Page 57

The Laird MacLaren, along with thirty of his finest men rode quickly throughout the night.

While he was unsure of exactly all of the details, it seemed obvious from what little Durell had disclosed that Ennis was taking the women in a northerly direction.

He was gravely concerned especially since there had been no demand for any type of ransom. The he knew of, anyway.

"You bastard! I always considered you my brother! How could you do this to us?"

It was a cold and foggy morn when he and his men crested the final hill that brought him to the gates of the Chattan.

He hoped and he prayed that Iver still had control especially since he had not stopped to inquire of anyone.

Nor, had he sent any riders ahead to announce their arrival.

In times such as these, he knew he could not trust of anyone's word knowing it was clear in the north the uncertainties ran rampant.

When the bowmen high upon the wall drew their weaponry in ready, it was only then the Laird MacLaren pulled up his steed and shouted into the distance.

"We are of the MacLaren! The Laird Iver or Donnan…are they currently here? We need to speak to them urgently!"

It was not long after the shouts died down announcing their arrival when the laird's party heard the heavy strain as the great drawbridge began to lower.

It could not move fast enough for the laird and he was anxious to be granted access.

When the other side of the aged platform was finally visible, his eyes moved quickly beyond it.

"Oh, thank God!"

The laird could see both of the clansmen seated upon their steeds along with many around them. The two sides rushed forward and when they drew near it was the Laird MacLaren once again who spoke.

"My laird, have you seen my daughters? Has any inquiry been made or ransom been demanded?"

When Iver sat upon his stallion on the other side of the gate and spied the men of the MacLaren, never when they met would he have thought those would be the words that came from his father-in-law's lips.

A fear like no other rushed through his body as he looked quickly towards Donnan who was seated at his right.

"Gwyn and Enya? What would they be doing here? I gave strict instructions they were to stay with you until we could summon them. We know nothing of them. Please slow down and tell us all that you know."

The Laird MacLaren immediately closed his eyes as a dreaded feeling quickly consumed his body.

"I had hoped and I had prayed. I must share with you they have been taken from us.

It was my brother-in-law Ennis who deceived us all.

He took Durell and my two daughters and they stole away from the keep one day well over a fortnight ago.

From what I was told, they willingly went because he told them falsely that our keep was under attack.

He then told them he had been instructed to take them all northward to be under your protection.

That bastard! He must have thought they would just willingly follow without question. "

Iver looked quickly at Donnan feeling as if he had just taken a full blow to his guts. He could barely breathe.

It was the laird who continued when he spied the devastation upon the two men's faces.

"Gwyn must have sensed something was wrong. On that first night after Enya was injured-"

"Enya injured?"

It was a strangled cry that came from Donnan when he spoke for the first time.

"Yes, when she dismounted on that first night, she fell and her steed stepped on her leg. Durell assured me it did not appear to be broken, but Gwyn shared because of this, she could only allow my son to make his escape. She chose to stay behind and watch over her sister."

The laird could not quite make out their exact expressions but if he had to guess, it was a mixture of both rage and dread.

"Durell made the journey home all alone and told us everything he knew which unfortunately, was not much. And since we have had no communication from them, we had only hoped they had made their way successfully north and been brought here."

When the Laird MacLaren was simply met with blank stares, he continued.

"Shite! My hope was that there had been some type of a demand for ransom. At least then, we would know that they were somewhere near."