Page 42 of Taken By her Highland Enemy

He was about to turn away when Isabelle stood and clung to the bars, feeling woozy with the effort, but strengthened by a fire in her heart. “Who are you, father? Who have you become? I thought there was hope for you, but it is now gone. What has someone done to make you such a devil that you would torture and kill at will, searching for innocents, and even put your own daughter in a dungeon?” Her voice sounded strong, but she felt a shuddering in her ribs as she tried to contain her tears.

Had she done something truly heinous in this life to deserve him for a father? There was nothing on his face that showed her words had struck at his heart. She knew it was a fruitless attempt to dig deeper into his soul, but she was clawing only against a heart of stone. He smirked. “Isabelle, I thought I had taught you better than this. There is nothing stronger than honor, pride, and the glory of one’s country. Nothing is more important. The King knows what kind of man I am, and that is why he has sent me to do this work. I will do anything for the sake of my country. What kind of man would I be if I protected my daughter, a woman who foolishly turned to the aid of these Highlanders and thus acted in treason against her own country?” He spat at the ground, and Isabelle followed her eyes to the ground as well, having nothing more to say.

She sank back. He gave her one more angry glance, and then quickly ascended the stairs, leaving the three prisoners in darkness and silence.

* * *

With the new information from Arya, Eamon and his men rode hard through the dark trees towards The Scots’ village. He had no other choice but to get their help and then ride to the fort as soon as they could gather their horses. They would not be able to rest, for Isabelle and her father were hours ahead of them and could arrive at any time.

It seemed that in a few short moments, they crested the hill into the small, nondescript village as a few streaks of dawn were covering the horizon stretching out into the height of the sky. As they slowed in approach, they were accosted by five soldiers, their bows pointed towards them. Eamon kept his hands up and called to them, “Scots, it is I, Eamon, Sean’s brother.” One of them faltered for a moment before laying the bows down as he got a look at Eamon’s face.

“Eamon, what are ye doing here, lad?” He began to smile with joy. “Ye must have defeated the bastard then! That Cutler!” As he looked at the small party, he said with confusion, “But there are so few of ye. So few have returned from victory? Where is Donovan and Sean and Gareth?”

Eamon sighed, dreading the news, but he had no time to waste. “Call the other Scots, my friend. Sean has been captured by Cutler, and we need to make haste to the fort to avoid his execution. I will tell Rose myself.” The man nodded grimly and hurried off, calling to the other members in the village to get their things and get on their horses.

He rushed to Sean’s doorway, and took a pause, dreading to step inside to give Rose his news. When he knocked, Rose pulled open the doorway. At first, she was smiling. “Ye have returned! But then, as she saw that Sean was nowhere in sight, she said, “What is it? Where is Sean?” What has happened?”

Eamon could see Rose began to tense, and the blood left her face. “Nae, lass. Calm yerself. I have nae too much time, but I come tae give ye the news. Sean has been captured by Cutler. Sean sacrificed himself tae the man so that he wouldnae come tae the village.”

“Idiot man!” Rose called, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks.

Eamon’s voice was gentle and slow. “We ride tae the Fort to find him and return him tae ye. I will die in the pursuit of this, sister. Ye can believe me.”

She watched him, and he feared her remonstrances would be bellowed into his face, but instead, she calmly said, “Thank ye. I only wish I could go myself and plunge a dagger intae that man’s flesh.”

Eamon smiled. “Aye, I wish ye could too. Let us hope that one of us is lucky enough tae get that chance.” He took hold of her hand and said, “I shall do my best for ye, for ye and yer new baby, soon tae be.”

Rose nodded, and one of her tears landed on his hand. “Thank ye, Eamon. Now ride on. The Fort is near two days away!”

“We will ride hard with nae stops so that we can be there in time tae save him.” He called Arya to his side, and once she was in front of Rose, he said, “May this woman stay with ye and give ye comfort. She is an Englishwoman. She is the lady’s maid to Cutler’s daughter.” Rose recoiled at his words, but he shook his head. “She is not against us, Rose, she is for our cause. She is kind and decent and does nae wish tae return tae Cutler’s service. May she stay here with ye, until we can find a place for her once we return from battle?”

Rose’s expression had smoothed, but she still looked warily at Arya. “Is this true, Sassenach?”

“Yes, ma’am, it is. I wish to be free of my former master, although I would like to be reunited with his daughter one day.” She glanced at Eamon. “Sir, if she is willing to ride with you, will you take her? Bring her here, and she and I can find a way together if you…” she trailed off unsure of what to say next. Eamon scowled but nodded.

“Aye. If she is willing tae come, then I shall see about her joining us.” Rose looked confused, but she said nothing.

She watched as Eamon left her side and got atop his horse again, waiting for the others to gather around him. They did not need much in the way of supplies, for they would not be camping, and they could rest once they were victorious at taverns on their way back. He saw fear in their eyes, but excitement as well. The excitement he could use.

“It is time now tae bring yer swords and bows, my friends, tae good use. I know that I am nae the clan leader, but I am here on her, and his, behalf, tae call ye intae action. We go tae free him from the hands of Lord Tiberius Cutler, who plans tae take his revenge upon my brother’s body as soon as he arrives at the Fort. We dinnae know which day that will be, so we will follow their trail as best we can. The ride will be hard, and we willnae be able to stop for long, if we are tae make it in time.” He needed them to feel what he felt in order to rouse their passion and ire against the injustice of it all.

“Will ye come? Will ye fight for yer leader, for the village, and the new life that ye have created?”

He looked around and waited for their replies. One by one, they lifted their weapons and said, “Aye!”

“This could be yer last battle my friends, if nae because ye have been killed upon the battlefield, but that ye will have left violence and bloodshed behind as ye forge a new path of peace and family. Dinnae let this Englishman crush yer dream. If this is tae be yer last battle, then make it yer greatest and fight with everything in ye!” He cried the last words loudly, and the energy he suffused into his speech filled the hearts of the other as well, and they cried out in agreement.

“Come! We ride tae Fort William!” He led the way on Aine’s back, pointing her hooves downward towards the hill, which descended into the gloomy forest. He hated the heaviness of his heart underneath the trees’ dark forms, but it would take more than that to dim his determination.

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