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“What are ye daeing?” Munro’s voice was terse. He pointed the sword towards Amelie, but the gesture had lost its threat when she was holding a dagger to her own throat. Amelie jutted her chin out and exposed her throat. The dagger pressed against her pale skin. Evan was filled with mixed emotions. He was proud that she felt strong enough to make a gesture like this and take matters into her own hands. He hadn’t been sure if she was capable of doing anything reckless, but he was also worried. It was a dangerous bluff to make, because if Munro pressed her into seeing how far she was going to take this then it was only going to end one way, with Amelie drawing the dagger across her own throat and spilling her own blood.

“Ye are nae gaeing tae dae anything,” Munro said in a mocking tone, laughing as he spoke.

“Can ye be sure? Pascal is my brother. I will dae anything tae protect him, even sacrifice my own life. Without me, ye will hae naething tae bargain with. Ye will hae nae shield tae protect ye. There will be naething stopping Pascal from killing ye,” she said. Munro glared at her. Evan looked concerned, wondering how he was going to stop Munro from doing something rash.

“Put that dagger down,” Munro said.

“Amelie…” Evan added, and for a moment he and Munro were both united in their desire for Amelie to take the knife away from her throat.

But Amelie shook her head. “I hae tae dae this. Pascal and Fleur always protected me, but now it’s my turn tae protect them. I will nae let myself be used like this. I will nae give Pascal any reason tae deal with Munro.” She took another step back, putting even more distance between herself and Munro. Evan looked aghast, wishing there was a way he could reach her before she did something she regretted. Munro looked torn. He stood there, still and silent, as he tried to determine what he was going to do next. Would he call her bluff? Would he let them both leave? Evan couldn’t imagine that Munro would let either of his prizes ride off into the night, so he braced himself for utter chaos.

All eyes were on Amelie. Evan knew that this was his moment to take fate back into his own hands. He looked behind him, searching for Stephen in the shadows. He nodded, giving Stephen a signal, and then charged forward. Evan lunged towards the closest man, throwing himself at him. He reached out with his arms and clamped his hands around the man’s skull, pulling him down. The enemy cried out. Munro and the others shifted around, looking at the new source of noise. Evan put his weight onto the man’s chest and drove his elbow into his face. Blood gushed from the broken nose after bones snapped, and the man looked groggy. Evan grabbed the man’s sword and held it aloft as he spun around, ready to face Munro. Stephen was now by his side. There were only two of them so they were still outnumbered, but he wasn’t about to let Amelie make a rash decision.

“This is it, Munro, bring an end tae this madness now. Ye know that ye can never succeed. Ye dinnae hae Amelie, ye dinnae hae the Highlands, and ye dinnae hae enough men tae defend yerself. It’s over. It’s all over,” Evan said.

Munro looked at Evan, Stephen, and then Amelie. He scowled. “Nae,” he hissed. “There are plenty of other people who agree with me. In time, they will come tae my aid and we will ride tae yer clan and take back what is ours. The Highlands belong tae us!”

“The Highlands belong tae naebody!” Evan yelled, his voice becoming even stronger than Munro’s. “Ye and yer Da and all the people like ye want tae keep the Highlands for yerselves, but that’s nae how it works. The Highlands are there for anyone who is pure of heart. We dinnae need tae build barriers, but bridges. The way forward is nae tae push people away and treat them as if they are nae good enough tae share our land, it’s tae welcome them and learn from them and grow taegether. This world ye want tae make… it’s nae gaeing tae happen, Munro. Just let it gae,” Evan said.

Munro’s fingers clenched around the handle of the sword. He grittted his teeth and wore a menacing look. He was a cornered animal, and Evan’s hope that Munro would give himself up was a vain one. In the distance, Evan heard the welcome sound of horses galloping towards them. Stephen’s message had been heard.

“Our allies are here, Munro. The only chance ye hae tae live is tae give yerself up. Yer plot is nae gaeing tae work. Ye hae lost everything,” Evan said, hoping that deep in Munro’s heart, there was still some rational thought.

There was not. Anger flashed in Munro’s eyes as he raised the sword. “I may hae lost everything, but Pascal still hae things tae lose, tae. Men, attack!” Munro rushed towards Evan, trying to make use of the time he had left before the allies arrived. Evan braced himself, watching his own sword being wielded by this monster of a man. Evan dug his heels into the ground and knew that he had to fight his way to Amelie. Despite their best efforts her life was still in danger, and he still had a job to do.

“Stephen, get tae Amelie as quickly as ye can!” he called out, but Munro’s men were forming a barrier between them and Amelie. Evan was going to have to fight his way through, but the person rushing towards him first was Munro. He was practically frothing at the mouth and each of his muscles were stretched taut with anger. It poured out of him like fire and the air was scorched by his very presence. Munro had nothing left to lose any longer. All of his power and frustration was going to be unleashed in an incandescent burst. If Evan wasn’t careful, this storm of violence was going to claim his life as well. He breathed deeply and remembered all the lessons his uncle had taught him. He was the Captain of the Guard, and he was ready for battle.