Page 124 of The Splendor of Fire
Hector scratched his forehead. “We sailed into Cràdh this morning as we told you. Lachlan, Calum, myself…and Léo.”
Seized by fear so swift and punishing it stole her breath away; her hands began to shake.Where is he? Is he hurt?
“No, lass, he’s not hurt.” Hector took her arm and began to hurry her along the shore, Calum and Lachlan jogging behind.
She struggled to sign and hurry beside him.What happened?
Sweat trickled down his forehead. “We moved through the prison, clearing each cell. Looking for you. We go’ tae the top and found the interrogation room and your blood on the floor. Léo went mad trying to find you. He searched everywhere and eventually found Mowbray and a man called Gillie outside. They told him they saw you jump into the sound.”
Heart pumping, she picked up her pace.
“We didnae know where Léo went. We were on the top floor looking everywhere for you when we heard the most gut-wrenching scream. In all my years of fighting I have never heard such an unearthly howl.”
Sweat broke out over her neck and her heart broke.
Mowbray and Gillie told him they believed you were drowned. They said he was shattered with grief.”
He thought her dead like Théa.
Voice tight with emotion, Hector continued. “By the time we made it out to the yard Léo was gone. Ran through the prison and took a small boat. We think he was heading for Dun Ringill and Niall, but we’re not certain.”
Full of grief and rage, Léo was running into battle. By himself.
He needed her.Strength renewed, she tossed the skin to Calum and began to sprint.
Chapter 42
DUN RINGILL CASTLE - SEPTEMBER 28, 1385
Warriors from all over the Isles marched inward from Loch Slapin, surrounding Dun Ringill. The MacLeod, MacDonald, MacLean, and loyal MacKinnon fleets crowded Loch Slapin, Loch Eishort, and Loch a’Ghlinnel. Ships stretched as far as her eye could see.
From the tops of the perimeter wall, waves of arrows silhouetted against the cloudy skies and arced into the advancing warriors. Lachlan, Beithir, and Lightning raised their shields.
Beithir pulled her beneath his body, his voice brooking no argument. “Stay close to me, Birdy. Don’t move until I say. Don’t run ahead. That’s a command.”
The tunnel. We need to get to the tunnel.
“Aye. But we won’t get there if we’re dead. Stay under me.”
Another wave of arrows slit through the sky and showered down upon them as they drew close to the walls and moved along the northern side of the keep. Arrowheads pinged off shields, but Beithir’s mighty arm held against the force.
From the western flank, the MacLean and MacDonald bowman moved in, and she spotted Thunder at the front raising into full draw.In a voice and authority she didn’t know the man possessed, Thunder shouted the command, “Loose!”
“MOVE!” Beithir barked, and they lowered shields and ran.
Hundreds of arrows loosed from longbows and sailed up toward the walls of Dun Ringill. Looking behind her, she saw man after man from the skeletal remnants of the Dun Ringill guard that had held her captive for more than a year fall from the top of the walls and to the ground dead.
As their small party reached the top of the hill, they froze. Hundreds of caterans like ants began to swarm up the hill toward them. In the distance, a mighty army assembled in a great line, banners with the pelican argent waving in the wind.
Beithir’s voice was edged with steel. “The Wolf.”
Still half a mile from the tunnel, Birdy would need to pass their forces to make it to the opening.
Beithir unstrapped his dagger and began to belt it around her thigh. “Get up in the trees and follow us. Dinnae come down. Stay up there at all costs. If we go down, stay there until it is safe and then head for Dunvegan.”
She nodded.
“Fergal!” A young squire at the edge of the fighting looked up and hurried over.
