Page 69 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Donald, Killian, and Audor were already on their horses in the courtyard when Benedict joined them. A huge crowd of soldiers were also mounted on their horses and ready for battle, lined up as far back as the eye could see.

“Did ye get the map? he demanded.

Killian dug into his tunic and pulled out a piece of parchment. Leaning down to show Benedict, he said, “From what I could get out o’ her, the place is about an hour away.”

Benedict examined the crude drawing, with its patches of trees, and hills depicted as small raised lines.

“Dae we ken how many are there?” he asked.

It was Audor who replied this time. “She says she only saw six or seven men, but we ken there are more than that on our lands. Sure, was it nae six men who ye battled that day o’ the attack?”

“We killed all but two o’ them,” Killian said.

Audor looked thoughtful. “I still cannae imagine that’s all there is. But we have more than two hundred soldiers with us. They’ll be nae match fer us.”

By this time, Benedict had mounted his horse. “Good. Then let’s get moving. God only kens what he’s doing tae her,” Benedict spat.

Audor gave him a pained glance, and then led the charge out of the castle gates. Benedict, Donald and Killian followed, and the sound of more than eight hundred hooves on the soft ground thundering behind, although Benedict hardly noticed. He was far too angry. In fact, the rage had not left him since the maid’s confession.

He understood that Audor wanted to do things right, but that traitorous woman had led Keith directly to Evelyn. Granted, the fact she was being blackmailed with the life of her son gave her some leeway, and yet, Benedict’s rage was so much, he struggled to care. Now, he needed someone to vent his anger upon, and when he got his hands on Laird Keith, he would tear the man from limb to limb.

He had thwarted the laird’s attempt once before. That day, he had been filled with rage at what could have happened to Evelyn. Now the laird had succeeded, Benedict could hardly contain himself. Laird Keith had made a colossal mistake. A mistake he would soon find himself regretting.

But as the entourage continued further over the glens, his mind began to taunt him. He should never have left her. He should have put a guard at her door, not that such a thing would have been much use, given they had used the secret tunnel. He should have stayed with her.

On her wedding day? How were ye tae ken this would happen? This isnae yer fault.

But Benedict could not accept that.

This is me fault. I promised her I would protect her.

On and on his thoughts went, with no relief. He had thought, being in the castle, that she was safe. He had imagined they were all safe. Little did he know the lengths Keith and his men would go to, to get what he wanted.

After riding for a half hour, Killian, wielding the map in his hands, yelled over to Audor. “We are closing in.”

Audor raised his hand and slowed his horse. As the signal was noted by those behind him, the huge gathering of soldiers slowed, and came to a final stop.

Killian handed over the map for Audor to see. “We’re here,” Killian said, pointing at it.

Audor then took several minutes to examine it intently. Once he seemed satisfied with his assessment, he handed the map back to Killian. Looking at Benedict, Killian and Donald, he said, “We ride in quietly from here.” Looking directly at Killian, he continued, “Tell yer men tae keep their eyes peeled. We cannae let the laird ken we’re coming. I cannae risk what he might dae.”

Audor threw a pained glance toward his brother, but Benedict was too dead set in his rage to care. He was furious at himself, furious at Laird Keith, furious at the whole damned situation.

They continued on slowly, as Audor instructed, and fifteen minutes later, Benedict spotted the roof of a house through the trees.

He pointed towards it. “That has tae be it,” he said to Audor, who now rode beside him.

Again, Audor lifted his hand to halt the men.

Waving Killian forward, he said, “We’ve found the house.” And pointing it out to Killian, he continued. “We cannae ken how many o’ Laird Keith’s men are here, but it certainly isnae a great number. Even if it is twenty, we outnumber them twenty to one.”

“And if it’s more?” Donald said warily.

Audor gave the laird a steady look. “Me men are the best warriors in a hundred-mile radius, Donald. Believe me, we’re going tae get Evelyn back.”

Donald nodded, though his expression was more worry than certainty.