Page 41 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance (Highland Revenge Trilogy #3)

S now lashed at their faces like a thousand tiny blades.

The world beyond Ryland’s cloak was a white blur, shifting and howling, as if the storm itself were hunting them.

Esme clung tightly to him, her arm looped around his waist, her cheek pressed to his chest. Her body shivered violently, and he tightened his hold on her, one arm wrapped around her, leaving the other free in case he needed to draw his sword.

He leaned his head down for her to hear him. “We need to find shelter.”

“Or get to the village,” Esme said. “We have walked for a while, maybe we’re close.”

Snow battered them from all sides, the wind howling like a wounded beast.

Ryland gripped Esme tightly, fearful he would lose her to the blinding snow. “It’s impossible to know direction.”

“Then it would be the same for the mercenaries,” Esme said with a shred of hope.

“Unless they knew the area, knew where to go,” Ryland said, halting in his tracks and spotting a large stone formation. He headed for it.

It was a cluster of huge boulders, forming a small cave and he hurried Esme into it, following behind her. It was only big enough for them to sit huddled together, but at least they were out of the raging snowstorm.

Ryland tucked a shivering Esme close to him, wrapping his cloak around them both.

“What you said about the mercenaries knowing where to look for us would suggest they were told where we went,” Esme said, grateful for what heat their entwined bodies provided.

“Aye, my thought as well,” Ryland agreed.

“The only ones who knew were Breann and Patrick.”

“And the woman who Breann had deliver the message to Patrick,” he reminded.

“Then whoever wants us dead has hired mercenaries to help besides those who believe Clan Glencairn would be better off without Torrance.”

“Which means he has coins to see it done or…”

“Or what?” Esme asked when he didn’t finish.

“Or somehow Torrance made enemies of them and what they want is revenge.”

Esme shook her head. “It seems revenge looms large in this matter, and I wonder if it is harbored in the secret as well.”

Silence fell between them, and they sat huddled, Ryland stroking Esme’s back in hopes that it would keep warmth running through her. It must have worked since her head slowly came to rest on his chest in sleep.

He kept alert, knowing they could not stay here.

They would have to keep moving or chance freezing.

He wanted to get to the village. It wasn’t that far.

He remembered seeing the rock formation on his way here.

And while time can blur when walking in a snowstorm, Esme had been right.

They had been walking for quite a while.

If only the snowfall would ease, giving them a chance to find their way to the village.

The cold was creeping into his bones which meant they would have to leave soon, get movement back into their limbs. For a moment, just a moment, he rested his head atop hers, exhaustion finally taking its toll and unexpectedly fell asleep.

Ryland woke with a start silently cursing himself for dozing off and giving Esme a slight shake to make sure she stirred, and she did. He sighed with relief, and hearing his quiet sigh, realized the snowstorm wasn’t howling.

He shook Esme a bit harder. “Wake up, Esme. The storm has eased.”

He didn’t know how long they had slept, though it was still night, but the snow was now a mere trickle.

Esme rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “I cannot believe I slept.”

Ryland smiled and gave her a squeeze. “The coupling we did just before rushing into a snowstorm might have had something to do with it.”

She returned his smile. “It has been a memorable night thus far, and I cannot believe I am saying this, but I look forward to my confinement in the cottage at Purdom. Though,” she said, her voice firm. “I will need food.” Her grumbling stomach confirmed that.

“You have my word on it,” he said. “Now it’s time we get out of here in case the storm should intensify again.”

Ryland went first, looking around to make sure no one was in sight, then he helped Esme out.

“There is enough of the half-moon’s light to help us find our way,” he said, taking her hand. “And we will not be staying long at the village. We return home where I can keep you safe. We are too vulnerable here.”

“We must stay long enough to find out what we can about your mother,” Esme reminded.

The distinct crack of a branch halted them both and Ryland eased Esme behind him, his other hand ready to draw his sword until he spotted the person on the horse and more men behind him.

“Finally, I feared the snowstorm, or the mercenaries got you,” Brack said, relief in his eyes and annoyance in his voice.

“You cannot leave without telling me where you go or without protection, and she—” He nodded at Esme.

“Needs to be punished for disobeying you and her selfish act that could have cost you your life.”

“Watch your tongue, Brack,” Ryland warned taking on the commanding persona of Torrance. “I and no other decides my wife’s fate. Is that clear?”

“Aye, my lord, but?—”

“Did I not make myself clear, Brack? Do I need to shout it in your face?” Torrance snarled.

“Nay, my lord,” Brack said with a bob of his head.

“Esme will ride with me back to the village. We will talk after I see her settled and fed,” Torrance said in a tone that left no room for anyone to challenge him for reversing his previous orders that she get nothing but bread and water until he said otherwise. But now, he was saying otherwise.

Brack waved his hand and Torrance’s stallion was brought forward.

Torrance looked from the stallion to Brack. “It is good you had enough confidence in me that you brought my stallion. Otherwise, I would have questioned your loyalty.”

“Never would I be disloyal to you, my lord.”

“What I like to hear,” Torrance said, the annoyance still noticeable in Brack’s voice.

Esme didn’t say a word until she was in Ryland’s arms on the horse, then she whispered, “Friends are foes and foes are friends.”

Ryland nodded at her reminder and held her close.

Ryland walked to the meeting house, two warriors following him and several warriors stationed throughout the village.

He had waited until food was brought to Esme to make sure he kept his promise that she would get fed and only then did he take his leave.

But first he kissed her, a slow and easy kiss.

He smiled as he licked his lips, the faint taste of the generous honey she had spread on her bread and eaten just before he had kissed her still lingering there.

He entered the meeting house to find Brack there alone, sitting at a table close to the firepit.

Brack stood as soon as he spotted Torrance and only sat after Torrance did.

Torrance took a strong breath, needing to make sure he spoke as Torrance would and that would be with annoyance or full-fledged anger. He chose annoyance since it might grow into full-fledged anger.

“How did you know mercenaries were in the area and that they knew where I might be?”

“They were spotted in the woods by a sentinel, four of them, taking a respite before continuing their mission. The sentinel heard a few words the mercenaries exchanged between themselves that this time they would catch Torrance unaware.”

“And how did you come to learn where Esme and I were?”

“I wouldn’t have needed to learn that if you made me aware of your intentions,” Brack said unable to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

“That’s not what I asked,” Torrance snapped, his eyes sparking with anger.

Brack took a breath, then spoke. “I gathered the villagers and threatened them if someone did not step forward and tell me where you went. They were silent at first until I warned that I’d start using a lash on the lot of them until someone spoke up.

A woman stepped forward and told me that she delivered a message to Patrick that Breann had given her from Esme and it was to go Lord Torrance.

Patrick was the most forthcoming with information since I left him no choice.

By then the snowstorm had worsened and I couldn’t search for you.

Once it did, I came looking for you. Why did Lady Esme go see a woman who is believed to be a witch? ”

“That doesn’t concern you,” Torrance warned with a heated glance.

“I cannot keep you safe if you keep me in the dark,” Brack argued, frustrated.

“There are some things I trust to no one.”

“You always trusted me,” Brack insisted. “What has changed that?”

“Nothing,” Torrance snapped.

“Then why not confide in me and let me help you as I have always done.”

“Aye, you have supported everything I have ever done without question.”

“Of course I have. It is my purpose to do so. Your father made that clear enough to me when he appointed me your counsel. He knew I could be trusted.”

“How did he know that?”

Brack’s eyes narrowed. “Do you forget my uncle was your father’s righthand man?”

“That doesn’t answer why you were chosen,” Torrance said, Ryland, not having known that.

“I cannot say for sure. My uncle suggested it and your father agreed, understanding I would always, like my uncle before me, be a loyal servant to Clan Glencairn.”

Torrance nodded as if he’d heard enough. “We return home as soon as the snow allows.”

“A wise decision, my lord. You are better protected at Clan Glencairn.”

“Where is Patrick? I wish to speak with him.”

“He’s recovering.”

The anger in Torrance’s eyes flared. “Recovering?”

“He was not forthcoming when I spoke with him, so I had to encourage him to talk.”

“You beat an old man?” Torrance snarled.

“I did what you would have ordered me to do as always, my lord,” Brack said, holding on to his own anger. “Your well-being was more important than his.”

Torrance’s fist came down heavy on the table. “How many times must I warn you not to make decisions for me?”

“No disrespect, sir, but only since you returned from battle have you grown annoyed at me for making decisions that you once preferred, I not bother you with. I do not know what goes on with you, my lord, but you are a far different man than the one who was victorious over Clan MacLeish.”

“Men change,” Torrance said, worried that Brack suspected something.

Brack shook his head. “Not like you have. You left a husband intending to replace his wife, sick of her after being wed for only six moon cycles, ready to move on to another woman, and returned a man intent on keeping her after she so displeased you. Any woman who cannot grow a man’s shaft hard is worthless, your own words to me, sir.

And the punishments you have handed out since being home show concern whereas before you relished giving out severe punishments.

And you once would not hesitate to give Una to Hakon, yet you question whether you should.

If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are not Torrance. ”

“If not Torrance than who?” Ryland challenged.

“There would be only one man who could pass for Torrance… Ryland.”

“That is laughable, Brack.”

“Yet you aren’t laughing, my lord.”

“Because it is a ridiculous notion that has no sensible reason behind it. Why would Ryland do such a foolish thing and what of Torrance? Where is he?”

“Torrance would have to be dead for Ryland to assume his identity and Ryland would have to be a fool to do so.”

“Exactly,” Torrance said. “That begs the question why you would even think such a thing.”

“I do have a simple answer for that,” Brack said, a slight smirk to his lips.

“I saw when Ryland visited Clan Glencairn how he looked at Lady Esme. Don’t you remember?

You saw it yourself, punished her for it, making her go without food or that one time giving her a good slap across the face, though she was unaware it was because of how Ryland felt toward her. ”

“Remind me what I saw,” Torrance said, his fist tightening to think Torrance struck Esme when he was angry with Ryland.

“What we both saw… that Ryland loved Esme. You could see it in his eyes when he looked at her. But then you knew he loved her before you wed her. It was the reason you wed her, so he couldn’t have her. Sometimes I think I see that look, Ryland’s look, in your eyes, sir, when you glance at her.”

“You are fool, Brack.”

“You have called me worse, my lord, but I am loyal to Clan Glencairn and always will be.”

“That is good to know, Brack,” Torrance said, needing the conversation to end before Ryland could be unmasked. “Now where is Patrick. I wish to speak with him.”

“He is probably sleeping, recovering. The healer looks after him. You might want to wait until morning to speak with him. You should get some rest before daybreak. I will send men out then to look for the mercenaries and see if they can be found and we can learn who hired them.”

“You should rest as well, Brack. You know how much I count on you.”

“Not as much since your return, my lord,” Brack said, his eyes intent on Torrance.

Torrance stood abruptly, forcing Brack to his feet. “That is about to change very soon.”

He walked out of the meeting hall without another word and went straight to his cottage, slipping in quietly so as not to wake Esme if she slept, and she was sleeping.

He shed his garments and climbed beneath the blankets to wrap himself around her and she cuddled against him, though she didn’t wake.

The conversation with Brack drifted back to him and worried him. He got the distinct sense that Brack knew he was Ryland. What that meant, he didn’t know, but he was likely to find out soon.