Jake (The Highland Clan Book 4) (11 page)

Jake waited for her response.

“Jake, sometimes it is not about what I know, but what I feel. And I feel something beyond evil there. And what I sense from Aline? I do not like that either.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Mayhap you will not understand this, but when someone returns to that type of situation willingly, it is usually out of fear.”

“I do understand that. But fear of what?”

Ashlyn stared off into the distance, as if recalling something from her own life. “Fear of the unknown. I sense that from Aline. She’s been threatened that if she does not comply with Hew’s wishes, the worst thing imaginable could happen.”

“What could be worse than being beaten and left for dead?”

“That same thing happening to someone you love. You may be putting more people at risk than just Aline if you rush in there. She loves someone there.”

Jake had considered that possibility, even the foolish thought that she might have twisted feelings for a man who’d beat her, but even if that were true, he could not just walk away and leave her to her fate. A worse thought occurred to him. “She did not mention loving another man. A guard, mayhap? One whom Hew hurt possibly?”

“Nay, she did not say, and I did not ask. When she’s ready to trust us, she will.” She pulled on her long plait, swishing it behind her head.

Jake could not be swayed. Nothing she’d told him changed his mind. There was too much at stake. “I know my sire says he’ll wait for MacNiven to attack, but what if something else transpires, something no one knows about? If things change and my sire attacks Castle Dubh, who knows what will happen to the people there? They do not have enough warriors or training to withstand my sire’s guards. It could be a bloodbath. I wish to arrive ahead of any skirmish, check over the situation, see if I can get Aline away before chaos starts at Castle Dubh. She’ll be safer away from there. Chances are that when the guards leave the castle to attack us, Aline will be put in hiding somewhere, and I may never find her. Nay, I’ll go now. I cannot rest until I see her for myself.”

Ashlyn nodded slowly. “Take Magnus with you.”

“I’ll not risk another without good reason,” Jake said. “I can handle myself.” He mounted his horse and turned him toward the gates. “I’d appreciate it if you’d allow me to head out before letting anyone in on my plan.”

He gave her a crooked smile and then flicked the reins of his horse.

Chapter Twelve

Jake had considered his plan carefully. After entertaining numerous possibilities, he’d decided to keep things simple. He needed to get inside the keep and find Aline. He only hoped Ashlyn kept her word.

He’d expected a loud ruckus at Castle Dubh, but instead found the perimeter outside the keep to be somewhat quiet. Then he discovered why. There was a far greater number of guards working in the lists just outside the castle wall than he’d seen the other day. He could see the man they suspected to be MacNiven strutting back and forth through the rows of practicing guardsmen.

Another thing stood out that he’d not seen his last trip…tents. Rows of tents sat outside the keep. The chieftain had said more warriors would be arriving soon. He guessed a good number had already arrived.

His sire would not be happy.

On the other hand, what better time was there to sneak around the back of the curtain wall? He could easily scale it, find his way inside, and break into Gordon’s keep to discover Aline’s exact location. He was disobeying his sire with every step he took, but he could not walk away.

The back of the compound was virtually deserted once he was inside the wall. He found the kitchens in a separate building, but there was a complete lack of activity there, so he crept into the great hall. To his surprise, the hall seemed empty as well. The most likely location for the chief’s chamber was above stairs. Making his way around, he found an alcove to hide in and buckled down. He assumed he’d be waiting a while, but to his surprise, it was not long before a maid made her way to the door of one of the chambers with a wee lass beside her, bouncing up and down on her feet.

The door opened and the wee one with flame red curls screamed, “I missed you so! Where have you been?”

***

Aline flew off her bed as soon as she heard the key in the door. Was it Hew already? The door opened and Effie stood there with Maisie at her side. Aline’s knees buckled, but she held firm and opened her arms so her sister could fly into them.

Maisie, her wee sister, hugged her and cried, “Aline, where have you been? You have not been to visit me in so long.”

Tears slid down Aline’s cheeks as she hugged the lassie of four summers. “Forgive me. I’ve missed you so. Have you been a good lass?” She kissed her forehead, then sat on the bed to settle her on her lap.

“Aline, why is your face bruised?”

“You must not worry about me. I fell, ‘tis all. I hit my face on the stones outside.”

“Effie said we could sneak up to see you. When will we leave here? I do not like it. Please take me away. I wish to go home.”

Aline brushed the red curls back from her sister’s beautiful face, wondering how her sister even recalled home. They’d been stolen from their home two years ago, had they not? She lifted her gaze to Effie. “My thanks, Effie, but you risk so much.”

Effie shuffled her feet. “I know how much she means to you, and the chief is driving the men hard, so none are around. However, ‘tis a short visit only. We mustn’t tarry.” Effie glanced over her shoulder as if worried someone might be coming.

“Why is the chief driving the men so?” She cuddled her sister on her lap, her nose buried in her hair to take in her sweet scent.

“Can you not tell me a story?” Maisie interrupted.

“Hush, wee one. Nay, I cannot tell a story today. Mayhap next time. I must speak with Effie.” She waited, hoping Effie would elaborate on her comment.

“They say he is preparing to mount an attack,” Effie whispered.

This was exactly what she needed to know. With this information, she might actually manage to escape. “On whom?”

“The Grants.”

“Which Grant?” Saints above, what if they were attacking Jake’s home? She thought of all the wonderful people there, of all that could be hurt, of all that had worked so hard to help her. She would do what she could to stop this attack.

“I know not. ‘Tis more than one?”

“Aye, the chieftain Alexander’s group is the largest, but his nephew Loki is also close by. You did not hear which one?”

“Nay. Does it matter?”

She couldn’t tell Effie how much it did matter. Maddie and Caralyn and Ashlyn and Kenzie…she had feelings for them already. Some were at Jake’s home, some were at Loki’s. She guessed it did not matter except to forewarn them. What could she do? “I know not how many guards are here, but Alexander Grant is renowned as the strongest swordsmen in all the Highlands. He is so tall and broad…they say.” She spoke carefully so as not to give away how much she knew to be fact. She could not let anyone know she’d been at the famous Grant keep.

“And you do not think our chief could slay them? Talk in the kitchens is he’s gained so many warriors that he’ll control the Highlands soon enough. We have been instructed to make many more loaves of bread and stew.”

Aline thought about this and what it could mean for them. If they were under attack, she’d find a way to escape and take Maisie and Effie with her, and others, if at all possible.

Effie stopped as if she heard a sound, her eyes widening.

Aline listened but heard naught.

Effie said, “Come, wee one. We must go before we are caught.”

Before Aline could move, the door opened and closed in an instant, and her heart threatened to break out of her chest.

***

Jake crept inside the chamber and closed the door behind him, staring at Aline with the red-haired lass on her lap. “Why did you not tell me? What is she to you?” He held his breath, wondering who could be the father of this child.

“Jake! What are you doing here?”

“I came here to get you away from the fools who control Castle Dubh. The lass…?”

“This is my sister, Maisie. And I will not leave without her.” She tucked her sister closer, as if afraid he would take her.

“Who is he?” Effie asked, her eyes wide with fright. “We must go. Maisie, please come here.” She held her hand out to the wee one.

Aline lifted Maisie off her lap and set her on the floor in front of her, squeezing her one last time before she pushed her toward the door. “Go with Effie, Maisie. I promise to see you again soon.” The lass ran over to Effie, hugging her leg as she stared at up at Jake.

“Nay, do not send her away,” Jake said. “Now that I understand why you returned, I’ll help you both get away.”

Effie said, “I cannot wait.” She opened the door and fled, taking Maisie with her.

“Please do not stop her,” Aline said, looking into his eyes. “I do not wish for Effie to risk aught more for me.” When the door closed behind the maid and the girl, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. “You have no idea what he would do if he caught Effie here. She did a huge favor for me and risked much by bringing my sister here. The bastard would not allow me to see her. I’ve done all he’s asked, yet…”

Jake moved over to her side, pulling her off the bed. “I’m here to stop this. You need to leave this place, and I will help you. We will take Maisie with us.”

Her hands trembled, and she fought tears. The realization of why she’d come back, of why she’d stayed as this man’s captive for so long shook him. Aline had given up everything for her kin, just as he would have done in her place. He caught a stray lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “You are a fine sister, Aline.” Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he leaned down to place a tender kiss on her forehead. Her hands reached up to grip his forearms as she shuddered, almost as if she were passing her fears to him.

She leaned closer to him and his lips descended on hers, tasting her, reveling in the fact that she was once again in his arms. How he wished to settle her on the bed behind her and make her his, but his sire’s teachings were stronger than his base instincts. He ended the kiss and set his forehead against hers.

“Why did you come for me?” Her breathing hitched, telling him how emotional she was over seeing him after her reunion with Maisie.

His heart soared for just a moment because she’d accepted him instead of fighting him. “I could not live knowing you were back in his hands. I saw the cruelty he’s capable of inflicting.”

“He’ll kill you if he finds you here,” she whispered, her lips almost touching his.

“Do not concern yourself with my well-being. I will take care of myself. I will get you and your wee sister out of here.”

“Promise? I could not bear to imagine what will happen to her if we stay here. Jake, there are things even I do not know about Hew and this place, the chief…they plan to attack the Grants, against your clan.”

“Aye, I promise to get you both away from here, and if anything happens to me, my clan will come for you. But first, we need to get away from here, then you can tell me all you’ve learned. Where has he gone?”

“Effie says they are preparing to pose an attack. She knows they plan to strike the Grants, but we know not which keep they are targeting.” She stepped back, moving to the window to peek through the furs.

“Have any left?” He tugged her over to him, breathing in her sweet scent, and an odd comforting feeling washed over him.

“Nay, Effie says they are practicing for the attack. Jake, you must go home and warn them.”

“Aye, I plan to do so, but I’ll be taking you and Maisie with me.” He kissed her lips again, a deep kiss. She parted her lips for him and a low growl came from deep inside, strong enough for him to pull her tight so her curves melded to his body, making him hard in a flash. Passion coursed through him, a need more powerful than any he’d ever experienced. Aye, he wanted her, but now was not the time.

He forced himself to remember where he was. “We must go before Gordon returns. Is this your chamber or his?”

She blushed and stared at the floor. That answered his question. “Come, we’ll go now. Where will I find Maisie?”

“They keep her in a chamber on the lowest level, not far from the stores. I have never been there, so I know not which one, just that it’s to the right of the staircase near the stores.”

“Who cares for her?”

“Effie is the only one with her as far as I know. I think there may be another bairn, but she is the only one responsible for them. She sleeps there.”

They crept down the passageway in the dark, a few torches lighting their way. Before he moved down the staircase, he turned to her. “Are you ready? We may have to run.”

She nodded without any hesitation, which pleased him. He was about to make his way down the steps, but he stopped and gazed into her eyes. “You understand that no matter what happens, I will get you away from him. Even if we are parted, I will return for you.”

“Maisie, too? Please, I cannot leave her behind.”

“Aye, Maisie, too. Can she follow instructions? Will she be able to stay silent while we escape?”

She nodded emphatically.

While he hadn’t anticipated this turn of events, he was pleased to learn that what held her here was neither another lover nor some twisted allegiance to Hew Gordon. He led her down the staircase, across the empty great hall, and then out the back door near the kitchens. As soon as he tried to run, she grabbed his hand and tugged it toward her.

“Nay, Maisie. We must get her first.”

“Nay, I’ll get you over the wall, then I’ll return alone with Maisie.”

“But she’ll not go with you. She’ll only go with me.” A look of desperation had crossed her face that he did not like.

He had to make her understand. “Aline, ‘tis too risky for one guard to protect two. I am outnumbered here. Trust me. I’ll make sure you’re safe in the woods, then come back for her.”

A shout from across the field caught both of their ears. Two guards ran straight for them, so Jake pushed Aline behind him and drew his sword. “Get back so I can finish this.”

One guard immediately came at him with his sword, a maneuver that told him how the lad was unskilled, so he swung his sword in an arc that sliced the fool’s belly open, forcing him to drop his weapon and fall to the ground. The other guard was almost upon him when he came at Jake with both arms stretched over his head, bringing the sword down as if to cleave Jake in two. Aline let out a slight scream, but he was already rolling away from the path of the lad’s sword. Then he jumped to his feet to stab the lad in his back, and the second fool fell forward atop his partner. Jake cleaned the blood from his sword before he reached for Aline.

She stared at him with such a shocked look on her face that he had to jerk her to get her to move. “My sweet, ‘tis all right. Now we must move, more will follow behind them.”

“They are dead.” Her voice was a flat tone, as if she’d not expected their escape would require such violence.

He couldn’t have her going in to shock. He needed her with him, supporting him. “I’m afraid ‘tis the price they pay for imprisoning someone. If I had not killed them, I would be dead.”

“But I did not expect you would have to kill for me…”

“These men were trained to kill, Aline. You saw them come at me. ‘Tis the cost of battle. Every lad who swings a sword knows that.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “We must continue. Do not let this stop you. More will follow, and they will kill us as quick as they can.”

Her eyes searched his, but she said naught. He kissed her quickly and tugged her hand. Thankfully, she fell into step behind him. Once they reached the crumbling wall, he put his laced fingers down to help boost her up.