She was beginning to flag with exhaustion and had taken to carrying Rory again after he flatly refused to go any further when she heard a sound up ahead that brought her to a sudden stop.
Voices.
Shit!A jolt of fear went through her. She looked around desperately for somewhere to hide, but she was high up on a plateau and the only vegetation in sight was the calf-high heather that carpeted the ground. She bit her lip, fear pounding through her as she spun, looking for anywhere that might conceal them.
But before she could move, three men appeared on the road behind. They spotted her immediately and called out something that she was too far away to hear. She considered running, but discarded the idea almost immediately. It would only make her look like she had something to hide and besides, how would she get away from them whilst carrying Rory? For all she knew, these might be local villagers and have no interest in her. Whatwas so unusual about a Highland woman going out walking with her son?
No, the best option was to try and bluff her way out of it and hope that fate was smiling on her. So, taking a firm grip of Rory’s hand, she began walking again, carrying on the way she’d been going as though this was the most normal thing in the world.
But to her dismay, the men turned to follow. Maddy glanced over her shoulder to see them rapidly gaining on her. She quickened her pace, practically dragging Rory along.
“I said, hold!” one of them bellowed behind her.
She heard thumping feet and then a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Maddy reacted instinctively, her full-handed slap catching the man across the cheek and sending him spinning.
“Get your hands off me!”
One of the other men laughed. “That will teach ye, Malcolm.” This man had a wiry red beard and a round paunch that was held in place by a wide leather belt.
He was also wearing the MacKay plaid.
Maddy’s stomach flipped over. She forced herself to remain calm, even though her heart was beating so hard in her chest she felt dizzy. Her hand, where it gripped Rory’s, had turned slick with sweat.
“Why are you following us?” she demanded.
“We aren’t following ye,” the red-bearded man replied. “We are looking for someone. A woman and a boy.” He cocked his head, his eyes roving up and down her and then flicking to Rory who was hiding behind her legs. “And it looks to me as if we’ve found them.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” she replied. “John and I are just heading back to our village, that’s all.”
He laughed softly. “Of course, ye are. And I’m on my way to meet the Pope. Ye’ve led us on quite the merry dance, my lady,but yer fun and games are over now. Laird MacKay will be most pleased to have ye back where ye belong.”
Maddy licked her lips and took a step back. She glanced around, assessing her options for flight. As if reading her mind, the man held up his hand.
“Dinna do it. There is no need to make this hard. Ye are coming with us, whether that be willingly or no.”
The men wore hard, unforgiving expressions. She had no doubt that Rodric had ordered them to bring her and Rory back by whatever means necessary. Despair washed through her.
What had she done? Far from finding a way home, she’d landed her and her son right back where they’d started.
DERYN FROZE AS HE HEARDvoices ahead. Giving Mara a curt hand signal, the two of them hunkered down behind a huge granite boulder amidst the heather. The voices were low and he could make out three of them but the tramp of feet suggested there were more than three people coming up the road towards him.
They’d made good time after Mara had picked up Maddy and Rory’s scent, climbing quickly out of the valley and winding their way through the hilly landscape. They’d encountered nobody, as Deryn had expected, so voices on the path ahead were highly unusual. Deryn got the feeling it was not a group of shepherds out tending their flock.
He pressed his back against the rock and cautiously peered out. Three men were walking steadily towards him, all wearing the MacKay plaid.
Madeleine and Rory walked between them.
His hand tightened on his sword hilt. Neither Madeleine nor Rory appeared to be hurt, but both looked pale and frightened.Fury simmered in his stomach as he imagined Rodric MacKay’s smug expression when Madeleine was returned to him.
Madeleine suddenly stumbled. She went down on one knee, pressing her hands against the ground to keep herself steady. One of the men leaned over her and she suddenly burst upright, her arm swinging. Deryn heard an impact as her fist connected with the man’s forehead and he went staggering back, blood pouring down his face. Madeleine tossed aside the rock she’d been holding, scooped up Rory, and ran.
The men were after her instantly, the one she’d hit bellowing at the other two to grab her.
Deryn watched in stunned silence for the length of a heartbeat, then he surged from his hiding place and took off after them, Mara racing at his side. His sword hissed from its scabbard as he reached the bellowing man, and he caught him across the forehead with the flat of the blade as he turned to see who was approaching. The man’s eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed onto his back.
Deryn barely spared him a glance as he pounded after Madeleine. Her pursuers were gaining on her, and even as he watched, one of them grabbed her shoulder. She spun, kicking out viciously, her hair and eyes wild.
“Stay away from me, you bastards!”
