Page 43 of The Iron Highlander
“I’m sorry, but ye cannae come with us. It is for the best.”
Kate turned and walked away, a frown on her face told him that she was not happy with the decision. The fact that the woman was fine with risking her life to take on the journey with them was one which he found outstanding.
Reuben got his sword and Hudson’s axes, sharpening both of the weapons before he sheathed it. As he got on the horse, he looked up at the doors to see his mother nodding at him, giving her blessings. Hudson walked up to him with his axes and got on his horse as well. He had a small bottle of water which they would share during the one-day trip to Max’s castle. The laird looked up at the window and saw Kate staring at him from it. Still upset about not being able to join them on the trip, but wishing them well either way.
He waved at her, and she waved back. Hudson moved closer to him with his horse and stared up at Kate, “Ye better be looking to marry the lassie, else I’ll do it for ye. Now come on, let’s go rescue her sister already.”
“Ye remember the last time it was just the two of us heading out to go fight off someone who had attacked the castle?” Hudson asked with a smile on his face.
“Aye, ye mean the time ye got drunk at the inn down in the raiders camp and made them come all the way here to get their vengeance? Aye, of course I remember Hudson, we had to stand by the gallows while they threw fruit at us for disrespecting their chief.”
“And I was the one who did the disrespecting. It was glorious that both of us had to take the full brunt of that, as it was the only way to achieve peace.” Hudson said with a laugh.
“We better hope Max would be into that kind of thing, otherwise, it willnae be apples and cabbages we would be dodging, but his spears and arrows.” Reuben replied, kicking the sides of the horse. “Hyah!”
Chapter 22
Reuben and Hudsonrode hard through the woods, taking the single path which led them straight to Max’s castle. Knowing that there could be spies along the way, they decided to head through the woods, hiding out from bandits and anyone who would be able to foil their plans before they got to their location.
“I say we stop and cover our tracks a bit,” said Hudson as the horses trotted on.
“Nae, what would be the point? When we leave the estate, our tracks would lead straight back home. We head on, with any luck, we should just be outside the town by dawn.”
Hudson agreed and they moved through the woods, pushing the horses as hard as they could. They made good time, but were a few kilometers off of their desired stop. The horses were tired, and there was a nearby stream which the horses could drink from, and so they decided to make their camp there.
With a few minutes of light left, Hudson and Reuben split up. Hudson went to get firewood which they would use to keep themselves warm in the night, and Reuben took the horses down to the stream. Once the horses had drank, he brought them all the way back to the camp where Hudson was trying to start the fire.
“Hudson, where is our food?” Reuben asked, looking at the saddle on his horse.
“On yer horse.” Hudson replied without looking back.
“Nae, Kate put the horse’s food on my saddle, she put ours on yer horse.” Reuben fired back, holding the reins of both horses.
“I could swear I saw her doing the opposite. But check my horse then.”
Reuben opened the satchel on the side of the horse and only brought out more dried peas and wheat for the horses. “Nothing here.”
“Why would she do that?” Hudson pondered for a moment, “She was probably still upset that ye didnae let her come along with ye.”
“I…” Reuben paused and stared behind Hudson. “Believe ye should continue speaking to me.”
“Aye,” Hudson replied, realizing what had happened. He grabbed a piece of wood which had caught on fire and began walking towards Reuben, “If we daenae get food tonight, we should be able to survive without losing our minds.”
“Behind ye,” Reuben whispered, as Hudson got close to him.
“Aye,” said Hudson.
They turned around at the same time, drawing their weapons as they stared into the darkness between the trees. The glinting of the metals stunned the horses, but Reuben had muzzled them, making them quiet. However, if there was someone close by, as he had heard, they would be able to hear the horses, and they would see them. If their enemies had ranged weapons like a spear or a bow and arrow, then it would be all but over for them.
“Show yerself!” Hudson yelled out to the trees, heaving his dual axes in front of his face, ready for battle.
“I wish ye nae harm, just thought I’d bring ye some food, since ye forgot it back at the castle.”
Hudson and Reuben jumped, turning around to see Kate standing right behind them.
Kate had waited till everyone had gone back in. Once the coast was clear, she rushed down to the stables and threw a saddle onto a horse. She had packed food for the horse, and for Reuben and Hudson as well, knowing that they would need it. She was not just going to stand back and let them save her sister, not when she could do something to help.
As she set the saddle on the creature, muzzling it so it would be silent enough for her to sneak it out of the castle, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. And so she quickly grabbed a rake and pretended to be raking up the hay in the stables. Grear walked in behind her, staring at Kate with a questioning look on her face.
