Highland Vengeance (17 page)

When Laird Sinclair stood in front of
Malcolm, he could almost see the evilness move about the MacKay man
like a black cloud. Anyone could clearly see that this man had
chosen a dark dreary path in life and those around him had been
sucked in with him. Malcolm demanded that Camden stop the army he
created from attacking the MacKay men on the Sinclair land. He also
wanted Camden to give him the lairdship freely in front of the
Sinclair clan to show them what a weak leader he was.

Each time he had denied this
unreasonable and sinister command, Camden was beaten while chained,
for his defiance. Malcolm’s men gave no mercy on the laird as they
punished him with each strike.

Tonight during his latest moment of
rebellion, Camden made the mistake of letting his emotions prove
how he felt about his wife. This made Olivia an enormous target and
Camden knew it. Ian’s men had been describing to Malcolm of Lady
Sinclair’s beauty and he growled at the filthy images they painted
of his wife.

Malcolm’s laugh boomed across the room
as he finally realized what Camden’s weakness was, a silly English
woman.

“
All this time we have been
trying to beat you into submission and now we find out it would
only take the death of your wife to change your mind,” Malcolm said
wickedly.

Camden knew not to react any further to
the comments from the ugly bastard that kept him prisoner. He swore
to himself that he would not let anything or anyone harm Olivia.
After the order was given to find Lady Sinclair, Camden became
nauseous at the thought of any of those vile men even touching his
most prized possession. They grabbed Camden by the hair on his head
and dragged the chained laird back to his dark cell in the
earth.

He lay quietly on his back trying to
regain some strength and his mind wandered to thoughts of his
beautiful wife. He struggled to his knees and then Camden
desperately pleaded to God for mercy, as nothing seemed to be going
right. Everything that had happened in the past many weeks of his
life had been complete chaos, except Olivia.

She was perfection and Camden thanked
the Lord for giving this gift to him. He smiled thinking of Olivia
and how she would say something so innocently to him and she never
knew how much if affected him. The laird always seemed to be
hanging on to her every word with anticipation. Each night when he
held Olivia in his arms, he was rejuvenated again and Camden knew
he would be all right for one more day.

Every night since his capture, Camden’s
world had been so cold and so empty that sleep was hard to come by.
Tonight was no different either. After hours of lying there, the
laird finally started fading in and out of dreams. He needed her
now and he needed her forever. Camden realized that he had
helplessly and hopelessly fallen in love with Olivia. He only
wished now that he could tell her so. The Highland laird was never
good with words of love like the other men but he knew what was in
his heart and that was all he needed to tell her. Camden’s heated
visions of her body helped to warm him from the frosty air. Please
God, he prayed, let me live to tell her that I love her.

Early the next morning, Olivia woke to
the crunching sound of boots stomping heavily in the snow. She
changed her gown and stepped out into the chilly air, inhaling deep
breaths that invigorated her entire body. Soon they would be at the
Sinclair holding to end the torment of the MacKay clan. It did not
take long for the camp to start buzzing with enthusiasm and Olivia
was grateful for everyone’s willingness to fight for Laird
Sinclair. Camden had brought them together and trained them well.
Today they would bring honor to his name.

Broderick sent a signal letting Olivia
know that his clan and the Sutherlands were ready to leave. Liam
rode next to Olivia and led the way to meet the other clans at the
ridge just before they entered the valley where Camden had grown
up. Their mounts moved forward through the soft snow and Liam
pointed ahead for Olivia to see a heavenly sight.

“
That’s the Drummonds in the
red and green plaids. The others are the Macleod clan in black and
red,” Liam explained.

Olivia was speechless as she witnessed
the hundreds of men, most on horses but some on foot that had
traveled to risk their lives for her husband and his clan. Olivia
knew her brother’s army was noble and brave but now as she stood
among these Highlanders, she felt a sense of pride that could never
be surpassed. The warrior woman felt truly privileged to be a part
of this valiant display of honor and respect to her
husband.

“
I will speak to their
lairds before we leave,” she commanded.

“
Yes m’lady,” Keith
answered.

The massive groups of warriors
converged at the ridge and Olivia noticed how well they moved
making themselves silent through the snow. Keith had ridden to send
word to the other clans of Olivia’s request. He was not sure how
well the other lairds would accept a woman leading this invasion
but he would soon find out.

Before Keith could return to Olivia’s
side, Laird Drummond and Laird Macleod were riding next to him. The
lairds reached the small group of what was left of Camden’s elite
guard including Olivia. Camden and his men had a fierce reputation
throughout the Highlands and now only three of them wore the
Sinclair plaid and one woman. Broderick quickly rode to be with
Olivia incase the lairds gave her any trouble.

“
You must be Lady Sinclair.
I am Laird Drummond and word has it that you have taken your
husband’s role as laird. I will not stand by and watch while a
woman leads innocent men to their deaths. You will stay here during
the battle and not interfere,” the older soldier
ordered.

Olivia could have sworn she heard Liam
gasp for air at Laird Drummonds words. She thought he must be
thinking the same thing she was, how dare he think a woman could be
less than a man. Olivia was grateful for all the years in the
convent that had taught her patience for now was when she needed it
most. The countess took a deep breath and quickly prayed to God for
a grasp on her tongue.

“
Laird Drummond, I will be
damned if I let you speak to me in such a manner. First, everyone
here speaks of their Highland blood that runs through their veins,
well I can crown your boasts with the Russian blood that runs
through mine. I am a descendant of the Russian nobles and just
because I am a woman, makes me no less capable of going into
battle. Second, I have trained with the best and I have beaten the
best so if anyone will hinder us in this combat it will be the
elderly,” Olivia taunted and then rushed on, “I suggest you believe
my words for I surely have the devil’s spit in me and no one dare
cross me. Last, even if I have taken my husband’s role as laird,
none of his men would be here standing at my side if they did not
trust me completely. They have each willingly pledged their
fidelity and faithfulness to me. I am in love with my husband and
that is a better reason than any other, to fight for his
safety.”

The two aged lairds were stunned at
this beautiful woman’s ranting and they were both left speechless.
Broderick smiled as he sat on his mount next to Olivia. My Lord, he
thought, if she had not been so damn passionate in her words
everyone would have thought she was jesting. Broderick could see
that Laird Drummond was a bit irritated and Laird Macleod looked as
if he were about to laugh. The large warrior felt the need to
mediate before Olivia said another word.

“
Laird Drummond, I have
taken this new clan under my name now and they are under my rule.
Lady Sinclair is leading the Sinclair warriors,” Broderick
said.

“
Aye, only the three men
then, ‘tis rightfully so that a woman only have three warriors to
lead,” Laird Drummond replied with a smirk.

Liam, Keith and Calum were close to
Olivia and she heard them all making grunting noises.

She smiled broadly at Laird Drummond.
“Yes, I will only lead the three men if that pleases you. Just know
that these three men are the most exceptional and fearless warriors
in the Highlands, well apart from my husband, Broderick and I. No
one else but a woman like me could lead them.”

Laird Macleod laughed deeply, winked at
Olivia and then turned to head back to his clan. Laird Drummond
stared deeply into Olivia’s eyes and then he too laughed out
loud.

“
God be with you Lady
Sinclair,” he said.

He left them to prepare his men and as
soon as the two lairds were gone, Olivia let out a huge sigh of
relief.

“
M’lady, I am honored to
have you lead us to battle,” Calum stated.

“
Aye,” Keith
said.

“
Aye m’lady,” Liam
nodded.

Olivia bowed her head. “Men let us pray
before we leave.”

Broderick and the others quickly
followed her example and Olivia began to pray out loud with fervent
respect.

“
God in heaven above, we
give thanks for thy boundless power and now we ask to receive it
also. We honor thy inherent wisdom and we ask for it to be poured
upon us. We cherish thy endless mercy and hope to be shown it
greatly.”

Olivia’s throat began to swell as she
tried to stop the tears that fell down her cheeks. The countess
struggled to finish her call to God with a whisper.

“
Please hold my husband in
your arms and help him live. I love him with all my being.
Amen.”

She looked up and her eyes were filled
with tears. Olivia wished she had not shown this weakness to the
giant warriors that surrounded her but she noticed they too were
misty eyed.

“
Let us reclaim the Sinclair
land and fight the injustice that has been brought upon the clan.
We will not take mercy on the MacKay clan as they have shown no
mercy for the Sinclairs. We will show the evildoers of the land
that they cannot take what is not theirs. We will reassure the
Sinclair clan that their laird has not forgotten them. We will make
the MacKay men be an example to all those who think they can harm
the weak and vulnerable. God is fighting with us now!” Olivia
commanded.

They rode to the cliff and with every
step from their horses, Olivia knew they were getting closer to her
husband’s home. The home where he had lost his mother and father
and now where his sister would be buried also. Olivia glanced at
the men that surrounded them atop the rocky cliff and noticed that
their quilted linen coats appeared to be smeared with wax. This was
obviously for protection as well as for warmth. They also wore
deerskin coats under their large winter plaids.

Olivia wore Camden’s broadsword at her
side and her own bow and arrows on her back. She had on a beautiful
saffron colored dress under her plaid and when she had put it on
this morning, it made Broderick smile. Olivia did not know that it
was custom for the chief to don a “yellow coat” before battle and
he felt it was an extremely appropriate choice in color for
her.

Broderick had given her Camden’s targe
to bring with her to battle. She was not used to carrying a shield
but she did like the Highland’s version. It was round and made of
wood that was covered with tough cowhide. It had a leather arm
strap inside and the front was covered in rows of nail heads and
ornate patterns of brass studs. Olivia found it much lighter than
an iron shield and she thought the piece was very
beautiful.

When Olivia looked over the mountain
crest, the Sinclair Castle and village finally came into view. The
seascape she witnessed was magnificent. The large castle stood next
to the sea and the entire valley below was blanketed in white snow.
To the left of the holding there was an incredible cliff with a
thundering waterfall flowing into the sea. Olivia could see frozen
water in areas that made the cliff look as if it were covered in
diamonds. This place was unlike anything Olivia had ever dreamed
of.

Liam was to her right and he was the
first to notice the stillness of the village below.

“
M’lady there is nobody
visible. We have the advantage of being at higher ground but I fear
they knew we were coming. I do not see any of the Sinclair clan,”
he worried.

“
They are here somewhere. I
can feel their beating hearts waiting for us to help them. Now,”
she yelled, “now we take back what belongs to Laird
Sinclair.”

The hills quickly became flooded with
color as hundreds of warriors descended down into the valley.
Everyman yelled out loud in a cry for battle as they carried their
swords and battle axes. The men on horse followed behind the men on
foot and soon Olivia could see the MacKay men coming out of hiding.
The laird’s wife was quickly aware that the men who fought for
Camden, charged ahead with valor and the MacKay clan waited
cowardly until they were attacked.

Lady Sinclair and the three men at her
side rode hard and fast into the heat of the combat. Blades struck
one another with fury and strength. It did not take long for Olivia
to realize that they outnumbered the MacKay clan greatly and this
battle would be over sooner than expected. She felt like this
victory was much too easy and had an uncomfortable feeling that
something was not right.

Olivia noticed movement above from the
wall walks and then more from the turrets. The war on the ground
was ending and the area was littered with the bodies of the MacKay
men. Olivia watched as the lairds seemed relaxed at this simple
conquest and she felt the eerie calm in the air that filled with
her with fear. The Drummonds and others began to celebrate the
effortless defeat while they checked to make sure all the MacKay
men were dead.