Chapter 24
What!
What had he just committed Nella to? Her arms tight around his waist as she rode behind him while he eased Luss onto the meadow’s flatlands, his eyes glanced at the warriors circling the meadow like a stone circle.
Gallowglass, many of them, they had to be.
Look at those signature double-sided axes at the ready.
When the warriors caught sight of Nella, eyes began widening.
He glanced behind finding her hood had fallen away in the wind down the hillside.
His palm tightened on hers which clutched his stomach.
SHITE! How could this have happened? Castellón would never betray him.
His stare narrowed on Tomas. It had to be him.
Bastard. If the traitor lived beyond today, Castellón would hunt the crewman at any cost.
“Well.” Sèidrich’s stained grin widened at spying Nella.
“You are more lovely than I initially thought. Our brief chase through the laundress’s and kitchens in that darkened keep never offered me a true look upon you, my lady.
You and Sir Callum must care a great deal for Sir Brayden” – he flapped his palm at the knight, who sat upright on the bench wiping his bloodied lip – “to surrender so simply.”
Tomas broke in with an angry edge on his demand. “I have betrayed my captain; one you do not cross. Only because of the grand sum you promised me. Where is it? My promised coin for delivering them to you for the Benefactor.”
Sèidrich eyed the traitor a moment. “You most certainly were promised coin beyond your wildest imaginings.” He nodded at one of the warriors, who approached with the original large bags.
The leather pouch whistled the air before Tomas caught it with a grin.
“Tomas, it should be more than enough for all the time which lay ahead for you.”
Sèidrich lunged forward in his saddle. Nella screamed after one flick by his wrist Tomas’s throat turned into a crimson waterfall as it was slit.
The traitor’s eyes bulged while he grabbed at his throat before the corpse fell onto the heathers.
Sèidrich fetched the bag of coin from the dead man’s flailing grasp midair.
A press from Nella’s brow came onto Callum’s back as she buried her face at the horror, while he eyed the killer who glanced at him.
Sèidrich shrugged his shoulders. “I did not declare how much time lay ahead for him. Do not cast such a harsh look at me, Sir Callum. If the blade was in your hand, it would have sought the same.”
“Nae,” Callum replied darkly, “yours is the throat I would have cut first. Take the head of the snake, you take it all.”
“Oh, you are a bold one! The rumors have not done you justice.” Sèidrich wiped the soiled blade on the wagon’s canvas.
“I may savor our time together even more than with the lady. COME!” He roared so loudly toward his warriors the horses on the cart tossed their heads by fright.
“Let us take our leave. The Benefactor awaits, but first.” He leaned sideways, glimpsing a look at Nella.
“You shall ride with me, my lady. I will not chance your clever knight bolting in a bold escape on our journey to the Benefactor’s castle and keep. ”
No. No, he wouldn’t let her near that evil…
“Callum.” Nella’s voice whispered in his ear, breaking his thoughts.
“I feel every muscle in your frame has turned into granite.” Hell, aye!
“Please, I do not wish to see you hurt.” There it was.
This was the purpose he served for Sèidrich and this Benefactor.
They were going to use him and Brayden to control her. Hell, why had he not seen it sooner?
“Aye, Sir Callum,” Sèidrich sneered, “we do not wish to see you harmed.”
He turned slightly. “Nella.”
“Aye?”
He said for her ears alone, “Say the word ‘blue’ if you are in need of me.”
She nodded but before he could utter another word, Sèidrich halted beside him then suddenly she was gone, settled before the killer. If rage could dig a deep trench, yeah, hell would have appeared!
“Tie them both up,” Sèidrich ordered the warrior who had been one of the coin bearers.
“They are not King Alexander’s best knights for nae reason.
Then tie them onto the wagon’s two-seat bench.
Ride your gelding alongside them while leading the wagon team.
” Sèidrich paused a long moment, staring as if studying him.
Why? Turning his bay stallion about, Sèidrich ordered, “We may need to find another warrior who is prettier.” What the hell was this about?
The wagon gave a stiff lurch. The weight from his sword and bow and quiver and dagger were ripped off. Brayden joined him in the land of unarmed knights. Rope was yanked tight over his wrists. Did it really have to be so blazing tight?
The warrior eyed him then replied as if sensing his thought. “We cannot have the mighty Sir Callum MacCade trying a bold escape. You look a wee bit pale. Tighter perhaps?”
Callum moved his fingers stiffly. “I believe the consistency fits the deed of being noble in a sea of treachery,” he retorted.
“Oh! Pretty and clever.” The warrior spat at his feet. “Such a treasure is difficult to find. Savor losing the feeling in your hands, Sir Callum, then perhaps a finger or two.” In a gruff chuckle he stepped away.
Even Luss lowered his head tied as well onto the wagon’s backside. “Forgive me, my friend,” Sir Brayden murmured over the creak from wheels turning when they all lurched forward.
“Forgive that one knight could not best forty?” Callum replied earnestly.
“Nae, Sir Brayden, the fault lies with me. ’Tis a captain’s duty whether it be by land or sea to spy a storm in the distance; alas, I spied naught.
” Look at Nella trying not to touch the vile Scotsman.
“My punishment is now looking upon the lady I love more than breath clutched to a slayer’s breast.” Hell!
***
Forever! They seemed to travel forever as the gray day dragged as much as their pace till twilight dimmed through the already darkened forest. Nella looked up.
No stars either; they must be going northwest. This was the original direction; they hadn’t deviated from it.
Glancing back at the wagon, Callum met her gaze, each and every time she looked.
He had to be blaming himself even though this was not his fault.
Just like the time when he could not save a freshly born foal at Clan MacCade.
Months he blamed himself for a reason which was only nature or fate.
Always shouldering the burden more than he should.
No wonder he was such an honorable knight.
She breathed the scent which belonged to the one who was the full opposite in soul then wiggled her nose. Yuck, he smelled same as horse dung.
Would they make camp for the night with her tied to this fumed slayer? Her skin inwardly crawled. Shifting her weight on the withers, the need called again. Really? As if things weren’t bad enough, a need to pee popped up. No, nope, no, sirree! There is no need to pee – hold it longer.
“Tell me how far your instinct in senses reached in the burgh. Did you hear me take the Northman before the lightning caused you to scream?”
Her neck snapped around at Sèidrich’s demand. She spoke before thought. “You can question till hell holds ice same as those mountains north from here and the answer still won’t cross my lips, you Scottish snake.”
“Oh? You seek to play with insulting words?” His expression turned menacing.
“I prefer to make my sentiments known through action. The Benefactor deemed you were not to be harmed, otherwise, I would have let some of these warriors’ hands take what they have been eyeing since you appeared.
However, your pretty knight is another matter. ”
She gave a small cry which was drowned by the stallion’s wail-like knicker after Sèidrich ripped the bit in the steed’s mouth, yanking the beast around toward the wagon where Callum was trapped.
“Tell you!” she yelled before the captor could make good on the threat at Callum. “Halt! I shall tell you!”
Sèidrich pulled the beast up alongside Callum, who was pulling on the ropes as he saw the violent exchange.
“If you seek to know the truth, I am certain this ‘Benefactor’ would as well.” She spoke so briskly her words almost slurred.
“Do you wish for all those who currently surround us to hear about the strength in my grasp?” Sèidrich paused while glaring at her.
He paused. He was considering her reasoning.
“A keeper of secrets you and the Benefactor both are. I shall share all but with the proper audience in a select few.”
“I know your purpose is another, my lady.” His lips curved into a cruel grin. “However, your point is a valid one; thus, I shall keep my wait till we reach the Benefactor.”
She looked at Callum. Safe. He was safe – for now.
“Sèidrich!” one of the coin bag bearers from earlier shouted. The warriors parted like water around a boulder in a rushing river at his approach. “The hunt was fruitful.”
The hunt? Her breath caught when the warrior grew closer, pulling the reins on a second horse with a body hanging lifeless over the saddle. Flaxen hair but the build was familiar. Oh my, it was Lord Kolson! “Is… is he dead?” Nella murmured.
Sèidrich didn’t answer but dismounted. “Remain still as you are, my lady, lest that be your knight as well.” She didn’t blink.
The volatile leader strode up toward the Northman’s horse whom the warrior had halted before the wagon. Grabbing a fist full in sweated hair, Sèidrich ripped up Lord Kolson’s face, or what was left of it. Bruises and split lip and one eye swollen shut were his new features.
Sèidrich glanced at the warrior. “Well done.” Well done? “Were there any issues?”
“Nae.”
“Excellent, will rouse him in the trough upon reaching the bailey.” Holger was still alive. “Let this serve as a reminder what awaits any who seek to escape!” Sèidrich bellowed at her and her knights.
“A reminder of the cowardice a band in cutthroats may bestow against one lone brave soul?” Callum stated darkly. “‘Reminder’ chronicled.”
Sèidrich’s steps back toward his charger paused.
Her breath halted. “Brave? I believe not. Frightened was more the cause by the Northman to run. Time, Sir Callum, give it time. You too shall break those most honorable white-feathered wings from your back and drop with me into the demon’s chambers below,” Sèidrich threatened, then darted his gaze at the warrior’s. “Move on! The bailey awaits.”