Page 51 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

Mahala, on the other hand, was a wiry child who lacked any skills of self-preservation. Were things to go bad, Mahala’s life would be in immediate danger. It was only after Mahala was safely behind the wall of men Tor had provided for the rescue mission that Idalia allowed herself to breathe properly.

While they were still within striking range of the camp, they were far enough away that their soldiers could mount their horses and flee swiftly with Mahala if their position was threatened. Dunn had picked the spot for its tree cover, but it had a double advantage, as it also gave a good view of the entire gypsy camp.

A thought struck Idalia suddenly as she settled Mahala on one of the horses. If Mahala’s rescue had gone so well and there had been such few guards around her, that meant that the bulk of August’s troops were probably stationed around Bran. She felt a spike of fear and tried her best not to show it to Mahala.

“You will get my papa?” Mahala asked with terrified eyes.

“Yes, darling,” Idalia replied, trying to keep her fear out of her voice. “We will get your papa. You have my word.”

The lass nodded vehemently, and Idalia said a silent prayer for luck, hoping she had not just lied to the sweet child. She may have kept her concerns away from Mahala, but she hadn’t been so lucky with Andrew. When she turned around to him, he had his brow raised, watching her in his quiet way.

“What is it?” he asked without preface. “What bothers ye?”

Idalia looked around the valley, then walked away from Mahala and her guards. Andrew followed close behind. “Nothing really, it just feels like we rescued Mahala too easily. I’m worried it will be so much more difficult to get Bran out of that snakepit. There aren’t a lot of soldiers in sight right now, but I assure you they are as numerous as ants.”

Andrew nodded then placed a hand on Idalia’s shoulder. “Ye have nothing tae worry about. If there’s anyone I ken in this world who can survive unfair odds, it’s Bran. Trust me, we will get him out alive. Aye?”

Idalia searched his face for any doubt, yet there was none. He crossed his arms on his chest and watched her quietly, the definition of a calm sea on a cloudless day. She felt grateful for his sturdiness, and his confidence gave her strength.

“Fine,” Idalia said.

“Good,” Andrew replied. “We need tae alert Tor and Dunn that we have Mahala and that they can go on tae rescue Bran. We dinnae have time tae waste. We must move before they discover the child is missing or realize they are a few soldiers shy.”

Andrew made to move back down the cliff and rejoin the dozen men crouching low in the grass waiting for him. Idalia followed behind, and he stopped short when he heard her footsteps. He turned around to her, frowning, and Idalia looked at him impatiently.

“What are you doing?” she whispered. “There’s no time. Why have you stopped?”

“Where dae ye think ye are going?” Andrew countered. He pointed at the dozen armed men who had created a ring around Mahala. “Ye are staying right here, safe and sound behind those men and away from the fighting. I, on the other hand, am going down tae the battle, tae save the love of yer life.”

Idalia gave Andrew an imperious look. “You’re not leaving me up here. I don’t care what you say. I am coming with you.”

Andrew groaned and rubbed his temples. “Listen, ye said the camp is crawling with soldiers, aye? Why would ye want to put yourself in harm’s way? I assure ye Bran will feel much better kenning ye are safe and away from danger. I cannae argue with ye right now, we are out of time!”

Idalia glanced over Andrew’s shoulder and saw the other soldiers waiting for him impatiently. She knew his points were valid, but she couldn’t shrug off the fear that the rescue operation would go horribly wrong. If it did, it would likely mean she would never see Bran again.

She could not afford that. She had to go with Andrew and witness the rescue. She couldn’t live with herself if she simply stood by. “I’m coming Andrew. Now, we can either hang around here all morning and risk Bran’s life further, or we can go now and save him. Either way, I’m coming with you.”

Andrew watched her with dark, angry eyes, but Idalia held his gaze.

“Fine. Ye can come, but ye stay behind me. Always. We will nae be joining the main offensive. We will be staying back about fifty feet, with half a dozen men.” Andrew raised his hand to quiet Idalia as she began to speak.

“Nay, Idalia. Nae any closer than that. I will nae put ye in harm’s way any more than I need tae. So, if ye cannae agree tae that, ye must remain here, or by the old gods, I’ll have the men tie ye tae a tree.” Andrew’s eyes looked cold and angry, and Idalia could tell she had won all she was likely to just then.

“Fine, fine,” Idalia said, not hiding her annoyance. “I agree. Let’s go.”

Andrew nodded then spun around. He dashed to the men in front of him, and together, they moved down through the tall grass towards Dunn and Tor’s rescue party. Their larger group was about two dozen men strong, and each of them looked to Idalia like he could flay a bear alive.

They skirted the perimeter of the encampment, moving as quickly and as quietly as they could. Andrew made a signal, and his band stopped suddenly. Idalia looked around the grassy plain but couldn’t spy Dunn, Tor, or any of the other soldiers anywhere around the camp.

She moved to ask Andrew if the attack had begun already, but he held a hand up, keeping her quiet. She gave him an annoyed look but held her peace. He put his fingers to his mouth and, ducking further out of sight, made a clear bird call. Idalia heard the call returned several heartbeats later from somewhere in front of her, but she couldn’t make out where the sound had come from.

A figure suddenly burst out of the bushes in front of her, dashing quickly towards a stand of trees at the west end of the camp. Andrew made a sign, and six men from his group peeled out after the man who had run towards the trees. They followed much slower than the first man but nevertheless covered the distance with some speed.

Idalia followed the men with her eyes as they got into the cover of the trees, and for the first time, she noticed all the heads bobbing around. She recognized Dunn and Tor as they approached the camp with two other soldiers and knew the attack was about to happen.

“Come on, let’s go,” Andrew said to her, then ran towards the camp. Just as he had said, he stopped far enough from the fence for them to get Idalia to safety if necessary, and close enough that she could clearly see everything happening in the camp. She saw the four soldiers approach the outer camp stealthily and, following their trajectory, she saw Bran, tied to a tree.

Her heart sank as she saw him up close and noticed how badly he had been beaten. Two men stood guard beside him, but their backs were turned to the fence. Tor and Dunn sneaked into the camp, and then approached the men quietly.