Caindach's face contorted with rage, purpling in the cheeks, and he roared. She closed her eyes, surely he was going to kill her then and there. A painful yank on her scalp made her eyes shoot open again and she lost her footing as her father dragged her by her hair through the crowd.
She cried out in pain, but he ignored her, his burly guards close behind to make sure she couldn't react. Christopher's dagger was still hidden on her person, but she had no way of reaching it, no way of getting herself free.
Suddenly, he threw her down on the grass. She landed hard, her knee whacking off a small rock sticking out of the ground, sending a dull pain vibrating through her bones. When she managed to look up, she saw Alistair Campbell standing there with his eyes boring into her, a deadly expression on his face.
"What is this, Caindach?" he demanded. "I dinnae need yer whore daughter now. Me castle is burnin'!"
"Because ofher!" Caindach responded. "Because of this witch who claims tae be me blood but is surely a changelin' of the darkest kind.Sheis the traitor, M’Laird.Sheis the one who set the flames.Shestole yer maps!"
Alistair's face contorted. "Who are ye workin' for?" he demanded. "The Murrays? The Kincaids?"
Still feeling that eerie calm, Morag looked up into the monstrous laird's eyes. "I work only for meself. It's taken me whole life tae gain that right."
"Yer whole life," Alistair asked, laughing cruelly. "Is that so? A short life it has been, lass. Who were ye takin' the information tae? Answer me truthfully and ye may yet live. Lie, and ye'll burn as ye've burned me castle!"
Morag smiled. They didn't suspect Christopher. Maybe he'd escaped. She wished she'd seen him one last time, but at least she'd die knowing he was free. "Kill me then, Campbell. And I'll be waitin' for ye in hell when ye arrive. I promise, it willnae be long."
One of her father's soldiers grabbed her and pulled her roughly to her feet. At a nod from Campbell, one of his men moved forward with his sword drawn. Morag's bravado broke then, but she allowed the adrenaline to carry her through.
"Nae brave enough tae kill me yerself, M’Laird?" she snapped at Campbell. "Nor ye, Father?"
"Ye're nae worth bloodyin' me sword. Kill her and be done with it!" Campbell commanded.
The soldier raised the sword.
Suddenly, new screams echoed around them, accompanied by the thundering of hooves. People dived off to the side as a rough path cleared through the gathered crowd, making way as a beautiful horse galloped directly toward where Morag stood.
Morag turned her head and gasped as she saw the rider, his blond hair golden in the morning sun, his bow drawn and an arrow aimed directly behind her at Alistair Campbell's head.
"Stop!" Christopher demanded in a deep, commanding tone that made something deep within Morag shiver. "Touch her and yer Laird dies, soldier. And ye'll soon follow."
The Campbell man dropped his sword immediately, stumbling back a few paces, his eyes wide as he stared at the avenging Highlander on horseback. The Caindach guard holding Morag did not retreat, but she felt his muscles tighten in fear.
"Coward!" Caindach announced. There was madness in his tone, and he spoke as though he didn't even see Christopher and the arrow. "Kill her!"
Alistair, though, was staring at Christopher, his face pale, his eyes wide, his mouth half open. "Murdoch," he breathed. "It'sye.Me own son!"
"I'm warnin' ye, Campbell. Iwillkill ye if any harm befalls her," Christopher replied.
With a dark laugh, Alistair snapped, "So this is what it comes tae! I've given ye everythin'! Power, wealth, a brother, a second chance tae be me son. I've given ye back everythin' yer mother stole from ye all those years ago. I've given ye a chance tae live a whole new life, a whole new legacy of power. And now ye throw it all away! And for what, Murdoch? Awoman?"
Christopher sat up straighter. "Dinnae call me that name anymore. I'm nae yer son Murdoch. Me birth mother, Fenella, freed me from that curse long ago. I am nae Campbell, and I haveneverbeen yer son. Me name is Christopher Kincaid. I alreadyhaveparents, a brother, and sisters who love me. I'm already part of a legacy that will live long after ye and I are gone."
"Have it yer way, then! If ye will reject the blood that flows through yer veins, then I will spill it!" Alistair howled. "Guards!"
Morag tensed, but just as Alistair shouted, a loudboomsounded from the castle. People cried out in alarm as a ball of flame and heat escaped from a window, and stone fragments flew in all directions. Many of the Campbell men scattered, while those remaining ran to either aid the evacuation or deal with the fire. Morag saw her own father taking the opportunity to flee. Only the Caindach soldier holding Morag and a single Campbell man at Alistair's side remained. Christopher's horse reared up, but at one soothing word from him, she calmed in a moment.
Christopher had not moved the arrow he had pointed at the laird. "Let. Her. Go."
"I'll make you watch them all die, bastard," Alistair hissed. "I'll kill yer sisters and yer brother. I'll kill yer so-called parents. And I'll kill this lover of yers here and now!"
Morag shivered as the guard holding her tightened his grip.
"Last warning, Campbell," Christopher said calmly.
Alistair grinned, his eyes wide and wild, his voice manic. "Shall I take her first, Murdoch? Shall I claim yer woman before I make ye watch her bleed?" It was obvious he thought his son a spineless coward.
Christopher's expression darkened, then, without another word, he released the hand that was holding the string. The arrow flew in a perfect straight line, slicing through the air and plunging directly into Alistair's eye.
