Page 36 of Highlander's Escaped Prisoner
“Submit?” Logan laughed. “I do not want you to submit, my Nessa. I want you to fight! I enjoy a little, shall we say...resistance?” His eyes had an evil glint in them as he smiled at her, and Nessa shivered. Now she was truly terrified.
He pulled her arms behind her back and tied the silken cords tightly. “You see how merciful I am?” he asked, with a mocking laugh. “I could have brought coarse twine to bind you with, but I thought of how tender your lovely flesh is. I will leave you to scream if you wish, but you know how far away we are away from everyone else here, so do not waste your breath.” Having tied her feet, Logan stood up to admire his handiwork and smiled in satisfaction. “’Til tonight, my Nessa,” he said smugly.
“I am not your anything!” Nessa growled.
“Oh, but you will be,” Logan said silkily, as he closed and locked the door behind him.
Bryce watched tensely as the tall figure of Laird Roy Guthrie strode toward him, accompanied by six well-armed guards. Nessa had left him a sword, but he had not used one for years, and he had no hope of defending himself against seven soldiers. Nevertheless, he stood up straight and planted his feet wide apart, then held his weapon in front of him, ready to fight to the death if need be. It was better than going back to jail. However, there was no need.
“Laird Guthrie the Younger,” Roy called as he approached Bryce, sheathing his sword. “Put your weapon away; I mean you no harm. My guards are for the protection of both of us. As you know, there are bandits hereabouts.”
Bryce hesitated for a moment, then laid his sword down on the grass. He was still tense, however, and his heart was racing. “M’Laird.” He bowed but did not approach Roy, who advanced and came to stand a few paces in front of him. The two men sized each other up for a moment like two rutting stags, then both relaxed as Roy Guthrie offered Bryce his hand, which he took.
“I have not come to argue or to recapture you,” Roy told him. “Nessa has put forward a very convincing case for your innocence, and I am inclined to believe her. You have been most unjustly treated, Bryce Blair.”
“Thank you, M’Laird,” Bryce answered, and a wave of relief swept over him. “Nessa has been very good to me.” Again, he omitted the fact that she had tied him to a tree! “But I have no way to prove my innocence. All I can do is give my word, and that seems to be worthless.”
He looked so dejected that Roy patted his shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile. Bryce Blair had impressed him, even though he had not believed in his innocence at first.
Bryce smiled faintly at the other man, still not knowing whether Roy was convinced or not. He said: “Nessa tells me that you are having a meeting with my family and yours to discuss the whole situation.”
“Yes, we are,” Roy replied. “We want to resolve the border dispute once and for all. My brother’s death was the final straw, and I have resolved that there will be no more killings.” He sounded grimly determined.
“May I attend the meeting?” Bryce asked hopefully. “As the person who has suffered most from this situation, I feel it is my right.”
Roy looked at him doubtfully for a moment. “I must speak to your father,” he replied. “I will be back in a few hours, and I will leave a guard with you.”
“Why do you hesitate?” Bryce asked, frowning. “Surely I have the right to be there?”
However, he was talking to empty air since Roy was already striding away.
20
As Gregor Blair rode into the courtyard of Castle Drumblane, he was greeted by Roy Guthrie, who smiled and extended a hand to him as he dismounted from the great piebald warhorse he was riding.
“Beautiful horse, Gregor,” Roy said admiringly, to break the ice since they both had an interest in fine horseflesh. “I have not seen him before.”
Gregor smiled and bowed. “Thank you, Roy,” he said politely. “I got him at the Oban horse fair not two weeks ago. I call him Marble.”
“And your old steed?” Roy inquired.
“I put Meg out to pasture,” Gregor replied. “She was an old and faithful servant and deserved a quiet retirement.”
The small talk over, the two men entered a nearby parlor where Roy poured them each a glass of wine.
“Why did you want to see me?” Gregor asked. “The usual matter? Or is it about my son?”
“Your son?” Roy looked puzzled. “Why should I want to talk about your son?”
“Please, Roy,” Gregor said scornfully. “We have known each other for a very long time, so please do not treat me like a fool. I know you have seen him. I know he has met with your daughter. Is there anything else I should know?” He looked at Roy expectantly.
“You know that Nessa helped with his escape?” Roy asked.
“I do,” Gregor replied. “She has turned into a fine woman, Roy.”
“She has persuaded me that Bryce is innocent.” Roy heard the other man’s gasp of amazement. “I will invite him to join us tomorrow.”
“I cannot say how happy that makes me,” Gregor answered, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “But how can I prove his innocence?”
