"Bhatar, lad. Hugh is with me."
Neacal ground his teeth. "Devil take them," he whispered to Anna.
Blushing, she snickered softly, then hid her grin.
He shook his head, then rolled off the mattress and onto his feet. "I'll meet you in the library," he shouted.
"We can wait here. 'Tis nay a problem," Hugh returned.
Neacal muttered a string of curses. "Meet me in the library," he ordered, grabbing his shirt. The last thing he wanted was the elders to see Anna in his chamber. Especially in his bed.
Once he was dressed, he opened the door only wide enough to step into the corridor. The two hoary-haired codgers awaited him.
"What is it now?" Neacal asked.
"One of the servants returned from Acharacle," Uncle Bhatar said. "A large force of soldiers is camped out there in the wood."
***
The following night was near black as pitch as Sleat and his men, along with the MacRankins, crept from the wood and toward Bearach Castle. Torchlight reflected up from within the castle walls, guiding them across the wet sandbar that led to the small island. Taking an indirect route, they climbed over the rocks and up the steep bank which led to the castle. Low growing gorse and heather scratched at his legs.
Avoiding the portcullis, they silently edged along the high wall, seeing no one. Sleat peered through the thick iron bars of the postern gate. Distant torches lit up the exterior of the castle and the bailey. A guard stood about fifty feet away, his back toward Sleat. The guard was going to be a dead man in only a matter of moments.
Grinning, Sleat carefully inserted the key into the padlock on the gate… but it wouldn't budge. As quietly as possible, he jiggled it.
"Hurry, Da," Hamish whispered beside him.
Sleat pulled the key out and inserted it again, then wiggled. Nothing. What the hell? Had Gegrim given him the wrong key? "That double-crossing bastard," Sleat hissed.
A flaming torch dropped from the wall above and a battle cry rang out. The torch struck one of his men and his clothing burst into flames. He yelled and danced about. Hamish shoved him to the ground. "Roll, you idiot!"
Through the gate, Sleat saw the guards running toward them, swords aimed.
"Retreat!" Sleat yelled. Some bastard had warned Neacal and his men. Probably Gegrim. He should've known not to trust the whoreson.
Men's shouts echoed from distant parts of the castle and more torches were tossed from the wall to light up the battle ground, catching the heather afire. An arrow struck the ground beside Sleat, shot down from the wall-walk. He leapt aside and lifted his targe.
Guards and soldiers charged along the wall from the front portcullis. How did they have so many men at the ready? Gegrim must have told them of Sleat's plans, for no one else knew. He and his men were already outnumbered.
"Retreat!" Sleat scrambled back down the hillside over the rocks, heather and gorse. Some of his men had already escaped. One of Neacal's guards chased after him, his sword raised. Sleat slashed his blade at the man. He blocked it and struck back. More enemies approached, trying to halt their retreat and trap them. Battle cries resounded around him.
Blades clanged behind him and a man shouted. Was it one of his own men? He couldn't take his eyes off his opponent to see.
He had to kill this bastard, or die himself. He refused to be trapped on this island and at Neacal's mercy. Sleat redoubled his efforts and struck at the enemy.
Seconds later, he ran the man through, then shoved him to the ground. Glancing back, Sleat could not tell who was who in the torch-lit gloom.
"Retreat!" he yelled again in the event some of his men hadn't heard his order the first time.
Several of his clansmen, as well as MacRankin's, followed him down the steep hillside, across the rocks and along the sand bar causeway. Neacal's guards gave chase. Some of his soldiers turned back to hold them off while Sleat and MacRankin headed toward the wood.
Where was his son? Sleat stopped and turned back to stare into the dimness, lit here and there by torches and burning heather.
"Hamish!" he yelled.
One of his soldiers ran past him.
"Where is Hamish?" Sleat demanded.
