Page 33 of The Highlander’s Enchanted Healer (Spellbound Hearts #2)
The gods were on my side as I journeyed from the Campbell stronghold to my own.
I rode hard and fast without incident, despite the heavy mist that had joined the darkness of the night and blanketed everything.
I arrived at my home at the break of dawn, waving the scrap of clan plaid I had taken with me when I’d left.
It worked as I’d hoped, and the horns that would normally be sounded to alert the guards of possible danger approaching remained silent.
As the horse galloped forward, jarring me with each strike of its hooves, the knots in my chest loosened ever so slightly.
The first part of my plan to free Allan was going accordingly.
When I was near enough to the guard tower for the two men stationed there to greet me, I shoved back my hood to let them see my face in the orange glow of the early morning, and they both broke out into grins.
“Lady Elena!” a young redheaded guard named Baird cried out. “Welcome home!”
I forced a smile, though worry made my lips tremble. I needed to free Allan before Ramsey learned I was here. “I wish to surprise Ramsey, so let me be the one to tell him,” I said, looking between Baird and the other tower guard, Euan.
They both nodded. “Laird Gordon is at the loch training the men,” Baird said, grinning. “We’re expecting Laird Campbell to arrive by nightfall and bend the knee, and ’tis all thanks to ye!”
I flinched at the truth of Baird’s words and his excitement at the prospect of Ross bending the knee to Ramsey.
“Where’s our prisoner?” I asked, forcing my smile wider until my cheeks ached with the effort.
“He’s in the iron cage,” Euan replied. “Filthy scum.”
“Aye.” I nodded, though to agree made pain twist my inside into tight pulsing knots.
“I want to see him and spit on his face,” I snarled.
“Then I will see my brother so we can properly celebrate that victory as well as the one to come. Vengeance is within our grasp.” It just was not the vengeance any of them imagined.
But I would explain to the men, hopefully, if I lived to see another day.
Euan and Baird stepped aside so I could ride forward once the drawbridge was lowered.
As I crossed it and advanced toward the outer courtyard of my home, my heart pounded with sadness and expectation.
I would free Allan exactly as I had vowed I would, but I would not ride back to Ross.
Not only did he not want me but I could not simply abandon my clan, men once good and loyal to my da’s rule, to be slaughtered in battle.
I had nary a doubt he would attack the moment Allan was returned, and I also didn’t doubt that Roger Fergusson would be riding by his side.
Roger loved Alba. He’d do all in his power to seek vengeance for her.
Together, the Campbells and the Fergussons would crush us unless I somehow brokered peace.
I wanted Alba to have vengeance. Ross and Allan deserved their revenge as well.
I wanted to see Ramsey and Francine hung for killing my family and all else they’d done.
Just the thought had me gripping my reins so tightly that the leather cut into my palms and my horse tossed her head at the unexpected signal.
I loosened my hold as I left the outer courtyard, skirting around the few servants starting their early-morning chores and rode into the inner courtyard where more servants bustled about.
I paused and glanced up at where the iron cage hung, gently swaying over the inner courtyard. A cool breeze washed over my face and through my hair. I took a long breath, acutely aware my death might be near if things didn’t go according to my plan.
I dismounted the horse, secured him, and exchanged greetings with servants who exclaimed at my return, but I did not stop to talk.
I had to be quick. I took the stairs up to the rampart, my heart pounding so hard by the time I reached the top that it hurt my ribs.
Torches still glowed along the rampart, but a guard was putting them out for the day one by one.
I was not concerned about him. His task would take him around the back of the castle, and I’d free Allan the moment the torch master was out of sight.
It was the guard assigned to watch the cage I needed to overtake that concerned me.
I did not have the strength for it alone, so I’d have to somehow convince the guard to open the cage and then hopefully Allan would have the strength to overcome the guard.
Once that was done, leading Allan to the secret passage that led out of the inner and outer courtyards should be easy.
It was but a few steps from the cage, after all.
The difficult part of the plan I had conceived as I’d ridden here would be convincing Da’s men that the laird they were following had killed Da, and then persuading them to trust me.
If I could speak to them, especially the council of elders, I could read their minds, remind them of my powers so they would be inclined to believe I spoke the truth of Ramsey and Francine.
And if I could to that, there was a chance to broker peace between my clan and Ross’s.
The elders could vote and choose a new laird.
If we had a new laird, one loyal to my da’s memory, and Ramsey and Francine were dead, surely Ross would wish to try peace instead of possibly losing lives to a battle between our clans. He was reasonable, after all.
This all had to happen quickly, though. I had no doubt that once Ross realized what Alba and Isla had done, he would ride hard to reach my home and offer himself to Ramsey, which was not only foolish but futile.
Ramsey would simply kill them both, though I knew Ross loved his brother so much that he’d rather try sacrificing himself to save his brother than simply attacking, which ensured Allan’s death.
As I approached the iron cage, I saw that Craig was the one assigned to guard it, and hope gripped me. Could Craig be an ally? I did not know for certain. “Lady Elena! When did ye return?”
“Only just now,” I answered, wiping my damp palms on my gown.
Behind Craig, Allan stirred from his prone position on the ground and looked to me.
His jaw dropped open at the same time as his eyes widened.
I discreetly shook my head in hopes that he would not say anything and let me try to convince Craig to aid us.
“Craig, this prisoner ye are guarding, I need to speak with him.”
Craig frowned. “Why would ye need to speak to Allan Campbell?”
“Because,” I said, hoping Craig could be reasoned with and I did not have to go through with my plan to use the dagger sheathed on my thigh to knock out the guard. “Ye must listen to me.” I placed my hand on his arm, and his thoughts instantly flooded me.
She’s good. She’s nae like Laird Gordon and his witch of a mama. I should tell her my fears.
I exhaled with relief, even as my tongue began to tingle, and I felt words clawing their way up my throat. The truth was about to come out, whether I wanted it to or not.
“Ramsey is evil!” I blurted. “He plotted with Francine and someone else to kill Da, Fergus, and Uncle.”
“I thought something was untoward!” Craig bellowed.
“I did nae like the way Lady Gordon always seemed to be where she should nae, like in the stables at odd times, or tittering at the warrior table in the great hall, or lurking in dark passageways. I tried to talk to yer stepbrother about it, but he refused to hear it.”
“Aye,” I said, my heart beating wildly. “He would. He is involved. Will ye aid me? Will ye help me avenge my family, yer one true laird?”
“Aye, my lady,” he said eagerly. “But how?”
“Go gather anyone ye can find from the council of elders. We must have them on our side to rally the warriors to our cause. Tell them I can explain much.”
“What will ye do?”
I did not want to tell about the secret passage, so I said simply, “Free the prisoner. He does nae deserve to be killed for crimes his family did nae ever commit.”
“He’ll nae ever make it out of here alive.”
“He will,” I assured Craig. “Give me the cell key and make haste.”
Craig handed over the key. “I believe the elders mentioned meeting in the great hall.”
“I’ll meet ye there,” I said.
As Craig left, I looked to Allan, who was staring at me with a wary look on his face. “Ye’re Elena Gordon?”
I held his gaze for a brief moment before I turned my attention to unlocking the cage.
“Aye,” I said, glad not to have to look him in the eye as I confessed.
“I am. I came to yer castle to spy on yer family. I thought yer da had poisoned my family,” I said as I opened the cage door.
Allan did not move and I did not either.
Time was running out, but I sensed he wasn’t going to go without an explanation.
“When I discovered yer brother’s plans for the last battle, I sent a message to Ramsey.
That is why he kenned yer brother’s every move. ”
A dark look settled on Allan’s face. “Then what are ye doing now?”