Page 39 of Taken By her Highland Enemy

Chapter Twenty

Eamon felt steeped in darkness. It was like he was floating in a starry land, for only pinpricks of light made it through his consciousness. He wandered to and fro in the darkness, wondering why or for what purpose it was there. People came into his vision, melting into his view as if they were made of hot wax. He saw before him Lord Cutler, Isabelle, and Sean. Isabelle and Sean were tied by their hands and looked on as Cutler began to mouth a speech to an unseen crowd. There was a wooden block at the base of their feet, ominous in its obvious purpose. Sean was the first to kneel, and he laid his neck over the side of the wooden block as Cutler lifted a gleaming axe aloft. Eamon tried to yell, but nothing came forth from his mouth, and it was like his voice was lost in the heavy, threaded darkness.

The axe fell, and he heard the sharp, slicing sound cut through the air, and it roused him from his sleep. He sat up, pulling his dagger out in the process, feeling threatened. He blinked his eyes as he stared into the night, and Lukas moved to his side. “My friend, my brother, are ye well?”

Eamon swallowed, remembering his faculties as they flooded back to him. “What happened?”

Lukas seemed hesitant to reply. “I had tae hit ye, lad. Ye were nearly going mad with yer yelling and yer attempts tae leave. There was nae other way tae stop ye. Ye have only awoken now. Yet ye have spoken her name intae the night. It was like ye were awake while ye slept.”

Eamon tensed, remembering what had happened only hours before. His grip tightened on his knife, even though he had lowered the weapon. “Whose?”

Lukas sighed. “Isabelle’s, of course. Ye were telling her ye loved her.”

Eamon scoffed. “It was a lie, of course. The ravings of a madman.”

“Ye certainly have that correct.”

Eamon scowled. “Where are we? What are we doing here?”

Eamon could see the other men, huddling around a fire. Nothing else was able to be seen in the darkness. “We have taken ye from the MacManus land. They were nae pleased with the flames from the Englishmen. We helped them put out what we could afore we left, taking ye intae the forest. We thought it our best hiding place until we could decide what tae do. I reckon we have little time until yer brother is dead.”

Eamon nodded grimly. So that is why the darkness in his mind had lain so heavily and thick upon him. He shuddered as he looked around at the darkened forms of trees around him. “So ye propose we go after them? Cutler’s men?”

“Aye. We followed them once ye were unconscious, but we had tae hide once they realized we were on their tail. I watched them as they fled. I think I know where they have made camp. We will be able tae see their light in these barren hills, once we leave the forest.”

Eamon nodded and tried to stand, but he began to feel woozy and clutched his head. “Lad, ye hit me hard enough, I think.”

The other men chuckled. “Aye, I think so,” Dirk replied. “We had tae be sure ye would be compliant in allowing us tae take ye. I have never seen ye in such a state.”

Eamon remembered. He was flailing, ridiculous at the loss of Isabelle. His whole body tried to steel itself against the feelings that flooded forward into his heart. She was gone. She had lied to him. Who was the woman who had taken his heart and refused to give it back?

Lukas said as they sat before the fire, “A woman always makes a man mad. It is perhaps better to do without them.” Grunts of agreement sounded around the flames.

“It is nae so easy as that,” Eamon grumbled. “They are wily temptresses and pull ye intae their sphere with nae mercy. That woman was the spy that we met. It was her the whole time! I presume she was in league with her father tae send us tae our demise.”

The men were silent for a moment before Errol said, “Truly? Wow, I would never have guessed.” He sat back in astonishment, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.

“Aye,” Lukas said, his voice full of bewilderment. “But she never did make much of a good captive. She was always trying tae get her point across as if she had planned everything.”

Eamon snorted. “Aye, she had done so, I believe. Her lady’s maid tells me it is so.” He sat upright, with fear. “Where is the lass? Arya? Dinnae tell me we left her with a strange clan all on her own.”

“Nae, nae, she sleeps there.” Lukas pointed to a tree not far from the fire, and Eamon visibly relaxed.

“Good. We will need tae find a place for her. Perhaps she will wish tae reside in Sean’s village if it remains in existence.”

Lukas moved near. “This is what we need tae discuss, lad. We must go and fight once ye are ready. We must take back what is ours and fight for what we believe in! Yer brother shouldnae die for naething, nae at the hands of that Englishman! Have ye lost yer fire?”

“Aye. What purpose is there now when it is all lies and deceit? I have lost my brother. I have disappointed him in my weakness. Will he want me for a rescuer? The woman has taken my heart with her, and she has deceived me. She is with them! What am I worth now?”

“Lad, ye are a foolish idiot! If she was leaving tae go with her father, why would they nae burn the whole village down? They left as soon as she ran through the door. She has deceived us all, tae be sure, but I dinnae think she sides with her father. I think she left for a good reason.”

“So, the MacManus land didnae burn?”

“Nae. There was a fight tae keep the fire contained, but all is well. Although I dinnae think ye should get yer favours from that clan from now on,” he laughed.

Eamon looked at his old friend with concern. “But what of yer own lives? Why do ye do this for me now? We could very well lose everything if we attempt tae bombard the camp?”

Lukas turned to the men and thought for a moment before saying, “We still get that wealth, do we nae?”

---