The Highlander's Forbidden Bride(85)

Hagen shook his head.



“Do you need help?” Addie asked, as she approached a thin-faced man leaning against a large boulder. He looked to be in pain.

“My stomach,” he said, his hand pressed against it. “Must be something I ate.”

When she reached him he leaned on her, draping his arm around her shoulder.

“I can fix you a brew that might help,” Addie offered.

“You’re already helping,” the man said, leaning his face close to hers and placing the tip of his dirk to her stomach. “Keep quiet and keep walking.”

Addie did as told.



Carissa saw Addie approach with the man leaning on her. She didn’t walk forward to meet them. Instead, she studied them, since the man didn’t look familiar to her. She had made certain to know the faces of her men, not that they knew her. She had always watched her troops from a safe distance and trusted only those she knew she could.

Something wasn’t right with Addie, she could see it and she placed her hand on the dirk at her waist. She cursed the fact that she had chosen to remain removed from the men while waiting to speak with Evan and Piper. While she could see some of her men, they were too far to take note of her, and even if they did, nothing would seem amiss.

“Take that dirk out slowly and drop it nice and easy to the ground,” the man ordered. “Or I’ll cut this woman good.”

“Then I’ll be of no help to you,” Addie said.

“I’m not stupid,” the man whispered harshly. “I’ll cut you to hurt you, not to kill you.”

“Enough,” Carissa said softly though anxiously when his hand looked ready to stick Addie in the gut just to prove his point. After she dropped her dirk, she asked, “What do you want?”

“For you to come with me,” he said.

“Let her go and—”

“I give the orders,” the man said. “You’re both going with me. Now move.”

Carissa didn’t argue. She would do as she was told until a chance presented itself; and then…the man would find a knife at his gut.

Unfortunately, that chance never materialized, and the situation worsened rapidly. The man never let go of Addie, so there was always the threat of his hurting her, which would make an escape even more difficult, for there was no way Carissa would leave Addie behind.

They were soon joined by three other men, garbed in monks’ clothing. It didn’t take Carissa long to realize that they were no monks but rather experienced scouts, who knew how to cover their trail. She only hoped that Evan and Piper were more knowledgeable.

Carissa knew Dykar had sentinels posted around the camp, alerting him to anyone’s approach, but she had no doubt that the so-called monks had seen to removing that obstacle. And with the sentinels not being changed for another few hours, Dykar would not know immediately of their absence. Not that they wouldn’t be missed soon, but not soon enough for a good head start.

They soon met up with three more men, and these had horses.

“Let her go,” Carissa said in such a commanding tone that the men looked startled. “Cregan wants me. Let her go, and I will go with you.”

The thin-faced man laughed. “You’ll go with us anyway.” He poked Addie in the stomach with the tip of his dirk. “She’ll make sure you obey.”

Carissa walked up to the man so fast he had no time to react. “Cut her, hurt her in any way, and I’ll make sure you die a slow, agonizing death.” Before he could respond, she continued with bravado. “And if you doubt me, know who I am, Carissa, daughter of Mordrac the merciless.”

The man quickly moved his dirk away from Addie and ordered everyone on their horses. Carissa was glad that they intended for her and Addie to share a horse. It would give them time to discuss their situation though they were ordered not to speak.

Whispers would do, since she made certain to ride behind Addie and warned her to say nothing, respond only with a slight nod or turn of her head.

While they rode single file, Carissa whispered to Addie, telling her all about Cregan and that Cavan was aware of the situation. No doubt they would be rescued; but, not wanting to take a chance, they would need to do what they could to procure their escape.

Addie agreed.

Carissa explained that the sooner they tried to escape, the better, since they would probably meet up with more of Cregan’s men, which would make an escape even more difficult. And, since Addie was familiar with the area, it would behoove them to do it immediately.

Both women were excellent riders; they knew their chance was now. Carissa held on tight to Addie. Addie gave the horse a kick, and both women started screaming, upsetting the other horses and startling the men so badly they didn’t know what to do, which gave the two women time to make their escape.