The Fox, page 7
“Bastards,” an archer said, his keen gaze searching the area.
Their horses shuffled in a circle protecting them, by putting themselves at risk. Caelan watched his horse praying the beautiful animal would not be struck. Thankfully, the attackers did not strike the horses.
“They want our mounts,” Caelan whispered. He reached up with his sword and hit his horse on the rump. The animal would instinctively run back in the direction of where they came and hopefully not be captured.
When the others did the same, the horses stampeded away. Men appeared and tried to catch the animals, giving Caelan and his men an opportunity to attack.
With the clang of swords, the smell of blood, and the fast movements, a battle commenced. The sounds of grunts, metal clanging, and men’s screams filled the air.
Caelan swung his sword in a zigzag pattern, dispatching man after man as they seemed to grow in number. Whoever they were they had been expecting them, seeming to know they’d be the smaller party.
The loud whines of horses told him that several of the mounts had been captured. One man mounted his, and Caelan almost smiled knowing the man would not be able to handle the angry beast.
As he sliced across a man’s midsection and then turned to stab another, he whistled to his mount. Immediately the animal lifted up to his hindquarters, its huge hooves raking in the air. The unsuspecting rider fell, hitting the ground with such force, he was knocked unconscious.
The horse kicked its hind legs and trotted into the middle of the battle. A warhorse trained to fight, it moved sideways blocking men from one another, whether friend or foe.
Out of the corner of his eye, Caelan caught sight of a sword coming down and he barely had time to block it, the clash of the swords sending vibrations down his tiring arms.
And then it happened, what he both welcomed and feared. His entire body became rigid one second and the next it was as if his mind separated from it.
Filled with a burst of energy, he bent and picked up a dead man’s sword and fought like a madman. Swinging both weapons with well-practiced precision, he felled first two, then four, and finally six men. Several gave him wide birth, seeming to be entranced by his movement.
A loud furious growl erupted as he raced to where one of his men fought two and within moments both lay on the ground.
The attackers that were left fled along with several of their horses.
Caelan could barely calm as he rushed to where the man who’d fallen from the horse came to. He grabbed the man’s hair, lifting his head from the ground.
“Who are ye? Why are ye on our lands?” He shook the man, who grimaced and swung to punch him and missed.
Caelan’s fist smashed into the man’s jaw and the man looked about to pass out again.
“Who are ye?” Caelan repeated. “Speak.” He laid his sword along the man’s throat.
“I was hired for my sword and care not what happens to ’im,” the man sputtered. “Name is McInerny, he hired us to come and fight for what he says is his land.”
Cairn McInerny, of course. The bastard had returned with a hired army.
“How many?”
The man’s eyes glazed over, but he managed to talk. “About sixty of us. Paid silver.” The man passed out again and Caelan dropped his head.
The sounds of another battled sounded.
“Ye and ye,” Caelan said motioning to two men. “See about the injured.”
He pointed to another, who lived on Stuart’s lands. “Ride to the village on my horse, see about a cart and another horse.” He studied the man for a second. “He is temperamental but will behave if ye are stern with him.”
He and the remaining men rushed to the shoreline to make their way to where the others fought.
It seemed the men were not as loyal as the ones who’d attacked Caelan’s group, because upon seeing the number of warriors who appeared, they quickly surrendered.
The newly arrived encroachers and their injured were ushered to the boats. The dead buried.
Once the bìrlinns were out of sight, they turned their attention to Ross warriors who were injured and to a pair of men who they’d captured and would keep for questioning.
The two men they captured were the ones giving orders, so they were probably the ones who’d been hired by Cairn and tasked with forming the small army.
Swords for hire were rarely a loyal lot and soon the men told them everything they needed to know.
Cairn hired them and asked that they recruit men who would fight for coin. Unfortunately, the men were not aware of where Cairn was.
“If he distracted us to come here, then perhaps he and others could be on the opposite shore,” Stuart said.
“Or the southern shore, in the direction he went,” Caelan said, his stomach sinking at the thought. Clan Ross had a thriving village on the southern shore. His mother lived near there. If any harm came to her, he would skin Cairn McInerny alive.
“If I were him,” Stuart said. “I would cause a distraction with my ultimate goal in mind. What does he wish for more than anything?”
“To be laird,” Darach replied.
Stuart shook his head. “Aye, but that is not possible. I believe he wishes to hurt us for taking any chance of it from him.”
“Go back to the house!” Darach screamed, running full speed toward his horse. “I will kill the bastard myself.”
“Stepmother,” Caelan said as realization dawned. Of course, Cairn had purposely caused several distractions. Part of it was to find out where exactly Mariel Ross was. She was the one unifying factor for all of them. If she were killed, none of them would withstand it.
As they galloped toward the house with about sixty men, Caelan looked to Stuart. “How many men are there to defend the women?”
His half brother’s face was ashen. Not only was his mother threatened, but also his pregnant wife.
Caelan’s fury rose.
“Ten. Perhaps five more. Most of them are not fighters, but workers.”
It would be hours before they arrived. Unfortunately, the horses were showing signs of tiring and slowing.
Men on fresh horses rode up and upon Stuart’s order, exchanged horses with them, so that the brothers could continue at full speed.
The first thing they saw was smoke in the distance. It was possible the attackers had set the house on fire.
Stuart growled, his face a mask of rage.
Upon arriving, there were several men rushing on foot around the house, Caelan signaled to a couple of warriors and they guided their horses to follow.
It was only moments before the intruders lay dead on the ground.
The six guards, their Uncle Lyall, and Artair fought against a group of men. Caelan directed his horse to the center of the battle using it as a batting ram, sending men jumping out of the way to keep from being trampled. Taking advantage, he jumped from the horse and quickly dealt with three, then fought a fourth, and within moments he too lay dead.
“Behind ye!” someone yelled, he thought it was Glynis. He turned swinging his sword and sliced a man across the chest. The man’s eyes bulged before he flopped onto the ground.
Rain began to fall in earnest, the deluge adding a layer of chaos to the day.
“Give up now!” Darach called out and after just a few more attempts to defend, the intruders dropped their swords and lowered to their knees.
Caelan walked to the opposite side to ensure no one ran off.
“I will kill her and there is nothing any of ye can do about it,” A man appeared dragging their mother. “Ye will watch her die, her blood will spill for yer mistreatment of Cairn McInerny. Ross brothers, ye must pay for—”
Lady Mariel screamed and shuffled sideways as the man’s head rolled past her foot. His body collapsed onto the ground behind her, a pool of blood forming from the gaping wound that was his neck.
“I did not wish to hear any more of what he had to say,” Caelan said walking up to the severed head and giving it a swift kick. “Never threaten my family.”
Stuart rushed into the house seeking out Cait, and Darach saw to his mother ensuring she was unharmed.
For a long moment, Caelan stood with his head hung down focusing on the growing red stain being washed away by the rain.
His chest heaved with each breath. Dragging his sword, he staggered to the side of the house and fell against the wall.
“Ye saved her life.” Glynis stood in front of him, her hair plastered to her face from the pelting rain.
“How is she?” Caelan asked, not daring to look up. He knew what he’d done was monstrous. Taking someone’s life and then kicking the severed head. However, when fury filled him, he could not control it.
“Worried about ye. She asked that I come speak to ye and assure ye she is well and very proud of ye.”
“Proud?” He looked up and met her gaze. “What do ye think?”
“That if ye had been there when I was attacked my brother would be unharmed and the attackers dead.”
Her honesty startled him. “Ye do not think me a monster?”
Pushing her wet hair from her face, she shook her head. “No. I think that yer calm façade is a cover for the fiery man beneath. As ye are aware, I too have a temperament that I do a horrible job of hiding. I understand it.”
Caelan closed his eyes and let out a breath and then a second one. With each exhalation, he released the pent-up fury that sizzled under his skin until he felt as if he might collapse from exhaustion.
“Let us go inside,” Glynis said. “I am a wee bit wet.” She lifted her soaking wet skirts and released them to flop past her ankles.
They walked side by side into the house and were immediately greeted by red-nosed Maisie who hurried him into his bedchamber. “Remove yer clothes before ye catch yer death. I will get ye a hot bath as soon as the tub is available,” Maisie said with a loud sniff. “Ye and yer brothers arrived just in time to save us.”
“No need. I am fine,” he replied wanting nothing more than to collapse on the bed and not have to speak to anyone. “I need to sleep.”
Just as he entered the bedchamber, Grace hurried in and placed a plate on the table next to the bed. “Have ye a bit to eat and drink. The mead is heated to warm ye up.”
“What about the fire? Is the house harmed?”
Masie shook her head. “The rain put it out, thank God. Only one of the back rooms is damaged.”
After the women walked out, Caelan lay naked on the bed wrapped in a blanket. He managed to drink down the mead but ignored the food.
Chapter Eight
It was still the next morning. The men outside barely making a sound. But she’d seen them patrolling when first getting up.
Glynis walked through the dining room considering what needed to be done to start the morning meal preparations.
Everyone had been up late. It was hard for everyone to settle after what happened. They’d sat around the tables talking and going over all the events of the day. It was as if everyone needed reassurance. Even Caelan had come out after a while and joined the conversation.
There had been a collective relief when Caelan had killed the man who’d held her aunt with a blade at her throat.
However, the man who wished them ill remained alive and they had no idea where he was. They were awaiting news before going in search of the man, Cairn.
In the kitchen, her aunt and Clara were the only ones there. At hearing her name, Glynis stopped and listened.
“She is very impetuous,” her aunt said. “She’s been through a lot, so we must be patient with her.”
Clara sighed audibly. “Perhaps it would be best for her to return to Bara after all is settled.”
“Perhaps,” her aunt replied.
Glynis could not blame them. She had done nothing but cause her aunt constant worry.
“Glynis, what are ye doing up so early?” her aunt said when she walked into the kitchen. “Ye should be resting.”
She turned and smiled. “It is ye who should be in bed still. Ye had a trying day.”
“Nonsense,” her aunt said with a firm shake of her head. “I had no doubt that my sons would see to my safety. Either Stuart would have speared him with an arrow, or that berserker stepson of mine would do what he did.”
She couldn’t keep from chuckling. “Berserker? He does seem to lose control when battling.”
“Aye, it is the only time.” Her aunt went in search of the wooden box Caelan kept his tea in. “I am becoming used to his tea in the morning. Let us find some.”
“Ye must see if ye can find the one he said to have gifted ye,” Glynis told her. “Aunt Mariel. I think I will spend the day in my bedchamber. I will take some food and ale so I can remain cloistered. I find that I need time of reflection and rest.”
Her aunt gave her a curious look. “I heard ye were upset the other day. Is that what this is about?”
“Aye,” she replied truthfully, adding. “I must find a way to fight the fear inside, once and for all. I have also decided to return home.”
“Do not make decisions in haste,” her aunt replied. “We have just gotten past this attack. Let’s take time to rest.”
The next few days went by without incident. Glynis kept busy helping with chores and once they were completed, she retreated to her room to avoid Caelan.
She could not stop thinking about the conversation between her aunt and Clara. She did need to return to Bara. Not only because she was a bother, but also because she needed to face her fears. And she had to speak to her brother about what happened and together do what they could to find the men and ensure they were punished.
One morning Glynis woke up with her mind made up. She would return home. There was no need to bother her family with it. Instead, she would do it on her own.
“How fare ye?” Glynis said strolling into the kitchen and as usual finding her aunt there.
While her aunt boiled water and busied herself with making tea. Glynis took a chunk of leftover bread, some cheese, and dried meat and placed it in the center of a large cloth. She then walked to the door hiding the bundle in the folds of her skirt. “I will check on getting eggs so Maisie and Grace can prepare them for breakfast.”
She walked to the chicken pen and placed her food bundle there. Then gathered eggs.
An hour later, Glynis hurried to the corrals and found a mare that seemed docile.
“What can I do for ye, miss?” A young lad appeared.
“I require a small cart and horse. I am going to visit a friend.”
While the lad did as he was told, she kept an eye out. But no one was about, it was much too early.
Finally, she climbed onto the bench of the cart and looked at the boy. “Do not disturb anyone, if they ask if ye have seen me, tell them I have gone to the village to visit Bree.”
The lad frowned and nodded. “Aye, miss.”
She guided the mare away from the house, around the back of the stables, toward the road. Once there she would go in the direction opposite the village and south to the shore. It would be easy enough to hire a seat on one of the bìrlinns to Bara from there. She would also pay someone to return the horse and cart to Keep Ross.
Glynis had left a note for her aunt so she would not worry and asked that no one come after her. It was best for her to move on and not continue hiding. Otherwise, her fears would never be gone.
It wasn’t until several hours later that she stopped looking over her shoulder. Her aunt must have told everyone she needed rest and not to bother her.
It was a long time later that she began to wonder what to do when night came. Perhaps find an inn or a place to hide and sleep. In her hurry to get away, she’d not considered how to protect herself from rain or such. Other than her thick cloak and scarf, she’d not been able to get any blankets. She looked over her shoulder into the tiny cart. There was a small bag of feed for the horse and her bundle of food. That was it.
“Ugh.” She blew out a breath. Thankfully, although downcast, there didn’t seem to be any rain clouds in the sky.
This was a different path than the one they’d used to come to the house. Thankfully, she was a good navigator and knew enough to stick to the shoreline and the roads would lead to a coastal village she was familiar with. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure how far before she arrived at a village where she could seek shelter.
It was late in the day when she finally stopped to relieve herself and reassess the situation. In the distance, the call of the seabirds as they found a place to nest for the night echoed around her. The dimming light sent long eerie shadows that stretched across the ground like tendrils of gloom. The wind thankfully remained gentle, but at the same time colder as the day ended.
Climbing back onto the bench, Glynis urged the horse to continue forth. There had to be a village nearby. People made lives near the seashore, fishing for a living and such. Other than a lone cottage however, she didn’t see much.
Deciding to take a chance that the cottage was as deserted as it looked, she guided the horse towards it. Moments later, she almost cried in relief when discovering that other than a table and a lopsided chair, the tiny cottage was indeed abandoned.
Hurriedly, she settled the horse beside the cottage in a ramshackle shelter that, despite one side of the roof drooping, would provide a reprieve from any rain and cold wind. The mare was sweet-natured and seemed pleased with the portion of oats she was given, and the water Glynis had fetched from the nearby creek.
Once that was complete, she refilled the small bucket from the creek and went into the cottage. Then she foraged for branches and sticks to start a fire. Her pile of wood was plentiful, and she hoped it would last the entire night until she left in the morning.
She eyed it and then went back out and collected more, just in case.
Finally, feeling exhausted she used a thick branch to bar the door. Within moments a cheery fire warmed the room. Glynis settled onto a spot in the floor she swept with a broken broom and let out a breath. She’d drank water from the creek and then ate some of the bread and dry meat she’d brought. Hopefully, the next day she’d reach the southern shore and be headed home.
