Page 74 of Highlander's Captive Bride
The two men glowered at each other, panting and sweating, locked in combat that would prove fatal for one of them, fueled by a mutual hatred that was palpable.
“Did ye like the way I smashed yer whole clan out of existence?” Bellamy countered with savage relish. “I enjoyed seeing yer faither’s blood running like a river, and I’ve enjoyed having that wee rat of a sister of yers around, too. She’s in me dungeons now.”
Lachlan only laughed, as if Nadia’s fate did not concern him. “Ye did me a favor killing me faither, and as for me sister, she served her purpose. I dinnae care what ye do with her. I only want me daughter.”
“She isnae yer daughter, ye dog. And ye’ll never have her,” Bellamy roared, incensed.
“She’s mine, and ye well ken it, Murdoch,” Lachlan screamed, spittle flying from his lips. “I’m goin’ to take her back with me, and I’m goin’ to rebuild me clan. I ken just how to look after the wee lassie.”
Clearly maddened, he suddenly struck at Bellamy, and the tip of his blade caught Bellamy’s wrist, partially slicing through the thick leather of the vambrace, drawing blood. He laughed, seeing his handwork.
Bellamy did not even feel the injury or see the blood. Lachlan’s horrible threats and his maniacal laughter sent a preternatural surge of strength flowing through his whole body, and he began an onslaught that gradually drove Lachlan back.
“Where have ye been hiding like a worm all this time?” he asked his foe mockingly.
“Closer than ye think, ye bastard,” Lachlan replied, his eyes glittering with triumph. “I got religion, would ye believe? The abbot at St. Tristan’s is a man who likes a sob story and took pity on me. Made a monk of me, he did. Did that pretty healer of yers nae tell ye she met that nice Braither Edmund at the market?” He cackled, seeing Bellamy’s puzzled frown. “Aye, that was me, a man o’ the cloth, hah!”
“They didnae guess they had the Devil in their midst,” Bellamy answered, stepping up his assault.
The pair traded repeated blows, hammering at each other, violently pushing and shoving with their shields as they struggled to land strikes with their blades. But while Bellamy’s almost unnatural strength continued to grow, he felt his enemy slowly weakening.
He began stalking Lachlan, laying back from the man’s strikes, letting him expend his energy, and then going on the attack. He sensed that the moment when he would have the pleasure of his final revenge was quickly approaching, and it spurred him on.
The moment came when Lachlan parried one of Bellamy’s hammer-blow sword strikes, and his wrist turned awkwardly, his grip instantly loosening. He tried to disengage, but Bellamy used the flat of his sword to exert pressure on the man’s weakening wrist until Lachlan’s sword was forced out of his hand and fell with a clatter to the ground beneath.
Lachlan snatched his dirk from his belt, ready to fight on, but he was a little too slow. Bellamy smashed him in the face with his shield, knocking him to the ground, and then he smashed it into his head. He grabbed the dazed Lachlan by the neck and got him in a headlock, punching him repeatedly.
Lachlan fought back as long as he could, but the onslaught was too much, and he soon weakened.
Bellamy dragged him to the castle wall and pinned him against it by the neck. Lachlan’s head rolled, but Bellamy forced it up until they were nose to nose. He stared into Lachlan’s eyes for several long moments, relishing his revenge.
“This is for Bridie,” Bellamy hissed, plunging his blade deep into the man’s heart. “And this is for Elodie.” He twisted the blade cruelly, enjoying the cry of agony that burst from Lachlan’s throat before the light in his eyes died away, and he hung limply in his hand.
Bellamy pulled his claymore free, released his hand, and the lifeless body of his enemy slumped to the ground.
Buoyed by elation, his sword dragging on the stone pavement and leaving a trail of his enemy’s blood behind him, Bellamy slowly turned on his heel and walked away.
It was as if he could breathe easily after what seemed like an eternity of pressure, finally satisfied that justice for Bridie had been served, and secure in the knowledge that Lachlan Pearson and Clan McGowan were extinguished from the earth, at last, by his own hand.
23
After Bellamy had left her, Daisy had hurried to fetch what she needed for Poppy and returned to Elodie’s room. To her relief, she found Poppy in her usual place, still pale but watching over the sleeping child as closely as ever. However, she noticed that several towels had been placed over the pool of blood on the floor and an attempt had been made to clean it up.
“Here,” Daisy said, rushing over to the faithful servant, who looked up, her expression anxious. “Drink this. It should ease the pain in yer shoulder. It will be sore for some days, but ’tis all clean and should heal nicely.” She placed a jug of the fortified wine on the nightstand within easy reach. “This will bring back some of yer strength after losing so much blood. Take a glass whenever ye feel like it.”
“Thank ye, Daisy,” Poppy said gratefully, taking the cup Daisy offered her and downing the concoction. “But why were the bells ringing? Are we being attacked?” she asked, looking up, her face creased with worry as she put the cup aside.
Daisy suddenly realized Poppy knew nothing of the planned ambush. “Aye, we are,” she told her.
“But who is it? Why would anyone want to attack us? I dinnae understand,” Poppy asked, clearly confused.
“’Tis Nadia’s braither, Lachlan. Nadia confessed to the Laird that he was planning an ambush tonight. But thankfully, the Laird and his men have been able to prepare for it.”
Poppy appeared stunned by the information. “Nadia’s braither? But all of her family are dead, are they nae? Did the Laird nae kill him years ago, along with his evil faither and the rest of the McGowans? I remember it well because I was just a bairn, and it was just after that when he brought Nadia to live with us.”
“That’s right, I believe, but it seems her braither wasnae dead, after all. I dinnae ken all the ins and outs of it, but it seems the man had been lying low all this time, gathering his forces and plotting to harm the Laird and Elodie, too, to get revenge for what the Laird did to his family and his clan, I suppose. Nadia said it was him who got her to poison Elodie, and now he’s attacking the castle.”
Daisy told Poppy as much as she could without giving away Bellamy’s secret about Elodie’s parentage.
