The Condemned Highlander by Donna Fletcher
18
Annis scoured the sky for the ravens as they left the croft the next morning, hoping the ebony birds would guide them to the woman with the limp. But the skies and trees remained empty, not a raven in sight.
Brogan had wanted to repair the roof for the elderly couple, but both had insisted it was not necessary. They had not made use of the dwelling in years. They had taken their leave with promises that Brogan would send word when all was ready for the couple to move to the village.
“I do hope the ravens return,” Annis said as their horses kept a steady gait.
“Perhaps they show themselves only when needed,” he said then quickly asked, “You are not too uncomfortable to ride?”
She tilted her head at him. “Why would I be uncomfortable to ride?” She shook her head. “Oh!” It dawned on her what he meant, and his concern touched her heart. “It is thoughtful of you to ask, but I suffer no discomfort from making love. Actually, I feel better than I have ever felt.”
Brogan grinned. “I will make certain that I keep you feeling better and better.”
“There you go thinking highly of yourself,” she said with a laugh. “Though, this time you have a right to, and I eagerly look forward to you making me feel better and better.”
“You have my word on that wife,” he assured her, intending to find an isolated and safe spot to spend the night so he could keep his word to her.
Her thoughts quickly shifted to their quest. “Have you been to this village we go to?”
“I have, but it is not truly a village. It has but two structures. One is a place to purchase food and drink and the other a place where you can learn where coins can be had.” He turned a stern eye on her. “I warn you now to stay close by my side. It sits on the border of two clans so neither clan cares much about it, leaving it on its own. With no one to control it, there are no rules to govern it. It is pretty much a lawless place and a place where people only stop for a short while.”
“What brought you there before this visit?”
“I was searching for Rannick.”
“Why would he go there?” she asked.
“He heard word there was a mercenary group forming to go across the sea to fight for coins. He wanted to join them.”
“I assume he left before you could stop him since it is known his father sent men to return him home.”
Brogan turned quiet.
“Your silence tells me there is something you do not wish me to know. I will have no secrets between us, husband,” she said sternly.
“I will keep none from you,” he said, glad he had someone to share things with after spending years of keeping things to himself because he trusted few people. “I went to find Rannick to join him.”
Annis gasped. “You intended to travel to a foreign land to fight?”
He nodded. “I would not see my friend go alone. I feared he would never return.”
She gasped again. “You think you cannot die so you wanted to go to let death touch you and not him.”
“Death cannot claim me,” he reminded.
Annis shook her head. “I do not believe that. No curse can cheat death.”
“Then how do you explain how death has avoided me?”
“Sheer good fortune,” she snapped.
“Good fortune?” He scowled. “With the many times I have come close to death, you believe it was good fortune that saved me?”
She nodded firmly, wanting to believe her own words, needing to. Her heart would break to think otherwise. “I do. I believe you are a most fortunate man.”
“How can you believe such nonsense when you, yourself, fight to break the curse?”
Tears troubled her eyes. “I have to believe it, for to think the opposite tears at my heart.”
Brogan positioned Belle to bring Annis’s horse to a stop, then he quickly snatched Annis off her horse to rest in front of him on his horse.
He wiped away the few tears that trickled from her eyes. “You are right, wife. I am a most fortunate man, and you are proof of that. I am most fortunate that you came into my life, that you love me, and that you agreed to be my wife.” He kissed her gently.
Annis sniffled back her tears after he kissed her. “Aye, you are most fortunate to have me as your wife and I will see that good fortune stays with you.”
“As long as I have you, I will always have good fortune,” he said and kissed her cheek.
She tried to sniff back her tears again, but his remark touched her heart too deeply and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I am a strong woman and yet I cry easily. It is most baffling and annoying.”
He wiped at her tears again. “I love that you cry with ease. It proves what a truly loving and caring heart you have. It means even more to me now that you have given your heart to me.”
She smiled and sniffled again. “You best take care of my heart.”
He kissed her quick again. “It is as safe as you are tucked in my arms and where I intend to keep you until we reach the village.”
“I will not argue with that since it is where I want to be and where I love to be,” she said and settled comfortably against him. “Now tell me more about this village.”
* * *
“You will remainby my side at all times,” Brogan reminded with a quick glance to Annis on her horse that meandered alongside his.
Annis nodded, having no problem in heeding his words after seeing the people who frequented the place. There was not a beggar or unfortunate among them. They were hardy men and women who knew exactly what they were doing and why they were there.
“How much for the fiery-haired one?” a large man whose beard reached to his sizeable stomach called out.
“Your life if you dare touch my woman, Grendel!” Brogan threatened with a yell.
Annis shivered as whispers rushed around the area. “Let’s hurry and be done here.”
“I should not have brought you here. I should have come myself,” Brogan said, voicing his thoughts and annoyed he had not given it prior consideration.
“I would not let you come alone here,” she said with a fierceness that had Brogan’s brow going up. “And I do not care if you have come here alone before now. It is different now. You are my husband, and I will see you kept safe.”
The woman stole his heart over and over again. Never had he felt so cared for and so loved.
“You do warm my heart, wife,” he whispered, not wanting anyone to hear, fearful of what might happen if it was known they were wed.
Annis kept her voice low. “Then let’s be done here so we can find a secluded spot for the night, and I can warm something else of yours.”
Brogan had to keep his mouth from falling open. She delivered her remark without a smile or a wink, as if it was the most natural thing to say. Unfortunately, her suggestions aroused his shaft, and this was not the time or place for it. Brogan silently let loose with several curses while forcing his thoughts on anything but her intentions.
He directed them to a spot where other horses were left grazing.
“The horses will not be stolen?” Annis whispered once off the horse.
“An unspoken code among all here. Anyone steals one of the horses and they die,” Brogan said and took her hand. “You are going to hold your tongue and let me talk. I want us gone from here as soon as possible.”
“Aye, as soon as possible,” she repeated, wishing they were already on their way and voiced a thought that came to her. “I do not think the woman with the limp would have stopped here.”
“You never know. If it was information she was seeking, this was a good place to find it,” Brogan said. “And with the extent of travel all here do, there is a good chance one may have come across her.”
Brogan spoke with a few men and women, but none had seen a woman with a limp.
“Let me see if Grendel knows anything,” Brogan said. “You do well with your silence, though I know it is not easy for you. We will be finished soon and be on our way.”
Annis nodded, pleased that he acknowledged how difficult this was for her and, keeping hold of his hand, walked with him to the fire pit where Grendel and two women stood.
Annis listened while the two men talked. She had hoped the large man would reveal news that would help them but when their conversation was nothing but mundane, she turned her head to cast an eye about.
Her attention quickly settled on a young lad, maybe ten years, though no more than twelve years. His garments had seen better days and it had been more than days that he looked to have washed. He was talking to a few men and looked to be pleading. From what she could hear, the lad seemed to be asking about work, any kind of work. Something about his mum being ill and he needed to help her. The men laughed at him and accused him of telling tales.
Annis’s stomach churned, fearing what might happen to the lad. She grew alarmed when one of the men grabbed the lad and started chopping off his shoulder-length hair with his knife. The thin lad was no match for the man and Annis had all she could do not run and help the lad. If she did, it would put both her and Brogan in danger.
Unfortunately, when the man finished chopping the lad’s hair, leaving it to stick out from his head in uneven tufts, he threatened him perhaps because the lad stuck his chin up and showed no fear.
“Let’s see what else we can chop off you,” the man said with a laugh as he pointed his knife right between the lad’s legs.
That did it for Annis. There was no way she could stand by and see the lad harmed. She yanked her hand out of Brogan’s and ran.
“You are such a weak-arse pansy that you have to pick on a young lad,” she screamed, running at the man and planting herself in front of the lad.
The man with the knife stared at her in bewilderment.
“Are you so envious of the lad’s shaft that you have to cut it off?” she challenged with a fiery fury.
The man’s face bloomed red, and his hands shoved his plaid aside and took hold of his shaft. “You will be tasting my sizeable shaft soon enough.”
“You call that sizeable?” Annis said with a laugh and everyone around her laughed.
She saw the blow coming and tried to avoid it, but it caught the corner of her eye and she stumbled and before she could right herself, she saw the fellow’s fist coming at her again. A rough shove had her stumbling and she winced when she saw that Brogan took the blow for her.
The man grinned and waved Brogan on. “I win. I keep your woman.”
Brogan returned his grin. “I win. You die.”
Two fellows that were with the man stepped up beside him.
“Three,” Brogan laughed. “You think to beat me with three useless men?”
All hell broke loose after that. People gathered around to watch and cheer for who it did not seem to matter. Brogan easily got the knife off the man, tossing it aside. His fists were quick, delivering solid blows. He landed more on the three men than they did on him.
Cheers rang out each time a punch or kick was landed, no matter who landed it.
“Wow! Your man is quick and skilled with his punches.”
“Tell me what’s going on,” she ordered the lad keeping her eyes turned away.
“He knocked him out!” the young lad cheered, jumping up and down.
Annis dared a peek every now and then, fearful she would spot enough blood to have her fainting and that would only make things worse.
“He got another one,” the boy cheered, raising his fist in excitement, the crowd cheering along with him. “He’s got the last in a head lock. OW!” He cringed and a cheer sounded.
“What happened?” Annis asked anxiously.
“The fellow has long arms and caught your man in the nose.”
She winced. “Is there blood?”
“Aye, there is—WHOA! Your man has him by the neck choking him. He’s surrendering, begging is more like it. Your man threw him to the ground—wait, he has his boot on his chest and he’s pointing a finger at him. Looks like he’s giving him a warning.
Annis wished she could hear what he was saying but the cheers were too loud.
“Has the blood been wiped from his nose yet?” Annis asked, desperate to turn and see what was going on for herself.
“Nay, and he just turned to the man who hit you.”
A hushed silence settled over the crowd, leaving Annis able to hear Brogan.
“I should cut your shaft off for showing the pitiful thing to her.”
The crowd laughed.
“The fellow is trembling,” the lad said with a chuckle.
“But since everyone now knows what a wee, woeful shaft you have, and you know how tongues love to wag, there won’t be a woman far and wide who will want to bother with it. So, I will leave you to your misery.” He turned away, stopped, then turned back again. “One more thing.” He grabbed the guy by the shirt and threw a punch. The crack to his nose was loud enough that everyone winced. “I took pity on you and let you live this time, if there is a next time—you die.”
More cheers rang out.
“Someone gave your man a cloth and he’s wiping the blood off now,” the lad said. He turned a quick look on Annis. “I thought your man looked familiar to me. He’s the condemned Highlander, isn’t he? More fools them for going up against him.”
“Has he cleaned the blood off yet?” Annis asked, ignoring the lad’s question.
The lad scrunched his nose. “Why do you keep asking about blood?”
“I have an aversion towards it.”
“Don’t we all,” the lad said with a laugh.
Annis poked him in the arm. “Answer me.”
The lad rubbed his arm and took a look. “No blood on him, but you best keep your eyes off the others. Wait. He is headed our way.”
Annis sent a blessing to the heavens for that.
“Time to leave,” Brogan said.
“Not soon enough for me,” Annis said and turned to face Brogan. “The lad comes with us. I have a task for him.”
He gave a nod and blood suddenly ran from his nose. “Damn,” he mumbled as his hands reached out to grab his wife.
* * *
Annis feltthe continuous bounce as she fought to open her eyes and clear her fuzzy head. Where was she? What happened? She finally got her eyes open and had to blink several times before she realized she was staring at the ground, and it was moving. It took a moment for another realization to hit—she was being carried over someone’s shoulder. She raised her head a bit and to her relief saw Brogan’s horse, Belle, and her horse following behind them.
“Will I get coin for this task? I need it. My mum and I need food.”
“You will be paid for the task.”
Annis smiled hearing Brogan tell the lad that he would compensate him for the task that she had for him, though she would see to that herself.
She tapped on Brogan’s back. “You can put me down now.”
“Aren’t you going to ask if the bleeding stopped?” Brogan asked.
“Has it? Are you all right?” Annis asked anxiously.
That had Brogan stopping, and he eased her on her feet. She scrunched her eyes to peer cautiously through them as she tilted her head up to look at him.
“I am good now, but I cannot promise my nose will not bleed unexpectedly again.”
Her eyes shot open when she spotted not a trace of blood. “Is your nose broken?”
The concern in her eyes touched his heart. “Nay, he did not break it. He just caught it the right way to send it bleeding.”
She cringed. “I could not leave the lad to get hurt.”
“Is that an apology for being foolish and not obeying my word?” he asked with a grin.
“Aye,” she admitted. “I am sorry you were harmed.”
“I stood a chance against those men, the lad did not.” He tucked one of her stubborn curls behind her ear only to have it spring free. “But let me see to it the next time, since I have no doubt there will be a next time.”
“I cannot promise since I sometimes speak and react without thought, but I will do my best.”
Brogan laughed. “Only sometimes?”
She jabbed him playfully in the arm. “You cannot say I did not warn you about me.”
He took her hand and laughed again. “Your own words did that when we first met. Now about your eye.”
Her hand shot to her eye, recalling the punch she almost avoided. “It does not hurt.”
“It looks like it does. The bruise is spreading from the corner to under your eye. Are you sure it does not pain you?” He had been furious when he had seen the blow nearly knock her down. He was ready to kill the man and he still wished he had, but it would have only brought more trouble down on them.
“A bit sore to the touch is all,” she assured him, thinking how gallant he had been in saving her. He had not hesitated. He had come to her rescue, and he always would. The thought warmed her heart.
“About that task?” the lad asked.
“Let’s get a distance away from here before we discuss that,” Brogan said. “Can you ride lad?”
The lad nodded and in no time, they were on their way, the lad on one horse and Annis and Brogan on Belle.
It was an hour later before they stopped and by then Annis had learned that the lad’s name was Dugan and that he and his mum were homeless and were in dire need of food and shelter.
“I want you to take a message to my sister Elysia. She resides at Clan Loudon. Do you know where that is?” Annis asked.
Dugan nodded. “I do. It is not far from where me and my mum have camped.”
“I will see you compensated,” Brogan said.
“Not necessary,” Annis said and took a coin from a small pouch tucked at her waist. “Show Elysia this coin and tell her it was payment to you for bringing her a message from her sister Annis. She will not take it from you, and she will feed you and give you food to take to your mum.”
“Truly?” Dugan asked as if he could not quite believe it.
“Truly,” Annis confirmed with a smile.
“What’s the message?” he asked, taking the coin from her and keeping his fingers tight around it.
“Tell her I said that all goes well, and I am sure my mission will be successful, and she is not to worry.”
“You have my word that I will get your message to Elysia. I best not waste time. I have been away from my mum too long already.”
“I would spare you a horse lad, but we need them both,” Brogan said.
“Not a problem, my lord. I am fast on my feet, and I know when to hide, and I will not let anything stop me from getting to my mum,” he said with a stubborn jut of his chin.
“Be careful,” Annis urged, and she and Brogan watched as the lad took off in a sprint that surprised them both.
“Not to fear. He will see it done since he appears to be as stubborn as you an—OW!” He laughed and rubbed his arm, not that she hurt him. She never did. He just found it amusing to tease her. “You did not let me finish. “He is as stubborn and honorable as you.”
Annis smiled. “He does seem like a good lad, and I have no doubt Elysia will see that he and his mum are offered a home at Clan Loudon.”
“Your sister does have a kind soul.”
Annis got teary-eyed with thoughts of her sister. She missed both her sisters which reminded her that she had a quest to see finished.
“Onward with our search for the woman with a limp since we had no luck at that place,” she said and went to her horse.
Brogan smiled. “Maybe you didn’t but I did.”
Annis hurried to her husband. “You found out something? How? From whom? When?
“From Grendel and it was the reason I was too late to save you from that first punch,” he said, annoyed that he had not reached her fast enough.
“You saved me and that is all that matters. Now what did Grendel tell you,” she asked, eager to hear.
Brogan grinned. “He told me where to find the woman with the limp.”
