Page 20 of Highlander’s Fruit of Eden

Attacked

J on took Amelia’s hand and led her away from the stables.

He glanced behind him to check that they were still being followed, and even though he could not see the man, he could feel him in the shadows.

Jon still did not trust Ruben in the matter, but he did not think that he was the one to send the assassin unless they were in cahoots.

Ruben surely would not have the money to hire someone to kill the Laird’s nephew.

“Stay close to me,” whispered Jon. He knew that Amelia was safest by his side, but that also put her in danger should the assassin decide to attack.

“This way.” He gently pulled on her hand and led her toward the gate.

It was well lit, and the assassin would not dare to attack with the guards positioned there.

“You!” shouted Jon. He strode toward the closest guard and stood directly in front of him. When he got close to the man, he whispered, “I need your sword. There is someone after me, and I don’t want to scare him off.”

The guard only nodded his head slightly and reached down to unbuckle his weapon. Jon took it and attached it to his own belt, hoping that he had shielded the action from whoever was behind them. The element of surprise was gone, but that did not mean that the man would not put up a fight.

“Aye, that’s better, man,” Jon said loudly.

He made a show of pulling down the man’s jacket to straighten his uniform.

He swept some imaginary dirt from the guard’s shoulder and turned to leave.

The gardens would provide the perfect place to attack or be attacked, and he moved toward them, keeping a tight hold of Amelia’s hand.

He did not want to let her go, even if he was leading her toward more danger.

His uncle’s words were still ringing around in his head.

He could not believe what the man was doing to him.

He had thought initially that the Laird was the one who had sent the assassin to put an end to their quarry, but that could not be the case.

He loved his uncle dearly, even with the troubles they had, and he knew that his uncle loved him too, like the son that he never had, though that might be rectified soon.

Jon drew the assassin toward the darkness of the gardens. The gardener would have long since retired from his work, and there would not be many people in there, if any.

“If anythin’ happens to me, ye are to run as fast as ye can from the gardens.”

“What is going to happen to you?” asked Amelia.

“Nothin’,” said Jon. “But if anythin’ does, get out of here as quickly as ye can.”

Amelia said nothing more, but Jon felt the grip on his hand tighten.

He felt the grip on his heart tighten too.

He had come to a decision in his mind. No matter what happened in the next few minutes, he was going to confront his uncle about what they had spoken about.

Even if he died, he hoped that the Laird would not take her as his wife.

It might be selfish on his part, but he did not want anyone else to have her—he wanted her all for himself.

That was going to drive him to stay alive, he knew it. No one would be able to kill him when he had these feelings for Amelia. He had to live to have a life with her—it was too much of a reward for him not to take it.

Jon continued to hold her hand, and he walked through the garden with her as if they were lovers, but he moved his head ever so slightly from side to side to check if the person was still there, but he could not see any shadows moving.

Yet, he could feel the presence of the man who had come for him.

He tried to go through anyone he had made an enemy of, and he came up short.

The only thing his mind could cling to was that another Clan had sent this person.

Perhaps there was a war coming, and his uncle had been right.

This could be the catalyst for retaliation.

There was a sudden rush of movement, and Jon was knocked to the ground.

He rose to his feet quickly, drawing his sword to fend off the second attack, but it was not forthcoming.

Instead, the cloaked figure was trying to grab Amelia, a knife in his hand.

She was flailing with her arms wildly, and the attacker could not get the knife to her throat, though he was trying.

The assassin grabbed one of Amelia’s arms with his free hand to still it.

“Ho!” shouted Jon to distract him. He drove forward with the hilt of his sword, driving it into the man’s shoulder from behind.

The knife fell from his grip, and he let Amelia go.

Amelia ran behind the nearest tree and watched with wide eyes.

The assassin crouched quickly and retrieved his dagger, whirling around to take in what he was up against.

“Drop yer weapon,” ordered Jon.

“I have no quarrel with you,” said the assassin. “Though I will have to take ye down if ye stand in me way.”

“Then stand in yer way, I will.” Jon did not give the man time to plan an attack and drove forward with his blade once more.

The assassin dropped the knife that he had just retrieved and drew his own sword, adeptly parrying the slash by Jon.

The assassin replied with a thrust of his own, and he was obviously well trained, but Jon was too, and he was able to block the attack.

The two men circled each other for a moment, the assassin checking to his side where Amelia was.

Jon circled to his left so that he could be better positioned between the assassin and the woman he loved. In that moment, with someone threatening her, he knew that he loved this woman. His mind did not have time to think about who might want to go after her.

The assassin came again, slashing at Jon wildly, but not haphazardly—the man was obviously a soldier, but Jon could not remember seeing him before. Could another Clan have sent someone to kill Amelia?

Jon blocked one thrust and then another.

The assassin swung with his fist, but Jon was quick, and he ducked his head, kicking at the assassin and sending him sprawling back.

Jon did not give him time and leaped forward with another flash of his sword, cutting into the man’s free arm as he tried to block.

Red appeared on the man’s shirt, but not a lot—the wound was not deep.

The assassin, however, deemed that the fight was over. He took a quick glance at the wound on his arm and decided that he was in no position to win this fight. The assassin turned and fled, and Jon did not follow. He went to Amelia instead, glad that she was safe.

He took her in his arms, dropping the sword and kissing her. Their lips pressed together again, and Jon knew that it was meant to be. It was not only the stirring in his groin but the stirring deep in his heart too. When their lips came apart, he pulled her in close, holding her tight again.

“I cannae lose ye,” he whispered.

“You will not lose me,” said Amelia.

“Aye, we will see about that,” said Jon.

“Come on, I have to speak with me uncle. I have a lot to talk with him about.” Jon knew that he had to confront his uncle with the fact that he was in love with Amelia.

The Laird might be put out by not being able to marry this woman, but Jon would be heartbroken if he were to have this beautiful woman taken from under his nose.

Besides, the Laird could easily find another young woman to bear him a child—there were plenty who would want to become the Laird’s wife.

He took Amelia’s hand again and led her back toward the castle, picking up the dagger before they left the garden.

He kept watch in the shadows in case the assassin had stuck around, but he did not think that would be the case.

The two got to the castle without any incident, and Jon would not let go of Amelia’s hand.

He felt that if he did, he might lose her forever.

They went straight to Vincent’s study to find him there reading.

“Jon, come in,” Vincent said as Jon entered the room without knocking first. Is everythin’ well?”

“Nay, it’s nae, Uncle,” said Jon. “I just had to fight off an assassin.”

“What!” boomed his uncle. “Ye had to fight one off? Now?”

“Aye, Uncle. What does that matter?”

“Are ye harmed?” asked Vincent. “Who would want to do such a thing to ye?”

“The attack was nae meant for me,” said Jon. “It was meant for Amelia.”

“What?” asked Vincent, a look of confusion crossing his face. “I dinnae understand.” There also seemed to be some relief in the way that he was acting.

“Everyone is fine, Uncle. I managed to fight him off.”

Vincent’s face lit up suddenly. “I dinnae believe this.”

“What is it, Uncle?”

“I think that I might ken who is behind this.”

“Who?” demanded Jon. “Tell me who it is, and I’ll kill them for this.”

“Not, he,” said Vincent. “Look, if Amelia was attacked, I want to make sure that she is well. She looks pale, and I think that the healer is the best place for her. You and I can deal with this, Jon.”

“Aye, ye might be right,” said Jon. “Amelia, I’ll come for ye as soon as this is over.”

“I dinnae want to—”

“It’s nae a suggestion, Amelia. As yer Laird, I order ye to take care of yerself. This will be over soon.”

Amelia looked to Jon, and he nodded his head slightly at her. “I dinnae want her going alone, though.”

“I wouldnae dream of sendin’ her off by herself. “I’ll summon two guards, and they can escort her there and stay with her until this matter is cleared.”

“Aye, that is fittin’,” said Jon.

The three of them waited in silence for the guards to come. Jon could see that Amelia was bursting to ask the question, and he wanted to know who was behind this too, but if this was because of another Clan, they needed to take care of it first.

The two guards arrived soon after, and Jon wanted to kiss Amelia before she left, but there was too much to work out with his uncle first. The Laird was genuinely worried for her safety too, and he knew that was because he wanted Amelia for a wife.

That did not matter for now. The only thing that mattered was that she was safe.

Once Amelia was led from the room, Vincent took off. Jon followed quickly after. He waited until they were out of earshot of anyone else before he questioned the Laird.

“What is going on, Uncle? Where are we going, and who is behind this?”

“I’m almost embarrassed to say, and I hope that it is not the case, but this is Ada’s doing, I’m sure of it.”

“Ada?” asked Jon. “Who’s Ada?”

“She’s me mistress,” said Vincent.

“Yer mistress?” asked Jon. “You think that your mistress did this?”

“I spoke to her about marryin’ Amelia, and she did nae take it well.”

“Did nae take it well? Ye think that she tried to have Amelia killed because of this?” asked Jon.

“I hope that I’m wrong, but we’ll get to the bottom of this right now. If she did do this, she’s nae going to be a part of this Clan anymore,” said Vincent.