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The knight’s eyes went wide with recognition and he yelled to one of the men, who immediately dropped what he was doing and took off at a dead run. The knight turned back to Andrew.

“My name is Simon,” the knight said, far more politely. He was an older man with receding gray hair. “Follow me into the bailey.”

They did. Except for a few men running here and there, it was quiet at this hour.

Andrew and his men dismounted, with the two pages remaining behind to hold the horses while the rest of the men entered the inner bailey.

There was a feeling of trepidation as they did so, feeling the stares of uncertainty from those around them, but they continued on.

Not that they blamed those who were feeling trepidation at the sight of strangers; with the state of the castle, it was clear they’d been pounded and pounded yet again.

Men under such stress had every right to be suspicious.

But the knight leading them into the inner bailey wasn’t uncertain.

In fact, he seemed more than eager to assist them.

Once inside the inner ward, Simon was joined by eight more knights, all seasoned men in well-used armor and protection.

Simon briefly introduced each of the knights, but introduced Andrew as The Red Fury and not as Andrew d’Vant.

Andrew chuckled inwardly as he wondered if any of them believed that it was his birth name.

The Red Fury was a much bigger name than Andrew d’Vant, a somewhat unspectacular name.

And it was the name, The Red Fury, that made the biggest impact.

Once introductions were complete, they were about to head to the enormous keep when the massive oaken doors swung open, purging two men from the innards.

Both were dressed in full battle gear, with helms underneath their arms. The man slightly in front of the other was of average height; older than Andrew, with his square jaw set grimly.

The second man was big and was very blond, with sharp and intelligent features.

They approached with force, yet their eyes were guarded as they regarded Andrew, whose expression was one of self-assurance and slight impatience.

“I am Sir Sully Montgomery,” Sully said. “You are The Red Fury, I assume?”

Andrew nodded coolly. “Andrew d’Vant,” he replied. “Your message was received.”

“Five thousand marks to defend Torridon until you are no longer needed,” Sully said, eyeing the man. “The amount is acceptable?”

“It was enough to bring me here,” he answered steadily. “But I do not discuss monetary amounts or contract terms out in the open air. We will proceed inside and accomplish the task.”

There was something about the way he spoke that made Sully want to comply immediately. Andrew d’Vant had a natural command ability that caused men to do his bidding. But he caught himself and felt a wave of anger wash over him. No one gave him commands inside the walls of his own fortress!

“Of course,” Sully replied, very controlled. “But first, tell me how many men have you brought with you.”

He was attempting to gain the upper hand in the already rapidly escalating negotiation, with a man who had already given him a command. But if Andrew sensed the competition already, he didn’t let on. His gaze lingered on Sully.

“Nine hundred and ninety-six,” he replied.

Sully acknowledged the number with a nod of his head, intently studying d’Vant just as he was being studied in return. It was the expression of men who were sizing one another up, trying to determine who was the most dominant.

So this is The Red Fury? Sully thought to himself.

Somehow, he pictured a huge, violent red-haired man just one notch back on the evolutionary ladder.

But this man was tall, evenly groomed, and intelligent-looking.

His hair was a reddish-brown, reflecting in the torch light.

He was very strong and capable- looking but, in truth, Sully couldn’t see why they called him “The Red Fury”.

But then again, he had yet to see the man fight.

“Your fortress looks in shambles,” Andrew said after a moment’s silence.

“You noticed,” Sully said dryly. “Considering what we have been through, it is little wonder the entire structure is not razed.”

Andrew’s gaze moved along the top of the inner wall, with great soot marks from flaming projectiles. “I had no idea that the Dalmellington army was so formidable,” he said.

Sully shook his head, beginning to relax just a little now that the initial inspection phase was over and the conversation had begun.

“In truth, they are not,” he said. “But constant barrages, week after week, for the past year have taken their toll. And we lose men, which makes holding the fortress harder and harder. Even our mistress has taken up arms to help defend it.”

Andrew’s eyebrows rose lazily. “Only one mistress? I thought there were two?”

“There are,” Sully replied. “Lady Josephine chooses to fight, while Lady Justine hunches over a crystal ball in hopes of conjuring up dark powers to defeat the Dalmellington army.”

He’d said it before he could catch himself. Why was he telling a perfect stranger this? The Red Fury will believe both women are as crazy as birds! But as he looked at Andrew with some chagrin, he caught a twinkle of amusement in the man’s eyes.

“Has it worked yet?” he asked.

“Has what worked yet?”

“The crystal ball,” Andrew said, as he shifted on his big legs. “Have the dark powers converged to beat back the Dalmellingtons?”

Did he sense… humor? Sully was surprised at one with such a fierce reputation having room for a joke. But the corner of his mouth twitched as he replied.

“I do not know,” he said. “But you have come, have you not?”

Andrew grinned. He might possibly like this man, Sully. “God’s Bones!” he exclaimed. “Do you mean to say the rumors are true? That I am spawned from the bowels of hell?

Sully’s face lit up with a reluctant smile. “Crystal balls do not lie,” he said. “Only hell’s powers feed it.”

“I would accept that as reasonable,” Andrew conceded.

Before Sully realized what was happening, he felt himself warming to this professional soldier.

Sully, who was always on his guard and was always coolly detached, rarely warmed to anyone.

He would have to be aware of that in the future, for this man had a manner that could disarm Lucifer.

Negotiating terms of contracts were not going to be easy for Josephine.

… Josephine!

God in heaven, she was probably in the Knight’s Haven right now wondering where in the hell they were.

“Come,” Sully motioned to them and turned to go inside. “My mistress awaits you.”

With that, everyone turned for the keep and the Torridon knights preceded Sully and Andrew into the dimly lit castle.

Sully and Andrew walked side-by-side as they marched into the cold foyer, a faintly dank smell assaulting their nostrils.

Andrew glanced about him with some interest, noting the old but rich tapestries that lined the foyer, the furnishings that were costly and fine.

Off of the foyer was a corridor that they passed into, and at the end of the corridor was a wide, yawning cavern of a chamber.

It smelled heavily of smoke and dogs. Down at the opposite end, however, he could see an arched doorway cut into the wall and a warm light emitting from it.

As he and Sully walked towards it, Andrew spoke.

“Then it is true that Torridon has no master.” It was not a question.

Sully shook his head. “True– no male heir,” Sully concurred. “But there are two mistresses, daughters of the earl, and you are about to meet the eldest, Lady Josephine. She is the Countess of Ayr in the wake of her father’s death and commands Torridon quite capably.”

“She was permitted to inherit the earldom?”

“Aye. She was granted the succession.”

Andrew nodded, satisfied with the answer. It was at that point that they entered through the brightly lit doorway.

The room was long and narrow, and was lined by flaming torches on either side.

Andrew noted that the knights of Torridon were seated, while his men either stood or sat along the wall.

He noticed Thane against the wall up by the head of the table, and was aware of a strange expression on his friend’s face as he looked at the figure seated at the head of the table.

Also near the head of the table, Sully indicated a chair to Andrew and, as he took it, he happened to look to the woman at the head of the table as he sat.

It was the most beautiful woman in Scotland.

*

Josephine saw him enter the room with Sully.

It was hard to miss him, for he was tall and muscular, and his rich auburn hair caught the firelight as he walked.

With his proud stance and potent presence, it could be none other than The Red Fury himself.

Initially, she was surprised that he wasn’t a hideous ogre.

Quite the contrary, she realized, as he drew closer.

As the man took a seat, all she could do was stare, hoping her shock wasn’t too obvious.

And she had to concentrate to keep her mouth from gaping open.

Never in this life had she seen a man as beautiful as The Red Fury.

As he sat, their eyes met and, for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

She felt her cheeks grow warm as his brown eyes were riveted to her, and it took every ounce of willpower she possessed to tear her gaze away from him. She didn’t want to look at him.

The man was already casting a spell on her.

“Lady Josephine de Carron, this is Andrew d’Vant,” Sully said, then added, “The Red Fury.”

Hesitantly, Josephine returned her gaze to him. “My lord.”

Andrew nodded his greeting. “A pleasure, Lady Ayr.”