The Viking's Highland Lass (22 page)

“Nay. I have never met the man. As I doubt you have,” James said.

Eanruig shook his head.

“Have you met Robard?” Gunnolf asked James.

“Once, when I was a lad. I dinna know that he would recognize me now.”

“We go together,” Gunnolf finally said.

“I need you to plan the next course of action if anything happens to me, Gunnolf. I need you to see the women home safely if this doesna work out the way we had planned.”

Gunnolf didn't like the idea one whit. But James was still the laird and Gunnolf, brother that he might be, had to follow his direction.

“
Ja.
But I still do not like the strategy.”

“Noted.”

“What do you wish for me to do?” Eanruig asked.

“You will come with me when the time is right,” James said.

They traveled in the clearing next to piney woods in silence after that, but before the force was even in sight of the castle, Gunnolf thought he heard a hushed voice in the woods nearby. He motioned to speak to James and apprised him of it in case he had not heard. But he was worried about the women with them if they should be drawn into a fight out here.

“Cadel and his wife, mayhap?” James asked.

“
Ja,
could be. Unless ‘tis a trap.”

The woods had grown quiet.

“If ‘tis Cadel and they have Robard with them, they will not be able to move quickly with him,” Gunnolf said.

“Unless ‘tis no' Robard and his loyal subjects.”

“We have to search the woods,” Brina whispered.

“
Ja
, that would be my advice. If Brina's father is out here, we need to take him back to the shieling.”

“Agreed.” James organized his men to search with him, while Gunnolf stayed behind with Brina, Lynette, and five more men at the edge of the pine forest.

It didn't take long before they heard swords clashing and the yelling of men.

“An ambush!” Brina said, readying her bow.

The other men with them looked anxious to join the fight.

But Gunnolf didn't want to release them to fight when the women needed their protection. Yet if James was overwhelmed, he could use the extra men to battle on his behalf.

If James and his men fell to the sword, Gunnolf couldn't keep a force of enemies from taking the ladies hostage.

“Go, Gunnolf. Help him,” Brina pleaded.

Gunnolf motioned to three of the men to join in on the fight. But then the fight came to them, four men riding out of the woods, a golden-haired man in the lead.

“Seamus,” Brina called out in surprise.

Now Gunnolf knew who the devil himself was, and targeted the man, his hair shaggy around his shoulders, his brown eyes narrowed in contempt.

“I take it that you didna bring Brina back to me if you are fighting us,” Seamus said, slashing his sword at Gunnolf.

“We came here in peace.” Gunnolf didn't truly believe his words would sway the man intent on killing him. “You and your men are fighting Laird James MacNeill of Craigly Castle. He comes here to tell your people that Lynette—“ Gunnolf slashed back at the brigand when Seamus struck at him again “—is his half sister.”

Seamus paused only for a moment before he raised his sword to swing it. “Why is my bride-to-be with you?”

“To see her da. Where is he? James wishes to work out an agreement between our clans. But no' if you are trying to kill him.”

Gunnolf saw the other men who had been protecting the ladies engaged in combat now. Brina and Lynette were poised with bows stretched taut, attempting to hit one of the men if they could get a clear shot.

“Her da is dead,” Seamus said, his face hard, his tone of voice unconcerned.

“Because you killed him?”

Seamus's face reddened in anger. Seamus thrust his sword at him, but Gunnolf angled his horse backward and came again at the man, only to slice against his targe. “A Viking killed him! He sounded like…
you
,” Seamus said.

“When Robard was struck down, you did not go to his aid. After that, you did not check him over to ensure he lived or had truly died.” Gunnolf realized how similar his situation was to Robard's now when his own brother left him to die on the field of battle, only in this case, Seamus had left Robard to die when he had treated him like a son.

“Whoever is telling you these lies? Brina? She was so distraught, she would make up any tale so that she wouldna feel so bad. She wouldna believe her mother or her newborn brother had died either when it happened. ‘Tis sad, but true.”

Gunnolf shook his head. “I met Robard myself. He had been wounded and was being cared for.”

“Then he lied that he was the chief. We have buried him along with all the others that died that day. ‘Twas a shame that his only daughter wasna there to pray over his grave.”

“If he has died since I saw him last, Seamus, ‘tis because you killed him when you didna have him taken to the castle the day of the battle and have his wounds treated,” Brina said and ended her words with the release of an arrow.

Seamus jerked his targe upward to block the arrow, but Gunnolf charged in and struck him across the chest with a slice of his sword.

The padded leather Seamus was wearing helped to deflect some of the blow, but he still jerked back in his saddle and before he could retaliate, Gunnolf saw a trail of blood across his chest where the cut was made. Seamus's targe was also sporting one of Brina's arrows. She was shooting at someone else now.

“Why has Brina returned? To what end?” Seamus growled.

“To bring forces to ensure her da's safe from the likes of you.”

“She need no' worry about me. ‘Tis her cousin that she should be concerned about.”

“Her cousin? He no longer resides here,” Gunnolf said, surprised. He struck at Seamus again, connecting with his sword. “Do not tell me he has returned and taken over.” Strange irony that. If her cousin had taken over while Seamus was out searching for Brina, then had he sealed off the castle so Seamus couldn't return? If that was the case, Brina had brought Seamus down as much as her cousin had.

“I was loyal to Robard all along when his nephew abandoned the clan and him,” Seamus growled.

“Just think if you had not left the chief to die, Brina would not have run away, you would not have left the castle in search of her, and her cousin would not have taken over in your absence. Oh, and I would not have had the chance to save the lass and wed her.”

Seamus's jaw hung agape before he attacked Gunnolf with such viciousness, there could be no more talking, only a fight to the end.

They struck back and forth, the woods quieting where the rest of the fighting had been taking place. Gunnolf prayed James and his men had been victorious while he concentrated on trying to take Seamus down.

“Her da told me how she had cared for a wounded Viking warrior when she was young. He should have done more than whipped her for it.”

Gunnolf glanced in Brina's direction, shocked to hear the truth. Her father had beaten her for aiding him so long ago, and she hadn't told him? Why? Because she feared he would not save her father's hide?

Gunnolf felt pure loathing for the man. Had he known…

He let out his breath and struck at Seamus, slicing again across his belly, splitting open his leather vest and revealing a deep sword wound, blood spilling out of the cut.

Seamus faltered in the saddle and Gunnolf struck the final blow. “You should have been loyal to your chief as he would have given you everything a man desired, a beautiful woman who should have been cherished, most of all.”

Seamus fell from his horse and lay on his back on the grass, looking up at Gunnolf still seated on his horse. “You should have died in battle alongside Robard. What will James think when he learns you have wounded his half brother?”

“In no way are you related to James. And I was not there at the battle between Robard's men and Hallfred's. I have served James for years and have fought many Highland battles alongside him.”

“You are…a traitor to your…own people then,” Seamus gritted out.

Gunnolf dismounted and stood over the man. “Nay. They left me for dead. See you the similarity here? You say you are James's half brother. How is that so?”

Seamus's red face was turning gray. “I am Lynette's…brother, so some…would say.”

“And Brina's half brother if what you say is true. But her twin brother died. Only Lynette survived.”

“Nay. Why do you…think Robard…took me in? He thought…to punish the…MacNeill clan…for throwing the lass out of the keep...” Seamus coughed up blood. “…when she was carrying twins.”

“But you were not raised by him. You only came to the castle when you were grown.”

“The midwife…gave me to another family to raise.”

“If you are my half brother, why would you want to wed me?” Brina asked, sounding horrified.

“I didna learn the truth… until your cousin enlightened me, shouting it…from curtain wall, afraid to fight me face-to-face once he had locked me out. He said…I was the bastard son of James's da…and should return there.”

“Did…did my da know?”

Seamus shut his eyes and didn't respond. Gunnolf knelt beside him, but saw the dirk in Seamus's hand before the man opened his eyes and struck at him with it. Gunnolf tore it from his grasp and stood.

“Answer me!” Brina demanded.

“You would have to ask him… if he is still alive.”

James joined him and Gunnolf was glad to see he was unharmed, but he felt badly that Brina and Lynette were distressed about this new revelation. “Our men, James?”

“Uninjured. His men are either dead or ran off. I heard what he said. Are you telling the truth that you are my half brother?” James asked Seamus.

But he had closed his eyes again. Gunnolf leaned down and put his hand on his throat, feeling for a pulse. He shook his head at James.

“A shame. I would have loved to have had another brother. Though ‘tis possible he would have tried to take over my clan.”

“And the bastard intended to wed Brina.” Gunnolf looked to see how she was doing.

Tears had filled her eyes and Lynette's also. Hell.

He hurried to join the ladies, helping Brina down from her horse while James helped Lynette.

“He may have lied,” Lynette warned.

“He may have,” Brina agreed. “That would be a good way in the end to upset all of us.”

“What about your cousin?” Gunnolf asked, wondering if they would find him to be receptive to their arrival or would he see them as trouble? And would he be a good leader of Brina's clan?

“He was always a spoiled brat,” Lynette said. “Robard was always bending over backwards to suit Christophe when he was a child. He was the son Robard had never had. Christophe knew Robard would do anything for him. Mayhap he learned Robard had been injured or had died and he returned to take over the castle with no one else to tell him what to do.”

“Would the elders of your clan call him chief when he had abandoned the clan?” Gunnolf asked. “Unless he has the ability to lead them and fight well, I would think not.”

“I dinna know. Seamus said Da was dead. Did he no' find him then? Or did he find him and kill him?” Brina asked, wiping away tears.

Gunnolf pulled her into his embrace and kissed her damp cheek, not wanting to see her so distressed. “There is no telling. We will have to go to the castle, do you not agree, James?”

“Aye. I agree.”

Gunnolf said to Brina, “We will see if mayhap your cousin found your father and took him there for safekeeping.” He didn't want to think that maybe even her cousin had located him and killed him. Though it was possible her father had died of his wounds. They needed to find Cadel if they couldn't discover her father. Maybe he would have the answers they sought.

“In the meantime, I will do what I had intended before, offer a tie between our clans, but only if he keeps peace with Inga's,” James said.

“How many men did Seamus have with him?” Brina asked.

“Around twenty,” James said.

Brina considered two dead men nearby. “I have never seen these men before.”

Lynette studied them for a moment. “Neither have I. He must have hired mercenaries.”

They remounted their horses and headed for the keep. Gunnolf couldn't help worrying about the ladies' safety though.

“Since we have no idea what to expect, I suggest we follow our earlier plan. The ladies stay a safe distance from the castle's archers' reach.” Gunnolf still couldn't believe that Seamus had been Lynette's twin brother.

“I agree. Until we know what kind of reception we will get, we have to be wary of Brina's cousin's response to our unexpected arrival,” James said.

When they saw the four stone towers of the castle, they could see movement along the wall walk. Distant shouts could be heard as the guards called out a warning to their people.

“Mayhap we should have a change of plan,” Brina said. “If my cousin sees Lynette and me approaching with you, they may believe you are no' the enemy.”

“Or that we are with Seamus and caught the both of you and are returning you now.” Gunnolf still didn't want the ladies to draw too close to the castle.

“I am going with you,” Brina said to James. “My cousin willna take action to harm me. He has no reason to. And my people would revolt against him if he did.”

James agreed. Gunnolf still didn't like the plan, but he went along with it as determined as everyone was. He rode forth with Brina and James, ready to fight.

When they were close enough, Brina called out to the guards. “'Tis me, Brina, returned with the support of Laird James MacNeill of Craigly Castle to help my…our people.”

Gunnolf wondered at first why she had not said to help her father, but then suspected she didn't want to sound as though she would be unwilling to accept her cousin as chief.