Highlanders Collection. Ann Lethbridge

Scots as his slaves, as if they weren’t fully human.

      Doubts and fears rose up inside Bram, crippling his resolve. He saw Alex fighting hard, along with Ross. They would die before surrendering. As would he. But he couldn’t let a man like Cairnross get to Nairna.

      ‘I wondered if you were alive,’ Cairnross said, lifting his sword. He was flanked by two soldiers, guards who would ensure his protection. ‘You were a great deal of trouble as a slave.’

      Bram kept his gaze fixed upon the three men.

      Though he longed to fight, he forced himself to wait. ‘What is it you want from us?’

      Cairnross glanced back at the rest of the fighting, a smug expression on his face. ‘Harkirk intends to claim his rightful share of your holdings, after you tried to cheat him with false silver. And as for me—’ He nodded to the guard upon his left, who departed for the keep. ‘I lost many of my slaves on the night you attacked. I want compensation for the loss.’

      ‘You weren’t interested in keeping them alive,’ Bram responded. ‘You wanted them to work until they died, and that was enough for you.’

      Cairnross shrugged. ‘They served their purpose.’ Near the gates, more soldiers streamed inside, only to be met by MacKinloch fighters.

      Though Bram was glad to see his kinsmen striking down the enemy, inwardly, he grew colder, afraid that there was no way for them to win this fight.

      ‘Being a traitor has its price,’ Cairnross said. ‘And our orders are to suppress any rebellion.’

      That was it, then. They weren’t planning to let any of them live. Though he’d suspected as much, hearing it was enough to make him grip his claymore and raise it towards Gilbert de Bouche. He might die this day, but he fully intended to take Cairnross with him, for what he’d done to so many men.

      ‘Then I’ll die fighting.’ Bram started to swing his claymore when one of the guards came racing back.

      ‘They’re not here, my lord.’ The guard’s face was red and he was out of breath. ‘We’ve searched everywhere. None of the women or children are inside the fortress.’

      ‘They’re in hiding, then,’ Cairnross proclaimed. ‘Burn them out.’

      Bram’s skin turned to ice. Most of the fortress was made of wood; if it burned down, it would collapse upon the storage entrance, burying the women and children alive.

      The rage inside him was threatening to break out and he gritted his teeth to keep his control. He needed to fight for Nairna and the others, not letting his temper master him.

      A cry he didn’t even recognise came from his throat as he swung the claymore hard. The two soldiers guarded Cairnross, and his blade struck their wooden shields with no effect.

      Cairnross moved away, giving orders to the other men to set the keep on fire. Bram fought hard against the two guards, not even feeling the exhaustion as his claymore became an extension of himself.

      Ross came up from behind. The older man struck the soldier on the left, bringing him down. Bram finished the man on the right when the soldier’s attention was distracted by the death of his companion.

      But they were too late. Already, smoke was rising into the air, the keep blazing. He saw them adding oil to the flames, and as the conflagration spread faster, Bram knew there was no hope of saving it.

      ‘Mary, Mother of God,’ Ross breathed. He broke into a run, and Bram was close behind.

      It was only a matter of time before the unstable structure collapsed.

       Chapter Twenty

      Nairna could smell the smoke filling up the castle keep. ‘We can’t stay here,’ she insisted. ‘We have to evacuate the others.’

      Laren’s hand covered her mouth, but she nodded. ‘I know it. But they’ll see us leaving and follow. We’ll die if we try to go.’

      Terror boiled inside her stomach, but Nairna saw no other choice. And when the scent of smoke grew stronger, she didn’t waste any more time. ‘I’d rather risk my chances with the soldiers than be burned to death.’

      ‘Dougal, I need your help.’ She touched his shoulder, wishing she didn’t have to burden a boy with such a task. But their lives depended on it. ‘We have to get the women and children out. They can go to our house on the ridge, but I need help keeping the soldiers back. Do you have a bow?’

      He nodded, pointing to the back of the underground chamber. ‘There are extra weapons hidden there.’

      ‘Good.’ Though she wasn’t particularly good with a bow and arrows, she’d stand with Dougal and fight.

      But only a moment later Callum emerged, holding two bows and quivers of arrows. Nairna tried to take one, but he refused to let go of the weapon.

      His brown eyes held a darkness in them and a fierceness that frightened her. But she couldn’t let Callum’s madness interfere with their escape.

      ‘Can you defend us?’ she asked.

      His eyes met hers and he gave a single nod. Nairna stepped back, unsure of whether or not trusting him was a good idea. But then Marguerite started to gather the women together and Callum caught the young woman’s hand.

      He held it for a fraction of a moment, meeting her gaze. Marguerite’s cheeks flamed, but she nodded. ‘I know,’ she whispered.

      The underground chamber had one exit that led outside to the back of the keep. Below it lay a large ditch that the men had dug to keep out invaders on that side, partially filled with rainwater. Nairna started to move forwards, but Marguerite stopped her.

      ‘I know the way to your house, Nairna. I’ll go first and lead them, if you’ll help Laren gather the others. I don’t know them as well as you do.’ The young woman’s face was tense with fear, but she seemed determined.

      ‘All right,’ Nairna agreed. She went back to the weapons, hoping to find a bow of her own. There was only a crossbow with a single bolt, and she took it. Dougal and Callum would need help, and though she wasn’t experienced at fighting, she would do what she could to protect the women and children.

      The smoke grew worse, a smothering odour that stung her eyes and burned her lungs. Some of the children started coughing, and Laren began leading them outside. She held her own daughters, one over each hip, as the women followed.

      Nairna joined her in gathering everyone together and Marguerite walked beside Callum. Though neither spoke, she saw the protective glint in Callum’s eyes.

      The two young men took their positions on opposite sides of the ditch, Callum near the keep and Dougal on the other side of the bank.

      Nairna climbed down into the water with Marguerite. She gripped her skirts as she sloshed through the muddy ditch water, and they grew saturated, heavy from the soaked weight. Her dog Caen dived into the water, paddling across before he headed up the hill, shaking the water off.

      Once Nairna managed to climb up the bank, it was clear that one of them would have to stay at the hillside to help the women get out of the water, particularly if they were holding young children.

      ‘Go and take cover in the trees,’ Nairna told Marguerite, setting down her crossbow on the ground. ‘I’ll stay with Dougal and help the women out of the ditch.’

      Although the path leading to their house was towards the front of the fortress, a line of thick fir trees edged the lower part of the hills. If they stayed hidden, they could make their way to the ridge.

      Marguerite obeyed and as more women emerged with their children, Nairna assisted them out of the water. Jenny joined them and she directed her maid to hide with the others. Meanwhile, she kept watching both sides for signs of any soldiers.

      She worried about Bram, not knowing whether he was alive or dead.