Page 83 of Kilted Abduction
Magnus followed her gaze to the two large tents she was pointing out and noticed the pair of standards flying outside the doors. Ciara’s eyes widened with fear and pressed to him as she was, he felt her trembling.
“Are ye all right, lass?”
She hesitated but nodded. “Aye. I’m fine.”
“If ye want tae go back?—”
“I said I’m fine,” she snapped then before he had a chance to say more, quickly added. “What’s the plan now?”
As Magnus stared at the valley floor and the lines of tents that seemed to stretch to the horizon, then turned back to the two tents that housed Fairfax and Ciara’s father, he frowned.
“They didnae bring this army here fer show,” he said. “We need tae find out what they’re plannin’ on doin’?”
“And how are we goin’ tae dae that?”
“We need tae get close tae yer faither and Fairfax’s tents,” he said. “See if we can either sneak a peek or hear what they’re plannin’.”
“Are ye mad?”
“’Tis the only way we’ll learn what they’re up to,” he said. “But like I said before, ye dinnae have tae go down there with me. Ye can cover me retreat?—”
“I’m goin’ with ye. I’m fine.”
“Are ye sure?”
“If ye ask me that one more time, I’ll stab ye.”
Magnus chuckled. “All right then. Let’s go. Stay low, step where I step, and move quickly. And above all, be quiet. Nay speaking.”
“Aye. All right.”
Magnus turned and headed off with Ciara following in his wake. They traversed the rocky landscape at the top of the valley wall, circling around until they were able to get behind the two tents that housed Fairfax and her father. They were still up on a ridge and had to get down the hill without being spotted though. And from where Magnus was, he could see half a dozen armed guards between them and the tents. It was the ones he couldn’t see he was most worried about though. However, there was nothing to be done for it.
“What dae ye think?” she asked.
“’Tis nae goin’ tae be easy. But it has tae be done,” he said. “Here’s the play. I need ye up here?—”
“Bollocks. I’m goin’ down there with ye.”
“Listen tae me. I need ye up here with yer bow tae watch me back. I dinnae ken how many guards are down there. If one of ‘em is behind me, I need ye tae take him down,” he said. “And then I need ye tae cover me retreat.”
She frowned but nodded. “Aye. I can dae that.”
“All right. Then be ready and keep yer eyes wide open. And stay hidden.”
“Aye.”
Magnus gave her a moment to get herself ready and into position. When she gave him a nod, he started off down the hill, using the bushes, trees, and darkness of the night around them to his advantage. He came across a lone guard making water against a tree and looked around. With nobody else to see, he slipped up behind him and covered his mouth with one hand and drew the edge of his dagger across the man’s throat with the other. He gurgled and twitched as Magnus lowered his body to the ground, silent and dead.
He glanced up the hill and could barely make out Ciara’s silhouette against the bushes she was sheltering behind. He turned and made his way down the rest of the slope without incident, crouching down behind Fairfax’s tent. His heart pounding in his ears, he knelt down and took a moment to calm down. Once he’d cleared his mind, he could hear the voices from inside the tent.
“Nobody kens we’re even here. We killed three of their scouts as we moved up the valley. We’re fine.”
“For your sake, Laird MacDougal, I hope you are right.”
“I am. Trust me.”
“As much as I would like to, you have given me very little reason to trust you. Or to have any confidence in you whatsoever.”
