Page 82 of The Torment of a Scottish Warrior
Maitland exclaimed, “What the hell was that? I’ve never seen anything like it. Well done.”
Alasdair fought to regain his breath, heaving from the exertion of fighting in such a small space. Broc had turned back to his mother, checking on her, but all were hale.
“Mama, can you walk up the stairs? We’re getting out of here. Da and Uncle Connor are waiting down the path.”
“I can if you let me hold your arm, Broc. I’m just a bit weak.”
“Then I’m carrying you out of here. When we’re outside, you can stand.”
Alaric led the way toward the stairs, Broc behind him carrying his mother, then Maitland, John, and Alasdair.
As soon as they all stepped out of the stairs, they froze at the sight in front of them.
Kelvan sat atop his horse, his arms crossed. “My thanks for bringing them up. This makes it easier for us now. Glenna?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at his wife on a horse behind him, a wide grin on her face. “Which one do you wish to start with?”
She pointed to Alasdair. “I want Kyla’s son. Time to chop off a hand.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Broc and Merryn
Broc decided it was time to put an end to all this shite spit out by a man who was smaller than he was, and obviously, not as smart as anyone in all of Clan Grant. This time, with Kelvan and Glenna directly in front of him, he would not back down.
“I’m Kyla’s son, and I’m the one who cut off Glenna’s hand after she stabbed a friend of mine in the back. And I’d do it again.” He set his mother down and moved her behind him. “You want me? Come and get me. I’ve had enough of the torture you’ve levied against the people of Mull. But you’re not a big enough man to do that, are you, Kelvan? You let others fight your battles for you.”
He scanned the area, noting the three archers in the trees, Meg and Eva innocently standing near the copse, their axes behind their backs. He checked for his dagger attached to his belt, just in case he needed it, but it was gone.
Hell.
He forced that into the back of his mind because he had to end this horrific threat now.
He also noticed that Uncle Connor and Logan had just come down the path behind Kelvan and Glenna, who both had three guards on either side of them. He prayed that meant the Grant guards were not far away.
Kelvan nodded to two of his men. “Get him and bring him to me.”
The two dismounted but Logan called out from behind him. “If I were you two, I’d keep my eyes on the archers in the trees. One is a Ramsay who prefers to shoot men in their bollocks. Oh, and don’t forget the two axe-throwers. One prefers to hit you right between your eyes.”
The two men didn’t move.
“You have no bollocks, Kelvan? You are the tough man who barks all your orders to steal bairns, hold old women and men captive. Come down from your tall horse and fight me. You and me,” Broc said, moving closer.
“Broc, nay …” his mother whispered.
Kelvan laughed. “You think I’m going to fight you? That’s what I pay these men for. And all the ones who are about to come over the hills and up the beach for you. They’ll be here momentarily, and you are all dead men. But I did promise Glenna she could amputate your hand herself.”
“Aye, it’s my right. A hand for a hand,” Glenna declared with a chuckle. “Get him.”
One man moved and got an axe in the middle of his forehead from Meg.
Kelvan said to the other one, “If all four of you move at once, they can’t get you all, fools!”
Broc caught something out of the corner of his eye, men coming from the beaches and through the forests, and they were not wearing red plaids. All on foot, but nonetheless, they would be outnumbered in no time. He had to move this along, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it.
Glenna said, “Go get him or I’ll have you killed, Samuel. It’s his fault I lost my hand.”
Simone dropped out of her tree and said, “This is the last warning you will be getting from me, Glenna. Keep that dirty, lie-spieling tongue in your mouth, or I will end your life myself.” She nocked an arrow and took aim, but didn’t shoot. “Don’t lie again or this is coming for you. Do you remember where I said I’d get you?”
Logan said, “I’d listen to her if I were you. And there are archers aiming for Kelvan right now.”
