Chapter 24
Reuben had done crazy things in his life.
He had faced off against a raging wildebeest and had tamed a wild horse.
He had scaled the deathly mountains of the highlands, and even dined with the Mahoot warrior tribe.
Now he was facing off against the guards of the McGowan estate, while looking over his shoulder to make sure that the woman he was in love with, and her sister, would make it over the fence and get to safety.
He had taken her advice, and had been careful as he fought the men, making sure he did not kill any of them. But going up against multiple armed men who were looking to kill you, was something he had done before.
But this time, he could not kill them, and soon he would be overwhelmed.
He blocked the blade that rushed for the side of his face, and put his weight into his own sword, shoving the attacking guard backwards.
The man staggered a bit, and Reuben put his leg between the man’s and dropped him to the ground, kicking the blade out of his grip.
The laird turned around just in time as another swung a blade for his back, and Reuben rolled away. The blade barely nicked him, leaving a tiny cut across his back. He barely felt it and turned with his blade, ready to face off the new opponent.
The guard on the floor grabbed his foot, stopping him from moving. Without thinking, Reuben kicked the man across the face, and looked up just in time to block another blow. Reuben fell backwards, and almost dropped to the ground, swinging his sword wildly to keep the men from attacking.
Reuben looked back to see Lily get over the fence and he sighed, relieved that one person had gotten over. He turned back to the guards, with four men now looking to take him on all at once. “Is this the best ye can do? Come on!”
Before the men could attack, Reuben heard the sound of a crack behind him, and looked just in time to see Kate hit the floor. His heart skipped a beat, but he turned to face the men, waiting for them to attack. He had to hold them off long enough for Kate to get out.
The doors to the great halls opened, and Max walked out, with another man following closely.
Hudson followed sheepishly behind. The guards stopped, holding off their attack as a way to reverence the laird who had just walked out.
More of the servants and guards poured out behind him, circling Reuben, and getting to Kate as well.
Reuben turned around to see her raise her bow, pointing the arrow at the guards and servants, daring anyone of them to reach for her.
One man jumped forwards, and she shot him in the leg, getting another bolt into the bow before the others could even react.
“Who are ye?” Max asked, walking towards Reuben. Once he was close enough, his eyes lit up in recognition. “Laird Reuben of McDonald, ye are the least person I expected to see turn up at my home. Why have ye come unannounced? I would have had a feast prepared to entertain ye.”
“Max, ye sent yer men to come burn down my home, and ye took someone very dear to me. Ye must think me to be a fool, nae to ken who was behind such an act.” Reuben replied, as Max got closer to him, unafraid.
“Nae, I daenae think any little of ye, Reuben. Ye survived my assassin,” Max gestured to the man who stood by his side.
He had a bow and arrow as well, and the tips of the arrow were the same as the ones that had nearly killed Kate and Reuben when they had gone into the forest. “Ye managed to injure him badly. I have nothing but respect for ye, Reuben. But then, ye thought it wise to keep my nieces away from me?”
“Ye and I ken ye daenae treat them as yer blood relatives, Max.”
“How I treat my family is of nae concern to ye. I havenae come to yer home, and told ye how to care for that frail maither of yers, aye?” Max laughed.
“So, not only do ye see it fit to take them from me, but when I rescue them, ye decide that ye will come back here, and steal them from me once more?”
“We daenae want to be here, Max. Ye have treated us badly, and ye lied to us!”
Reuben turned to see Kate speaking up, and Max turned at the sound of her voice. He walked by Reuben and made his way to Kate. She pointed the bow up at him, stopping him from getting any closer to him. Max raised his hands, stopping.
“My beautiful Katherine,” Max began, smiling. “I always knew ye would come back to me. Put down yer weapon, go ahead. Put it down, and come with me. I promise, things will be different.”
“Ye can go to hell, Max, I’d rather die than be with ye.” Kate replied.
“Aye, I see. But, it isnae ye that will die Kate, it is the Laird who has come here to spit in my face.” Max turned around and nodded to the assassin who had tried to kill them in the woods.
The assassin pulled two short daggers out.
Max smiled, “Reuben of McDonald, out of respect, I will grant ye a warrior’s death. ”
The assassin rushed at Reuben, spinning quickly on the balls of his feet, as he tried to slice through Reuben’s defenses.
Reuben blocked with his sword, but the daggers slammed into his blade so quickly, they shoved him backwards, making him lose balance.
The assassin saw his chance and took it, driving the blade down.
Reuben shoved it to the side, but only barely, as it sliced along his forearm.
The assassin stumbled, and Reuben landed a headbutt, sending the man backwards.
He did a backflip to get some distance between himself and the Laird, so he could get his bearings.
Reuben got back to his feet, and gripped on his sword with both hands, ready for the second attack.
Then, he spotted Hudson behind the man. Hudson had taken out his axe, and was looking moving slowly towards the gates of the estate.
Whatever he was trying to do, he needed time to do it, and Reuben would buy as much as he could.
“Daenae interfere,” Max called out to the other guards as he watched the fight, eager to see how Reuben would do against his best. “Ye might have survived him when he tried to kill ye from a distance, but he is the best swordsman ye will ever meet.”
The assassin attacked again, and Reuben reacted. He jumped to the side as the man used the same attack as before, looking to strike his blade quickly and knock it out of his hand. But Reuben dodged the attack entirely, and used the assassin’s momentum against him, shoving him backwards.
He turned to see Hudson drive his axe down to the gears which kept the gates in place, and he sliced right through them.
The large wooden spikes fell through the gate and hit the floor with several loud thuds, drawing everyone’s attention.
Reuben knew it was his chance, and just as the assassin looked, he spun around the man, and drove his blade through the man’s chest, killing him instantly.
He turned around to face Max, but the laird quickly jumped backwards, knocked the bow out of Kate’s hand and pulled out a dagger, holding up to her neck.
“Kate!” Reuben yelled.
“Stay where ye are!” Max yelled, “Unless ye want her insides out on the floor right now.”
“Alright!” Reuben yelled, raising his sword, with blood dripping down his arm. “Just put the blade down, Max, ye daenae have to do this.”
“As I said before, why do I have to listen to ye? This is my family, and I will do as I see fit. Now, put down yer blade, and we will start from there.” Max replied.
“Nae!” Kate yelled, struggling against Max, but the blade stopped her from moving too much. “Let go of me!”
Max put his nose against her neck and inhaled, shutting his eyes for a moment to relish the smell of lavender. “Ye ken, I used this same blade to kill them.”
“What?” Kate asked, looking for an opening to escape his grip.
“Yer parents.” Max replied.
Reuben saw the blood leave Kate’s face, he did not know what she was going to do next, but he felt sick to his stomach watching her like that. Max had his hands on her, and there was nothing he could do at the moment.
“I am just like all of ye!” Kate began, speaking loudly enough so all of the guards and servants around could hear. “Ye ken who I am. I and my sisters lived here with ye, and we took the same pain and agony from Max as I ken ye all take even now.”
Max yanked her hair backwards, pushing the blade deeper, “Ye want to die, Katherine?”
Kate ignored him, making Reuben wonder what she was doing. If she continued, he was going to kill her. But she steeled her resolve and went on.
“We escaped because we didnae want any more of his tyranny! The same way ye daenae want to suffer at his hands anymore! Reuben and I are nae yer enemies! We have come to free ye from the evil of Max Sweeney!” Kate yelled at the top of her voice as she felt the blade begin to slice through her neck, blood slowly trickling down.
If she was going to die, at least she would go out on her own volition. “Help us!”
Max turned to the guards, looking at their faces.
For the first time, he saw something in them that was not the fear and terror which he usually instilled in them.
They looked at him with hate and loathing, as they saw their chance to make a change.
A chance for them to finally rid themselves of the madman.
Max pulled the blade away from Kate’s neck and pointed it at the nearest guard.
“Stay back, ye bampot! Stay back! I will have yer head for this! All of ye, will get punished severely. Ye think ye can turn on me? I have given yer worthless lives meaning! Ye belong to me! All of ye!” Max began moving away from them, pointing the blade at the guards and servants as they began moving in on him.
Kate saw her chance and made eye contact with Reuben.
The laird reached down and picked up one of the daggers which the assassin had dropped.
Taking a breath, Kate shoved her back into Max, breaking away from him for a split second.
She ducked low, and Reuben tossed the dagger.
It flew right through the air, heading straight for Max.
The laird turned away from the blade just in time, as it sliced through his chest, but it missed his heart.
Before he could react from the attack, Kate pulled out an arrow from her quiver quickly, and drove it into the heart of the man, forcing it through until it came out the other side.
Max stared up at her in confusion, unsure of what had happened.
The blade dropped out of his hand as he tried to breath, but blood filled his throat.
Kate grabbed his tunic and pulled him close enough so he would hear what she had to say.
“This is for my faither, and my maither. For all of the pain ye have caused everyone ye have ever met.” Kate whispered to him, before letting go.
Max Sweeney dropped to the ground, dead.