Chapter 28
Elsea tensed as the footsteps approached. When Gavin and Torr halted at the bottom of the steps, swords in hand, Elsea sagged with relief.
Their wide gazes took in the scene.
"What the hell?" Gavin asked, lowering his sword. He pushed at the earl's facedown body with his toe. "Is he dead?"
"He should be by now. My wee warrior gutted him," Brodie said, hugging her to him.
Even though she was still shaken and nauseous at having taken at least two lives, she released a breath and relaxed into his embrace, the only place she'd wanted to be since she'd met him.
Torr's mouth hung agape as he stared at Elsea. "You did that?"
She nodded. "He was trying to kill Brodie."
"What about her?" Gavin nodded at Wilona MacRae's skeletal corpse.
"Unless her evil magic can raise her from the dead, aye," Brodie said.
"The curse?" Gavin asked in a fierce tone, his gaze darting from Wilona to Brodie and back again.
"Also dead." Brodie grinned, sounding genuinely happy, then kissed Elsea's temple. "Thanks to this bonnie lass."
When he faced forward again, she kissed his cheek and hugged him to her.
Torr and Gavin whooped, shouted, and hurried toward him and Elsea.
"Come. Let's get you out of here," Gavin said.
"The lead ball from Talnaroch's pistol grazed his skull," Elsea said. "He's lost more blood. Make sure he stays upright."
Torr helped Elsea up the steps, though she assured him she didn't need it, while Gavin helped Brodie. Aye, her legs were weak, but she would be fine. In the bailey, she walked close by Brodie in case he became dizzy.
In the middle, they stopped and surveyed the area in the early dawn light. Shock overcame her at how many of Talnaroch's men lay dead on the blood-spattered flagstones, but she was glad Brodie and his friends had defeated the knaves.
Thankfully, several men from all three allied clans milled about.
"Chief." Kenneth hastened forward and inclined his head. "Thank God you're alright!"
"Aye. Glad to see you're alive and well, too. Did we lose any men?" Brodie asked.
"Nay. Several injuries and cuts. But they'll heal."
"Thank the saints."
They moved toward the open portcullis and outside the curtain wall.
"Did you find the selkie women?" Brodie asked Gavin.
"Aye, they were in an upstairs bedchamber. Harcus said they're all accounted for, and some of the males took them back to the island."
Relief surged through Elsea. She released a breath and smiled.
"I thank you and Torr for helping Elsea and me and the selkies," Brodie said. "I'll never be able to repay you."
"Och. You well ken no repayment is necessary," Torr said.
"Indeed," Gavin said. "We always watch each other's backs. Besides, 'twas my fondest wish to see your curse destroyed." Gavin grinned.
"Elsea! What the devil is going on here?"
She glanced toward the road. William, Corran, Kieran, and their clansmen approached on horseback. A scowl on William's face, his eyes scanned their small battlefield, littered with fallen enemies.
"A skirmish," Torr called back.
"Cousin Torr, MacCain, MacTavish." William dismounted, along with her other brothers and clansmen.
"Aye, 'tis indeed us," Brodie said dryly with a mock bow. "Did you come to help? You're a bit too late."
William approached, and his face paled when he noticed Elsea's clothing. "You're covered in blood, sister! Are you hurt?"
"Nay. 'Tis not mine." She cringed, wishing she had something clean to change into.
"Your horse returned to Kincreag this morn," Will said. "We were looking for you. Why did you slip out again?"
"To free the selkies, as I told you before," Elsea said. "Talnaroch had them imprisoned here."
"Where is he?" Will asked.
"Hell, most likely," Brodie said, moving closer to Elsea, his arm brushing hers.
"You killed him?" William demanded.
Brodie remained silent, and she glanced up at him. He observed her with pride and affection.
"I did," she admitted, not proud, but glad she was able to save Brodie's life.
"What?" The word blasted from Will's mouth.
"You and your brothers trained our wee warrior well." Brodie grinned and slipped his arm around her waist. She blushed.
"You killed the earl?" Will stared at her, aghast.
"He was charging Brodie with a sword, intending to kill him. I refused to let him do that," she said in a firm tone. "Besides, he'd already shot Brodie in the head." She pushed Brodie's hair back a bit. "See the gash?"
Will's mouth hung open.
She followed Brodie's gaze as he glanced aside at the selkie chief and several of his men approaching.
"Chief Scarth, I'd like you to meet Lady Elsea's brother, Chief MacAuley." Brodie explained that Scarth was the selkie chief. The two bowed and shook hands.
"Please tell him what the Earl of Talnaroch did," Brodie said to Scarth.
"Captured all our women, stole them away to sell them," he said in Old Gaelic. Daavar translated into the modern language.
Will lowered his brows in understanding and outrage.
Elsea supposed he believed the selkies' testimony more than her own. Fine. She rolled her eyes. Maybe he would trust her word more in the future.
"They are now safe, thanks to these honorable men and Lady Elsea, all heroes in our eyes." Scarth bowed in deference, as did the rest of the males.
"We were more than glad to stop the knave," Brodie said.
"Aye." Elsea smiled. "I'm thankful all the women are safe."
"Come, we'll take you to our healer," Corran said to Brodie, leading a saddled gelding closer.
"I thank you, but I'll go back to Farspag on a galley," Brodie said. "The wind has calmed, and the snow has stopped. Finnian is an outstanding physician. He can see to my injuries and everyone else's."
"I'm coming with you," Elsea said.
"Sister?" Warning flared in Will's eyes.
"You're welcome to come, too," Brodie told him.
"I cannot. Corran," Will said. "You go with her and act as chaperone."
Her obstinate brother frowned. "Why me? I think Kieran would enjoy it more."
"Kieran sleeps through everything," Will growled.
"I have no need of a chaperone," Elsea said. She hated it when they discussed her as if she wasn't even there. "Cat, her mother, and Dani are all at Farspag. Brodie is too injured to take advantage of me. Besides, Cousin Torr is with us. I'm sure he can protect me from Brodie's advances."
Torr grinned, and Brodie snorted.
Will's face reddened, and he muttered, "Very well. We will come to Farspag in a sennight to retrieve you."
"Aye, please do come to Farspag before the week is up." One corner of Brodie's lips lifted, and the rebellious look in his eyes almost dared Will to retrieve her.
She hoped and prayed Brodie planned on keeping her. She loved him more than life itself and never wanted to be away from him again.
***
ON THE GALLEY, AS THE men rowed toward Farspag, Brodie sat on the thwart beside Elsea, his arm around her. Near overcome with exhaustion from the blood loss again, he forced himself to sit upright. He pulled Elsea against him and kissed the top of her head. "Did you get all your weapons?" he asked.
"Aye. Your men brought them to me."
Earlier, she had said the bleeding in his scalp had stopped, so he considered himself on the mend, despite the lightheadedness.
Around midday, they arrived on the shore below Farspag.
Gavin climbed the cliff behind Brodie so he could catch him if he grew dizzy and fell. Torr assisted Elsea. At the top, Brodie wrapped her hand around his elbow and, though he was unsteady, led her toward the curtain wall and portcullis. The guards had seen them coming and opened the side gate.
The ladies and other clansmen met them in the bailey to greet them.
Exhaustion weighing him down, Brodie climbed the steps toward his chamber, Elsea holding on to him.
"If I fall, you cannot catch me."
"I will," she said with fierce conviction.
In his chamber, Finnian showed up in short order, wearing his spectacles.
"Lie down, lad, so I can examine your head. They said you were shot!"
"Aye. Thank the saints my skull is made of steel." Brodie lay down crosswise on the bed so Finnian could reach his head easily.
"Bah! You think you're immortal." Finnian parted his hair, making the wound sting again. "I have to shave your hair from around it."
Brodie rolled his eyes. "Fine. Do your worst."
After removing her bloody cloak and outer arisaid, Elsea knelt beside him on the mattress and held his hand.
He enjoyed observing her mischievous smile.
Her eyes shone like the bright blue sky outside.
The gray was gone and happiness had returned, similar to two years ago when they'd first met.
She was a wondrous distraction while Finnian tortured him with a straight razor, then washed the blood from his hair. Sharp pains punctured his scalp.
Brodie muttered a curse through gritted his teeth.
"A lady is present, lad," Finnian chided.
"Aye, well. She's said worse."
Her mouth dropped open, and he chuckled.
He yearned to kiss her so badly and have her cuddled against his. Didn't matter how injured he was. Her presence soothed and comforted him.
"I'm thankful you two shattered the curse," Finnian said.
"How did you ken?" Brodie asked. Had Torr told him?
"I foresaw it." Finnian grinned. "Most likely, I knew it before you did."
"Of course." Brodie smiled. "I'm thankful too." This was the first day of their new life together. He was never letting her out of his sight again. She was canny, lethal, and gorgeous. The perfect woman for him. He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"There now," Finnian said. "You ken I have to clean it good."
"Which means hellfire again, aye?"
"I'm afraid so. Hold him down, lass," he said to Elsea.
Brodie scoffed. "You're being ridiculous. I need no one to hold me down, least of all a wee lass."
"I'm nay wee." Elsea appeared affronted. "I dragged you and protected you, did I not?"
"Shh. No one needs to ken all the details," he whispered, then winked.
She bit her lip to hide her smile, making him want to do the same to her.
When he least expected it, Finnian poured the damnable whisky onto his scalp, making his head feel as if he'd lit on fire.