Page 67 of The Guardian's Witch

He rode up the trail in the cover of the forest. He needed to get some distance between himself and the castle. He headed for the safety of the border.

The trees rushed by in a blur. Prime kept up a steady stride. Alex’s mind was focused on what he would do next, when he felt the animal’s muscles clench. Alex brought his attention back to the present. All that remained between him and the border was a small rock ledge up ahead. He knew this place well. It was a common meeting place for him and Jamie. He would have to walk Prime through. It was too precarious to ride.

He slowed his horse. An arrow came shooting out of the trees and across Prime’s nose. Alex dismounted, grabbing his bow and quiver in a smooth easy movement. He set the tip of the weapon at his instep and started to string it. The bow snapped in his hands.

“Well, it looks like the traitor has escaped.” Four men came out of the bushes.

Alex looked at each man. He leveled his eyes on the last one who entered the clearing. It was Bryce’s man, the one who had tried to ride him down. Another look: they were all Bryce’s men.

“The king is meeting with his advisors and Lord Ramon to discuss your treachery. When they find you gone they will denounce you an outlaw, confiscate all you own and put a pretty price on your head.”

“What are we waiting for?” said another man. “Let’s get on with it.”

A man came at Alex with his knife drawn. Alex’s actions were swift and deadly. He sidestepped out of the line of attack and grabbed the man’s arm. He brought up his knee and smashed the attacker’s limb against it. The tremor of the breaking bone vibrated up Alex’s arm. He finished with a fist to the man’s temple. Before the man had time to register his pain he was unconscious on the ground.

Alex picked up the man’s knife, slit his throat, and spun to face the next assailant.

The men hung back. No one gave the command to move forward. What were they waiting for? Warmth spread across his back. Someone was behind him. Someone he trusted. Before he could decide whether or not to put any faith in the feeling, two of Bryce’s men went into action. One attacked and the other ran past him.

Alex grabbed the attacker’s outstretched arm. Holding it at the wrist, he stepped aside. With his free hand he grabbed the man across his face and pulled him back. While he had the man off balance he kicked his leg out from under him. The assailant went down. Alex wrenched the man’s knife out of his hand and stabbed him in the chest. The blood bubbled and hissed as it leaked out of the wound. The attacker slid to the ground, gasping for breath.

He turned to take on the other man only to see Jamie slamming his shoulder into his chest. The man flew back. Jamie fisted his hand and with lightning speed connected with the man’s jaw. Alex heard the sound of breaking bones when fist and chin connected. The man’s head snapped back exposing his throat. Jamie took his knife and drew a thin red line across it. The man crumpled to the ground.

The remaining attacker stood surrounded by Jamie’s men.

“What took you so long?” Alex asked, his heartbeat returning to normal.

“I wanted to see if the charms for tranquility would work before I took any action.”

Alex shook his head. The Scot’s humor cut the tension.

Jamie’s men made certain the attackers were dead, then brought the last man forward.

“Tom, what did you find out?” Jamie asked.

“Tom? Is he one of yours?” Alex didn’t try to hide the surprise in his voice.

“Yes.” Jamie nodded to Tom to begin.

“I have several things to report. They need Glen Kirk Castle and Lady Lisbeth but I wasn’t able to find out why. Bryce doesn’t want anything to do with her, but his father insists it’s the only way. I couldn’t learn anything else. I do know Lady Lisbeth is in mortal danger.” Tom looked from one man to the other. “Jamie, he keeps calling her the witch.”

“That’s been one of her biggest fears,” said Jamie. “That’s one of the reason’s she stayed away from you,” he said to Alex.

“Me?”

“Yes. Hubert called her a witch.”

“So she thought all the king’s men would do the same. Now I understand,” said Alex.

“You said you learned several things,” said Jamie.

Tom continued. “I also learned that some of Bryce’s men were at Lord Reynolds’s carriage the afternoon of the accident.”

Jamie’s face turned to stone. “Go on.”

“They blocked the trail with the tree and watched what happened.”

“Were you able to find out why they wanted Wesley and Darla dead?” Jamie’s face looked dangerous.

---