Page 66 of My Scarred Laird
She kissed him gently, “I ken. I ken ye would.”
Egan cleared his throat and Callum turned, Islay still in his arms, plastered against his chest, “How did ye get away, my lady?”
Islay bit her lip, “They stopped once so they could relieve themselves, and they let me do so as well. I saw a belladonna bush by the river and took as many berries as I could hold in my pockets. I crushed the juice inta a canteen of ale, and they drank it. I think I poisoned them.”
All the men went still, and Egan coughed, “Ye kenned ta poison them with belladonna?”
Islay nodded, “I am a healer. I ken which plants hurt, and which heal. Belladonna is very poisonous if ingested. Most doona realize that it is a fatal plant until they eat tae many of the berries. Two berries can kill a child, and a handful or more can kill a grown man.”
Several of the men standing by them had their jaws drop open, and Egan’s eyes were wide.
He rubbed his jaw, meeting Callum’s eyes, “Remind me never ta piss off the lassie.”
Several of the men nodded, “Aye.”
Islay said, “I refused ta let them take me from ye. I would do what I had ta so that I didna. Even killing two men. I doona regret it. Is that normal?”
Callum looked down at his whole world, “I would have done the same love. Ye did what any one of us would have.”
The men nodded, and Egan said, “I will send Fraser, Glen, and Leith ta check if they are truly gone, and bury them.”
“Nay, they doona get ta be put ta rest. Leave their bones ta be eaten by the wolves.”
The men nodded, and three of them left in the direction Islay had just rode in from.
“What are ye doing with their horses?”
“I couldna leave them there. They are tae beautiful. Besides, they didna have anything ta do with stealing me. They were just there. I ken that our clan can always do more with good horses like these.”
Egan walked over to them, “Aye. Laird, these horses are mighty fine. They seem ta be bred for long rides and fighting. They doona shy from me as I get close.”
Islay nodded, “They are very well trained. I didna even need ta tie the second horse ta the first. He just followed me.”
Callum nodded, “Then they are ours now.”
Egan grinned, “Lass, I think ye should choose which steed is yers. Ye deserve it.”
Islay looked up at him, “May I?”
He grinned, “Of course. They are spoils of war after all.”
She grinned back, “I choose the one I rode in on. He is a beauty.”
He was. He was all black, his mane long and flowing, his coat shiny.
“Then he is yers.”
Islay kissed him once more, and Callum said, “Do ye ken who those men were? Or why they took ye?”
Islay nodded, “I do. Laird McGavin. He wanted my sister as his bride, for me ta keep her in line and if she died, he would have me there just in case. He didna ken tha’ I am ta be yer bride and no’ Daracha. I assume he thought I was her? I’m no’ certain, and I didna ask, but he also wishes ta start war with ye. He has taken over a few keeps next ta his, and he willna stop.”
Egan whistled lowly, “Shite. We kenned he would do somethin’ like this, but we were still uncertain. Now? Now we have just cause ta go after him.”
Callum nodded, “Aye. We do.”
Culloden, who had been silent up to this point said, “Wait, if he thought ye were Daracha, and still wants ta kidnap the bride, do ye think he still will?”
Islay’s face lost color, “Wha’ if this was just a distraction?”
