the floor near Isabelle’s bed. Athol entered the fray, bringing his sword down to bear upon Madden’s head. Madden raised his own blade and managed to stop the sword’s sharp edge before it cleaved his skull open. His blade knocked Athol on the head and he then proceeded to push him away with his leg with all his strength, sending the dazed giant hurtling across the room.

“Nay!” Isabelle’s voice cried out in alarm.

Madden turned to find Bain holding her up in front of him with the knife to her throat this time, her limbs still immobilized by the ropes. “Lay down yer blade and surrender tae me or I will kill her right here and now.”

“Ye will nae touch her again, ye filthy shadow of a man”. Madden lunged towards him as he saw in terror that the blade Bain was holding started to move across his beloved’s white skin.

“Naaaaaaay! He yelled, but no sooner had he started, a sword plunged through Bain’s torso, piercing his heart, and he dropped into a bloody, gurgling lump where he stood. He wheezed once, shock and rage filling his eyes, and then his expression went blank. Arran was crouching in the window behind him.

Athol, who had recovered in the meantime, cried out in rage, moving towards Arran, but Madden cut him down with a single blow of his blade.

“That is the second time that ye have saved me life,” Arran observed. “I fear I owe ye a life debt.”

Madden shook his head. “Ye saved Isabelle. We are even.”

“That climb was more difficult than ye let on,” Arran motioned with his head back towards the window.

“I did nae climb it with a sword in me hand and fear in me heart fer someone’s life,” Madden pointed out.

“True,” Arran nodded in acceptance. Stepping forward he untied his sister. Isabelle, still in shock, had not managed to utter a word. Instead, she threw her arms around her brother’s neck and held on tightly.

“Thanks be tae God that ye came,” she breathed.

“Of course, I came,” Arran reassured her. “I will always come when ye need me, but it is this one that took all of the risk.” Arran motioned towards Madden.

Isabelle released her hold on her brother and flew into Madden’s arms. Madden embraced her gladly, his heart full of love and relief that she was alive and safe. His hand settled on the warm blood from her scalp, and he frowned. “Ye are bleeding, lass.”

“It is nae but a scratch,” she reassured him.

“Let me look at it.” She turned her head so that he could get a better look. She was right. There was a cut to the skin, but nothing serious. He sighed in relief. “I would run him through again if I thought it would make any difference,” he murmured giving Bain’s corpse an angry glare.

“It is over now,” Isabelle breathed in relief.

“He can never hurt ye again,” Madden reassured her, brushing the hair back from her face. Then he turned and looked around. “How are we going tae dispose of the bodies without drawing attention tae ourselves?”

Arran walked over to the window and looked down at the ground. “It looks like our men have a few bodies of their own tae contend with.” He turned back to Madden and Isabelle. “Me men and I will take care of this. Dinnae fear. There will nae be any repercussions that we cannae take care of. I shall call in some witnesses and if need be, I will go and speak with the king meself. We have naething tae fear. Surely a stable boy or someone will be able to ascertain that me sister was brought here tied up and unconscious, with the help of some coin. And as her braither and the Laird MacKay, I had every right tae kill Laird Sinclair tae protect her life. Madden, take Isabelle back tae the castle. Cara and Keelin will be worrying themselves untae illness over her.”

Madden nodded. “Aye, we will make haste, but send word if ye need us.”

Arran nodded, kissed his sister’s forehead, then sent them on their way. Madden lifted Isabelle up into his arms and carried her out of the room, down the stairs, and out to the stables where he had left his horse. Placing her in the saddle, he climbed up behind her.