Loki (21 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Loki would kill the rat bastard for touching his Bella. A loud growl erupted from him and he dove at Hamish, throwing three punches at the man’s face before he could react. Hamish swung his leg out, catching the back of Loki’s knees and dropping him to the ground with a roar. He punched Loki in the belly twice before he was able to roll away.

Blood ran down Hamish’s face, and to Loki’s disgust, the animal actually licked it and smirked as he hopped back onto his feet. The two circled one another, Hamish taunting Loki, Loki refusing to respond. Taking the older man totally by surprise, Loki flipped onto his hands and hit him hard in the chest with both feet before he landed upright again. He then pounced on him and pummeled his face. After throwing two punches to the man’s belly, Loki grabbed him by the throat, swearing to choke the life out of him. Just then, Hamish kicked him square in the ballocks, bringing him to his knees. Hamish had to fight to get back to his feet, gagging to regain his wind, while Loki fought the sheer pain of the blow. Just as he made it to his feet again, Hector tossed his sword at Hamish.

“A sword against an unarmed man? Fair contest, aye?” Loki blew the hair out of his eyes and fought to level his breathing, reminding himself that being in control was more important than having the most powerful weapon. His sire and his uncle had taught him well, and he would be victorious. Uncle Alex had often told him that all his training could ultimately be for only one fight, but that fight would mean life or death for him or a loved one. How true his words were.

Hamish swung the sword over his head and heaved it toward Loki’s middle, but he easily spun away, causing the older man to stumble. Taking several steps away, Loki tried to come up with a plan to best the sword. But there was no need. Logan appeared behind him on his horse and tossed him a sword.

Satisfaction crossed his face as the cold hard hilt of the sword rubbed against the calluses of his hands. This was his sword—the sword crafted by Brodie Grant for his son. He swung the weapon a couple of times away from Hamish to get the feel of it again, then he waited for the lout to move toward him. Patience, Uncle Alex had often told him—patience, skill, and brute strength would always win the day.

Hamish moved his one hand, a move Loki had been trained to watch for, something that meant a warrior was about to switch his grip. At the exact moment when Hamish changed hands, Loki swung his sword in a wide arc, a move he’d practiced many times. But this time was different, for this time his swing was fueled with hatred for the man who’d mistreated his mother and with fury for the man who’d dared touch his wife.

Throwing his entire body behind the force of the arc, he caught Hamish in the arm first, causing blood to shoot up from his body, then buried the sword deep into his belly.

Hamish’s eyes turned dull as he crumpled to the ground, clutching for something—anything—to avoid the fate he’d sought. Instead, the life force drained from every part of him. “Wise-arse bastard.”

Loki grabbed the hilt of the sword and twisted it, forcing an eerie sound from Hamish’s throat. “Rat bastard. This is from the wee lad you left in the forest alone to die.”

He turned to the earl and whispered, “Let. Her. Go.”

The earl shoved Bella toward Loki, grabbed the coin, and raced back toward the portcullis.

He ran toward the gate screaming, “Close the gate once I’m in and the archer is out!”

***

It had been torture enough for that awful man to hold a knife to her throat while her husband was in a fight-to-the-death with that brute. But Loki had prevailed. For a moment, she had allowed herself to hope they’d survive. Then the earl shoved her away and ran toward the keep—and Loki took off after him. “Nay, Loki! The archer has instructions to kill us both. Let him go!”

Loki continued to run until he caught up to Blackett and grabbed him from behind. He tossed the sack of coins over his shoulder as if they were oatcakes full of air, then leaped toward the earl, his fist wrenched back over his shoulder, ready to deliver the blow.

“Nay, Loki,” Bella screamed. “He’ll kill us both! He’s coming our way.” There he was, riding from inside the bailey, now in a full gallop.

Bella turned to face the Grant force behind her, unable to comprehend why they were not moving. They simply sat their horses in place and watched. She wanted to slap each one until they listened to her. Her throat had almost closed in fear, but she managed to holler to Brodie Grant. “Please, I overheard them. The archer has instructions to kill us both.”

Blackett’s guards began to slowly close the gate as Blackett approached the opening, but Loki yanked him back and punched his face with enough force to throw him to the ground. The guards rushed down the staircase to assist him, leaving the gate open, but a wee lad popped out of nowhere and pelted their heads with rocks from behind, making them tumble head over arse to the ground.

Blackett scrambled to get up, but the archer bore down on them, riding his horse toward the gate with a mask on, his bow out and his arrow almost nocked. “Kill them now! What are you waiting for? You have your instructions!”

Bella gave one last heart-wrenching scream as the archer came closer, almost upon them. “Help us! He’ll kill us both! Please stop him.”

Loki took out his knife and stabbed the earl in the chest just as the archer turned his arrow toward them. Bella threw herself at her husband, screaming, “Naaay!” when the archer suddenly changed his direction and shot the arrow toward the curtain wall, taking out the last guard left by the portcullis.

Bella ran at the archer and tugged on his leg, trying to unhorse him, scrapping and swinging with all her strength, tears flooding her cheeks and yelling, “Leave him be, leave him be.”

A warm pair of strong arms picked her up by the waist and tugged her back. “Bella, Bella, ‘tis all right.” It was her husband, alive and well. “That archer is my cousin, Torrian.”

“What?” Bella’s entire body locked up, unsure what to think or say. “He’s your cousin?” She glanced up, suddenly realizing Torrian Ramsay was indeed on the horse.

“Aye, Bella. He was part of the plan all along. Torrian was to get on the inside to replace their archer. Kenzie helped him get inside with Uncle Logan. They took the archer out and Torrian stood in his place after the earl and his men left for the gate with you.”

Bella’s head exploded in a fireball of emotion, taking her breath from her, but she regained enough of it to turn around and shove at Loki’s chest. “You knew ‘twas him, and you did not tell me? Why did you not tell me?” She pushed him again, using enough pent-up power to cause him to stumble.

He never let go of her. “Bella, how could I tell you when you were imprisoned on the inside? Kenzie told you to trust me, did he not? He did not have time to leave a detailed message.”

She moved to shove him again, but at the last minute she threw her hands around her husband’s neck instead and started to sob.

Loki whispered in her ear, “Sweet Bella. I’ll never let you go. You know that, do you not? You know I love you.”

She pulled back without releasing her death grip on his shoulders, “You planned this all along? This was the way it was supposed to happen?”

Torrian ripped his mask off. “Sorry, Bella. I did not mean to frighten you.”

Brodie Grant pulled his horse up beside him, cleared his throat, then answered, “No’ exactly that way it was meant to go, was it, lad?”

Logan and Gwyneth joined them next. “Nay, but I did enjoy the show you put on,” Logan said. “I was almost ready to signal to Gwyneth to kill the fool when he kicked you in the ballocks, but you held up well. I did not wish to take away your glory moment, and you seemed to be handling yourself.”

Bella pulled back to glare at Loki again. “Did you have to fight the man, husband? I thought he would spear your innards several times. You could have ignored him.”

“Bella, he touched you. I vowed to protect you and I did.” He forced her gaze up to his. “I said I’d protect you, did I not?”

Her face erupted in tears again and she collapsed against him, her arms around his waist and her face buried in his chest.

Alex, still on horseback, waved his hand to two score of his guards and sent them inside the curtain wall to manage the rest of the earl’s guards, then rode up to Loki’s side without saying a word.

Loki glanced first at his father, then at Alex. “My apologies, my laird. Seems I lost my temper when the rat bastard touched my wife.”

Alex gave a rare smirk. “Aye, you do not like anyone touching Bella.” Midnight snorted and pranced a bit around the two. “I must admit ‘twas a fine show you put on for all of us.”

“Seems we’ve taught the lad a thing or two over the years, Alex,” Brodie said with a smirk.

Bella peered up at her husband, just realizing what he’d done for her. He’d fought for her honor, like any knight would do. She leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered, “Many thanks for rescuing me, husband.”

Loki locked gazes with her and said, “If you promise never to run off alone, I’ll promise never to fight in front of you like that.”

She scowled, but nodded. “My apologies, but you left me again.”

Wee Kenzie barreled over toward them. “Did I do good? Did I do what I was supposed to do, my laird?”

Torrian reached a hand down to pat Kenzie on his shoulder. “Aye, you did a fine job with the guards on the wall, lad, and getting us inside.”

The laddie’s shoulders straightened as he glanced at Brodie and Alex. “My laird, will you keep me in your clan? May I still go to the Highlands with you?”

Bella said, “Loki, we’re bringing him home with us?”

“Aye. You know he reminds me of someone.” He ran his fingers through the curls in her hair. “Does this please you?”

“Aye, I want him to come home with us. He can live with us if he prefers.”

“Aye, Kenzie,” Alex said. “We’d be most pleased to have you along. You did a fine job. As did Loki.”

“I did, did I not? Och, and guess what I found? They tried to hide it in the hall, so as soon as they left, I took it.” Kenzie pulled out a small velvet bag from inside his tunic. “I wonder what’s inside.”

Loki held his hand out and said, “Dump it out.”

Kenzie pulled on the ties and opened the bag. Peering inside, he shouted, “Saints above. Look!” He tipped the bag sideways and a line of jewels fell into the palm of Loki’s hand. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

“Look, Gwynie,” Logan said. “Kenzie found the king’s missing jewels.”

Bella stopped crying long enough to stare at the gemstones. “Oh my.”

Kenzie shook the bag and said, “Wait, there’s one more item in here.” Out tumbled a ring with a square ruby in the center and a small diamond on each side.

Logan said, “A wedding ring, just as I’ve always promised you, Gwynie.”

Gwyneth snorted. “What would I do with a gem like that? It would get in the way of my archery, though it is quite handsome. I think the king should present it as a gift to Bella for all she’s been through.”

Bella gasped as she stared at the stones in Loki’s hand.

Loki kissed her cheek. “Would this make up for all you’ve been through, lass?”

Clinging to him, she shook her head. “Nay, I do not like to watch you fight like that. I was so frightened.” It was all over, but she had difficulty accepting that fact.

Loki returned the stones to Kenzie’s velvet sack. “Well done, lad. We’ll send it with Logan to return to King Alexander. It would seem Blackett did not only try to steal from us.” He caressed Bella’s neck as the men continued their conversation.

“Loki, ‘twas some fine swordplay you demonstrated,” Alex said. “You made me mighty proud to have you in our clan. Mayhap you’ll be the best swordsman of your generation, and you can take the title from me.”

“Nay!” Bella wailed without thinking, then collected herself enough to say, “My apologies, my laird, but please do not make him fight like that. I cannot handle it.”

Loki tugged her closer, kissing her forehead. “I doubt you’ll ever be put in such a position again, wife. ‘Tis over.”

“Brodie, settle the guards inside, make sure all is calm here, then head home. I’ll take a group to the Ramsays, then we’ll battle the weather behind you. Is there aught else you need to do, Loki?”

“Actually, I’d like to take my wife to the tavern. We’ll spend the night, fill our bellies, then head back in a day or two, if you agree.”

“Aye, I’d like a warm bath, and I have not slept at all. ‘Twas terribly cold, and I’ve had verra little to eat.”

Logan added, “And we know the lass loves to eat, do we not, Torrian?”

Bella hid her face again as her face turned pink, but then she announced, “I think I deserve it this time.”

“Aye, you do, lass,” Torrian said.

Alex glanced at Brodie. “Do you agree, brother?” One of the guards retrieved the bag of coins and handed it to Alex, who gave some coins to Loki. “If so, I’ll leave three guards to travel with them.”

Brodie gave Bella a sympathetic look. “Aye, Loki, take her to the inn so she can enjoy a warm bath. The two of you could use a good night’s sleep before you travel. ‘Twill not be an easy trek through the mountains this time of year. Do you want us to take Kenzie with us?”