Shouts and the clang of weapons rang out from the mainland. "Hell. 'Tis starting." Neacal ran toward the center of the fighting.
"Who's helping you?" Cyrus asked, keeping pace beside him.
"A few of the MacRurys, and several dozen Camerons. Close allies of ours for many years."
"I know the Camerons. Let's crush these other bastards."
***
The fierce wind whipping at him, Blackburn kicked his horse into a trot toward the shouting and conflict on the sandbar causeway leading to the castle. Three men jumped Red Holme and Kristina. One grabbed Holme's knife hand, another yanked his left arm, and the third caught Kristina as she slid off the horse.
"Nay, you bastards!" Blackburn yelled.
The tawny-haired enemy soldier, a Cameron, threw her over his shoulder and ran, while the remaining two dragged Holme from his mount.
In the melee and the start of the fighting, Blackburn could not see where the whoreson who'd snatched Kristina had gone. Why had his men not been guarding her as he'd ordered?
Holme hit the ground between the other two Camerons. One of them kicked the dirk from his hand while the other held a sword to his throat. Blackburn charged them on horseback. One of the men swung his blade at Blackburn's leg, but he blocked the blow with his own sword at the last moment.
Blades clanged all around him. He wheeled his horse about, scanning the area for Kristina. Someone leapt onto his back and dragged him from his mount. He plummeted to the ground, pain shooting through his hip. One of his guards engaged the enemy in swordplay above him. He crawled from beneath them, and leapt to his feet, keeping hold of his sword.
He glanced around but did not see Lady Kristina anywhere. "Where did she go?" he yelled to his men but they were otherwise engaged, fighting enemies along the trail leading to the castle. Kristina couldn't have been taken that way or she would still be within view.
Blackburn snarled curses. Where the hell was she? Had the bastard taken her into the wood? His leverage was gone. Rather than look for Kristina in the forest and fight Camerons there, 'twould be far easier to slip inside the castle and take Lady MacCromar by force while everyone else was busy fighting.
He ran along the sandbar which led to the castle, passing his own guards and other men clustered about in sword fights, too busy to notice him. He climbed the hill and hid behind a large boulder before the enemies charging down the hill saw him.
Once they were gone, he crawled the remainder of the way up the hill among the heather, then ran alongside the high stone wall. At the postern gate, a guard stood inside.
"Who are you?" the guard demanded.
Blackburn thrust his sword through the iron bars, but the guard leapt back.
"Are you helping Sleat?"
"What do you think? I'm Chief MacCromar and my wife is being held inside. I must rescue her."
"Well, why didn't you say so?" The guard took out a key and unlocked the gate.
Blackburn was stunned. "Who are you?"
"Gegrim. Make sure Sleat kens I helped you rescue your wife."
"I'll tell him. And I thank you. Where is she?"
"Inside the keep somewhere, most likely barred in a chamber on the second floor. Go in through the kitchen." Gegrim pointed.
Although Blackburn didn't fully trust the guard, he ran in the direction indicated, then found a doorway. Indeed, 'twas the kitchen, strangely empty but still very warm. No doubt the servants were hiding someplace.
Blackburn hastened up the steps into the empty great hall and ran up to the floor above. Finding a carved oak door with a padlock on the outside, he frowned, then knocked.
"Who is it?" asked the female voice inside.
Was that Susanna? Nay. Didn't sound like her. But maybe all the women were locked in the same chamber.
He stepped back and kicked the door with all the strength he possessed. The hasp pulled out of the door frame and the door swung open.
He charged in, wielding his sword and the young blond woman inside screamed and ran to the other side of the room. "Who are you?" she asked.
