Page 62 of Highland Slayer
“Agreed,” Kaladin said. “She’s a strong woman, Mama. But so are ye.”
Mabel tipped her head at the compliment. “What else do we know about her?”
Kaladin mulled over the question. “Only that she’s been trained for this role since she was a wee bairn,” he said. “This is the only life she’s ever known. This is her world. She’s very protective about her women, and the women are warriors. Oh, and she goes by Mother Michael.”
Mabel nodded as she digested the information. “Then I shall deal with her appropriately,” she said. “She simply must understand that we are here to help.”
A shout came from the front of the column, and Kaladin turned in time to see Caelus yanking Zora off her horse, across his lap, and begin spanking her. She still had the switch in her hand and she was trying to hit him in return.
He chuckled.
“Caelus is beating Zora,” he said. “She is trying tae beat him back.”
Mabel rolled her eyes. “Good God,” she muttered. “Kal, go up to the front and bring her back here. We are nearly at the gates and I’ll not have her embarrass the entire family. Go, now. Fetch her.”
That was true. They were at the gatehouse and Caelus was demanding entry. He thought he might have seen one of the gates move, preparing to open. Still laughing, Kaladin started to rein his horse forward to break up the fight between his brother and his sister. Those two together were like oil and water. Alwaysvolatile, but always entertaining. The entire army had been front and center to the show.
Just as Kaladin started to proceed forward, the entire world exploded.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Estevan recognized hismother’s carriage. In fact, he recognized his father’s men, all of them bearing the dun Tarh sash. It was a strip of red-and-yellow cloth that they wore somewhere on their body, usually across the chest. Additionally, the red-and-yellow bull standards of the Earl of Torridon were flying from the carriage. How his parents were here, at this time, was a complete mystery to him, but he also caught sight of Kaladin’s black-and-white horse, so he knew his brother had somehow fetched his father.
It was a miracle.
Or, more than likely, it was because his father got homesick when he and Kaladin had departed for the Hydra. Estevan knew his father well and knew the man always longed for his home in the Highlands of Scotland, so when he saw his sons departing early, he wanted to go as well. It had happened before. Mabel, unable to put up a fight, simply went along with it.
And that was exactly why he had been so paranoid about going to The Butcher’s.
He grinned when that thought popped into his head. He had been paranoid for a reason, as it turned out, because his parents were not more than a few days behind him. If the whole situation with St. Margaret’s hadn’t come up, his mother could have very well found him and Kaladin and the rest of them at The Butcher’s and there would have been the devil to pay. Perhaps finding Leonore on the banks of the River Nith had been a gift from God, ensuring that none of them would get into trouble with Mabel the Masher. A terrible nickname, but onethat made sense when one was on the receiving end of one of her punishments.
Estevan thanked God for watching out for him in avoiding his mother’s flying hand.
With fond thoughts of Mabel on his mind, Estevan estimated that the carriage was about quarter of a mile out. They could see it approaching in the fog, which was starting to lift now that the sun was rising. It wasn’t nearly as thick as it had been. There were just patches of it, mostly, but everything was still quite wet. Alexandra had followed him up to the wall and now stood a few feet away, watching the carriage approach along with him. All of them were watching Zora, his youngest sister, ride down the column and ending up at the carriage. As Estevan watched, he could see Zora waving her hands around, clearly conversing with somebody inside the carriage, which Estevan knew to be his mother.
But that brought about another issue.
Now his mother and sister were arriving at an abbey that was under the threat of an attack. He was certain that Kaladin had told his father what was happening, so they knew the danger going in. However, since they were heading home from Ashkirk Castle, Mabel and Zora were naturally going to be with them. Everyone was heading home. The only saving grace was the fact that it was a large escort, at least two hundred or more men, and they would provide ample protection. Estevan felt better just looking at them, and he was finally beginning to feel some relief. When they reached the gatehouse and the guards began the process of opening the wooden gates, he turned for the stairs leading down to the bailey. He was looking forward to greeting his brothers and parents.
And possibly Zora, too.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get very far. He heard a noise behind him and turned to see the forest bordering both sides ofthe road come alive with men. Men with clubs and weapons, all of them charging for the dun Tarh party.
It was a shocking moment.
The danger they’d been waiting for had finally begun.
*
For Kaladin, abrief moment of surprise gave way to his training. The thrill of battle filled his veins, his nostrils, and everything about him. Projectiles started to fly from the trees on either side of the carriage and men rushed out of the foliage, bellowing and waving clubs and swords. The first thing Kaladin drew was his own weapon to face the charge.
“Papa!” he boomed. “Stay inside the carriage!”
Realizing they were under attack, Mabel screamed to him. “Zora!” she cried. “Protect your sister!”
Kaladin knew that. God help him, he knew that, but he also knew that she was with Caelus, who was a tremendous fighter. No one would get the better of him.
“Caelus has her, Mama,” he said steadily. “She will be fine. He’ll not let her come tae harm.”
