Page 68 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
Noah pounded his fist into the table and stood up, walking across the room to the dying fire and poking it viciously, watching a hail of sparks erupt and float up into the chimney.
He hadn’t seen Keira since the day before when she had summarily dismissed him from her sight. He was desperate to know she was safe now, even though he knew, logically, she must be in the castle somewhere and there was little threat to her here.
Callum was watching him silently and Noah tried to school his expression to mask his rage, but he wasn’t entirely successful.
He had always held his cards close to his chest. If he could prevent it, he would never reveal his inner feelings to anyone. It was something he had learned from his father—one of the few useful things that man had ever taught him.
Dinnae let them ken what ye are thinkin’ son—that way, they have nothin’ they can use against ye.
Noah had little trouble hiding most of his emotions, but not when he was angry. Rage settled over his face like a mask he could not shake.
Why did this priest have power over so many? He had accused Keira of witchcraft, yet he seemed to have cast a spell over the population of two clans in the space of a few days.
He would not risk her being taken from him again. He could not.
“What do ye wish me to do, Me laird?” Callum asked. The teasing light had gone from his eyes, replaced by dark determination. Noah turned, meeting his gaze, knowing that his friend would carry out any orders that he gave him without hesitation. Keira was not alone now; she had a castle of men at her disposal, and he intended to use them.
“Let him come,” he said, a quiver of rage in every word, “I want to end this once and for all.”
Callum nodded. “Aye, me laird, we’ll be ready. I’ll keep ye informed of his movements.”
With that, Callum left the room.
Noah rubbed at his chest, feeling the familiar ache leap up again. He wanted to immerse himself in thoughts of Keira to distract himself like he had done before, but all he could picture was her flesh burning, her screams echoing as he arrived too late to save her.
He walked to the window, trying to regain his self-control. He breathed deeply for several minutes as he focused on the swaying tops of the trees ahead of him, blowing in the breeze.
As the throbbing sound of his own blood began to recede and the pain dissipated a little, he heard the familiar clash of steel from the courtyard below him and, on looking down, saw Scott’s familiar form sparring with one of the guards.
He looked back at his desk and the myriad of letters he was still to write. He had a duty to tell the other lairds of any threat, but at that moment, he could only focus on Keira and her plight.
Any further correspondence would have to wait until he could relieve the tension in his muscles. He looked down at the courtyard and made up his mind, walking swiftly from the room.
Scott stood in the wide courtyard with a guard opposite him, both of them holding swords in their hands. Despite only training for a short while, Scott had graduated quickly from wooden swords to real metal. The boy's grace of movement when he fought showed that he had the blood of a warrior.
Just like his sister,Noah thought affectionately,damn the woman.
The guard was an older man named Bailey, who had been with the MacAllen family since Noah was a child. He was stern to look at, with thick gray hair and a substantial beard, but his eyes were kind.
“Good!” Bailey said enthusiastically as Scott disarmed him with a well-practiced training move, Bailey’s sword clattering over the cobbles. “Excellent. Remember to move quick as ye circle me. Ye have to be light on the balls of yer feet, lad.”
“Did I hurt ye?” Scott asked worriedly as Bailey bent down to retrieve his sword and winced, holding his back.
The older man chuckled. “Nae, that’s life, lad. Ye cannae injure old bones, and it is them that’s protestin’.”
“Perhaps he needs a new partner for a spell,” Noah said as he approached, and the guard gave him a formal bow.
“Aye, me laird, he’s a quick one. Watch yer step!” he said with a wink as he departed.
Scott turned to Noah, but his expression was not quite as kind as it had been the day he taught him to fight.
“I ken ye are angry with me, lad,” Noah said hesitantly. “But that business is between me and yer sister.”
“Daisy told me ye’d asked her to marry ye.”
Noah watched him, feeling the familiar excitement and uncertainty plague him once more. He had not thought of how his proposal would affect Scott and Daisy, or that it might get back to them so fast.
“Aye,” he said slowly. “I was reminded I had me honor to maintain,” Noah stated gently, and he watched as the anger in Scott’s eyes faded.
