A Fire Within (These Highland Hills, Book 3) (21 page)

I've tried to do Yer will, Lord, she said, lifting her thoughts
heavenward. And ifI've missteppedyet again, I beg Yer forgiveness.
But, truly, this is in Yer hands. I cannot do aught more. just don't, I pray Ye, lay any of this at Dar's feet. He never meant for things to
take such an ugly turn.

"Aye, it sticks in my craw," Niall said at last. "I don't like begging, but if that's what it takes, I'll do it. Just tell me what ye
want, MacNaghten, to let my sister go."

Athe laughed then, a shrill, unsteady sound. "I haven't decided as yet what more I want from ye, Campbell. So, in the
meanwhile"-the blade still tight against Caitlin's neck, he began
slowly to pull her back toward the gate-"I'll just take the lass
with me. Keeping her safe and likely sound as well, until I decide
yer fitting punishment."

There was nothing Caitlin could do but back up with him.
She shot Dar an imploring look. He gave a slight nod of what
she supposed was reassurance. Then he turned to Niall.

"I swear to ye this was never my plan. And I give ye my word
no harm will come to Caitlin while she's with us. On my honor
as a Highlander!"

"Aye, the same honor ye pledged to Jamie when ye took my
sister," Niall replied through gritted teeth. "And I see how well
ye've kept to that so far."

"Come along, Dar!" Athe called as he paused at the gate.
"Choose now where yer loyalty lies, or I'll choose for ye."

Dar turned, then hesitated and glanced back at Niall. "Ye
don't have to believe aught I say, but I will keep her safe or die
in the effort."

"See that ye do, MacNaghten," the Campbell chief replied,
his gaze hard and full of dire warning. "For I'll hold ye to yer
word."

Dar nodded and began to edge away. Then, as he heard the
creaking of hinges, he spun around and raced back-arriving
just before the gate closed in his face.

Dar was furious with his brother, and only the need not to berate
him before the men kept his tongue in check. That lasted just long
enough, however, for him, Athe-with Caitlin in tow-Feandan,
and Kenneth to get to the privacy of the only other room in the
tower house that possessed a hearth fire. Then, just as soon as he
strode over and removed Caitlin from his brother's all too firm
grip, Dar exploded.

"Whatever possessed ye to start all this up again," he demanded,
his voice low and taut with anger, "when ye're as aware as the rest
of us that we had a safe escape route? If ye'd honored the exchange,
the Campbell might have at least been temporarily satisfied and
let us be. But now"-he gestured to Caitlin-"not only will he
soon be hot on our trail, but there's no hope whatsoever that he'll
consider sparing us."

"Aye, what were ye thinking, Athe?" their uncle stepped up
to ask. "What ye did as yet own man was not only dishonorable
but suicidal. Yet, even worse, what ye did as our chief reflects
equally as poorly on us."

The red-haired man gave a defiant laugh. "And do ye think I
care what Niall Campbell and his ilk consider honorable or not?
They're our enemies, in case ye've all suddenly lost the meager
sense ye ever had. And enemies don't dictate the terms of conduct.

We dictate our own terms and first and foremost, they're ones of
survival. Survival, do ye hear me?"

His glance skittered about the gathering, halting when he saw
Goraidh. Athe frowned.

"Who's this?" he demanded, indicating the hermit. "This isn't
the time to be adding strangers into what's already a volatile
situation."

"Goraidh's a friend," Dar said, deciding further comment on
exactly why the situation had suddenly become so volatile was
likely unwise. "Ye needn't trouble yerself over him."

Athe laughed. "And I'm supposed to accept the assurances of
a broken man, now, am I? Well, it'll take more than yet pledge
to allow this man to remain-"

"I know him as well," Feandan offered just then. "He's trustworthy. Indeed, he's as loyal a MacNaghten as any of us, and
more so than most."

"Is he now?" An enigmatic smile slowly lifting his lips, Athe
considered Goraidh with renewed interest. "Then I suppose he
can stay, leastwise for the time being."

As if the hermit no longer held any importance to him, Athe
next looked to Caitlin. A feral, calculating gleam flared in his
eyes.

Uneasiness stabbed through Dar. He knew that look all too
well. His brother was up to something.

"We don't need to drag the lass along to ensure our survival,"
Dar offered in hopes of diverting whatever Athe was planning for
Caitlin. "Indeed, she'll only slow our progress. Why not head out
this verra eve and leave her behind? Once the Campbell breaks
in and finds her, we'll be long gone."

"Ye mean tie her up and gag her, so he'll waste even more time
searching the house before he finds her?" Athe cocked his head and
scratched his chin. "Aye, that might work. Especially if we hide her
well. He won't dare leave a nook or cranny untouched, will he?"

"Nay, he won't."

That had been almost too easy, Dar thought. In the past, Athe
had never given up on any of his ideas so quickly. Whether the
weeks in prison had changed him in some manner or not, he
would still bear close watching.

"Yet brother's words have merit, Athe," Feandan spoke up just
then. "It does my heart good to see ye're finally paying him heed.
Dar can serve as a valuable asset. And ye owe him yer thanks, as
well, for all he did in procuring yer release. It was his idea, and
his alone, to brave Kilchurn itself in attempting yer rescue."

"Indeed, I do owe ye my thanks." Athe walked over and extended his hand to Dar. "I would've never considered ye capable
of such cleverness or loyalty."

"Hard times bring out heretofore surprising elements of character, don't they, Brother?"

Though Dar knew Athe well enough to discern the true depth
of his sincerity-which, in this case, was more for show than
anything else-he accepted his brother's hand, gave it a brief
clasp, then released it. Whether he liked it or not-and Dar was
fast beginning to question his earlier resolve to bring his brother
back from captivity-his fate now rested with Athe.

Until he had returned to Dundarave, Dar hadn't fully realized
the extent of his need to be rejoined with his clan. But now he
did, and was willing to do almost anything to secure that reac-
ceptance. Anything but risk Caitlin in the doing.

"We should assure that the lass doesn't make her escape,
though," Athe said, his gaze resting once more on Caitlin, "before
we're ready to depart." He turned to Kenneth. "Fetch rope, lad.
Best we truss up the wench for the time being. I've no interest
in guarding her all eve."

Dar watched the bard head for the door. Then he turned back
to Athe.

"I'11 guard her, if ye like."

His brother eyed Dar speculatively then, with an enigmatic
smile, shook his head. "Nay, she'll be safe enough here in the
library once she's well bound. And, with the fire, she'll not lack
for warmth. Ye, on the other hand, must attend me while I speak
with the men. It's past time I assert my authority as chief. We're
in dire need of a leader, we are."

Feandan clapped Athe on the back. "Aye, that we are. Indeed,
with yet and Dar's return, I feel a new lightness of heart. Mayhap
we can still find some way to salvage a life from the terrible ruins
of the past."

Athe's smile thinned. "Aye, mayhap we can, Uncle. Mayhap
we can.

After a time, even with hands and feet bound, Caitlin couldn't
help but succumb to the fire's warmth. Despite the hard stone
floor, she began to doze, finally drifting off to sleep. How long
she slept, she didn't know. Some time later, however, hands on
her body woke her abruptly.

The fire had died to coals. In the dim light, Caitlin couldn't
make out the form above her, or exactly what the person was
doing. Then she realized it was a man and he was cutting her
feet free.

"D-Dar?" she croaked, excitement tightening her throat. Had
he somehow slipped away from the others and come to set her
free and help her return to Niall?

"Ye favor him, don't ye, wench?" Athe's harsh voice rose instead
from the shadows above her. "Have ye already lain with him? It'd
be so like Dar to be the first to plow the field. He can't help but
ruin aught that he touches."

As he spoke, Athe pulled away the cut ropes from her ankles.
After reaching over to pull first one, then another log from the
pile near the hearth, he tossed them onto the bed of coals. In a spray of sparks, the dried wood landed and quickly caught
fire.

Next, turning back to Caitlin, he began to run his hands up
the insides of her legs. She gasped in horror and kicked at him,
managing to roll away when he jumped back.

"It doesn't matter this time, though, ye know." Athe pounced
back on her, pinning her legs beneath his. "Indeed, it's even better
this way. Better that both MacNaghten brothers have ye, before
ye return to yet own brother. Better that ye're doubly ruined. It
makes the revenge all the sweeter."

"Let me go, I say!" Caitlin cried as she twisted and turned
beneath him. "Dar never touched me. He's too honorable a man
for that."

"So ye're still a maiden, are ye?"

Caitlin froze. The embers' glow had caught in Athe's eyes. For
a passing instant, he looked almost evil ... otherworldly.

The note of immense satisfaction in his voice only added
to the horrific realization that she was alone and helpless. The
thick stone walls would likely muffle her cries to the point no
one would hear them.

"More's the better then," her captor said, his unctuous, gloating
tone filling Caitlin with revulsion. "For once, I'll have first what
Dar wants. And he wants ye, ye know. Wants ye badly."

At any other time, such news would've gladdened Caitlin's
heart. But not at this particular moment. If she didn't come
up with some plan to thwart Athe MacNaghten in the next
few seconds, she would be ravished. No decent man-not even
Dar-would want her after that.

"Y-ye're mistaken," she said, fighting the impulse to scream as
Athe began to move his hands up her body. "Dar despises me,
he does. I've never been aught to him but an object to be traded.
Traded for ye!"

His hand settled on the neckline of her bodice. "And do ye
think I care, one way or another?"

His fingers clenched in the lace and woolen fabric. With a
sharp movement, he tore her dress.

"One way or another," he rasped, "I haven't had a woman in
over seven weeks. So ye'll do nicely on all accounts."

Caitlin screamed, struggling as hard as she could against him.
For a wild, hopeful instant, Athe was thrown back and fought
to keep his balance. Then his legs clamped about hers again. He
steadied, leaned down, and pinned her shoulders to the floor.

"Aye," he muttered, lowering his mouth to hers, "ye'll do nicely
indeed."

One of the men had managed to find an unbroken bottle of
claret in some dark corner of the cellar. Along with a few cups
and pottery bowls that had eluded breakage when Dundarave was
ransacked by Campbell forces, there were just enough drinking
vessels and wine to go around.

Goraidh refused the proffered claret and, instead, stood off to
himself in one corner of the Great Hall. As the others gathered
before the hearth to toast Athe's successful return, Dar ambled
over to join the old hermit.

"Ye don't look particularly pleased at the turn of events. Or
are ye just longing for the peace and quiet of Clachan Hill?" Dar
asked, his own untouched cup of wine in his hand.

As exhausted as he felt, he didn't dare imbibe in any spirits just
now. Not that it might not at least ease the nagging pain in his
side. Still, the others seemed surprisingly pleased at his return,
and had pressed the claret on him so insistently that Dar had
been reluctant to refuse.

The older man managed a wan smile. "A bit of both, I must
confess."