After dropping the helmet from a great height, Gavin dove toward Alpin, intending to smash his balled-up talons against the miscreant's head with great force. A hairsbreadth before he reached his mark, the whoreson ducked and flung his arms over his head. "Shoot him!"
Emitting a call similar to a laugh, Gavin flapped away and circled back.
One of the guards nocked an arrow and aimed at Gavin, but he ascended overhead.
"Release!" Alpin shouted.
When the archer obeyed the command, Gavin rose well out of range.
Craven boar-pigs! He would repay them in kind.
As Gavin approached again, two arrows darted toward him but missed by several feet. Pulling his wings in, Gavin dove toward Alpin. The imbecile squawked and fell off his mount.
Ah, a bit of sweet revenge.
Alpin sprang to his feet. "Cease, or I will kill your guard now!"
He wouldn't. Gavin knew Alpin planned to use Finch to gain entrance to the castle.
Circling, Gavin watched them. He would make Alpin regret setting foot on MacTavish soil. Even though he'd been born into the clan, he was no longer welcome here because of his treacherous actions.
In the bailey, the brigands dismounted. One dragged Finch off his horse. He stumbled and almost fell just before Alpin's guard pulled him up the steps toward the entry.
Alpin withdrew his dirk and yelled, "Open up! We have one of your men!"
He never should've sent Finch for the physician, but at the time he'd deemed Father John near death's door.
Gavin flapped his wings and sped toward his closed bedchamber window. He glided closer, perched on the windowsill, and pecked at the glass.
Was Dani inside, asleep?
He pecked again, harder.
Eyes wide, she opened the glass panes. "Gavin?"
Aye, lass.
She gawked at him and backed up a few feet.
Remain calm.He made a comforting sound and glanced toward the door, still closed, thankfully, but it needed to be barred. Because Ewan wouldn't let them kill Finch, Alpin would soon gain entrance to the castle.
Gavin felt trapped and vulnerable indoors when in hawk form, but he would not let his despicable cousin harm Dani.
Using his wings for a soft landing, he hopped to the floor and raced to the door. The wooden bar sitting by needed to be dropped into the metal brackets. So as not to frighten Dani, he inched toward her, then glanced back at the door, tilted his head sideways, and tried to motion. Loathing that he could not speak words, he made a low whistling sound.
He ran toward the door again, leapt up, and pecked at the bar. He couldn't move it with his beak. Looking at her again, he uttered the low sound.
"You want me to bar the door?"
He released a loud screech, unable to contain his excitement. She'd understood him.
"Why?"
Oh, for pity's sake, he couldn't explain why.Just do it!
"Don't hurt me."
Of course, I won't hurt you. I'm trying to protect you!
