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“It is how she commands the wolves and other animals, you fool,” a man called out.

Slayer had not given thought to that and wondered if it was the reason for her strange abilities with animals.

“We head home,” the man commanded. “Get her on my horse.”

“Let her walk,” someone called out.

“She will slow us down with that limp,” another said.

“I did not ask your thoughts on it,” the man said with a snarl. “Now do as I command.”

Slayer did not like that his wife would ride on a horse with the man, but it was better she did. Her injured ankle would only get worse and then there was the bairn to consider. He hoped whether it was a son or daughter who nestled within her that he or she would continue to fight and survive.

“Halfdan will be pleased that we have been successful in finding her.”

“We have yet to reach home.”

“Once we join the other two troops no one will be able to stop us.”

Slayer listened, glad to hear what the men were saying as they rode away. He knew who Halfdan was, Chieftain of Clan Scylding. A clan to the north comprised of a mixture of Northmen and Scots that settled there after raids from the north stopped. Slayer’s father traded with him from time to time and he wondered if the old chieftain had anything to do with his father and brother’s deaths.

When the men and horses could be heard no more, Slayer attempted to leave the cave, but the wolves growled and would not budge. So, he waited, trusting them. Only a short time later, he heard two voices.

“I told you no one else is in that cave. Come on, let us go. I do not trust those wolves even from high up here in the trees. Let us get to our horses and get out of here.”

Slayer remained where he was until the wolves moved, then he cautiously left the cave and made his way back toward the ravine, hoping to meet his warriors on the way. He did not need anyone to track his wife. He knew where they were headed. Besides, he knew the wolves would follow her, leaving their tracks for him to follow.

* * *

Slayer was pleasedwhen it wasn’t long before he spotted his men and joined them. It also pleased him to hear that Lester’s wound had been tended to and he had been taken to the village. Whether he would survive was still unknown. He returned to the top of the cliff where Olin and the other two men were being held. He was already forming a plan in his mind on how he would rescue his wife. He did not know if Olin had any more information that might help his plan, but he intended to find out.

Once he was done with that, he would return to the keep and set his plan in motion and be ready to leave at dawn tomorrow. He wanted to follow now, not wait, but that would not be wise. He needed the Gallowglass with him. He needed to ensure victory.

Angus approached Slayer as he headed toward Olin. “I see the other two men are gone. I assume you discovered that they were just as responsible for Clyde’s death as Iver?”

“I did and they wait to go to the Gallowglass compound to meet the same death Clyde was made to suffer and where there will be no lack of volunteers to take part in their punishment and death.”

“You did well, Angus. Clyde would be pleased that the Gallowglass revenged his death, though the one who delivered the final blow has yet to meet his fate,” Slayer said, intending to find out who the culprit was and see to the man himself.

“As soon as you give the word, my lord, I will send them off to get what they deserve,” Angus said.

“First, I need to know one thing from them, then you can take them away,” Slayer said, and Angus followed alongside him to the three men. He stopped in front of the two men, their heads tilting back to look up at him, their faces bloodied and bruised. “Tell me about the man who delivered the final blow to the vicious attack on the Gallowglass warrior.”

“He was a big, wide man” one man said without hesitation in an effort to save himself.

The other man spoke up just as eagerly. “He had a few old scars on his face, and he had long gray hair.”

The man who had spoken first shuddered. “He was an evil looking one, snarling and snapping like a dog.”

“I have heard enough. Take them away,” Slayer ordered.

“He tried to poison one of your hounds,” one of the two men called out when Slayer turned away from them.

Slayer turned back.

“I did not,” the other man protested. “He did. He thought it a funny thing to do, killing the hound of the mighty Gallowglass warrior.”

“Nay! Nay! It was him,” said the other man with a nod to his cohort. “He thought it would make you look like a fool that you could not protect your hound.”