Highland Avenger (16 page)
“Foolish woman. Claud was right. You are not very clever. I could have waited but then I would have been no more than another Lucette, another titled, landed Lucette among dozens of titled, landed Lucettes. But, with only the gifting of a small piece of land to the DeVeaux, I have an ally all the other Lucettes fear.” He shrugged. “And the very full purse they plan to give me as well.”
“All that still doesnae explain why ye hunt the boys. It only tells me that ye have no loyalty to your own blood.”
She tensed when he clenched his hands into fists, but he did not hit her. It was clear that he suddenly wanted to boast of his cleverness. Arianna could not understand how the man could betray his whole family as he had done and she made no secret of the disgust she felt for him. She knew it was revealed on her face if only because of the way Amiel grew more furious the longer she looked at him.
“Ah, I forgot that you paid little heed to the reading of the will.”
“Hard to pay attention when one isnae e’en told about it.”
“Claud left the land the DeVeaux want to the boys. There is no way of changing that unless the boys die, for it was Claud’s land alone, to do with as he pleased. I was there when he wrote the will and convinced him to name me as heir should anything happen and the boys did not live into manhood.” He scowled. “I could not stop him from naming you their guardian, however. That was a disappointment.”
“For which ye slaughtered him and Marie Anne.”
“One of but many reasons.”
Arianna found it all hard to believe. Claud had finally done something worthy for his children and it had put a knife at their throats. It also surprised her that he had officially made her their guardian for it was unusual to name a woman one and Claud had never shown any faith in her ability to do much of anything right.
“And for that wee piece of land and a few coins, ye killed your own brother and Marie Anne, and now mean to kill two bairns who have ne’er done ye harm, your own nephews.”
“I told you that I did not kill my brother and his sow.”
“Nay, I believe ye. I believe that ye didnae bloody your own soft hands with the black deed of killing your own brother, but I do believe that ye put the sword in the hands of the ones who did.”
“The DeVeaux ...”
“Have kenned that Claud held that land for years and either didnae, or couldnae, do anything about it. Ye found a way to have it done or conspired with them to do it. Aye, I suspicion ye could stand before the king himself and claim innocence because ye didnae actually do the killing, but ye are guilty right enough. I am nay sure how ye think ye can do the same once ye kill the boys, though, since ye are hunting them down like dogs.”
“We are merely trying to retrieve my brother’s heirs, who were taken from their rightful place by the woman my brother betrayed. We feared for the safety of the children in the hands of that woman and it appears we were right to do so. Sadly, the children were murdered before we could save them.”
The smug tone of his voice, his obvious delight in the plan for how to explain the deaths of Michel and Adelar, chilled Arianna. Amiel did not care about blood at all. All he was concerned with was gaining riches and power, and if he had to start gaining that wealth by stepping over the bodies of two murdered children, he would do so without hesitation.
And, after the murder of the two boys, the rest of the Lucettes who had something Amiel wanted would begin to suffer. Arianna was certain that Amiel intended to reduce the number of landed, titled Lucettes until he was weighted down with their honors. The heirs would be the first to go for he would need to clear the path for himself. He apparently had the intention of being the last Lucette standing. It was a mad plan and one she doubted would work for a rapid decline in heirs to the various Lucette properties would soon draw a lot of attention. Unfortunately, a great many innocent Lucettes could die first.
“And do ye truly believe that the DeVeaux will sit back and allow ye to slowly grow more powerful than they are, to watch ye reap titles and lands until ye are a threat to them?”
“I but seek what Claud would have gained in time, and retrieve those riches which he would have foolishly handed over to ones not worthy of them.”
“Nay, I think ye want more. Much more. After all, ye just said ye were but one of far too many titled Lucettes and ye ally yourself with the deadliest of your kinmen’s enemies. Nay, ye have some mad plan to try and get it all.” She shook her head, forgetting how badly it would hurt to do so, and had to stiffen her stance to remain upright. “It is a plan that can only fail, Amiel. E’en if the king or your own kin dinnae guess the deadly game ye mean to play and stop you, the DeVeaux will.”
“As they all guessed how dear old Claud died?”
“Claud was but one mon. Now ye think to add two wee lads and follow their deaths with many others.”
“At this moment my only concern is for those boys. Where are they?”
“Somewhere where ye will ne’er get your filthy hands on them.”
The blow he struck against her face snapped her head sideways with such force pain shot through her neck. Arianna again steadied herself, holding her legs so taut and straight that they ached, too. She knew Amiel could not allow her to live no matter what the DeVeaux wanted. He had let her see the truth of all his plans. She knew too much now.
“You will tell me where Claud’s whelps are, bitch, or you will suffer.”
Arianna touched her mouth and then looked at the blood on her fingers. She could already feel the swelling in her face, her skin tightening with it. There were very few places on her body that did not already throb with pain from Amiel’s fists and booted feet. She knew it would only get worse because she had no intention of telling him anything. What she wished she could do was fight back, to knock him down and kick him a few times.
Still staring at the blood on her fingers, she suddenly wondered where that spine had been when Claud had battered her with his cruel words. If he had backhanded her even once, she would not have hesitated to leave, undoubtedly making sure that Claud tasted a little pain himself before she walked away. Yet she had allowed him to cut her with words. Claud had found a weakness in her that she had not seen and used it to turn her into a quiet little shadow, one who never fought back, never questioned. She looked at Amiel and saw that same cruelty in him, only Amiel preferred to be more direct in his abuse.
I should have seen it,
Arianna thought.
I should have seen it,
Arianna thought.
“And ’tis a strange time to have an epiphany,” she muttered, knowing there was a very good chance she would not be alive long enough to shake free of the chains Claud had bound her with.
“What did you say?” demanded Amiel.
“Naught that concerns you,” she replied, idly wondering if she had the strength to kick him right in his precious manparts.
“Where are the boys?”
“Why are ye even troubling yourself to ask? Ye ken where they are already, or think ye do. The DeVeaux have sent ye word several times, have they nay?” She almost smiled at the surprise on his face, something he tried to quickly hide from her.
“They have only surmised where they might be. I think you know exactly where they are.”
“And I think ye just wish to pretend that ye have a good reason to beat a lass half your size.”
Even as he moved to strike her, she kicked out, slamming the toe of her booted foot right between his legs. She stumbled back a few steps as she struggled to right herself. Amiel gave a strangled scream, clutched himself, and fell to his knees. Arianna knew she was going to pay dearly for that. All that troubled her was that it had not even given her a chance to try and get to her horse because two of Amiel’s men immediately moved to guard her.
The way Amiel retched and muttered vile curses against her under his breath should have terrified her, Arianna thought. Instead, she moved to kick him again, trying to strike a blow to his head. The men flanking her put a stop to that and she sighed. As Amiel stumbled to his feet, his expression a twisted grimace of pain and fury, she knew that even threatening him with the anger of the DeVeaux would not stop him from beating her to death now.
When Amiel swung his fist at her it hit her hard enough to send her staggering into one of the men guarding her. She cursed the man for that as it kept her upright and made it easier for Amiel to keep pummeling her. When the man finally moved, if only to get out of the way of Amiel’s flailing fists, she fell to the ground and braced herself for the hard kicks she knew would come next.
Instead, a heated argument ensued. She was fighting unconsciousness so fiercely that she caught only a few words, but Lord Ignace DeVeaux was mentioned several times. It was strange that the man’s name was not enough to terrify Amiel out of his rage, and she had to wonder if they were being chased by the winemaker and not the torturer. The men were still trying to remind Amiel yet again of his obligations, but she knew they would fail. She had seen her death in Amiel’s eyes.
She struggled up onto her hands and knees, and she prayed that Brian had returned for her and was, even now, coming to rescue her. It was the only hope she had of surviving.
Chapter 13
“Easy, lad. Ye cannae just ride o’er them,” Sigimor said as he grabbed the reins of Brian’s mount to halt his cousin’s attempt to gallop off.
Brian nearly yanked the reins back but good sense pierced his fury. Sigimor was right, although he would prefer to cut out his own tongue before telling his cousin that. Fergus’s report of what was happening to Arianna but a short ride away had blinded him with fury. He was also angry with himself for attempting to charge over the land with nothing but his fear for Arianna to lead him. It was only Sigimor’s calm leadership that had kept him on the right trail.
From the moment she had been taken, he had had to struggle fiercely against the fear for her and the fury against himself for not keeping her safe. Worse, there had been no sign that it had been a carefully planned attack. Lucette and his men had simply stumbled upon the prize they had been scouring Scotland for. Brian could not help but take the blame for that upon his shoulders. He had known Lucette was out there somewhere, that the man had too much knowledge about the places Arianna might go to seek safety, and he should have taken more care with her.
“How long do ye intend to wear that hair shirt?” asked Sigimor even as he signaled his men to dismount and secure the horses.
“I should have stayed with her,” Brian said as he dismounted and tugged his mount deeper into the shadows of the trees, securing the reins to a low-hanging branch. “I kenned that Lucette was aware of where Arianna might run to yet I left her to try to see exactly where the fool was. I kenned he was on the same trail. I didnae need to see that with my own eyes.”
“Nay, ye did. He might ken where she will go but he doesnae ken the exact path or even have to take it.”
“Nay, it didnae matter. Since they were nay anywhere in sight or riding up our arses, I could have let it be.”
“Nay, ye couldnae have and ye will ken it when ye clear your wee head. Hold,” he snapped when Brian opened his mouth to continue the argument. “Someone approaches,” Sigimor said, and drew his sword. “One. Coming slowly. Hide.”
Brian joined the others in slipping silently into the shadows. A man rode into the small clearing where they had all stood but a heartbeat before and Brian immediately recognized him as Sir Anton, one of Lucette’s men. Staying close to his cousin, he stepped out into the clearing while Sigimor swiftly snatched the reins from the surprised man’s hands and held a sword on him.
Sir Anton slowly raised his arms. “I am not your enemy,” he said.
“Nay? I saw ye with Lucette,” said Brian. “Ye ride with the pig. Has he sent ye to watch for us?”
“No. The fool, he does not think to look for anyone to follow or hunt for the Lady Arianna. He holds the same blind contempt for the lady as his brother did, and for all who live in this country. I but try to make my way home.”
“Ye are leaving his service?”
“I was never in his service. I was asked by the Lady DeVeau to join them on this journey and one does not refuse the DeVeaux, not if one is married to one of their women. I intend to get home now. I will collect my family and retire to the lands my father holds. I am nay sure I will be in danger but I am thinking the Lady DeVeau is as bad as so many others in that family.”
“It might help if ye stop bleeding first,” said Sigimor. “Anger your fool of a laird, did ye?”
Sir Anton frowned at Sigimor for a moment and then said, “Ah, you speak of Lucette.
Oui,
I angered him. I did not like what was being done to the woman, to the Lady Arianna. I had not understood all that was planned when I began this journey. I was standing on the shore of this land before I knew the truth.” He shrugged and then winced. “I was believing I was trapped but I change my mind. I think they will all die here and that means I can leave.”
Oui,
I angered him. I did not like what was being done to the woman, to the Lady Arianna. I had not understood all that was planned when I began this journey. I was standing on the shore of this land before I knew the truth.” He shrugged and then winced. “I was believing I was trapped but I change my mind. I think they will all die here and that means I can leave.”
“Get down. We will bind that wound and I will tell ye how to get to a ship.”
“This is most kind of you.” Sir Anton started to dismount and faltered, requiring Sigimor’s aid. “You are most kind, sir. I am thinking I chose the right time to leave this place. I am right,
oui
? You will kill them all?”
oui
? You will kill them all?”
As Sigimor tended to the dagger slash on the man’s side, he said, “I believe my cousin here wants Lucette dead but, if the others fight, they will die, too.”
“Lucette is not a man any will grieve for. Not even his mother, I think.”
“What were they doing to the Lady Arianna?” demanded Brian, praying the man would say something to prove Fergus was mistaken in what he had seen.
“Beating the truth out of her.”
“Stand back, Brian,” ordered Sigimor. “Ye are scaring the mon.”
Brian abruptly noticed that he was looming over the man, his sword pointing at Sir Anton’s throat. He slowly stepped back and sheathed his sword. There was no question in his mind that the man spoke the truth, that Sir Anton was no more than a man who found himself caught up in something he did not approve of and was trying to get out of it.
“Tell me what made ye risk your life and stand against Lucette and the DeVeaux,” he demanded.
“First I am refusing to kick the Lady Arianna when she is unconscious on the floor,” Sir Anton replied. “Then I make a complaint when Lucette keeps slapping her even when she had no chance to answer the question he asked. I see that he likes it,
oui
? He is much liking the causing of her pain. He stabbed me. Then I begin to realize he means to kill the two boys when he gets them and I did not come here to slaughter children. He means to kill the woman, too. I walked away for I now understand and will have no more part of this. I will go home now. I will pray that this ends it and none return to tell of how I walked away. I do not wish to die for this travesty.” He moved to remount, his movement somewhat more graceful now that his wound had been tended to. “They are not far ahead of you.”
oui
? He is much liking the causing of her pain. He stabbed me. Then I begin to realize he means to kill the two boys when he gets them and I did not come here to slaughter children. He means to kill the woman, too. I walked away for I now understand and will have no more part of this. I will go home now. I will pray that this ends it and none return to tell of how I walked away. I do not wish to die for this travesty.” He moved to remount, his movement somewhat more graceful now that his wound had been tended to. “They are not far ahead of you.”
“We ken it,” said Sigimor, and then told the man how to reach a port and a ship home. “Get your wife and bairns and get as far from the DeVeaux as ye can. The ones here willnae be going home and that might irritate their kin. Ye dinnae want to be close at hand when they hear the news. And there is also the chance that Lady Arianna’s kinsmen will nay be pleased with how she has been treated and look for some revenge. Ye truly dinnae want to get caught in that.”
Brian watched Sir Anton ride away and then looked at Sigimor. “Why did ye help him?”
“Mon needed it,” replied Sigimor. “’Tis easy for the ones with nay power to get pulled into things they dinnae want to do by the ones who hold the power. Sir Anton finally found the spine to risk his life to say nay and then to walk away. Didnae seem right to cut his throat. Now, let us go and get your lady.”
“They are beating her, Sigimor,” Brian whispered, fighting the urge to run to where they held Arianna. Only the knowledge that such a rash act could get her killed held him back.
“Aye. Fergus told us that but, mayhap, ye needed it said again, aye?” Sigimor slapped him on the back. “Rein yourself in, lad. Now ye have had two people tell ye she is still alive and verra close at hand.”
As his cousin silently directed his men toward where Lucette and his men were holding Arianna, Brian wondered why he had no urge to lead. This was his battle. He had taken on the duty of protecting her. She had been taken while in his care. The lead in any attempt to rescue should be his place.
He immediately told himself not to be a fool. Sigimor was good, as good as anyone in the MacFingal clan. It was a wise choice for Sigimor to lead them because he could keep calm no matter what they saw, no matter what they found. The emotions churning inside him told Brian that he was not fit to lead anyone anywhere at the moment. It would take but one look at an injured Arianna to make him act recklessly, to have him thinking of nothing else but the need to get to her and cut down any man hurting her.
Slipping through the trees and shadows as silently as his cousins, Brian struggled to firmly leash his fear for Arianna. Cold blood and a clear head were needed to successfully rout an enemy. It was even more important when rescuing someone, for unthinking, blind rage could easily get the captive one was trying to rescue killed instead of freed. Brian silently swore to himself that, even if they did not get Lucette and all his men this time, he would be satisfied by simply freeing Arianna. He could make the ones who hurt her pay dearly later.
Sigimor halted and grabbed Brian by the arm when he stepped up next to him. A heartbeat later Brian understood why his cousin felt there was a need to restrain him. Arianna was on her hands and knees, struggling to stand up. Lucette stood over her, his hands clenched into fists as his men argued with him. Brian did not need to see bruises or blood to know that Arianna was hurt. It was clear in the way she moved. He clutched his sword so tightly the carvings on the hilt dug into his hand as he fought to maintain the cold calm he needed now.
“The lass ought to just stay down,” whispered Sigimor as he signaled his men to begin encircling Lucette and his men. “I think it best if ye and I run straight for her as all the others are verra close to the horses. They see us coming for them and they will try to run. We want to be verra sure that they dinnae take your lass with them.”
Brian forced himself to study Lucette’s men. They were all close to the horses. He wondered if they were thinking of deserting Lucette as Sir Anton had done.
Looking at Arianna again, Brian trembled from the strain of fighting the urge to immediately race toward Lucette and cut the man down. She was conscious. If she knew they were about to rescue her she might be able to do something to help them keep her out of Lucette’s hands until they could free her. Watching her struggle, knowing she was hurting, made waiting to act a pure torture for him.
“If she turns to face us,” Brian whispered to Sigimor, “I will show myself. I believe all eyes will be on her then, too.”
“Ah, and then she might be able to keep herself from being grabbed.” Sigimor nodded and pulled a dagger from the sheath at his hip. “Then we only need to be close enough to hurl one of these at anyone who tries to take her when they all bolt for their horses.”
“Aye, which they will do the moment they see us, curse their eyes. I doubt they will stand and fight.”
“Getting your lass away from them is all that is important now.”
“I ken it. Your men are ready?”
“Aye, they but await my signal.”
Recalling that Sigimor’s signal was a battle cry that could shake the walls of any keep, Brian almost smiled. He crouched beside Sigimor watching Arianna struggle and trying to will her to her feet facing his way. If she did not see him when he stood up, he would not hesitate to yell at her to run. His heart broke when she finally got to her feet and lifted her head. Her pretty face was battered and bleeding.
He stood up, Sigimor rising to his feet at his side. Arianna’s eyes looked swollen and he feared she could not see him. Brian glanced at Sigimor and his cousin nodded.
“Run, Arianna!” he yelled, and a heartbeat later Sigimor bellowed out his war cry.
To Brian’s relief Arianna lurched away from Lucette. Lucette started to go after her but then jerked to a halt when Sigimor’s cry tore through the air. The man stared at Brian and Sigimor in horror and then bolted for the horses his men were already scrambling to mount. Brian started after Lucette but knew he would never catch the man. He drew his knife and hurled it. A scream erupted from Lucette as the blade buried itself deep into the man’s shoulder, but fear gave the man the strength to still mount his horse and gallop away.
Brian turned away from the confusing melee and hurried toward Arianna. She had not gone far before collapsing on the ground. She was just struggling to get up again when he reached her side.
Arianna cursed her weakness as she fought to get back on her feet. All around her she could hear the sound of running feet and then the pounding of horses galloping away. There were only a few cries of pain and a brief moment of the ringing of steel upon steel. The sound of Brian’s voice telling her to run had been the sweetest sound she had ever heard, but that had not been enough to give her the strength to go very far. She could only hope that she had gotten herself far enough not to hinder what sounded like the rescue she had been praying for.
Out of the corner of her swollen eyes she saw hands reaching for her and tried to crawl away.
“Arianna, ’tis I. Brian.”
She stopped and clumsily sat down. “Brian?”
“Aye, love.”
“Are they gone? Did ye kill him?”
“Nay, I fear Lucette escaped but he rode away with my dagger buried deep in his shoulder. Unless he suffers a putrefaction of the wound, however, it wasnae a mortal blow.”
“Ah, weel, at least it will hurt him.”
Brian blinked away the tears that stung his eyes as he looked her over. Her eyes were nearly swollen shut, her lips also swollen and cut, and blood dripped slowly from a wound on her forehead. The way she swayed and trembled told him that she was very close to unconsciousness. He did not know where or how to touch her, afraid to add to the pain she was in.
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