Page 48

Broc and Merryn

Broc decided it was time to put an end to all this shite spit out by a man who was smaller than he was, and obviously, not as smart as anyone in all of Clan Grant. This time, with Kelvan and Glenna directly in front of him, he would not back down.

“I’m Kyla’s son, and I’m the one who cut off Glenna’s hand after she stabbed a friend of mine in the back.

And I’d do it again.” He set his mother down and moved her behind him.

“You want me? Come and get me. I’ve had enough of the torture you’ve levied against the people of Mull.

But you’re not a big enough man to do that, are you, Kelvan?

You let others fight your battles for you. ”

He scanned the area, noting the three archers in the trees, Meg and Eva innocently standing near the copse, their axes behind their backs. He checked for his dagger attached to his belt, just in case he needed it, but it was gone.

Hell.

He forced that into the back of his mind because he had to end this horrific threat now.

He also noticed that Uncle Connor and Logan had just come down the path behind Kelvan and Glenna, who both had three guards on either side of them. He prayed that meant the Grant guards were not far away.

Kelvan nodded to two of his men. “Get him and bring him to me.”

The two dismounted but Logan called out from behind him. “If I were you two, I’d keep my eyes on the archers in the trees. One is a Ramsay who prefers to shoot men in their bollocks. Oh, and don’t forget the two axe-throwers. One prefers to hit you right between your eyes.”

The two men didn’t move.

“You have no bollocks, Kelvan? You are the tough man who barks all your orders to steal bairns, hold old women and men captive. Come down from your tall horse and fight me. You and me,” Broc said, moving closer.

“Broc, nay …” his mother whispered.

Kelvan laughed. “You think I’m going to fight you? That’s what I pay these men for. And all the ones who are about to come over the hills and up the beach for you. They’ll be here momentarily, and you are all dead men. But I did promise Glenna she could amputate your hand herself.”

“Aye, it’s my right. A hand for a hand,” Glenna declared with a chuckle. “Get him.”

One man moved and got an axe in the middle of his forehead from Meg.

Kelvan said to the other one, “If all four of you move at once, they can’t get you all, fools!”

Broc caught something out of the corner of his eye, men coming from the beaches and through the forests, and they were not wearing red plaids. All on foot, but nonetheless, they would be outnumbered in no time. He had to move this along, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it.

Glenna said, “Go get him or I’ll have you killed, Samuel. It’s his fault I lost my hand.”

Simone dropped out of her tree and said, “This is the last warning you will be getting from me, Glenna. Keep that dirty, lie-spieling tongue in your mouth, or I will end your life myself.” She nocked an arrow and took aim, but didn’t shoot.

“Don’t lie again or this is coming for you.

Do you remember where I said I’d get you? ”

Logan said, “I’d listen to her if I were you. And there are archers aiming for Kelvan right now.”

“Get them, I told you,” Kelvan said.

Another axe caught the next man who moved right in his chest.

“Get them!” Glenna yelled, standing up in her stirrups and pointing.

Merryn dropped out of her tree and marched forward. Broc had never been so proud of her. She strode toward Kelvan but stopped next to Simone. None of the men dared move because of the axes.

Even the ones coming from the beaches stopped to watch.

Eli dropped out and stood on the other side of Simone.

“Merryn? You think I’m afraid of you?” Kelvan began to laugh, but not for long.

“I’m glad you remember me. This is for my sister.” She fired one arrow and hit him in the shoulder, and he screamed like a wee lass.

“You bitch!” Glenna shouted.

“You were warned,” Simone said, setting her arrow free and catching Glenna in her eye. Glenna fell off her mount, her death quick. Kelvan took one look at her and headed into the trees, trying to yank out the arrow in his shoulder.

Suddenly, there were men everywhere.

The Grant warriors and archers made a line, protecting Kyla and Grant. Maitland handed his bairn to Kyla and grabbed a sword from one of the dead men, joining the fight.

Broc pulled Merryn in next to him. “Just fire, lass. We’ll move toward my sire to get my mother to safety.”

He fought each man as they came forward, but the melee was a battle like he’d never experienced. They were losing quickly because there were so many men coming at them from everywhere.

Simone grabbed Merryn, running toward the copse. “Back in the trees, Eli.” The archers left while Meg and Eva stood behind their husbands.

Uncle Connor yelled to him, “Broc, we’re fighting from here. Move in this direction and I’ll get Kyla.”

Broc swung and swung, the sound of metal clashing so loud it was something he’d never forget. Screams of pain, grunts, moans, bellows—the sounds of battle echoed through the air. Broc thought his shoulders were about to fall off, but he couldn’t stop.

He could see his father’s face on a horse not far from him, staring at him. “A little farther, son. I’ll get her.” His father and Uncle Connor struck down any man who came near them, all on foot.

Arrows took men out, axes sent men screaming, and swords cut paths of blood that dripped rivers in the dirt beneath their feet, but the battle continued. Then Alasdair let out a war whoop when John’s sword lit up, the blue color bathing the entire area.

Broc heard a loud noise, a sound that made him fear more men were coming, but then he and his comrades all began to laugh at once. He’d never heard a sweeter sound in his life.

The Grant war whoop was so loud it was nearly deafening behind the rumble of the horses’ hooves shaking the ground.

Two hundred or more Grant guards covered the area, taking men down right and left.

They battled on for only about half the hour before the rest of Kelvan’s men retreated, running back on their ships and into the forest.

Uncle Connor came straight toward Kyla while Logan and Magni helped Simone onto his horse and headed into the woods, though Broc had no idea why.

Broc turned around to find his mother with a wide smile on her face.

He picked her up and carried her over to the two horses waiting for them, Uncle Connor on one side, his father on the other.

Uncle Connor tipped his head toward Finlay, so Broc handed his mother over to his father.

Uncle Connor said, “Well done, Broc. You fought like my sire did in battle. The same swing, the same gumption. I’m quite sure Logan and Simone went after Kelvan.

And Glenna? She got what she deserved from Simone.

As fine a shot as I’ve ever witnessed.” Then his uncle grinned, something he hadn’t seen much of lately. “Da would be proud.”

Maeve and Lia galloped toward them, the other horses opening a path, Maeve sobbing while Maitland brought Grant back to his mother’s arms. The lad fell asleep within moments. Maitland kissed her. “It’s over, love. And Grant had a big part in finding Alasdair, John, and Kyla.”

“Maitland, you’re covered in blood. Are you hurt? Did Grant get …”

“He’s fine. Neither of us were injured.”

“Then how did you get… Never mind. I don’t wish to know.”

Broc cleaned his weapon on the grass, sheathed it, and went to find Merryn standing near a tree. “Sweeting, you are hale?”

Tears covered her face. “Aye, but he got away. Kelvan got away.”

“Lass, you were amazing with your bow. You hit him perfectly. Enough to send him running, but not to kill him. Logan wished to deal with him.”

Merryn fell into his arms and said, “But I wanted to kill him. Why couldn’t I? He killed my sister and my parents. I don’t understand.”

“Because Logan wanted him. I don’t know why, but we’re about to find out.”

Logan came out of the woods, still mounted with Magni in front of him. Lia came down from Maeve’s horse and moved over toward the underground holding, but she stopped at the steps and folded her hands in front of her.

A circle surrounded Logan, and Alaric and Simone emerged from the forest with Kelvan now tied by a rope. Alaric led him over to Logan’s horse and handed the rope to Logan.

“What the hell,” Kelvan cried. “I’m hurt. I need a healer. I can’t pull this arrow out of my shoulder.”

“Oh, you’ll get just what you need, K,” Logan drawled. “And what you deserve. Connor, instruct your guards to protect the perimeter. We want no interruptions for this.”

“You coldhearted bastards. You killed my wife in front of me.” Kelvan wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to undo his bindings but was unsuccessful.

“Where are my men? I order you to come and help me. Untie me and I’ll give you ten gold coins.

” No rustling or movement answered his cry.

The next came out in a bold shout, “Twenty! Twenty gold coins each. Forty if you cut my bindings to free me!”

Logan said, “I need everyone’s attention. This is important. Alaric, I need you on one side and Connor on the other to hold this man in place.”

Connor and Alaric did as they were told, Simone going to join Artan.

Logan said, “Now, if anyone has a gripe against this man and his actions, I’d like you to, in turn, step over in front of him, give your name, and stake your claim.

That’s all for now. We wish to hear who has a complaint against the man known as Kelvan, or K.

If I tell you ‘Just due,’ I ask you to stay in your position.

You’ll get your chance, eventually. And let it be known to anyone listening that this is how Clans Ramsay, Grant, Menzie, and Grantham, along with all the clans of Mull, handle any assaults on their members. ”

Logan raised his voice. “It’s time for just due for all who have claims.”