She frowned, then said hesitantly, “There was a light at the window, but it was only there for a moment, then it went out. I’m scared, Hamish. What if she has turned against us? What if this is a trap she has set for us? What if we go there an’ find a hundred o’ Struan’s guards ready an’ waitin’?”
For a moment a heavy silence hung between them, then Hamish growled with fury.
“No!” he barked. “Do not ever say that again. Never, do you hear me? Amanda would never do that. She is a woman of honour and courage, and she would never betray me. She is a healer, and cherishes life. She would never want to end it. If anything happens to her, it will be your fault!”
He poked her with his forefinger in her chest to emphasise the point, then he gave her one last glare and ran off to wake up his men.
“Gregor!” he yelled, as he bent down to shake his right-hand man into wakefulness. “Wake the men, arm them with every weapon we have. We’re riding for the Castle now. There is not a moment to waste!”
Gregor nodded, jumped to his feet then did as he had been instructed, and a few moments later thirty men and horses were lined up ready for battle.
“Have ye seen the candle?” he asked anxiously.
“Fiona saw it for a moment before it was snuffed out,” Hamish replied, running his fingers back through his hair in agitation. “Something is wrong, Gregor. Struan must have found out our plan.” Then he remembered what he had been wondering before, and his heart almost exploded with fear. “What if they… what if Struan tortured her? I would put nothing past him, he is evil through and through. Gregor, I-I can’t bear to think of it.”
Hamish’s face was twisted in agony, and Gregor laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He was astounded at Hamish’s emotional state, since he had never seen him like this before, but now was not the time to wallow in misery. It was time for action!
“Then dinnae think o’ it.” Gregor’s voice was firm. “Let us go an’ fight them, Hamish. Let us punish them an’ bring Amanda back safe an’ sound.”
“Thank you, Gregor.” Hamish jerked out of his fit of terror. “You’re right. We cannot wait a moment longer.”
He stood in front of the men, shoulders back, chest thrust out.
“It’s time, lads,” he said. “We are going to give Struan McNeill what he deserves. If his gates are locked, we will break them down. We are taking the castle tonight, and if his men stand in our way, we will kill them, but I reserve the right to take care of Struan myself. No one will take his life but me! Come, lads!”
There was a great cheer from the men, and they leapt onto their horses and galloped away, leaving Fiona to gaze after them, terrified.
Hamish had never been a particularly religious man, but he was praying now;Let me be on time,he thought.Let her be alive and well, because my life will not be worth living without her.
Then he tried reaching out to her with his thoughts.Stay strong for me, my love. I’m on my way. Don’t give up. I love you. I love you with all my heart. I cannot live without you.
A short while later, they arrived at the foot of the hill where Inchkeith Castle stood, and Hamish drew them to a halt.
“Does every one of you know what to do? Make no mistake, your foes are well-trained and ruthless. Are you all ready? Because there will be no second chances.”
Hamish looked at the row of determined faces, and there was a rumble of assent.
“Aye, we are, Hamish,” Gregor assured him.
Hamish spun his stallion around and beckoned them to follow him, and in a moment hundreds of hooves were thundering towards the castle. It was time for a reckoning.
19
Amanda was dragged down the worn stairs with such speed and violence that her feet bumped and twisted against the edge of each step. By the time they reached the passage to Struan’s chamber she could hardly walk, but the guards cared nothing about that, even when she begged them to stop for a moment.
“Stop your girnin’!” one of the men said, raising his fist, “or ye will get a wee taste o’ this!” His voice was threatening, and his face was screwed up and ugly with fury.
Amanda, terrified, struggled along as best she could. Her eyes were streaming with tears, caused not only by the pain in her feet, but the pressure of the guards’ hands as they held her upper arms in a crushing grip. They were determined to make her suffer as much as they could, it seemed, but through her terror, Amanda held on to her determination to fight. Struan McNeill could not get better without her, and without her services, he might even lose his leg; she clung to that thought.
They arrived at the chamber door, and as soon as the Laird’s voice bid them enter, the two guards opened it, and she was flung inside. Amanda screamed as she stumbled across the room, her arms windmilling as she tried to keep her balance.However, just as she thought she was going to end up in a heap on the floor, Amanda managed to grab hold of a heavy chair and keep her balance.
She looked up and opened her mouth to address Struan McNeill, but never got the chance. A tremendous roar split the air, and she saw that he was writhing and twisting on the bed, his face screwed up in anguish. He had managed to tangle himself up in the blankets and sheets, but as soon as he saw her, he cried out again.
“You bitch!” he cried. “You poisoned me!”
He grabbed a vase of flowers from beside his bed and threw it at her with all the force he could muster. It fell short of her, but Amanda jumped backwards, causing a bolt of pain to shoot up her leg from her bruised feet.
At that moment, she saw he had risen from bed and was struggling to stand up. When he finally managed to do so, he began to lurch towards her. His face was a mask of rage, his blue eyes red-rimmed and his cheeks almost crimson with fever and fury.
