The Highlander's Secret(61)
Eamon frowned. “Lad, I’ve taken care of Jain fer ten years and even I cannae predict the way she will behave. Dinnae blame yerself fer her decision – the fault is hers and hers alone.”
Alan huffed in exasperation and said, “Mayhap I should ride out ahead of the others and see if I can find her. The warriors would be right behind, and we won’t waste any more time.”
“Ye’ll do nae such thing. I plan on bringing Jain home alive – that’s going to require more than just one man. I will not be risking yer life as well, Jain would never forgive me.”
Not long after that, Alan and the warriors were gathered in the village green, hoping their numbers would tip the battle in their favor. They’d gathered every axe, sword and shield available to them from the armory and the smithy. Men from all across the region who’d come to fight the Viking horde offered their services as well. It was an impressive group of warriors by the time they finished gathering, enough to call themselves an army. The moon shone brightly overhead, illuminating them all on horseback.
All that was left was for Jain’s da to come out and join them – it wouldn’t be complete without him. When Eamon come out of the keep, he was dressed and ready for action.
Alan had never seen Eamon in his element before.
In all the time Alan knew him, he’d always seen Jain’s da as the humble cottar; kind, even-tempered and deliberate. It was easy to forget he was once a warrior, and a talented one at that. He was raised to be chieftain right along with his brother Keenan ever since they were little. Now Eamon stood before them in full battle regalia and mounted a horse himself. This was the man who raised his beloved Jain, and he couldn’t have been prouder to call Eamon family.
“Men of Moray,” he addressed them properly. “I thank ye fer coming with us this night. Our need is urgent, so I’ll not waste our time with words. We ride fer the coast where the Viking ships have landed and bring home my beloved Jain. Now ride!”
There was a flurry of action when the horses started and thundering hoofbeats pounded the earth beneath them. Alan rode right there with them, his eyes focused on their chieftain as they travelled out the north gate.
His mind was frantic with worry about what could have happened to his Jain by now. Too much time had already been lost while they assembled men to assist him. Wind whipped by him, only serving to fuel his rage and determination. The only consolation was knowing he was not alone, he had a band of brothers with him.
They would see justice. They would see his Jain return home safe.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Jain sighed, finishing the rest of the drink Ragnar’s men had offered. How was she going to get out of this? How could she convince them to let her leave?
As she contemplated the options left to her, a Viking shield maiden came storming in from outside. “Earl Ragnar, the girl must have been followed. There’s an army gathered on the hill outside.”
Jain turned at the news and her jaw fell open in shock. Ragnar grinned and wiped his hands off on his legging while he stood. “I was afraid that would happen. Well, little sister, it looks like I’m going to have my battle after all.”
“No! Ragnar, please. Let me talk to them.”
Her brother scoffed and walked out determinedly into the center of the camp. Around them, men paced restlessly; others sharpened their weapons with concentrated intensity. The tensions on the ground were high. In the distance, Jain could see an army at the top of the hill holding torches while they surveyed the camp. Fear rose up inside her and she looked back at her brother in horror.
“Who is that?” Ragnar asked her in a growl.
“That would be my father…and my husband,” she told him simply. “But there are a lot more with them than I expected. The warriors must have come with him from the surrounding clans.”
“We can take them.”
Jain eyes widened with fear. “No, Ragnar, you can’t. There’s too many of them. You’re outnumbered three to one. Everyone here will die.”
“What would ye have me do?” Ragnar responded. “You know as well as I do that if our men are attacked they’ll respond in kind. They may not give me much of a choice.”
“Let me go talk to them,” she offered. “I’m sure they will listen to reason.”
One of the men behind him that Jain didn’t not recognize grew frustrated with all the talking and stepped up, saying, “We didn’t come here for easy chatter. Let’s just take the girl and leave.”
“If ye remember, Hakkon, the reason we came here was to find my sister. We’ve done that,” Ragnar argued, looking back at Jain.
“I won’t stand by and listen to this witch spewing tales of love and friendship when her people have killed hundreds of our men,” the warrior he was speaking to responded.
As their tempers stoked to a fury, Ragnar gave up any pretense of civility. He roared, loosening his axe from his belt. Haakon snarled and removed his knife from the sheath in his boot. After a beat, Haakon charged the smaller man but was thrown back by a well-placed punch to the center of his chest.
Beating his naked chest, Ragnar cried, “Anyone else want to question me?”
No one spoke.
Ragnar turned back towards his sister and asked, “What are ye proposing, Jain? That we just sail away empty-handed? I am Earl now. I have to think about my people.”